Kyuki in Afghanistan

Every evening at 8.30 life in much of the Afghan capital is suspended for half an hour. Children take a break from homework, their parents and grandparents from the daily grind as Kabul follows the trials and tribulations of its favourite daughter-in-law, Tulsi Mihir Virani.

It would be an understatement to say that Kyonki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is a rage in Afghanistan. Tolo TV, a local Afghani channel, has bought the rights and telecasts a dubbed version of the Ekta Kapoor production daily.

Abdul, a local doctor, says, "You will hardly find anyone going out of their houses at that time. Everyone here -- from children to women to the aged -- knows who Tulsi and Mihir are."

And Abdul does not seem to be off the mark. Twenty five people, who were questioned in an impromptu survey, claimed to religiously follow the ups and downs of the Virani khaandan. Local observer Noor Rahman Rahmani explains this trend: "The kind of things that the serial shows is very similar to what goes on in our homes. Mother and daughter-in-laws quarrelling with each other, it is a daily occurrence here."

At a recent wedding Rahmani attended the music was turned off and the food put away at 8:30 pm so that guests could find the nearest television and get their daily dose of their favourite family saga.

And Kyunki is not the only 'K' product that has become popular in these parts. With cable TV entering many a home, people here have access to channels such as Zee TV and Star Plus. Most families are hooked on to shows such as Kasauti Zindagi Ki, Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki and Kaavyanjali.

There are more reasons for any Indian to feel at home in Kabul. The latest Himesh Reshammiya chartbusters are used as ring-tones. Every third song played on local radio stations is a Bollywood number. Most cinemas here only offer Hindi flicks to their customers and even Afghani channels broadcast at least two to three Bollywood films a day.