The Madraswallah Podcast

In 1985, Doordarshan did a desi adaptation of Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice, which was directed by Meena Vaishnavi. I discuss this little known gem of Indian television with my friend and Austen fan Ranjitha where we compare this DD adaptation by Kamna Chandra with other film and television adaptations.

The year 1988-89 marked the centenary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and the occasion was celebrated with the airing of Shyam Benegal’s Bharat Ek Khoj on Doordarshan. This podcast brings you details about the making of this classic of Indian television.

For over 11 years, Surabhi brought to the masses the story of India and its rich heritage in a way seldom on Indian television. Every Sunday Siddharth Kak and Renuka Shahane entered the drawing rooms of millions of Indians, as they showcased stories of India's incredible culture. Siddharth Kak goes back in time as he shares the beginning of Surabhi, the flood of postcards from readers, some enthralling moments from the rich showcase and what it takes to make a Surabhi again.

The story of Rama has been revealed over millennia through multiple art forms. In the 20th century, when cinema emerged as a global art form, the Ramayana became a story that filmmakers turned to time and again. This podcast brings to you some interesting attempts to capture the essence of the Ramayans on the silver screen in Hindi cinema

Hum Log was India’s first television soap opera and set the tone for home entertainment for the decades to come. This podcast is a tribute to the genius of P Kumar Vasudev, Manohar Shyam Joshi and the wonderful artistes who made Hum Log a reality for us.