A few Doordarshan serials I can never forget...

Those were the days, when I used to sit in front of the TV at about 8 pm everyday, ready to watch my alloted 2 hours. There was no frenzied changing of channels. No worries on recharging your Tata Sky account.

Those were the good old days of Doordarshan. When everyone watched the same things everyday.


1. Byomkesh Bakshi:

I have to start with this one. Right from the haunting starting music, to the trademark music pieces at the key moments in an episode, Satyanveshi Byomkesh Bakshi is extra special.

Luckily, all the episodes are available on Youtube. The series finale Chidiyaghar, Tasveer Chor, Necklace, Sahi ka Kaanta and oh yes, who can forget Bhoot.

I was scared of windows for a long time after watching Bhoot.

Thank you, Rajat Kapoor.

2. Malgudi Days:
If there is one serial that could beat Byomkesh Bakshi's theme music, its Malgudi Days. With every epsiode a story in itself, it taught us more about human nature everytime. And like obedient students, we learnt.




3. Karamchand :

Pankaj Kapoor as Karamchand+Sushmita Muhkerjee as Kitty + A carrot or two + murder= a helluva deetctive serial !

They have recived the serial on Sony with Pankaj Kapoor again, but its just not the same ...






4. Mahabharat:




"Main Samay Hoon. " If you missed this opening line at the start of an episode, you were a loser. The whole country came to a standstill on sunday mornings for one hour. Roads were deserted, coaching classe timings shuffled, shopping plans postponed. B.R Chopra held the nation spell bound for over a year with the most epic serial we will ever see. Complete with all the emotions and shades of grey conceivable, Mahabharat was a true landmark.

My favourite English TV shows

Although the joy of watching a blockbuster on the big screen remains unparalleled, TV shows have had their own charm.

While there were some shows I religiously folowed on TV, there were others that I watched later on DVD. While there were some, like The X files, Grays Anatomy, Seinfield, Everybody Loves Raymond, CSI, Bones, etc that ive just never gotten around to really watching.

What follows is TV shows that have been special for me, in no particular order of preference.

1. Friends:

It would be a sin to start with any other show. I was introduced to Friends pretty late, around the time Season 8 was being aired in India for the first time. Im not going to tell you how good the show is, cause if you haven't watched Friends, you are probably not human, which is scary !!!

Ross and Monica have been extra special, with Ross' diction and Monica's hotness + quirky mannerisms. The last ever scene when the camera pans around the apartment and then finally on the 6 keys lying on the table, haunts me till date.

The last I heard they were supossed to get back for a 2 hour Thanksgiving special, and then star in a Friends movie together.

We are still waiting.

2. The Wonder Years:

If Friends was funny, The Wonder Years was heart wrenching. Somehow, the voice - was so perfect, that you relived your own childhood in every episode. I remember coming back from School just when it used to start on Star TV at 4 pm. Dad used to sit next to me and watch it and quickly change the channel when Kevin and Winnie started to cosy up. Bad influence, he used to say.

I do not remember a single episode, where I have not had a moist eye at the end.

3. Street Hawk :

This was another classic, a serial way ahead of its times. I do not remmber a great deal about it, but the when the guy used to press the turbo button on the Street Hawk, I used to feel the rush of wind in my chair !





4. Knight Rider:


David Hasselhoff's claim to fame. The car had us drooling. The show is being revived now, with great production values. Ive managed to get a hand on the 2 hour pilot episode, and it looks good !

5. The Crystal Maze:
This was one fun show, where you almost played along with the contestants. I remember the bald host, Richard O Brien screaming towards the end "Can we start the fans please !!!! ". And the way everyone stood in a line, stiff and erect, in their coloured suits ,waiting to be addressed by him. During its heyday, Crystal Maze was the number 1 programme on Channel 4, raking in something between 4 and 6 million viewers


6.Alf:




You might not even have heard of this serial, and since it was dubbed in Hindi, maybe it shouldnt appear here. But the sheer ridiculousness of the cute little green alien made this a lot of fun to watch.







7. Prison Break :


Ive only just started watching it on DVD, and the first 6 episodes have left me SPELLBOUND. This is almost better than most movies Ive seen. By the end of season 3, I gues ill have more to say.




A post on my favourite hindi shows will follow...... watch this space.....

Short Movie Review # 16 : Kung Fu Panda

This is the one of the best animation movies ive watched ever, right up there with Monsters Inc., A Sharks Tale and Ice Age 1 and 2.

Po(Jack Blackl) is a rolly polly jolly panda, working grudgingly in his fathers noodle shop. He is crazy about kung fu and dreams of being a great and some kung fu warrior. Alas, he is extremely clumsy, but enthusiastic A series of accidents makes the Master Oogway ( Randall Duk Kim) proclaim Po as the Dragon Warrior, destined to fight and defeat Tai Lung, the evil leopard.

Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) is the master of kung fu, with the Furious Five — Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey ( Jackie Chan) Mantis ( Seth Rogen), Viper ((Lucy Liu), and Crane ((David Cross)) training under him for years, preparing for the battle with Tai Lung, who is after the Dragon Scroll, giving the holder unending powers.

What follows is an absolute visual treat, with stunning fight sequences and detailing. The humor is top notch, and the lines suit the characters to the T. The pace never flags, and there are no boring scenes. Almost a spoof at points, the movie makes you laugh when you least expect it to.

A wonderful effort in animation, I expect it to pave the way for more movies to follow in this genre of technical wizardry.

A must see, it leaves you completely satiated in the end.

Rating : 4 stars.

Short Movie Review # 15 : Jaane tu... ya jaane na

"Its a cool movie!"

" A must see "

" A definite one-time watch"

" I really liked it "

...they all said.

1998 : Rahul and Tina find a distraught Anjali crying on a bench, ashamed of her clothes. As she gets up to leave, Rahul hugs her. Tina, sensing the time is right for her to leave, takes half a step to go, but Rahul clasps her wrists and the camera zooms out. He is holding two women at the same time; one , a friend; the other, his love.

Cut to 2008 : A bunch of youngsetrs are picknicking on a sunny hillspot, and during a song sequence, Meghana hugs Jai from one side, while Aditi hugs him from the other. Aditi suddenly realizes the awkwardnes of the situation, and draws away. Jai, oblivious to the situation, lets her drift away.

For me, in this one moment, Jaane tu... ya jaane na fails.

The plot, a mix and match of the umpteen college love triangles churned out by bollywood till now, starts like Chalte Chalte, with a group of friends narrating the story to someone who does not know the protagonists at all. This stanger plays the part of the audience, asking questions, being impatient etc .

Jai ( Imraan Khan) and Aditi ( Genelia) are best friends, who are there for each other no matter what, how, when, why and where. Their friends assume they are in love, their parents assume they are going to get married.

But the problem is, they themselves have no such feelings and plans. They then decide to find life partners for each other. The weak link in the script is that, up to the scene when Jai is called to have a talk with Aditis parents, they share amazing vibes, are always there for each other, you know in general, are connecting well.

What is difficult to understand, is that suddenly, at the drop of a hat, after5 years of being so close they start to drift apart. The script could have played out this part more gradually. The way Aditi starts feeling insecure, seems almost rushed. The very convenient abscence of Jai from her birthday party, Aditi's stereotypical arrogant philandering fiancee, the fiances ex girfriend coming on to him, it all seems too " convenient" for the script.

And pray, what are Rajat Kapoor and Kitu Gidwani doing in a 2 min walk-on, blink and-you-miss it cameos as Meghanas dysfunctional parents? Another fault in the script: Jai is in love with Meghna and he finds her cute games very lovable. But just one meeting with her parents, and he decides that she is not the girl he wants to marry ! And finds the same games stupid ! Talk about being fast ! At least mercifully, Aditi is not shows to be "in love" with Sushant ( her fiance).

Agreed, the dialogues are very natural, but this is not what I go to see a movie for. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai took us to a dream world, where everyone wore colour coordinated DKNY ( remember it was 1998), skateboarded to class and had lectures on LOVE. While JTYJN has the protagonists sitting on Carter road and Marine Drive and having conversations on the basketball court in St.Xaviers ! Hell, Ive been there myself ! If I want to see a realistic movie, ill go for a Ram Gopal Varma flick !

The best part about JTYJN was the role of Prateik Babbar, playing Amit, Aditi's troubled genius brother. He has undoubtedly the best lines in the movie, and he should have a successful, albeit career in movies ahead of him. Reminded me of Imaad Shah in Dil Dosti Etc.

Over all, a decent debut for Imran. But thats about it.

Rating : 2 stars

P.S. It will take a lot for me to believe that this was indeed Alla Rakha Rahman's music.

Short Movie Review # 14 : Hancock

Will Smith, getting better with every movie, plays John Hancock, a reluctant superhero with an alcohol problem. He does save lives, but in an almost careless, reckless manner causing damages worth millions. The people of the city hate him.

All this changes when he saves the life of a Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), a PR professional, who decides to repay him, with a complete image makeover. Hancock surrenders and is incarcerated. The idea is to make people realize how much they need his powers. An opportunity soon arises in the form of a hostage situation, and the police chief turns to Hancock for help.

Hancock, in a new suit and with a lot of manners, saves the day to loud applause and appreciation of the people of the city.

So wheres the twist ? Hancock falls for Ray's wife, Charlize Theron. So whats the bigger twist ? Im not telling !

Hancock has no super villains, no long drawn action sequences. It isn't a real superhero movie, really. It is almost an emotional drama, about an extraordinary man. Will Smith betters his "I Am Legend" scowl and dead pan look, and is now the undisputed king of the 4th of July weekend.

A very bollywood-ish second half may irk you, but I found the whole movie thouroughly enjoyable. The special effects deserve a mention, they are done so casually and effortlessly, you almost take them for granted.

Even if Hancock may not give you the thrill of Superman streaking across the sky with the trademark background music, it does have its own charm. Go for it.

Rating : 3.5 stars

P.S. : Oh and yes, I can see a sequel coming...