Rakhi Purnima Monday, 29 June, 2009
Posted by ~uh~™ in Cartoon, Television, Wack's Museum.Tags: Cartoon, honeymoon, marriage, moon, publicity, Rakhi, Reality, Swayamvar, TV, Youtube
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Quote: ‘....The show promises to reveal a seldom-seen side of Rakhi and also provide an insightful glimpse……’
Cute & Corrupting: Shin Chan is no more Wednesday, 15 April, 2009
Posted by ~uh~™ in Television.Tags: adult, Anime', Cartoon, Children, Humour, Hungama TV, Japanese, Manga, serial, Shin Chan, Television
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Shin Chan- Animated series, Hungama TV
This is one of my old reviews published elsewhere in 2007. The serial on topic is shown no more on TV and I understand it was banned. Read further to know why a children’s serial should be banned.
What is it?
Most, may hear this name for the first time. When we think of Hungama TV or Pogo, obvious name comes to our mind probably is, “Takeshi’s Castle”, where Japanese folks generally make fool of themselves while we laugh at Javed Jaffery’s Hindi elucidation. Takeshi’s castle compared to Shin Chan is like Bay watch to Playboy late night.
Shin Chan is a comic animated series of Japanese origin (named Crayon Shin Chan). The show here is dubbed in Hindi. I have seen the show aired at late night 10:30pm on weekdays, which most likely, is a repeat. The regular timing is in the morning and late enough to be missed by the school going kids. I was surprised to discover that Shin Chan is a universally acclaimed series. Shin Chan fans are called “Bastard Brigade” .
Now the real inexplicable part- The show just looks like a kids show, it’s actually not ? I am unsure this series is meant for kids or their parents? I will try to cover the main characters & the contents; MS intelligentsia may apply their judicious wisdom to decide the suitability for kid’s viewing! BTW the Shin Chan official website says it’s an adult show!
Shin Chan is the name of a 5-year-old Japanese kid, the protagonist of the series. The series is created on Japanese art of animation (Manga); meaning- limbs, faces and expressions are somewhat exaggerated and made weird to portray any specific emotions or situation. White drops of perspiration on the head and rapid radical change in facial complexion, included.
Characters & Content
Sin Chan is a story about the everyday life of Nohara family centered on Shin Chan. Nohara family consists of Sinshan’s dad, mom, his sister and their puppy. The puppy is named Sheroo (in Hindi). Sin Chan goes to a KG school where he has fellow classmates, a class teacher named Yoshinaka madam, the school principal, another teacher called Matsuzaka. The commonly featured friends of Sinchan are Masao and Hitoshi. There are some others as well, but its difficult to remember and pronounce Japanese names.
The official website of Shin Chan (yes, it has one) and Wikipedia says:
“Shin chan is a 5-year-old boy with a devilish charm, carefree attitude and a natural quality of inviting trouble. He can single-handedly turn a pleasant afternoon into a never-ending battle of wits.
One can hardly blame him for being a one-kid disaster squad, as these qualities are adopted by him from his own parents. ……, Shin Chan takes you through a hilarious series of events.”
Apparently, the description above reminds us of Dennis the menace. But it’s greatly different from the innocence of Dennis series. Each episode of Sin Chan deals with a various situation faced by Nohara family- his school & student outings, visit to the local departmental store, an weekend trip to the zoo, visit to a hospital to see someone unwell, mother’s back-pain, drunken spree of dad, buying something for the house, a visit to the library, a day of home alone, training for earthquake protection, etc etc. The show demonstrates how Shin Chan’s bizarre and wicked tricks invariably leads to major embarrassment to all involved and finally makes his disgruntled parents go red with infamy. The size & shape of consequential swelling on Shin Chan’s cranium is directly proportional to the fury of his mother. Acutely enough, his dad gets the same treatment as well. The series indeed is somewhat insane.
Animated innuendo?
The humour in the original Japanese series is rooted on Shin Chan’s inappropriately distorted commonly used phrases, coupled with his uncanny behaviors, thus creating awkward situation for his parents. Though, the Hindi translation fails to capture the same linguistic exclusivity, this setback is attempted to overcome by using really eerie kid voices for Shin Chan & his friends and some apt contextualization in the naming.
Shin Chan is obsessed with some part of female anatomy, especially his teachers’. He is notoriously clever to provoke that sales girl in miniskirt climb atop a table, for his viewing pleasure. He forces his dad to think about a supplement “model” mom in a bikini. He sings “barsaat ke raat mein humse mile tum…” with his drunken dad in an obnoxious tone to wake the entire neighborhood up at mid night. He is infamous in school for triggering professional rivalry between his teachers into lewd catfights. His comments towards his parents, teachers, and even complete strangers are horribly gawky. He leaves his Principal blush in indignity; Doctors succumb to insults, librarian shout like dog, and his parents exhausted & hopeless. No kidding here.
Inference
All of us, who are in the life’s sole & toughest task of bringing up kids, may closely connect with a heartfelt association with Shin Chan, the series. However, I do not have any doubt towards the serial’s enlightening value to parents. It may be shown to a kid for “what not to do”. But then, in today’s context where most kids are smarter than their parents, they may implement few of the tricks learnt from this series. However, like all impish & uncanny, these series do infuse a sense of noxious attraction towards this weird comedy show, and makes us parents grin to the satanic charm of Shin Chan!
Corollary
1. Everything animated may not be for kids.
2. When kids watch something on TV, keep an eye…;-), you may like it too
UnforgoTEN Monday, 13 April, 2009
Posted by ~uh~™ in Television.Tags: Chunauti, Dekh Bhai Dekh, Durdarshan, Fauji, Flop Show, Jaban Samhalke, Karam Chand, Kile ka Rehesya, Malgudi Days, Mr. Yogi, Mungerilal Ki Haseen Sapne, Nukkad, Philips top 10, Serials, Shriman Shrimati, Subah, Tenalirama, TV, Wagle Ki Duniya, Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi
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This is my old post cross posted from here.
Introduction
After reading 10 best ads from the bygone era by one of the_Reviewer , nostalgia whelmed . Those pre-cable TV days, when our B&W ECTV in that sturdy wooden box, used to give us immense pleasure out of a singular channel. Waiting for our favorite serials at 9 pm, watching it at DD, with all in the family. Unadulterated, clean & absolute humour ruled my childhood.
This is my list of the memorable TV serials between 80′s & 90′s (probably, the Golden years of TV serials), which has created an eternal impression on my mind. Thinking about these serials, the opening jingles, the humour, the characters and the good time we generally had, may still bring smile to many of us.
Many bloggers have already put excellent reviews on the same subject. Nevertheless, good things in life, bringing freshness and joy, can always be recalled again and again. This listing is restricted to humour genre (sitcom,
wit, satire, sarcasm or in other form) made in Hindi language.
Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi (This thing called life) > 80 DD
Undoubtedly, this was the big daddy of the popular comedy shows. Directed by Kundan Shah the story was about Ranjit and his wife, his boss and her brother Raja. Characters played by Satish Shah, Shafi Inamdar as Ranjit, Swaroop Sampat as Renu, Rakesh Bedi as Raja, Tiku Talsania as the sweet & always-tensed boss will stay immortal. Satish Shah was the only variable character who played different roles including an unwanted guest, a mechanic, servant etc. Who will forget the hilarious ” Yeh kya ho raha hai?” (What’s happening here?) dialogue exclaimed by Tiku? In fact long time I remembered Raja before knowing his real name! After Shafi died, Farida Jalal added additional sweetness in the comeback of the series.
Karam Chand > 85 DD
Well, this was not exactly a comedy but a mystery series with a wit. But, it was full of humour with Pankaj Kapoor as the detective and Sushmita Mukherjee as Kitty . The famous carrot eating detective and his dialogue to his secretary ” Kitty, don’t be silly” was legendary. Probably this was one of the most ancient detective serials on DD. I still remember the way Karamchand used to walk- fast, cautious & confident! Karamchand was absolute fun filled and satisfying!
Nukkad > 86 DD
Again, not exactly comedy. But full of fun, frolic and life straight from Mumbai streets. The immortal characters Guru, Guptaji, Teacherji, Hari and the unforgettable Khopdi , churned out great episodes of simple life of a local mohalla! Dilip Dhawan, Reema Lagoo & Rama Bhij was excellent in portraying their roles. I still remember the simple studio set with the stairs going up to the main road, the Pan shop etc. I used to wonder whether Khopdi was actually a drunkard, as later he was used as it is in silent movie Pushpaka, this time a rich drunkard.
The title song “.. bade shahar ki badi gali main…basa hua hai….Nukkad” was synonymous to 9 pm weekdays! It lingers on still.
Wagle Ki Duniya ( Wagle’s World) >88 DD
Satire again. Wagle & Radhika. Representatives of middle class husband wife. Played by Anjaan Srivastav & Bharati Achrekar entertained us with their conversation on regular matters. The episodes took us to very simple things of everyday life, sentiments, and happiness and left us with great entertainment. Wagle as an ” aam-admi” is immortal in his way of living life. I remember when he challenged his wife, that he can run the household in an economic way and by mid month overshot the budget. Wagle apparently looked like a loser, but he gave us tips to be a winner. Always.
Jaban Samhalke (Mind your language) 88 DD
Desi version of “Mind your language”. Hilarious, with Pankaj Kapoor as the Class teacher of a bunch of weird students from around the country and different parts of world to learn Hindi! I am sure the bubbly girl with curly hair was liked a lot by all. Other memorable characters were the Arab Sheik with his weird Hindi pronunciations and the Sindhi guy..!
Dekh Bhai Dekh>88 DD
Probably the next best sitcom after YJHZ. This was about a family full of insane members with their bizarre behavior. Sekhar Soman ruled this sitcom with his family members played by Navin Nischol, Shushma Sheth and Farida Jalaal.
The jingle “is rang badalti duniya mein Kya tera hain kya mera hain Dekh Bhai Dekh…Dekh Bhai Dekh!”(In this world of changing colours, nothing belongs to you & me, brother !”)
Probably I have killed the song brutally with my horrible translation. Please someone do justice in right Angrezi.
Mr. Yogi >89 DD
Remember Mohan Gokhale? The lean and thin guy played an NRI named Yogesh, who returned to India in search of his bride? Directed by Ketan Mehta, Sutradha r- the desi Superman played by Om Puri to narrate the middle-notes. Each episode had a unique story of his search and a tragicomic end. It entertained me, without fail. The only bad parts I remember was the bulging belly of Sutradhar and his wrinkly underpants over the somewhat loose bodysuit. Other wise it was just hilarious!
Flop Show> 89 DD
Brutally humorous. The Sardar called Jaspal Bhatti was the mis-director and played the lead role with his wife Savita Bhatti. Bhatti and his assistant Vivek Shauq ripped apart the flimsy robe of intellect we wear in our corrupted society. The topics ranged from strategy for theft by studying drawings to find weaker walls in an apartment, dead telephones, meetings at office, chief guests etc! Jaspal Bhatti taught me laugh at myself. Once, Bhatti visited a friend at Hospital with a bunch of sugarcane, as fruit! This serial was satire at its best.
Shriman Shrimati ( Mr & Mrs) > 89 DD
This was about the daily life of a married couple. Probably influenced by a Western series. One of the serials, which I waited on every Sunday morning, and used to enjoy. Jatin Kankaria, Rakesh Bedi, Archana Puran Singh and Reema Lagoo were at their best. Rakesh played the Dilruba. Jatin’s role later in film “Khoobsoorat” was memorable ( divine light !) This serial had a second innings called Shriman Shrimati 2, which was not at all comparable. It may be noted that Rajan Waghdhare, the director was previously editor of YZHZ! He also directed Colgate Top 10 (Reference here) .
Mungerilal Ki Haseen Sapne (The Sweet Dreams of Mugerilal) > 90 DD
Depicted dreams of a simple middle-class guy played by Raghuveer Jadav . This was his debut in TV just after Massey Sahib & Salam Bombay ( remember Chillum ?). Each episode was this simple man’s dream to do it big, and dream of beating his regular challenges -like making his wife listen to him! All his dreams remained dream. Raghuveer’s talent representing this no-body was conspicuous itself. Later he did excellent in Gayab . Rajpal Jadhav today reminds me of Raghuveer.
Other favorites include Subah, Chunauti, Fauji, Kile ka Rehesya, Philips top 10, Tenalirama, Malgudi Days.
HOW is how you enjoy the bliss of a Sepia Matinee.
