July 09, 2024 01:52 PM IST
Sarabhai vs Sarabhai is an Indian sitcom that aired in the early 2000s. The show’s creator JD Majethia recently revealed that it did not become popular immediately.
Sarabhai vs Sarabhai is considered one of the most iconic shows that aired on Indian television in the mid-2000s. The series was known for its humour and satire on family dynamics. In a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan for his YouTube channel, the show’s creator, JD Majethia, said that the sitcom flopped initially because the Indian audience has a “middle-class mindset”. (Also Read: Ratna Pathak Shah, Rupali Ganguly Together Again: Monisha Calls Peanut Butter ‘Peanut Chutney’, Maya Sarabhai Reacts)
Indians don’t like intelligent cinema: JD Majethia
Reflecting on the initial failure of Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, the producer said, “There is a lot to learn from it. India is a country of mediocre people, especially when it comes to watching TV. Mediocre I don’t mean bad, I mean they don’t expect some super intelligent cinema in life, they just want some light-hearted stuff, the middle-class mindset, ‘I have come back home after a long day, just give me something good to watch or show me a drama for women.’ They don’t want to use their brains too much. Now, in this scenario, comes this comedy which is brilliantly written by Aatish Kapadia. It was important to have the knowledge of the vocabulary (to enjoy it). Also, it used to air every Monday, so there was no habit forming. People who watched the show loved it. There wasn’t much chance to watch it again and again in those days, so they had to wait for the next Monday to watch the new episode.”
He further added, “YouTube had come by then and was gaining prominence. That’s where people really discovered the show. In the list of best comedy shows watched across India, Khichdi and Sarabhai would be above Friends and other American shows! The show didn’t do very well in the first season, but even today it is considered one of the best comedy shows in India. I am very happy with its journey.”
JD Majethia’s television and film career
Sarabhai vs Sarabhai aired on Life OK and featured Satish Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Sumeet Raghavan, Rupali Ganguly and Rajesh Kumar. JD Majethia aka Jamnadas Majethia is known for his work in Gujarati and Hindi plays, dramas, serials and films. Apart from playing the role of a producer, he is also an actor and director. He has featured in television series like Chanakya, Khichdi, Instant Khichdi, Sarabhai vs Sarabhai Take 2 and Khichdi Returns. Apart from acting in these films, he also backed films like Khichdi and Khichdi Returns: Mission Panthukistan.
Sarabhai vs Sarabhai is available for streaming on Disney+Hotstar.
