Hum Log
Hum Log (English: We People) is an Indian television soap opera and also the first serial drama series in India. It began telecast on Doordarshan, India's national network on 7 July 1984, then the only television channel of India.[1] It is the story of an Indian middle-class family of the 1980s and their daily struggles and aspirations.[2][3][4][5]
| Hum Log | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Soap opera |
| Written by | Manohar Shyam Joshi |
| Directed by | P. Kumar Vasudev |
| Starring | Vinod Nagpal Jayshri Arora Rajesh Puri Abhinav Chaturvedi Seema Bhargava Divya Seth Sushma Seth |
| Opening theme | "Hum Log" by Anil Biswas |
| Country of origin | India |
| Original language | Hindi |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 154 |
| Production | |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | Approx. 25 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | Doordarshan |
| Picture format | 480i |
| Original release | 7 July 1984 – 17 December 1985 |
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.[6][7] The title score was composed by music director Anil Biswas.
At the end of every episode, veteran Hindi film actor 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".
Cast and characters
- Ashok Kumar as Narrator
- Vinod Nagpal as Basesar Ram: alcoholic father
- Jayshree Arora as Bhagwanti: the mother, a housewife
- Rajesh Puri as Lalit Prasad a.k.a. Lalloo: the eldest son, unemployed and looking for a job
- Abhinav Chaturvedi as Chander Prakash a.k.a. Nanhe: the younger son, aspiring to be a cricketer
- Seema Pahwa as Gunvanti a.k.a. Badki, a social worker
- Divya Seth as Rupvanti a. k. a. Majhli, aspiring to be an actress
- Loveleen Mishra as Preeti a.k.a. Chhutki, aspiring to be a doctor
- Lahiri Singh as Dadaji: retired military man and the grandfather
- Sushma Seth as Imarti Devi a.k.a. Dadi: the grandmother
- Renuka Israni as Usha Rani, Lalloo's wife
- Kamia Mulhotra as Kamia Lal
- Aasif Sheikh as Prince Ajay Singh
- Manoj Pahwa as Tony: Guy who elopes with Majhli
- Suchitra (Srivastava) Chitale as Lajwanti ak.a. Lajo
- Kavita Nagpal as Santo Tai
- Ashwini Kumar as Dr. Ashwini Kumar
- Rajendra Ghuge as Inspector Sadanand Samdar
- Aparna Katara as Dr. Aparna
- S. M. Zaheer as Prof. Sudhir
- Vishwa Mohan Badola as Music teacher
Development and production
In 1984, Mexican television writer Miguel Sabido, who had written the popular 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.[1][8] Ven conimgo was in turned based on the a Peruvian telenovela, Simplemente María (Simply Maria, 1969-1971).[1]
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.[6]
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.[1]
References
- Stephanie Hegarty (27 April 2012). "How soap operas changed the world". BBC News. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
- "Hum Log, 25 years on". Rediff.com.
- "An episode in history". Indian Express. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
- Sinha, Meenakshi (8 July 2009). "25 years on, viewers still remember 'Hum Log'". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
- "Hum Log: Revisiting that 80's show". Hindustan Times. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
- Alaka Sahani (23 August 2009). "Sister Act". Indian Express. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
- "Looking back at Hum Log". indiatogether.org. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
- Jeff Crider (20 September 1987). "Adult Literacy, Birth Control Addressed in Dramas : Third World Soaps Tackle Social Problems". LA Times. Retrieved 26 January 2016.