Hum Log (TV series)

Hum Log

A still from Hum Log
Genre Drama, entertainment and Indian soap opera.
Written by Manohar Shyam Joshi
Directed by P. Kumar Vasudev
Starring Vinod Nagpal
Jayshri Arora
Rajesh Puri
Abhinav Chaturvedi
Seema Bhargava
Divya Seth
Sushma Seth
Opening theme "Hum Log" by Anil Biswas
Country of origin India
Original language(s) Hindi
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 154
Production
Producer(s) Doordarshan
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time Approx. 25 minutes
Release
Original network Doordarshan
Picture format SDTV (576i)
Original release 7 July 1984 – 17 December 1985
External links
Website

Hum Log (English: We People) was Indian television's first soap opera and also the first serial drama series on the Indian subcontinent. It began telecast on Doordarshan, India's national network on 7 July 1984, then the only television channel of India.[1] It is the story of an Indian middle-class family of the 1980s and their daily struggles and aspirations.[2][3][4]

It was created on the lines of a Mexican television series, Ven Conmigo (1975), using the education-entertainment methodology.The idea of the TV series came to then Information and Broadcasting Minister, Vasant Sathe, after a Mexican trip in 1982. Soon the idea for Hum Log was developed in collaboration with writer Manohar Shyam Joshi, who scripted the series, and filmmaker, P. Kumar Vasudev, who went on direct the series.[5][6] The title score was composed by music director Anil Biswas.[7]

156 episodes of Hum Log were broadcast. The episodes were for thirty-minute timeslots, with the final episode being for an hour timeslot.

At the end of every episode, veteran Hindi film actor Ashok Kumar discussed the ongoing story and situations with the audience using Hindi couplets and limericks. In later episodes, introduced the actors who played various characters in the serial and end his monologue with the various Indian language versions of the words "Hum Log".

Cast and characters

Development and production

In 1984, Mexican television writer Miguel Sabido, who had written the popular Mexican telenovela on educational entertainment, Ven conmigo (Come with Me, 1975) on adult literacy, was invited to India. Working with local writer, he helped created the series which tackled social issues like family planning, caste harmony, empowerment of women, national integration, dowry, alcoholism and drug abuse.[1][8] Ven conimgo was in turned based on the a Peruvian telenovela, Simplemente María (Simply Maria, 1969-1971).[1]

The cast would meet for rehearsals at 3 pm at Himachal Bhavan, near Mandi House in Delhi, and thereafter a van would take them to a studio in suburb Gurgaon where it was shot.[5]

Reception

During its 17-month run, Ashok Kumar received over 400,000 letters from young viewers, asking him to convince their parents in marriage of their choice.[1]

Retelecast and remaking

In early 2000, Sony TV bought the tapes from Doordarshan and re-telecast the 154 episode story in 52 episodes.

Presently, it is being retelecast on Doordarshan as Hum - Ek Chote Gaon Ki Badi Kahani. The cast of Hum - Ek Chote Gaon Ki Badi Kahani includes Sadiya Siddiqui, Mona Wasu, Vineet Kumar, Suhasini Mulay, Anjan Srivastav, Himani Shivpuri and Harsh Chhaya.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Stephanie Hegarty (April 27, 2012). "How soap operas changed the world". BBC News. Retrieved 2016-01-26.
  2. ↑ "Hum Log, 25 years on". Rediff.com.
  3. ↑ "An episode in history". Indian Express. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
  4. ↑ Sinha, Meenakshi (8 July 2009). "25 years on, viewers still remember 'Hum Log'". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
  5. 1 2 Alaka Sahani (August 23, 2009). "Sister Act". Indian Express. Retrieved 2016-01-26.
  6. ↑ "Looking back at Hum Log". indiatogether.org. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
  7. ↑ Anil Biswas downmelodylane.com.
  8. ↑ Jeff Crider (September 20, 1987). "Adult Literacy, Birth Control Addressed in Dramas : Third World Soaps Tackle Social Problems". LA Times. Retrieved 2016-01-26.
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