Politics Insight News Without Politics
(Pi Bureau)
Virendra Singh Rawat
Social Commentator
Every night, an ordinary Indian household, especially in the Hindi belt of the North, the entire family sits close and tune in to the laugh riot of ‘Bhabhiji ghar par hain’ being dished out on the idiot box.
The popular sitcom has completed three years on TV and continues its strong run, although a female lead was replaced last year owing to differences with the producer. Even her departure was soon forgotten and the viewers lapped up the new female lead in the serial, which shows its strong brand equity.
Not only women and children, but the sitcom has been mesmerising even the male audiences with its rather simple story narrations and plots.
But, what really clicks with its aficionados and kept its popularity soaring high? Its main actors have become popular with the general audience cutting across socioeconomic barriers and their screen names are more in currency than their real ones.
I thin, the main reason for its popularity lies in the clean entertainment and comedy relief that the people get at the day’s end, while the sitcom also narrates stories of everyday life. Even the lingo is colloquial which ignites a known and homely feeling with the serial. Its next door characters and settings are other bonuses.
The peeping toms of Vibhuti Narain and Tiwari ji in search of a glimpse of their neighbourhood bhabhis keep the viewers in split. The antics of the two bhabhis has endeared them to the scores of women and of course men, the young and old alike in equal measure.
Then there are the sidekicks of Happu Singh, a bribe taking yet harmless and potbellied cop, who is seen chewing pan and mouthing hilarious one liners. The local ruffians of Tika and Malkhan along with a near lunatic Saxena ji, dishy Gulfan Jaan, lecherous Prem et al complete the picture, leaving the audiences asking for more.
