Books make for great TV shows!

While earlier too we have had TV serials based on novels and short stories, recently there has been a surge of literary gems on Indian Television.

Published: Thursday,May 08, 2014 18:53 PM GMT-06:00

Seema Matoo

Books have always inspired the entertainment industry, and not just films but Television too seeks inspiration from them since long back.

The popular show Hasratein dealing with adultery was based on Jaywant Dalvi's Marathi novel Adhantari while Zee TV's Keshav Pandit was inspired by Ved Prakash Sharma's novel Vijay Aur Keshav Pandit. Govind Nihalani's Tamas in 1987 was based on the classic book by Sahitya Akademi winner Bhishma Sahni, and acclaimed filmmaker Shyam Benegal's Katha Sagar depicted short stories by renowned writers like Rabindranath Tagore, Leo Tolstoy and Anton Chekov among others. Benegal's 53-episode series Bharat Ek Khoj was also based on Jawaharlal Nehru's book Discovery Of India.

Actress-turned-producer Manju Singh, also brought short stories to TV with her poignant stories in Ek Kahani. Star One's Resham Dankh was inspired by producer Aatish Kapadia's novel by the same name while the comedy sitcom Wagle ki Duniya was based on the popular characters created by noted cartoonist R. K. Laxman. The TV series Malgudi Days was based on the works of R. K. Narayan and was a hit with the kids as well as adults.

Balaji Telefilms too have had their share of adaptations with their show Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani being an adaptation of the novel Twilight written by Stephenie Meyer while another of their show Bandini on Imagine TV was adapted from Varsha Adalja's book Retpankhi.

Let's see at some of the shows which are on air now which are literary adaptations of popular novels.

Lapataganj Ek Baar Phir - Lapataganj on SAB TV is based on Sharad Joshi's stories and is about a small town in some part of rural India which has been forgotten by all so everyone has to struggle for basic facilities but the town people do it with a smile on their face. The show depicts how common man despite all odds can lead a happy and content life. The show was shown to be taking a six year leap and came back with a second season with actors Mukundilal (Rohitash Gaur) and Indumati (Sucheta Khanna).

Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah - Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah again on SAB TV is based on Gujarati novelist Taarak Mehta's popular comic strip series and book, Duniya Na Unda Chashma. Running for almost six years now the show is all about people residing in the Gokuldham Society in Mumbai with all the families coming from varied cultures and background. Showing unity in diversity it shows how the residents of the society live their day to day life with comic situations weaved in making the show a laugh riot. While the story focuses on the main characters Jethalal Gada (Dilip Joshi) and his wife Daya (Disha Wakani) we also have actor Shailesh Lodha playing the role of Taarak Mehta.

Bade Acche Lagte Hai - Produced by Balaji Telefilms this mature love story on Sony TV was a trend setter when it hit it off with the audience with Priya (Saakshi Tanwar) and Ram's (Ram Kapoor), two completely contrasting characters coming together, the initial disputes and nok-jhonk followed by them coming together. The serial is based on Imtiaz Patel's novel Patrani and with the leaps it has taken the story has gone further than the original novel.

Ye Hai Mohabbatein - Once again a popular mature love story on Star Plus between Raman Bhalla (Karan Patel) and Ishita (Divyanka Tripathy) Ye Hai Mohabatein produced by Balaji Telefilms is based on Manju Kapoor's novel Custody. The show was to retain the title too but it was changed later. The show depicts the story of how these two characters coming from two different parts of India stay connected due to their love for Raman's daughter who's custody he is fighting for from his first wife Shagun (Anita Hassanandani).

Saraswatichandra - Based on the classic Gujrati novel of the same name by Govardhanram Tripathi Saraswatichandra on Star Plus is about the love story between Saras (Gautam Rode) and Kumud (Jennifer Singh Grover). After many trials and tribulations the couple finally get married. The show has made many changes in the original story of the book and while retaining some things have also changed quite a few of them as per the audience likings.

Tumhari Paakhi - This show which is one of the highest rated shows on Life OK is based on Sharat Chandra Chatopadhyay's Bengali novel Naba Bidhan. Dealing with the issue of child marriage, the show tells the story of Anshuman (Iqbal Khan) a prominent businessman who has got married to Paakhi (Shraddha Arya) when they both are kids. Now as grown ups they are again trying to find love even as circumstances are not in their favor.

Kumkum Bhagya - Adapted from Jane Austen's classic Sense and Sensibility, this show is all about a tough Punjabi lady Sarla Arora (Supriya Shukla) who runs a marriage hall to run her family which comprises of her mother-in-law and two daughters, Pragya (Sriti Jha) and Bulbul (Mrunal Thakur). Along with the friendly neighbor Suresh (Faisal Rashid) we also have Shabbir Ahluwalia in the form of a rockstar Abhi to add up to the glamour quotient.

So, which is your favorite book that you want to see being made into a TV show?

Seema Khot Mattoo