Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai was one of the best ever Indian comedy serials. The cast was excellent, the script fresh and hilarious and the episodes extremely well enacted. Recently we heard about a Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai cast reunion, which sparked discussions about a possible return of the serial. Indian audiences will be more than happy.
This picture of the Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai gang was published recently
Sarabhai vs Sarabhai
It reminded us of the many, many reasons we loved the show and lamented the fact that it was so short lived.
A welcome alternative to the interminable saas-bahu sagas
Rosesh
Indian TV features mostly melodramatic, poorly scripted, regressive shows whereas Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai was smart, funny, modern and highly watchable. Even the mother in law-daughter in law battles were acerbic without being melodramatic.
The खट्टी मीठी नोक झोंक
The arguments
There was squabbling without the rancor, spousal criticism that was still based on a loving relationship… it was all light, frothy and always humorous.
the couple
It poked fun at our hypocrisy
hypocrisy
The serial took gentle digs at the many hypocrisies in society including the strange ways the rich and famous do ‘good’ for the less fortunate.
poetry
It also was critical of the culture vultures in our society who have little understanding of the arts but want to be associated with it nevertheless. Rosesh’s insistence upon writing awful poetry was an example.
It also took a humorous look at the frequently obsessive mother-son bond
emotional melodrama
My mother can do no wrong and equally my son can do no wrong… this can and does happen in our society and Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai portrayed it very accurately…
truth
…and sometimes with a hilarious twist.
Even the saas-bahu altercations were classy
bahu
Maya’s barbs were always brilliantly subtle, her clever put-downs always falling just short of outright rudeness.
The show laughed at the class divide
so ls
Maya was an upper class wannabe and Monisha was relentlessly middle class. The war of the classes was relentless but never grew tedious.
Even the supporting characters were brilliant
the nerd
There was Dushyant the inveterate repairer or gadgets, the deaf uncle Madhusudan bhai aka he he Kumar and many others in the serial who were utterly likable; characters we never grew weary of.
We would welcome the return of Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai
we want you back
But our luck being what it is, we’ll probably get Balika Badhu re dux or something!
Author – Reena Daruwalla
