Doordarshan, or DD National, is our national TV channel. It still airs old TV Shows from the 80s and 90s, but the telecast of those shows totally depends on Doordarshan. They might cancel the telecast due to important event coverage.
We all live busy lives, and we 90s Kids love watching our old TV Serials from Doordarshan. Today, we will share 10 old DD1 TV shows you can watch online for free.
These TV shows will take you back to your childhood, or you can hook your kids to watch them with you, and these nostalgic shows will transport you back to the past.
Byomkesh Bakshi
In 1993, Doordarshan aired the Byomkesh Bakshi TV Series. It has 32 episodes and is based on the stories of Bengali author Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay. Byomkesh Bakshi’s character is quite famous in Bengali cinema, and we have seen many Bengali TV shows and movies on Byomkesh Bakshi.
Actor Rajit Kapur portrayed Byomkesh Bakshi, while K.K. Raina portrayed Ajit Kumar Banerjee, Byomkesh’s Friend and confidante.
Byomkesh Bakshi is available on YouTube for Free.
Malgudi Days
Malgudi Days aired on Doordarshan in 1986. It is based on the writings of a famous Indian author, R.K. Narayan. It is about a fictional Town in South India named Malgudi.
The stories in Malgudi Days center on people’s everyday lives and issues. The series does a fantastic job of capturing the spirit of Indian customs, culture, and daily simplicity. Although it was first aired in the 1980s, it was telecast again every year until 1998. You can still watch it on YouTube for free, and it is also available on Amazon Prime.
Jaspal Bhatti’s Flop Show
Jaspal Bhatti’s Flop Show was one of Doordarshan’s best comedy TV shows. It was way ahead of its time, and you can still relate to the satirical stories of the episodes.
Jaspal Bhatti played the lead role, while his wife Savita Bhatti, who also produced the show, played his real-life wife. Vivek Shauq, Rajesh Jolly, and B.N. Sharma played different characters throughout the series. Each episode in the series features a satire on the socio-cultural problems faced by the common man in India.
The show initially premiered in 1989 on DD National. Later, the show got a rerun on the same channel during the 2020 nationwide lockdown, thanks to the 2019-20 Coronavirus Pandemic. You can watch the entire series on Doordarshan’s official channel on YouTube.
Flop Show is available on YouTube for free.
Buniyaad
An iconic Indian television drama series, Buniyaad, aired from 1986 to 1987. Ramesh Sippy directed it, and Manohar Shyam Joshi wrote the script.
Buniyaad showcases the story of the Singh family against the backdrop of the India-Pakistan partition. The plot concerns the family’s struggle and lifestyle changes during India’s dark chapter.
Buniyaad is available on YouTube.
Nukkad
Nukkad aired on DD1 in the 1980s. The show was created by Aziz and Saeed Akhtar Mirza. It shares the life of some common people in a neighborhood, and they meet at the Nukkad, which means street corner.
Nukkad dives into interpersonal connections, financial problems, and social challenges. The figures frequently gather on a street corner, offering a miniature representation of society.
Circus
Shah Rukh Khan began his career on television and later got a film break. His second television appearance came in the 1989-90 series Circus.
Aziz Mirza and Kundan Shah direct the series, which revolves around a circus troupe. In addition to SRK, the series featured many versatile and talented actors, such as Makarand Deshpande, Pavan Kumar, the Lagaan-famous Ashutosh Gowariker, Neeraj Vora, Hyder Ali, Renuka Shahane, and many others.
The series follows the struggles of a failing circus company and the challenges faced by Shekharan, played by SRK, who did not fancy the idea at first but later empathized and tried his best to keep things running. The series ran for 19 episodes and now is available on Doordarshan’s official YouTube channel.
Chandrakanta
Chandrakanta is set in the medieval period and is about a love affair between Prince Virendra Singh and Princess Chandrakanta. It was directed by Nirja Guleri and is based on the book Chandrakanta by Devaki Nandan Khatri.
The formidable magician Kroor Singh, the main enemy, puts roadblocks in the hero’s romantic journey. It also stars Late Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan.
You can watch Chandrakanta on YouTube. The show was rerun many times on Doordarshan and aired on Sony TV later in the 2000s. A remake of the show was also made, but it was not very successful.
Shrimaan Shrimati
Shrimaan Shrimati is a sitcom that aired on Doordarshan in the 1990s. It starred Reema Lagoo, Archana Puran Singh, Rakesh Bedi, and Jatin Kanakia in the lead roles. The show is about two neighbors who secretly like each other’s wives.
The recently made Bhabhi Ji Ghar Par Hai is based on a similar concept, but Shrimaan Shrimati was a much cleaner and family-friendly show.
All Episodes of Shrimaan Shrimati are available on YouTube for free.
Alif Laila
Originally broadcast on Doordarshan in the late 1980s, Alif Laila is a beloved Indian television series. The Arabian Nights tales are a compilation of Middle Eastern folktales gathered during the Islamic Golden Age, and the play dramatizes these tales.
The show is renowned for its lavish scenery, vibrant costumes, and large-scale production, which immerse audiences in the fantastical realm of the Arabian Nights.
Alif Laila is available on YouTube.
Shaktimaan
Shaktimaan aired from 1997 to 2005 on Doordarshan, an Indian superhero TV show starring Mukesh Khanna in the lead role of Shaktimaan. Mukesh Khanna also created this show under his banner Bhishma International.
It gained a cult following and was loved by the kids. Shaktimaan is being made into a film produced by Sony Pictures, and Mukesh Khanna confirmed that it will be released soon.
Shaktimaan is available on YouTube for free.
Mahabharat (Pen Bhakti YouTube)
Talking about Indian television series is baseless without mentioning the 1988 Mahabharat, created by B.R. Chopra and directed by his son Ravi Chopra. As the name implies, the series is based on the Indian epic Mahabharat by Veda Vyasa.
From 2nd October 1988, the series aired continuously every Sunday till 24th June 1990. The Indian roads went empty for an hour when the show aired on DD National. Well, that was the impact of this epic series, then. Doordarshan aired the show again during the recent lockdown in India since 24th March.
It became the second most-watched Indian show after Ramayan, which also aired during the lockdown. If you missed it, you can watch the complete show on YouTube’s Pen Bhakti Channel.Â
Also Read: Watch Doordarshan or DD1 Online for free.
Also Read: Best 7 DD1 Shows on Amazon Prime
Your Turn
Which one is your Favorite TV Show from DD1 Era, do share in the comments.
