Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 10, 2020)

Doordarshan re-running classics from the ’80s and the ’90s has started a new trend. The latest to join the bandwagon are Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Khichdi, CID, Aahat and Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai.

Ratna Pathak Shah who played the lead in the popular comedy series Sarabhai vs Sarabhai believes that at a time when melodrama and supernaturalism are ruling the roost, it will be a major respite. “Sarabhai is intelligent and witty, which I’m afraid can’t be said about a lot of our comedy programming. Many of us have moved to other formats to consume something other than mythological stories and saas-bahu jhagda. As far as I’m concerned, that’s rock bottom. We can only go up! Sarabhai can lead the way,” she says.

Actor Sumeet Raghavan believes that the audience who couldn’t shift to OTT to revisit these shows will be struck by nostalgia. “The fans for these shows have kept on increasing. For those who’re still not averse with the online world, will find it easier to catch these shows again,” he elaborates.

CID that ran from 1998 to 2018 became a game-changing series in the crime genre. Dayanand Shetty who played Daya in it believes that it’s a show that can bring a family together. He says, “The reality shows that are being aired have content which is slightly below the belt. I wouldn’t want young minds watching them. As for crime shows, they’re so bad that you can’t watch them with your family. The content is brutal and upsetting.”

Writer-director Aatish Kapadia who’ve been part of some popular series says, “Indian families generally tend to be together during any crisis situation. If these shows can make them forget their worries for two hours in the morning, I believe they can get through the day.”