In 1985, Doordarshan did a desi adaptation of Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice, which was directed by Meena Vaishnavi. I discuss this little known gem of Indian television with my friend and Austen fan Ranjitha where we compare this DD adaptation by Kamna Chandra with other film and television adaptations.

The Madraswallah Podcast

Trishna : Doordarshan's own Pride and Prejudice

The year 1988-89 marked the centenary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and the occasion was celebrated with the airing of Shyam Benegal’s Bharat Ek Khoj on Doordarshan. This podcast brings you details about the making of this classic of Indian television.

Discovery of India: A Podcast on Bharat EK Khoj (Eng)

For over 11 years, Surabhi brought to the masses the story of India and its rich heritage in a way seldom on Indian television. Every Sunday Siddharth Kak and Renuka Shahane entered the drawing rooms of millions of Indians, as they showcased stories of India's incredible culture. Siddharth Kak goes back in time as he shares the beginning of Surabhi, the flood of postcards from readers, some enthralling moments from the rich showcase and what it takes to make a Surabhi again.

Cultural kaleidoscope of DD's Surabhi

The story of Rama has been revealed over millennia through multiple art forms. In the 20th century, when cinema emerged as a global art form, the Ramayana became a story that filmmakers turned to time and again. This podcast brings to you some interesting attempts to capture the essence of the Ramayans on the silver screen in Hindi cinema

Ram, Ramayan and Cinema

Hum Log was India’s first television soap opera and set the tone for home entertainment for the decades to come. This podcast is a tribute to the genius of P Kumar Vasudev, Manohar Shyam Joshi and the wonderful artistes who made Hum Log a reality for us.

India's First Soap Opera - A Podcast on Hum Log (English)

&nbsp; In the 1980s, Doordarshan televised a series of short stories and novels written by RK Narayan in the landmark classic Malgudi Days. This podcast is an attempt to bring to you several interesting facts about the making of the series and it also includes an interaction with Manjunath Nayakar, who played Swami in the famous segment Swami and Friends.

A trip to childhood with Malgudi Days

First aired in 1988 on Doordarshan, Mile Sur Mera Tumhara went on to be a part of the collective consciousness of the nation. With an enviable line-up of celebrities such as Pt Bhimsen Joshi, Dr M Balamuralikrishna, Shabana Azmi, Kamal Hasan, Mrinal Sen, Amitach Bachchan and several others, this music video was an instant classic. This podcast throws light on its making and its cult status

National Integration with Mile Sur Mera Tumhara on Doordarshan

This episode looks at Kundan Shan's classic Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, which was the first sitcom to be aired on Indian television. Starring Shafi Inamdar, Swaroop Sampat, Rakesh Bedi and Satish Shah, it set the format for several comedies on Indian television. 

Laughing at life with Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi - A Doordarshan classic

The DD era was as much about the ads as they were about the programmes. Don Bratman and I discuss some of our favourite ads from the Doordarshan Days 

Mad over Ads - The Doordarshan Days

Those who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s will definitely have their fond memories of Doordarshan and Dekh Bhai Dekh. Here's a podcast that takes you back in time to tell you more about the making of this DD classic. 

A relook at Dekh Bhai Dekh - A Doordarshan sitcome

A podcast on Ramesh Sippy's Buniyaad, a Doordarshan classic that set the standards for a soap opera on Indian television 

The Partition Saga of Buniyaad

This podcast is an ode to a time when time itself didn't hurry up. From popular culture of the 90s to less known stories from cinema and arts, these are stories that have endured over time and this will be a throwback to good times. Welcome to the land of nostalgia.