Sarabhai vs Sarabhai

All through this week, have noticed Star One showing snippets of a new game show: something-something-cash. I don’t have any problem with the game show irrespective of whatever is the ultimate motto behind having it. But there is a reason for me and I am sure, for many like me, who used to look forward to watching something that was extremely special, than what has been put on us instead: yet another reality / game show.

Yes, I am talking about Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai. Looks like, Star one has decided not to continue the immensely popular sitcom - at least not during prime time. It’s a pity that such a special show will have to make way for nothing but a game show.

For me, svs was not just a ‘serial’ or ‘soap’. It was much more than that. Any person who understands the importance of money and also appreciates class would have fallen in love with this show just as I did.

Actually, after having watched many episodes of svs, I am still to come to terms to the fact that this is an Indian show. Like all famous and hugely popular sitcoms in the west, every show of svs has had a nice beginning that sets up the mood for that episode, a precise middle that keeps you thinking and a happy ending that leaves you asking for more. I actually fall short of words while appreciating the work of the show’s director. He has made sure; it won’t take much time even for a new viewer to get familiar with each character. And he has done that in every single show. The fact that the story of the day is never obvious or predictable made watching it even more special. One more important aspect which might be again similar to western shows is that, there are very few characters. And the artists have done an amazing job of keeping the true nature of each character alive irrespective of the issue of the day. Earlier I used to say to my close ones it’s impossible to imagine this show without Ratna Pathak Shah. But I was wrong. Every artist has performed so well you can’t replace any one – can’t even think of it.

For a person who works all day, faces real tensions of life, like commute, work, quality of food, arguments with boss, deadlines, kids, emis, (and many more); svs was like a blessing for him. It was like an assured oasis to be found every night along life’s journey in the deserts of sadness, turmoil and chaos.

Maya’s sophistication and various ways of adding adjectives to the world middleclass, Monisha’s innocence, Rosesh’s pronunciation of ‘Momma’ and of course his poems, Indravadan’s meticulous balancing act of being both a debonair and down to earth, Dushyant’s ways of explaining the technical problems of appliances, and Sahil’s appreciation of innocence and also being in his own class are the things that I am going to miss from this show.

Whether or not svs will continue, ‘sweet and hilarious subtleties and the side effects of royalty meeting down to earth’ will keep haunting me for a long time to come. Hopefully, better sense will prevail and svs will retain its prime time slot.