If you're old enough, you will recall those days of the 1980s when Doordarshan, India's single, solitary TV channel would air the Ramayan serial on Sundays. The streets would wear a deserted look, people would be found sitting reverentially in front of their TVs. This beloved serial first aired in 1987 and is now airing again – in the interests of so many millions in lockdown with the COVID-19 pandemic. #Ramayan started to trend on Twitter.
People are sharing their own memories of watching Ramayana on TV and their nostalgic joy at watching it again.
The tweeple never forget – they remembered the time when actor Sonakshi Sinha was seemingly unable to answer a simple Ramayana-related question.
Time was the TV viewing was a group activity, not a solitary pursuit.
It would seem that those times have returned with #Ramayan.
With the lockdown on, the roads are quieter than they have been for years, something else that people seem nostalgic for.
Another serial that aired in the past with a huge and devoted viewership was Shaktiman; probably the first desi superhero.
Back in the day, people used to look forward to Nukkad, Humlog, Chitrahaar, Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, Malgudi Days, Buniyaad, Karamchand, Wagle ki Duniya as well.
With the plethora of options available to people, they still choose to watch this series.
When Ramayana first aired, a lot of TV sets were still Black & White. There are those who are watching the series on colour for the first time.
Doordarshan is usually ignored by the same people who seem to have rediscovered it. It is as though it has had a new lease of life, feel the tweeple.
It was pointed out that Laxman drawing the Laxman-Rekha for Sita was something like a lockdown as well.
The tweeple quickly unleashed memes about Ramayana presenting a challenge to streaming services.
Streaming platforms cannot hope to match DD’s reach.
The staying power of the state owned DD is without parallel.
Kids from the 80s will also remember this – kids these days have no clue about the struggles of aligning the antennae.
Older people are happy to be re-watching Ramanand Sagar’s #Ramayan and are hoping kids will do the same.
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