Nothing New To Catch Your Fancy? Give These Classic Shows From The 90s & 00s A Watch!

In the 1990s, the Indian television industry was thriving. In India, it was the golden age of television. The era was the best decade for Indian television because it featured so many hit shows and iconic actors who defined happiness for future generations.

TV shows from the 1990s always bring back happy childhood memories us. My brother and I used to get into fights after watching WWE and attempting to imitate the stunts. My Dadi had her favorite Kyuki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi scheduled. On weekends, my father would cook while Khana Khazana played in the background. Back then, watching television was a joy.

Shows like these are still interesting and nostalgic and remain in our fondest of memories. They're certainly worth watching even today. Some things never lose their sheen and it's no exaggeration to say that old is gold!

If you are looking to take a break from the new-age series and enjoy the good old days of television when there were light-hearted TV shows and non-dramatic evenings, do checkout the below list:

Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai

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Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai is an Indian comedy series for all ages, from toddlers to grandparents, that will make you laugh and smile.

The mother-in-law comes from a wealthy family, while the daughter-in-law comes from a middle-class family. This causes friction between the higher-status mother-in-law, who both loves and despises her son's wife. The father-in-law never stops teasing his younger son; the younger son enjoys his poetry, but others find it irritating. The elder son tries to juggle his way through his mother and wife's fights. The main characters were relatable, despite having exaggerated personality traits.

Supporting characters like "Ilaben" played by Rita Bhaduri, "Vitthal Kaka" played by Ghanashyam Nayak, 'Dushyant' played by Deven Bhojani, 'Madhu fufa' played by Arvind Vaidya, and 'Kaccha Kela' played by Aatish Kapadia was also expertly carved.

Watch Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai on Disney+ Hotstar

Malgudi Days

IMDb

Malgudi Days, based on R.K. Narayan's novel first published in 1943, is a novel set in India's pre-independence era that revolves around simplicity and innocence. Small-town residents, on the other hand, face numerous challenges.

Each episode is unique and has its ups and downs. It depicts India before the onslaught of globalization, urbanization, consumerism, and dehumanization. There are hundreds of nostalgic scenes that will make you reflect on our society.

Watch Malgudi Days on Disney+ Hotstar

Shakalaka Boom Boom

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"Shaka Laka Boom Boom" premiered on Doordarshan in India in 2000, starring Vishal Solanki as Sanju. This show is magical, the main character is Sanju, a school student with a magic pencil. Anything drawn from this pencil becomes reality.

This was one of the first TV shows where kids were captivated by the plot and characters. There's just something about how magic mixes with kids' innocence that makes it so worth watching.

Watch Shakalaka Boom Boom on Disney+ Hotstar

F.R.I.E.N.D.S

DigitalSpy

Friends is a fantastic show with a captivating story that runs from 1994 to 2004. Friends are always there for each other in difficult times and solve everyday problems in humorous ways.

Friends are more than just a TV show; it's ingrained in popular culture. It was different from any other show on TV at the time, and for some, that was all that mattered. Even if you weren't an original fan, you can now watch and learn from the show.

Watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S on Netflix

Shaktimaan

TOI

Shaktimaan, our first Indian superhero, won many hearts. This Indian Superhero was accompanied by a sidekick, a nerdy photographer who transforms into a superhero and fights villains. Even though this is Superman's era, Shaktimaan's position is unrivaled.

Shaktimaan received positive reviews for its original plot of a common man becoming a superhero through meditation and mastery of his five elements.

Each episode addresses a socially relevant topic such as hygiene, family values, and ethics rooted in Indian culture, as well as common social blunders.

Watch Shaktimaan on Amazon Prime

Khichdi

Khichdi

Inspiring laughter from audiences across India, this award-winning series reliably revolves around the Gujarati parivaar of Parekh who manages themselves in hilarious situations. The popularity of this series can be gauged by the fact that it has a simple writing style with a good amount of humor.

We watched 'Khichdi' before watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S., and while we have a soft spot for Chandler, Praful takes the cake when it comes to idiomatic humor. And Praful and Hansa's conversation was our favorite, like this one :

Hansa: Praful confuse matlab?

Praful: Confuse Hansaaaa, Jab humaare ghar pe light chali jaati hai to kudkud-Kumar Babuji kya kehte hain?

Hansa: Ae Babuji toh kehte hain ki..."Lo fuse udd gaya, ab fuse theek kaun karega? Kaun fuse theek karega?

Kaun Fuse

Acchha Confuse...Achhaa Acchha Confuse

Watch Khichdi on Disney+ Hotstar

Fauji

IMDb

Fauji is a television series that follows a group of soldiers led by Lieutenant Abhimanyu, played by Shahrukh Khan in his Indian television debut. The show was based on the training and preparation required to become an Indian Army commando.

Fauji is a realistic and at times humorous look at the lengths soldiers must go to serve in India, directed by R. K. Kapoor and starring Vikram Chopra and Rakesh Sharma.

Watch Fauji on Amazon Prime

Seinfield

YouTube

By the 1950s, several television sitcom conventions had already been established.

Seinfield, on the other hand, was a unique sitcom. "Nothing" sums up the show. In the episode "The Pitch," Mark documents Jerry and Larry David's first meeting with NBC executives. "Nothing happens on the show; it's just like life." It was a joke, and they were taken aback by how well it went over with the audience.

This show is about nothing in particular, but it is not without complexities. The writing and production of this show are so good, with numerous plots and subplots, that critics did not notice until the general public began watching. And doing nothing resulted in one of the most innovative and popular shows of all time, Seinfeld.

Watch Seinfield on Netflix

Shararat

iDiva

Jiya, a popular show, ran from 2003 to 2006. It followed Jiya, a fairie who discovers she has magical abilities when she turns 18 years old.

Jiya, Radha's daughter, inherited her mother and grandmother's abilities as well. But there are a lot more hilarious moments now that Jiya is around. Sabrina the Teenage Witch, an American teen sitcom, serves as a loose inspiration for the show.

Watch Shararat on Disney+ Hotstar

Ssshhh¡­Koi Hai

Hotstar

Three ghost-busters have to save the world from ghosts and evil spirits. Ssshhh¡­.koi hai is an Indian horror series that can make you go 'Ooooooh!¡¯

During the first season, they collaborated, but after that season was over Abhimanyu Raj Singh went on their sister channel to finish the show. The show premiered on July 27th, 2001, and ended after 3 seasons on May 16th, 2010.

Watch ssshhh¡­.Koi Hai on Disney+ Hotstar

Full House

Today.com

The full house is the most mature form, with the longest string of special episodes. All of the episodes have a darker tone, and the first season contains the majority of the adult jokes. The show straddles the line between heavy and lighthearted comedy.

The season explores themes such as identity, grief, loss, growing up, failure, and self-assurance in being true to yourself. The show's clever writing and amusing premises make it a lot of fun for the audience to watch.

Watch Full House on Netflix

Dekh Bhai Dekh

Dekh Bhai Dekh

The Diwan family has three generations living in their ancestral home in Mumbai. They've been in some hilarious situations while dealing with relationship and business issues. Broad family-themed sitcoms were popular in that era, and the characters on it seemed so real. For many of them, the show gave enough representation to their own identity as well.

Little things like a large family sitting together for meals, despite their busy schedules, go a long way in establishing the family connection. This is something that the show makers did well to address right in the first episode.

Watch Dekh Bhai Dekh on MX Player

Relive the era by traveling back in time with your family and watching your favorite television shows on OTT platforms.
(To read more such stories related to movies and shows released on OTTs, keep reading Indiatimes BINGE)