Hum Log (TV series) explained

Genre:Soap opera
Director:P. Kumar Vasudev
Starring:Vinod Nagpal
Jayshri Arora
Rajesh Puri
Abhinav Chaturvedi
Seema Bhargava
Divya Seth
Sushma Seth
Opentheme:"Hum Log" by Anil Biswas
Country:India
Language:Hindi
Num Seasons:1
Num Episodes:156
Camera:Multi-camera
Runtime:25 minutes
Channel:DD National

Hum Log (English: We People) is an Indian television soap opera and also the first serial drama series in Hindi. It began telecast on 7 July 1984 on Doordarshan, the only television channel in India at the time. It is the story of an Indian middle-class family of the 1980s and their daily struggles and aspirations.[1] [2]

It was created on the lines of a Mexican television series, Ven Conmigo (1975), using the education-entertainment methodology. The idea of the TV series came to then Information and Broadcasting Minister, Vasant Sathe, after a Mexican trip in 1982. Soon the idea for Hum Log was developed in collaboration with writer Manohar Shyam Joshi, who scripted the series, and filmmaker, P. Kumar Vasudev, who went on direct the series.[3] The title score was composed by music director Anil Biswas.

At the end of every episode, Ashok Kumar discussed the ongoing story and situations with the audience using Hindi couplets and limericks. In later episodes, introduced the actors who played various characters in the serial and end his monologue with the various Indian language versions of the words "Hum Log".

The series was broadcast in the UK on the cable channel Indra Dhnush in 1992.[4]

Cast and characters

Development and production

In 1984, Mexican television writer Miguel Sabido, who had written the Mexican telenovela on educational entertainment, Ven conmigo (Come with Me, 1975) on adult literacy, was invited to India. Working with local writer, he helped created the series which tackled social issues like family planning, caste harmony, empowerment of women, national integration, dowry, alcoholism and drug abuse.[6] [7] Ven conimgo was in turned based on the a Peruvian telenovela, Simplemente MarĂ­a (Simply Maria, 1969-1971).[6]

The cast would meet for rehearsals at 3 pm at Himachal Bhavan, near Mandi House in Delhi, and thereafter a van would take them to a studio in suburb Gurgaon where it was shot.[3] [8]

Reception

During its 17-month run, Ashok Kumar received over 400,000 letters from young viewers, asking him to convince their parents in marriage of their choice. The viewership of each episode was more than 50 millions. [6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: An episode in history . . 8 July 2009 . 15 July 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090715005740/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/an-episode-in-history/485943 . live .
  2. Web site: Hum Log: Revisiting that 80's show. 2014-07-21. Hindustan Times. en. 2019-08-19. 19 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190819234535/https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/hum-log-revisiting-that-80-s-show/story-u4gx5IBZV3kuez0bI3q07K.html. live.
  3. Web site: Sister Act . . Alaka Sahani . 23 August 2009 . 26 January 2016 . 5 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160205120632/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/sister-act/505763/ . live .
  4. Satellite Times, July 1992
  5. Pahwa . Manoj . Mimansa Shekhar . Manoj Pahwa revisits Hum Log . First of Many . 12 August 2021 . . New Delhi . 2 April 2024 . subscription . 9 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230509115808/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/manoj-pahwa-hum-log-acting-debut-tv-show-doordarshan-first-of-many-7447181/ . live .
  6. Web site: How soap operas changed the world . BBC News . Stephanie Hegarty . 27 April 2012 . 26 January 2016 . 31 January 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160131094916/http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17820571 . live .
  7. Web site: Adult Literacy, Birth Control Addressed in Dramas : Third World Soaps Tackle Social Problems . 26 January 2016 . . 20 September 1987 . Jeff Crider . 31 January 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160131143534/http://articles.latimes.com/1987-09-20/news/mn-8914_1_soap-operas . live .
  8. https://youtube.com/aOfoxEQybi8?si=lA1aKuVbfdeEq--Y