World Television Day is celebrated annually on November 21. The first World Television Forum was held in 1996, the same year the United Nations General Assembly declared November 21 to be World Television Day.
In 1927, an American inventor Philo Taylor Farnsworth invented the first electrical television. World Television Day is celebrated to acknowledge and appreciate the influence of television in our lives.
For many individuals around the world, it has become a long-standing habit to watch television and undoubtedly it has become the crucial medium for transmitting information and entertainment.
Television was introduced in 1959 in India and for the first 30 years, Doordarshan was the only national broadcaster. Over the years, DD National produced several classic shows that remained engraved in the hearts of the audience.
Based on the mythology Ramayana, Ramanand Sagar was the show’s creator, writer, and director. It was the first broadcast between 1987 and 1988 on DD National and the show became the most-watched television program worldwide. It starred Arun Govil, Dipika Chikhlia, Sunil Lahri, Arvind Trivedi, and Dara Singh in the lead roles.
Hum Log
Starring Anil Biswas, Seema Pahwa, Ashok Kumar, Kamia Malhotra, Loveleen Mishra, and Abhinav Chaturvedi in pivotal roles, Hum log was India’s first soap opera that aired in 1984. It was helmed by P. Kumar Vasudev.
Malgudi Days
Malgudi days is one of the most loved shows on Doordarshan. It premiered in 1986 and revolved around a boy Swami and the obstacles in his life. Directed by Kannada actor and director Shankar Nag, the show premiered in both Hindi and English.
Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne
Helmed by Prakash Jha, Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne revolved around the doomed dreams of the average middle-class man. The comedy daily soap aired between 1989 to 1990 on Doordarshan and featured Pankaj Kapur, Raghubit Yadav, and Kamia Malhotra in the lead.
Buniyaad
Turning the clock back to Ind-Pak superhit serial Buniyaad which was directed by Ramesh Sippy and Jyoti. It aired in 1987 and depicted how people dealt with the aftermath of the India and Pakistan partition. Buniyaad featured Anit Kanwar, Girja Shankar, Kamia Malhotra, Natasha Sinha, Kanwaljit Singh, and Kiran Juneja in important roles.
Shrimaan Shrimati
Directed by Vijay, Shrimaan Shrimati broadcasted in 1982. The sitcom was based on two families in the same neighbourhood and had 143 episodes in total. The lead roles were played by Jatin Kanakia, Rakesh Bedi, Archana Puran Singh, Reema Lagoo, Ajay Nagrath, and Hema Diwan.
Circus
Starring now the King of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan, Circus premiered in 1989. Helmed by Aziz Mirza and Kundan Shah the show revolved around the lives of people who worked in a circus show.
Tu Tu Main Main
Actor Sachin Pilgaonkar directed the sitcom Tu Tu Main Main. The show revolved around the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law and featured Sachin, Supriya, Mahesh Thakur, Bhavana Balsvar, and Jayati Bhatia in the lead.
Television actor Gaurav Khanna has been declared the winner of Bigg Boss 19, bringing the curtain down on a season packed with drama, intense face-offs and emotional moments. He secured the top spot after a closely fought finale, with Farhana Bhatt finishing as the first runner-up.
Gaurav Khanna’s steady game pays off
Premiering on August 24 with 18 contestants, the season showcased shifting alliances, sharp strategies and memorable confrontations. Despite being seen as quiet in the early weeks, Gaurav Khanna gradually emerged as one of the strongest voices inside the house. His composed demeanour and calculated task performance helped him build momentum through the competition.
Farhana Bhatt ends as runner-up
Farhana Bhatt, known for her dynamic presence and determination throughout the season, finished second. Although she narrowly missed the title, her journey remained one of the standout tracks of the show.
Finale eliminations
The grand finale began with multiple eliminations — Amaal Mallik was the first finalist to bow out, followed by Tanya Mittal, and then Pranit More, leaving Gaurav and Farhana as the top two contenders. Gaurav ultimately lifted the trophy and took home a cash prize of Rs 50 lakh.
With the conclusion of Bigg Boss 19, the show wraps another season marked by strategy, rivalry and heartfelt moments that kept viewers engaged from start to finish.
Ranveer Singh returns with a ferocious performance in Dhurandhar, supported by Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, and a gripping espionage storyline set against real historical events.
Ranveer Singh makes a striking return to the big screen with Dhurandhar, delivering a fierce, layered performance in Aditya Dhar’s ambitious spy thriller. Blending historical terror incidents with a fictional revenge saga, the film explores India’s covert response to cross-border terrorism through the secret project ‘Dhurandhar’.
A brutal world built around revenge and espionage
Set around the IC-814 Kandahar hijack and the 2001 Parliament attack, Dhurandhar opens with Ajay Sanyal, an Intelligence Bureau officer played by R Madhavan, who strongly opposes releasing captured terrorists. Despite his resistance, bureaucracy prevails, setting the stage for the covert mission he later leads.
The project introduces its central weapon — Humza Ali Mazari, later revealed to be Jaskirat Singh Rangil — portrayed by Ranveer Singh with ferocity and emotional depth. Dropped straight into Karachi’s dangerous Lyari district, Humza navigates a nexus of gangs, politicians, and the ISI, with the narrative also touching upon tensions between local Pakistanis and Baloch communities.
Performances that elevate the film
Akshaye Khanna nearly steals the spotlight as a feared Lyari gangster inspired by Rehman ‘Dakait’ Baloch. Sanjay Dutt’s portrayal of SP Chaudhry Aslam brings an intimidating presence, while Arjun Rampal’s Major Iqbal leaves a lingering impact despite limited screen time.
Sara Arjun plays Yalina with conviction, and the film also features an unrecognisable Gaurav Gera in a surprise appearance.
Music, violence, and a split narrative
Shashwat Sachdev’s background score stands out, weaving classic Pakistani melodies with Indian retro hits to complement the film’s shifting tones. Viewers should be prepared for intense brutality, graphic torture scenes, and sudden shifts in narrative style — especially in a second half that feels markedly different from the first.
The episodic structure, archival footage, and mix of real and fictional characters add layers, though some may find the format distracting.
Ending that sets up part two
While the film does not end on a dramatic cliffhanger, its teaser for the second part — scheduled for March 19, 2026 — ensures audiences will return to witness the conclusion of Humza’s journey.
Farhan Akhtar’s latest release 120 Bahadur hit theatres on November 21 but registered a dull opening on its first day, earning Rs 2.35 crore. In comparison, De De Pyaar De 2, which is now in its second week, continues to show stronger hold at the box office.
Slow start for 120 Bahadur on day one
The action-drama opened to modest numbers on Friday, collecting Rs2.35 crore on its first day. Despite pre-release buzz around Farhan Akhtar’s performance, the film has begun its run on the lower side.
De De Pyaar De 2 maintains its advantage
Meanwhile, De De Pyaar De 2 continues its steady run. On its eighth day, the film maintained an edge over 120 Bahadur in overall earnings, according to media. The strong hold of the Ajay Devgn-led sequel appears to have impacted the new release’s opening day business.
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