Let’s start by acknowledging that Indian television does not have much going for itself right now. It’s been a long, long while since such classics as Wagle Ki Duniya, Malgudi Days, Byomkesh Bakshi, Dekh Bhai Dekh and even the never-ending Chandrakanta made way for invincible mothers-in-law and suffocating joint families.
Year 2000 started the reign of the stern mothers-in-law who hated their sundar-susheel daughters-in-law and unhealthily obsessed over their mostly chauvinistic sons. But in 2005, a comedy emerged through the clutter and achieved cult status, much to the disapproval of many saree-clad women of the type of Indian family that celebrates Diwali over at least five days.
This was Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai, directed by the hilarious Deven Bhojani (Karima from Dekh Bhai Dekh) and aired on Star One 11 years ago. The series deals with the everyday struggles of an upper-class Gujarati family in Mumbai after the elder son brings home a middle-class, penny-pinching, messy, loud-mouthed and boisterous woman. What follows is a show now famous for its unbeatable humour, memorable dialogue, endearing characters, and the worst poetry ever witnessed on TV.
The much-loved series ended with a hint of a second season, but it never came to pass. Producer JD Majethia recently tweeted a video of the cast singing the title track. It has since been confirmed that the show is returning as a web series. In the words of Rosesh Sarabhai, “Whoooopie!”
The sassy, sophisticated and crisp-cotton-saree wearing Maya (Ratna Pathak Shah) and the mischief-making Indravadan (Satish Shah) are parents to Sahil (Sumeet Raghavan), Rosesh (Rajesh Kumar) and Sonya (Kshitee Joh/Shital Thakkar). Monisha (Rupali Ganguly) is Sahil’s wife and a constant eye-sore to Maya, who is exasperated by her extraordinary middle classness. Monisha serves as inspiration for the most distinctive taunts ever to have been thrown at a daughter-in-law.
Extremely proud of her social status, Maya struggles to stop Monisha from bargaining at the mall, or asking for free dhaniya at the supermarket because it is “just so middle class”. Countless such instances find their way into the impeccable dialogue by Aatish Kapadia, giving Maya some of the most memorable lines on the show. Maya’s biggest supporter is Rosesh, a mama’s boy and budding poet. His flat robotic voice and unwavering meter add an extra layer of “Oh god, no” to his hysterically awful poems.
Most of them go something like this:
Hawa mein hain khushi ki aroma
Jeet gayi Momma, jeet gayi Momma
Say hi to happiness and tata to trauma
Jeet gayi momma, Jeet gayi momma
Rosesh and Maya are opposed by the intelligence and ready wit of Indravadan, who is a complete prankster and does a lot to get one up on Maya, usually by harassing Rosesh, his not-so-favourite son. In this chaotic Mumbai apartment, Sahil is left with the task of keeping the peace and the family together.
It isn’t only the main cast that delivers a laugh-a-minute. Maya and Indu’s daughter Sonya is a Tarot card reader, while her husband Dushyant (Deven Bhojani) is a technology enthusiast who loves tools, appliances, and explaining how everything works – usually by personification, using Rosesh as his crash test dummy. Indravadan’s sister and brother-in-law, who is hard of hearing, often drop in and add to the ever-amusing scenarios.
The sarcasm and quick wit on the show was a welcome addition to the TV scene. It’s no surprise then that news of a return went viral. Audiences are usually starved for quality Indian programming, and Sarabhai vs Sarabhai promises something we not only desperately need on TV, but deserve. That makes it sound like the Batman of Indian comedy. Wait a minute… I think there is be a horrible poem somewhere in here.
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