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{{Short description|Soap operas written, produced, filmed in India, with characters played by Indians}}
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[[File:On the sets of Basera4.JPG|thumb|right|Indian drama deals with emotional themes and negative impact of [[patriarchy]]]]

'''Indian television drama''' (or '''Indian serials''' in [[Indian English]]) are [[television programs]] written, produced and filmed in [[India]], with characters played by Indians and episodes broadcast on [[Television in India|Indian television]].<ref>Pak-Hind Ka Swag, Book 5 "Culture, Technology and fun", chapter 16 "soap opera, Serials and films"</ref>

India's first television drama was ''[[Hum Log (television series)|Hum Log]]'' ([[Hindi language|Hindi]]), which aired in 1984–85,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/21/movies/soap-operas-cast-a-spell-over-india.html|title=SOAP OPERAS CAST A SPELL OVER INDIA|date= 21 August 1985|work=nytimes.com}}</ref> and concluded with 154 episodes. ''[[Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi]]'' ([[Hindi language|Hindi]]) (2000–2008) was the first Indian TV drama to cross 1,000 episodes and concluded with 1,833 episodes.<ref>[https://www.news18.com/news/india/kyunki-ends-301178.html Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi comes to a tragic end after completing 1833 episodes]</ref><ref>[https://m.timesofindia.com/home/sunday-times/deep-focus/Saas-bahu-and-The-End/articleshow/3641504.cms Saas Bahu and the End]</ref> ''[[Char Divas Sasuche]]'' ([[Marathi language|Marathi]]) (2001–2013) was the first Indian serial to cross 2,000 and 3,000 episodes, also entering in [[Limca Book of Records]], which concluded with 3,200 episodes.

The [[Telugu language|Telugu]] serial, ''[[Abhishekam (TV series)|Abhishekam (2008- 2022) is]] the first Indian serial with 4,000 episodes ended on 1st February 2022''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/more-spellbinding-soap-gathas/300602 |title=More Spellbinding Soap Gathas |last=Shekhar |first=G. C. |date=6 September 2018 |work=Outlook |access-date=9 September 2019}}</ref> [[Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah]] (2008–present) is the longest running Hindi TV show of India. It has completed 14 years, It is also the longest running [[sitcom]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/taarak-mehta-ka-ooltah-chashmah-turns-13-how-the-cast-has-changed-over-the-years-7426743/|title=Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah turns 13: How the cast changed over the years, in photos|date= 31 July 2021|publisher=indianexpress.com}}</ref>

Indian serials are made in almost all of the major languages in India, though many also contain a mix of the predominant language and [[English language|English]]. Indian dramas are also broadcast in other parts of [[South Asia]], the [[Caribbean]], [[Southeast Asia]], [[Central Asia]], [[Western Europe]], [[Southeastern Europe]], the [[Middle East]], [[North America]], [[Latin America]], [[North Africa]], [[Southeast Africa]], and [[francophone Africa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20140502-family-affair-indian-soap-operas|title=BBC - Culture - Indian soap operas : Family affairs|author=Geeta Pandey|work=BBC Culture}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irrawaddy.org/magazine-guest-column/india-marginalized-in-myanmar.html|title=India Marginalized in Myanmar}}</ref>

==History==

India's first televsion [[drama]] was ''[[Hum Log (television series)|Hum Log]]'', which first aired in 1984-85<ref name="Kohli2006">{{cite book|last=Kohli|first=Vanita|title=The Indian Media Business|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hllyb6ymMy0C&pg=RA1-PA8-IA1|access-date=1 February 2014|date=14 June 2006|publisher=SAGE Publications|isbn=9780761934691|pages=1–}}</ref> and concluded with 154 episodes, was the longest running serial in the history of [[Indian television]] at the time when it ended. It had an audience of 60 million.<ref name="Gokulsing2004">{{cite book|last=Gokulsing|first=K. Moti|title=Soft-soaping India: The World of Indian Television Soap Operas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4CAgVZ-lJFIC&pg=PA32|access-date=1 February 2014|year=2004|publisher=Trentham Books|isbn=9781858563213|pages=32–}}</ref> Every episode was about 25 minutes long, and the last episode was about 55 minutes. At the end of every episode, veteran [[Hindi film]] actor [[Ashok Kumar]] would discuss the ongoing story and situations with the audience using Hindi couplets and limericks. In later episodes, he would introduce the actors who played characters in the serial and end his monologue with the Indian language versions of the words "Hum Log."

Biographies of famous people started being produced in the form of dramas like ''[[Chanakya (TV series)|Chanakya]]'', ''[[Dharti Ka Veer Yodha Prithviraj Chauhan]]'', ''[[Veer Shivaji]]'', ''[[Jhansi Ki Rani (2009 TV series)|Jhansi Ki Rani]]'', ''[[Chittod Ki Rani Padmini Ka Johur]]'', ''[[Bharat Ka Veer Putra – Maharana Pratap]]'', ''[[Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat]], [[Rudramadevi (TV series)|Rudramadevi]].''in 1980s.

Crime dramas also started being produced and aired. ''[[C.I.D. (India TV series)|C.I.D.]],'' follows a team of detectives belonging to the Crime Investigation Department in [[Mumbai]]. ''C.I.D.'' is the longest-running crime TV series in [[India]]. ''[[Adaalat]]'' was an [[Indian television]] courtroom drama series which revolves around 'Advocate K.D. Pathak', a defense lawyer with an impeccable track record of winning cases and setting helpless innocent victims free, but not at the cost of upholding the truth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.rediff.com/report/2010/jul/27/tv-cid-a-hit-with-viewers.htm |title=What makes this TV show such a hit with Indians? |publisher=Movies.rediff.com |access-date=6 August 2010}}</ref>

The Indian [[mythological]] [[drama]] show, [[Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev]], recorded the highest, 8.2 TVR in an episode. Daytime drama were popular during the 1990s and 2000s with shows like ''[[Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi]]'', ''[[Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki]]'', ''[[Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan]]'', ''[[Kasautii Zindagii Kay (2001 TV series)|Kasautii Zindagi Kay]]'', and ''[[Kahiin to Hoga]]'',''[[Kolangal (TV series)]], [[Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki]], [[Dishayen]], [[Kkusum]], [[Metti Oli]],''[[Porus (TV series)|''Porus'']], a [[historical drama]], based on the Indian king [[Porus]], premiered on [[Sony Entertainment Television]] on 27 November 2017 and ended on 13 November 2018. It is currently the most expensive show in Indian history, with a budget of over 500 crores.

During the 2010s, daytime drama gradually declined. Today, there are no daytime dramas on any mainstream channel.<ref>{{cite news|title=Star Dopahar to call it a day, all shows to end on September 30|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/star-dopahar-to-call-it-a-day-all-shows-to-end-on-september-30-tv-news-4834240/|access-date=19 September 2017|publisher=[[Indian Express]]}}</ref> Currently, the four major networks that air primetime televsioin dramas with nationwide following are [[Star Plus]], [[Colors TV]], [[Zee TV]] and [[Sony Entertainment Television]].<ref>[https://www.business-standard.com/article/management/star-zee-colors-and-sony-fight-it-out-on-weekends-113061301119_1.html Star, Zee, Colors and Sony fight it out on weekends - Business Standard]</ref>

== Social impact ==
{{see also|Socio-economic issues in India}}
{{Expand section|date=April 2011}}
TV dramas affect Indian society, with regard to national integration, identity, [[Globalisation in India|globalisation]],<ref>Gokulsing, K. (2004). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=4CAgVZ-lJFIC Soft-Soaping India: The World of Indian Televised Soap Operas]''. Trentham Books, UK. {{ISBN|1-85856-321-6}}. p. 105.</ref> [[Women in India|women]], ethics and social issues in rural areas.{{Citation needed|date=July 2014}} The first Indian television drama series, ''[[Hum Log (television series)|Hum Log]]'', began as a [[Family planning in India|family planning]] program, and although it quickly turned its focus to entertainment, it continued to embed pro-development messages which provided a model of utilizing the television serial as an "edutainment" method that was followed by countries around the world.<ref name="AggarwalGupta2001">{{cite book|last1=Aggarwal|first1=Vir Bala|last2=Gupta|first2=V. S.|title=Handbook of Journalism and Mass Communication|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sCIf8MM1ZlAC&pg=PA208|access-date=1 February 2014|date=1 January 2001|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=9788170228806|pages=208–}}</ref>

A 2007 study of cable coming to rural [[India]] showed that it led to "significant decreases in the reported acceptability of [[Domestic violence in India|domestic violence towards women]] and [[Abortion in India|son preference]], as well as increases in women's autonomy and decreases in fertility." It also "found suggestive evidence that exposure to cable increases [[Education in India|school enrollment]] for younger children, perhaps through increased participation of women in household decision-making."<ref>Jensen, Robert & Oster, Emily Oster (August 2007). ''"[http://www.nber.org/papers/w13305 The Power of TV: Cable Television and Women's Status in India.]"'' [[Quarterly Journal of Economics]], MIT Press. Vol. 124(3) pp. 1057-1094.</ref><ref>Munshi, Shoma (2010). [https://books.google.com/books?id=agw0m5m9oS8C Prime Time Soap Operas on Indian Television]. Routledge, New Delhi. {{ISBN|978-0-415-55377-3}}. pp. 200.</ref>

== International reception ==
=== Pakistan ===
Indian dramas were popular in Pakistan and Indian entertainment channels are widely watched, due to the [[mutual intelligibility]] between [[Urdu]] and [[Hindi]].<ref>[http://www.irastimes.org/Experiences_of_Lahore_and_Pakistan_Railway.htm] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112045945/http://www.irastimes.org/Experiences_of_Lahore_and_Pakistan_Railway.htm |date=12 November 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/75602/pakistani-women-love-indias-saas-bahu-sagas/|title=Pakistani women love India's 'saas-bahu' sagas – The Express Tribune|publisher=Tribune.com.pk|access-date=13 January 2015}}</ref> The [[Supreme Court of Pakistan]] has banned the showing of Indian films and TV shows.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defence.pk/forums/current-events-social-issues/70682-indian-tv-channels-banned-pakistan.html|title=Indian TV Channels Banned in Pakistan|work=Pakistan Defence|access-date=13 January 2015}}</ref> The [[British Broadcasting Corporation]] has reported that [[cable television]] operators in Pakistan often violate the ban and air Indian television serials due to the high popularity and demand for these in Pakistan, and Indian television shows make up nearly 60 percent of all foreign programmes broadcast in Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5263530.stm|title=BBC NEWS - South Asia - Pakistan allows Indian TV shows |publisher=News.bbc.co.uk |access-date=13 January 2015}}</ref>

In June 2006, Pakistani comedian Rauf Lala participated and won the [[comedy]] television show, ''[[The Great Indian Laughter Challenge]]'' but could not be followed by fellow Pakistanis as the show was not allowed to be aired.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5120838.stm|title=BBC NEWS - South Asia - Pakistani comic's Indian joy|publisher=News.bbc.co.uk|access-date=13 January 2015}}</ref> An official has commented that "[[Bollywood]] and Indian TV drama have invaded our homes".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4095232.stm|title=BBC NEWS - Entertainment - Pakistan confirms Bollywood ban|publisher=News.bbc.co.uk|access-date=13 January 2015}}</ref>

The viewing of Indian TV dramas has become so popular that mainstream newspapers such as the Pakistan Tribune often have feature articles on the shows.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/319826/10-things-i-hate-about-indian-soaps/|title=10 things I hate about Indian soaps|publisher=Tribune.com.pk|access-date=13 January 2015}}</ref> Since satellite connections offer uninterrupted coverage of Indian shows, many people have bought these to watch the programmes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/8040017/Pakistanis-snap-up-Satellite-dishes-for-Indian-soaps.html|title=Pakistanis snap up Satellite dishes for Indian soaps|author=Rob Crilly in Islamabad|date=3 October 2010|work=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=13 January 2015}}</ref>

Anti-Indian sentiment is reported in Pakistan and the two countries have fought four wars. However, the effect of Indian TV shows and [[Bollywood]] have resulted in an increase in how "favourably an ordinary Pakistani views [India and] Indians." Certain Indian tourists to Pakistan have said that people are particularly friendly if one is from [[India]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-27/special-report/30446463_1_serials-karachi-pakistanis |title=Archived copy |website=articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403094215/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-27/special-report/30446463_1_serials-karachi-pakistanis |archive-date=3 April 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 27 October 2018 The Supreme Court of Pakistan has reintroduced the ban on Indian content on local channels in the country. The channels like [[Filmazia]], [[Urdu1]] had shut down Indian content for appropriate period of time.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-46003662|title=Pakistan bans Indian TV channels|date=2018-10-27|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-10-28|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1441739|title=SC reinstates ban on airing of Indian content on TV channels|last=Baloch|first=Shafi|date=2018-10-27|work=DAWN.COM|access-date=2018-10-28|language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Tamil television drama]]
* [[List of longest-running Indian television series|List of longest-running Indian television ser]]<nowiki/>ials
* Telugu serials
*
*
*

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}{{Television drama series |state=collapsed}}

{{WorldTV}}
{{Social issues in India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Indian television drama}}
[[Category:Indian television soap operas]]
[[Category:Asian drama]]

Indian television drama - Revision history

MickiAddy25 at 14:23, 3 December 2025

ImportMaster at 08:37, 25 May 2022