There was a time when Indian TV was not just watchable, but really good. It was a time when scriptwriters wrote good script, actors acted brilliantly, and a page of dialogues didn’t last the whole episode. And there was a distinct feeling of happiness and attachment to the TV shows. Then Kyunki… happened, and the whole industry went to shit, quite literally. Producers finally knew what the cocaine of housewives was – saas-bahu melodrama. And just like drug peddlers, they dished out cocaine in various forms like – Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, Kusum and other unspeakable acts of torture. It is because of these crybaby shows, kids today will never know the glory days of Indian television. The shows that actually impacted daily lives of people who watched them. Hum Paanch – the first show where the cast of women carried it through While today’s shows are peppered with women wearing expensive sarees and jewellery, going about their household drama, Hum Paanch had a layered approach to women. On the surface, it was a comedy, but it talked about serious women-related issues like independence, feminism and marriage in a very light vein.

Dekh Bhai Dekh – the first family comedy that had us in splits

Before Sarabhai vs Sarabhai had us in splits, this family comedy was probably the best thing to happen to Indian TV. It was intelligent and had memorable characters we still remember after a decade.

Family No. 1 – the show that made family squabbles funny

Before family squabbles took an ugly turn in TV shows, they were cute and funny in Family No. 1. Also, Kanwaljeet Singh made the women who watched the TV show swoon and the family actually gave everyone life goals.