Khichdi (2002 TV series)
| Khichdi | |
|---|---|
| Genre | sitcom |
| Created by | Hats Off Productions & UTV Software Communications |
| Written by | Aatish Kapadia |
| Directed by | Aatish Kapadia |
| Country of origin | India |
| Original language | Hindi |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | Total 98 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Ronnie Screwvala & Zarina Mehta |
| Producer | J.D. Majethia & Aatish Kapadia |
| Original release | |
| Network | STAR Plus |
Khichdi is a Hindi language sitcom produced by UTV Software Communications, which debuted in the early 2000s on STAR Plus and has been on-and-off air since then. Unlike other Hindi sitcoms, which continuously air throughout the year, Khichdi is one of the earliest shows on Indian television to adopt the Western model of appearing in seasons. The second season was called Instant Khichdi, which made its debut on STAR Plus's sister channel, STAR One.
Khichdi is widely considered by audiences and television critics to be one of the finest examples of true situation comedy in India. It does not use a laugh track like many Indian comedy shows, but instead relies on its deadpan humour (a la The Simpsons) and its witty lines to become its unique selling point. The well etched out characters have become almost cult icons of Indian television, which is otherwise obsessed with family soaps. The reruns have aired on several channels including Star Utsav and POGO.
Premise
Khichdi follows the story of a Gujarati family called Parekhs, who live in an old mansion. The joint family encounters many typically Indian situations, but they try to solve it in the most atypical fashion imaginable. Joint Families — the moment we hear this term a host of characters pop up in our minds. Scheming sisters-in-law, stuck up mother-in-law, clumsy servants, teary eyed grandparents and assorted youngsters. Khichdi is also one such joint family. However, this family has one thing that makes it distinct. This family is funny.
They laugh and make others laugh. This does not mean that they are bumbling idiots who scream shout and scamper like nitwits to create humour. They are real people with real problems and real idiosyncrasies. This is a funny bunch of people that is firmly united in their movement to get separated. They want to sell their ancestral property and move out and form their own nuclear families. But the head of their family doesn't agree.
He gives them the choice to walk out, but on their own steam and nobody is ready to let go of the money that's due to them. So they stay together and wait for the 'head' to change his mind or stop breathing, whichever happens first. And this is where our upwardly mobile middle class joint family faces its trails and tribulations in life.
Khichdi, explained in one simple word, is a look at the lighter side of an Indian joint family. There is no legacy of any empire, so no business feuds take place. However, conquering the one and only bedroom shall be a major issue. The good woman has a bad side and the bad woman is just great. They are people with grey shades to them, people whom the audience can identify with.
Characters
Main characters:
- Tulsidas, the family patriarch, always in a bad mood, but is known to have a good heart. His wife dies but in an episode she returns. Although it was dream her clothes and jewellery is kept on his side table. His is seen to be fed up of his sons and daughter in law but at end loves them.
- Jayshree, the widowed daughter in law, who aims to sell the mansion and live in an independent apartment.She loves to gossip and is mostly on a phone to Ba who at the end of the call faints. She seemed to take control of house and has a very good relation with Hansa and is her sister.
- Praful, arguably the most colourful character in the series, Praful is Tulsidas' son, and notoriously stupid. He is often seen interpreting things at face value, leading to hilarious situations. He always does any work opposite which makes Tulsidas mad at him. He also translates the English words although they are incorrect e.g. Magical becomes Magi kal.
- Hansa, Praful’s wife, and equally, if not more, stupid. This couple is usually the darling of the audience, and are almost always the scene stealers. She never works in house while saying that,"Mein kaam karoongi!" and always fully dressed up. she doesn't speak English and hence is translated to her by Praful. She is most fond of sister Jayshree.
Secondary characters:'
- Badi Maa (played by Dina Pathak), mother of Tulsidas , very fun loving and very fond of pani-puri, but Dina Pathak died tragically after 25 episodes, played by Lili Patel for about 15 episodes
- Faiba (played by Kalpana Diwan), aunt of Tulsidas, she is the one whose house they go to live in in the second season
- Raju (played by Amit Verma), son of Tulsidas. Very arrogant and always makes muscles.
- Mellisa, wife of Raju. Jayshree seems to be jealous of her. And Tulsidas always says that, " Main ne to pehle hi kaha tha yeh ladki raju ke liye theek nahi hai". Jayshree refers her as 'kadki'.
- Himanshu, brother of Hansa. He works as a cooking teacher. Instead of being in his own house he stays in his brother in law's house.His common dialogue is 'kise ko pata bhi nahi chlega.'
- Jacky, son of Jayshree. Has a catchphrase of "Bade Log Bade Log" which he says along with Chakki.
- Chakki, daughter of Hansa and Praful. Has a catchphrase of "Bade Log Bade Log" which she saysalong with Jacky.
- Jignesh, brother of jayeshree
- Bhavesh Kumar, son-in-law of the "Parekhs". He is always hungry and keeps eating all the time without doing no work.
- Hira and Mira, daughters of Tulsidas. Mira is Bhavesh's wife and Hira always has the urge to go to the toilet.
Awards
Khichdi has been almost continuously awarded by various television awards in the country, ever since its debut, including the in-house Star Parivaar Awards
Movie
Khichdi - The Movie is set to come out on October 1st 2010
See also
- Instant Khichdi, the sequel series