TV REVIEW: Ghar Ki Baat Hai

With Shah Rukh Khan and Aziz Mirza in the helm of affairs, it indeed looks like Ghar Ki Baat Hai. Well, we are talking about the new show on NDTV Imagine Ghar Ki Baat Hai (at 9.30 pm, Friday-Sunday), co-produced by Mirza, who's a part of SRK's Red Chillies Entertainment.

After his stint as a host in Kaun Banega Crorepati-3 and Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain, Shah Rukh has now decided to produce a show with an intension to 'add cinematic value on television'.

SRK's association with Mirza dates back to Circus days, a popular show with Shah Rukh in the lead. It aired on Doodarshan almost 20 years ago. Since then the duo has made many films together including Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Yes Boss and Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani.

Coming back to Ghar Ki Baat Hai, it's a light-hearted show sprinkled with little bit of drama and a pinch of humor, directed by actor-filmmaker Anant Mahadevan.

The show sees Sumeet Raghavan of Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai fame as Rajdeep, his wife Juhi Babbar as Radhika and Swapnil Joshi (of Shri Krishna and Tu Tu Main Main fame) as Sumeet's brother-in-law Kakku. The story revolves around Rajdeep's family and the situations they face in their day-to-day lives.

The peripheral cast includes Jayati Bhatia and Deven Munjal and Ali Asgar. Sounds familiar? No points for guessing, as SRK himself admits, Ghar Ki Baat Hai is his tribute to Doordarshan's popular show Yeh jo Hai Zindagi, a big crowd puller in 1984-1985.

Though SRK claims it's not a remake, the first episode seemed to be an out-and-out rip-off, where the husband pretends to forget their wedding anniversary and the wife files a divorce case on her brother's provocation. We can't help recall (at least those who have seen Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi) Shafi Inamdar, Swaroop Sampat and Rakesh Bedi coming alive on screen once again, fighting over a bowl of gulab jamun. Well, here it's gajar ka halwa, if we can call that being original...