Shaktimaan is India’s first superhero television series created by Mukesh Khanna & Dinker Jani and produced by Bheeshm International, it was aired on Doordarshan channel (DD National) during 1997-2005. This series got so much popular in 90’s kids that these people are till now a fan of Mukesh Khanna who played a role of Shaktiman. Mukesh Khanna's Shaktimaan was aired on DD1 between 1997 and 2005. Due to the tremendous success of the show it was made multilingual. It also had an animated series in 2011 and a television movie named Hamara Hero Shaktimaan which came in 2013. Shaktimaan is an Indian superhero from the television series of the same name produced by Mukesh Khanna and directed by Dinkar Jani. Around 400 episodes of Shaktimaan TV Serial originally aired on Doordarshan DD National, India's national television network, from 27 September 1997 (barring the introductory episode on 15 September 1997) to 27 March 2005, on Sundays at 12 noon IST. Shaktimaan was the first Indian TV's Superhero. The popularity of this serial could easily be gauged by the fact that children who had not holidays on Saturdays in their schools used to bunk.
DD National (DD1) is a state-owned general interest terrestrial television channel in India. It is the flagship channel of Doordarshan, the Indian public service broadcasting corporation, and the most widely available terrestrial television channel in India. DD National is a government body but it has its own editorial independence.
On September 15, 1959, at Studio of All India Radio, Delhi, the very first TV Channel in India started an experimental telecast with a small transmitter and a makeshift studio.Till 1965, DD Was part of All India Radio, so all the regular daily transmission were operated by All India Radio. On 15 August 1982, Doordarshan introduced National telecast Service from its own TV Studio in Mandi House, New Delhi. This National Telecast was named as DD1 Channel.and started regular transmission. Krishi Darshan, Chaupaal, Samachar, Kalyani were very first programs on the channel.
Since 1984, DD1 Channel started telecast of sponsored TV serials, which was produced by veteran film makers. Hum Log, was the very first TV serial of Indian Television which started airing from 7 July 1984. After success of Hum Log, Many other TV Producers and film makes joined the party and created many popular shows.
Shaktimaan Dd1 Serial
The Sword Of Tipu Sultan, Mirza Ghalib, Akbar Birbal, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Bharat Ek Khoj, Mahabharat, Ramayan, Luv Kush Uttar Ramayan, Buddha, Malgudi Days, Tamas ,Vikram Aur Betal, Tenali Rama, Kirdaar, Singhasan Battisi, Guldasta, Mrignayani, Shrikant, Sadgati, Nukkad, Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, Lot Pot, Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne, Bhim Bhawani, Kakkaji Kahin, Paying Guest, Ados Pados, Upannyas, Fauji, Karamchand, Samandar, Param Veer Chakra, Wagle Ki Duniya, Buniyaad, Hum Log, Kachchi Dhoop, Chunauti, Mahanagar, Talash, Umeed, Subah, Mr. Yogi, Circus, Ek Bhool, Chote Babu, Yugantar, Kehkashan, Yatra, Rajni, Streat Hawk, Gaata Jaaye Banjara, Phool Khile Hain Gulsan Gulsan, Pingu, Circus, Dada Dadi Ki Kahaniya were most popular serials of that days.
After the entry of Satellite Channels in India, Doordarshan started facing a strong competition from Zee TV in 1992. Although, that days Cable and Satellite Channels were not easily available on TV Sets, DD-1 was still ruling the chart, as it was available terrestrially. In 1993, Doordarshan launched its second channel for metro/urban audience 'DD Metro', and renamed DD1 to 'DD National' which is targeted to reach rural audience.
With the telecast of Popular TV Shows like Chandrakanta, Alif Laila, Tehkikaat, Chitrahaar, Reporter, Udaan, Byomkesh Bakshi, Farmaan, Katha Sagar, Neem Ka Ped and Chanakya, DD National was enough good for catering eyeballs, but Doordarshan Braord was focusing more on its DD Metro Channel, which was aimed to compete with Zee TV. At the meantime, DD Metro has became one of the popular destination of TV Viewers with its shows like Junoon, Superhit Muquabala, and Azanabi. Some of popular shows were also aired on DD National.
In Year 1995, when most of the channels like DD Metro, Zee TV, Home TV, STAR Plus and Sony TV were started focusing on their prime time slots, DD National was still stacked with its role and responsibilities, as at the time DD was only source of News on TV. To provide more entertainment DD National opened Afternoon Slot for housewives with telecast of Shanti. To encash the success of shanti, many other shows like Swabhimaan, Farz, and Yug were introduced and all of them were praised.
This period was very bad for Doordarshan and its channels. DD National channel also started losing its battle with private channels, and on the other hand DD Metro channel also lost its viewership. In 1997, Prasar bharati, the parent body of Doordarshan was formed, but it was not much able to take proper decisions for its channels. Private TV Channels like Zee TV, STAR Plus and Sony TV were started airing high budget tv serial from top production houses, where Doordarshan's both channels were failed to get any production with themselves. However DD National was still doing the best in afternoon slots with Kasam, Itihaas, Agni, Aprajita, Aurat, Ardhangini, Sanjog, Deewar, Aane Wala Pal, Waqt Ki Raftaar and many more, but at the prime time it was losing its ground. There were few notable programs like India's Most Wanted, Surabhi, Noorjahan, Om namah Shivay, Jai Ganga Maiya, Suraag, but those were not enough good to give competition to private channels.
In 1999, DD National started airing Mukesh Khanna's Shaktimaan, which was the blockbuster tv serial in Indian History. In 2000, after tasting the success of India's Most Wanted, Jasoos Vijay and Suraag in prime time, Prasar Bharati decided to revamp its both Channels, and many new serials were introduced on DD National, but very few of them were successful because of limited prime-time slots. DD National had just 9-10:30 for showing prime-time content, while other channels were having 8-11 slot for prime time. New Channels like Sahara TV, and SAB TV were also performing better than DD channels in prime time.
In 2002, DD offered its time slots to popular filmmakers and get popular shows of the time. Ramanand Sagar's Aankhen, BR Chopra's Aap Beeti, Adhikaari Brothers CID Officer, Kiran Bedi's Galti Kiski, Time's Dishayen were telecasted on the channels and prised by viewers. In 2003, when DD Metro Channel was converted into DD News, Prasar Bharati focuses on its DD National Channels, and shows like Meher, Miss India, Kayamat, Kaanch, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani were introduced. In 2005, Ravi Kishan-Malini Kapoor starred Hawayein serial became one of the most popular show and also won title of Best TV Serial Of The Year at ITA Awards.
In this period, DD introduced many popular serials like Wo Huye Na hamare, Kyunki Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai, Tum Dena Sath Mera, Hari Mirchi lal Mirchi, Soni Mahiwaal, Wheel Smart Shrimati, Krazzy Kiya Re, Chandramukhi, Jo Kahunga Sach Kahunga, Tahreer Munshi Premchand Ki, Kashmkash Zindagi Ki,which was praised and with the help of these serials DD National managed itself in the race of TRP.
In this period DD National suffered with low quality serials. at prime-time it was still not able to competitor with private channels, it also started losing its peak position at Afternoon slots to reruns of other channels. In 2012, after losing much as never before, DD started airing Ekta Kapoor's Pavitra Bandhan, Sanjay leela Bhansali's Saraswatichandra and few other serials, but it was not much enough for its revival. In year 2013, it reduced its window for regional telecast from 4PM-7PM, and stopped airing news in night, which added one and half hour window more to its prime time. To encash new 4 Hour long prime time DD brought tv serials like Gora, Bharat Ki Shaan, Baba Aazmi's Yeh Kaha Aa Gaye Hum, Dil Jo Kah Na Saka, Sanjeev kapoor's Chef Ki Rasoi. It also launched campaign for its afternoon slots 'DD Dophar Aapke Ghar', by airing serials like Amrita, Anudamini, Aisa Prem Kahan, Chupau Kaise Laaga Chunari Me Daag.
On November'2014, Prasar Bharati relaunched DD National as Desh Ka Apna Channel with new theme and serials like Happy Homes, Khwabon Ke Darmiyaan, Khamosh Sa Afsaana, Dard Ka Rishta, Paltan, Stree shakti, Zindagi Ek Bhanwar, Janmon Ka Bandhan. Initially these shows have done better, but after monitoring their performance, in 2016 Prasar Bharati decided to go for slot sale policy and invited bids from film makers for its 7PM to 11 PM Slot.
Mukesh Khanna, who played the title role in the Doordarshan series ‘Shaktimaan’, threatened legal action against director Omar Lulu for reproducing his character without permission in ‘Dhamaka’.
FlixMollywoodMonday, September 16, 2019 - 18:36
A picture of Malayalam actor Mukesh sporting the costumes of the fictional character Shaktimaan for a film called Dhamaka, directed by Omar Lulu, has landed the makers in trouble.
Dd1 Shaktimaan Video
Mukesh Khanna, the actor and producer of the original Shaktimaan series which was broadcast on Doordarshan, has threatened legal action on the makers of Dhamaka for re-producing the character without their permission.
Shaktimaan Dd1 Channel
Director Omar Lulu has put a Facebook post in response, addressed to Mukesh Khanna. He writes: “I was informed by FEFKA of your complaint about depicting Shaktimaan as one of the characters in my upcoming movie _Dhamaka_ . I understand that you are the copyright holder of the character 'Shaktimaan', his costume, theme music etc and I should not have tried to use it in my film without your permission. I sincerely apologize for the oversight and any inconvenience this might have caused you. Superhero references are popularly used in South Indian movies and so we inadvertently overlooked the copyright concerns. We intend to give due credit to you in the title credits of the movie (sic).”
He also clarifies that in his film, Malayalam actor Mukesh does not play Shaktimaan but another character visualises him as Shaktimaan for possessing extraordinary health and stamina in his age. “My writers had originally thought of Superman and I could not help changing it to Shaktimaan because generations of Indians were inspired by Shakthimaan since its inception in DD1 and I am a proud member of that fandom,” Omar writes.
He goes on to say that ‘Malayali's nostalgia is incomplete without the memories of Shaktimaan, the first Indian superhero of television.’
Nikki Galrani has been roped in to play the female lead in the film. The others in the supporting roles of Dhamaka will be Urvashi, Dharmajan and Hareesh Kanaran. The film is bankrolled by MK Nasser. Arun Kumar, who was a child actor in the 1990s, will be the hero in Dhamaka.
(With input from Digital Native)
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