Doordarshan Completes 60 Years!

Doordarshan recently completed 60 years. TV actors remember the channel and talk to JYOTHI VENKATESH.

ARIF ZAKARIA

There was Doordarshan when there were no other channels. Due to its pan-India reach, DD still has the power to sway the audience but has not kept pace with presentation skills, diversity of content. It's a typical govt dept syndrome which means good intent but zero execution. There is nothing but nostalgia with the past DD programs. 'Humlog', ' Buniyaad' , 'Chunauti", ," Khandaan' etc. All these were unique and will be etched in our memories forever.

ARUN MANDOLA

There is a huge list of my favorite programs on Doordarshan. Chandrakanta, AlifLaila, Shaktimaan, Byomkesh Bakshi, Vikram Aur Betal, Flow Show, Shrimaam Shrimati were my favorites. These days, people don't want to see Doordarshan because picturization is very poor. They are still living 80's life. I am upset with the fact that they are not updating the channel. Doordarshan was everyone’s favorite channel because our childhood memories are connected with it. I hope Doordarshan will get updated following their 60th anniversary this year.

SACHIN PARIKH

I have two different views on this. First is why do we go nostalgia on past shows on Doordarshan. It’s because they were purely content-driven and I believe entertain in any form, only and only content sells. I have grown up watching Doordarshan in my childhood and Mahabharat and Shaktiman were my favorite shows. Wagle ki Duniya and Buniyad were also the kind of shows I used to watch. I used to also like Mungeri lal ke haseen sapne and Mr. Yogi. So, one can see that I was watching various shows and my liking was in various genres of subjects only and only because of the content which was served to entertain the audience. Of course, there was a plus point that there was no other source available to watch on TV, but at the same time in today’s world when there are ample channels, broadcasters and mediums of entertainment, especially in this digital era one doesn’t have to wait for one’s favorite programs. I can switch the programs on my fingertips. Secondly, the content was so strong at that time. Waghle ki duniya was just 19 episodes in total but it was so gripping in terms of performances and content that it has become cult on Indian television. The same is the case of Vikram and Betal. So, if I get such strong content to watch in today's date on Doordarshan, I will definitely switch and watch it without any hassle.

ASHISH TRIVEDI

There’s a reason steady downfall of Doordarshan. When all the other private channels were continuously redecorating and transforming themselves, DD decided to look backward by showing its own old serials. If they want to compete with the new-gen channels they have to upgrade their content, their look, everything about them. The only program I remember is Shaktiman because that was a massive hit at that time.

AASTHA CHAUDHARY

In those days, Doordarshan was the only channel that everyone used to watch. We grew up watching Doordarshan. Today's generation won't understand the value of Doordarshan because they have so many options but earlier it was very limited. I feel because of that limitation it was kind of a family affair, I remember when they used to show a movie on Sunday evening, our whole family used to sit and watch it. We used to wait for Chitrahaar and Rangoli for the whole week. Then there was Chandrakanta as well. I remember my mom and Nani used to cook food early so that we all could sit and watch Chandrakanta. Everyone used to go and watch TV together, it was a very good feeling. Everyone used to be together happily, now we have lost all of that. My favorite show on Doordarshan was Aarohan which was based on Navy,  then there was Udaan which was about an IPS officer. I actually wanted to join the defense force because of it. Because of these two shows, I had a dream to join the defense. I used to like Rangoli as well. I was a fan of Shaktimaan too.

ANIRUDDH DAVE

We have been watching Doordarshan from childhood. We used to think that TV means Doordarshan as it was the only channel available in those days. We can never forget Doordarshan.  We used to watch Ramayan, Mahabharat then when we grew a little, we got to see Shaktiman and Chandrakanta. So I can never forget those shows.  After coming home from school, we used to watch daily soaps. I can never forget those days. Doordarshan had the best newsreaders. We used to watch the 26 January and 15 august Parade's on it. I still watch Doordarshan sometimes. I am even going to produce a show for Doordarshan till next year. So Doordarshan has been always special to me and it will always have great value for me.

SHASHANK VYAS

My childhood is incomplete without Doordarshan. It was such an integral part of my growing up years. I remember that even though only a few programs would come on it, I would watch them every day.

SUBUHI JOSHI

My favorite shows on Doordarshan were the cartoons which would come every evening. Then when I grew up a little, I loved watching Srimaan Shrimati and Tu Tu Main Main. I love Doordarshan and even watch it today. But yes, the look and feel of the channel are dated and I hope that that changes.

AMIT SARIN

There was a time, during my childhood, when I used to watch Doordarshan all the time. But now I only watch it when I want to watch the parade on Republic Day. I feel that the channel really needs to be updated. The content on the channel used to be so good. I wish some more interesting content comes on it and we watch it.

ROHITASHV GOUR

Doordarshan is what my childhood is all about. The shows were such that our entire family would sit together and watch. I cannot say that about the shows today on other channels. I miss those days and the amazing content that we saw on Doordarshan back then.

PRANITAA PANDIT

I used to love all the shows on Doordarshan be it Shaktimaan, Shriman Shrimati, Chitrahaar. I feel that the audience was more accepting of the content at that time since we didn’t really have much of an option. However, now Doordarshan needs to pull up its socks and we need to get better content. I really hope they do that.

SNEHA WAGH

I cannot believe the channel recently completed 60 years. These 60 years have so much of our growing up years in them. I remember how we would all sit together and watch Doordarshan. A film would come once a week and we would wait excitedly to see which one it was. I hope the channel works on its content and we can watch it again.

For more Bollywood updates, follow Bollyy!

Tags: Bollywood, Bollywood News, Bollywood Updates, Television, Telly News, Doordarshan