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Hamari Devrani
Hamari Devrani
Hamari Devrani
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Hamari Devrani
GenreDrama
Written byRaakesh Paswan
Amitabh Singh
Pawan K Sethhi
Screenplay byMrinal Tripathi
Amitabh Singh
Bhavna Vyas
Pawan K Sethhi
Directed byVikram Ghai
Manish Mistry
Santosh Bhatt
Pawan Sahu
Manchan thakur vikal
Vikram Labhe
Swapnil Mahaling
Suraj Rao
Praveen Sudan, Rajesh Sharma
Creative directorManish Mistry
Starring
Opening themeParthiv Gohil and Mahalakshmi Iyer
Country of originIndia
Original languageHindi
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes951
Production
Executive producerSuprita Purkayastha Reena Manjrekar
ProducerShobhana Desai
CinematographyAnil Mishra
EditorsManish Mistry Jaskaran Singh
Rajnikant Singh
Inderjit Singh
Satyaprakash Singh
Camera setupMulti-camera
Production companyShobhana Desai Productions
Original release
NetworkStarPlus
Release26 May 2008 (2008-05-26) –
3 February 2012 (2012-02-03)

Hamari Devrani (transl. Our Sister-in-Law) is an Indian soap opera that was broadcast on StarPlus during weekday afternoons from 2008 to 2012.[1][2]

Plot

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Bhakti (Krishna Gokani) is a poor girl living in a beautiful village in Gujarat near Ahmedabad. Everyone sees her as unlucky because her mother, Gayatri, died while giving birth to Bhakti, and Bhakti's father Hasmukh refused to see her face or recognize her beauty. Bhakti's maternal grandmother, Kashiben, raises her single-handedly and tries to protect her from love to prevent emotional pain. As Bhakti grows up (Jyotica Dholabhai), the show associates her with unluckiness and she becomes lonely. Whenever Bhakti asks about her parents and childhood, Kashiben says that they are in Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, she is presented with an idol of a baby Lord Krishna, and is told that this will protect her in any situation. Bhakti accepts wholeheartedly and calls the baby Laddoo thief. Later, Kashiben takes Bhakti to Ahmedabad where Bhakti's father Hasmukh lives. Hasmukh, and his second wife, insult Bhakti and banish her from Ahmedabad.

Meanwhile, in Ahmedabad, Devkiben, an elderly widowed woman, heads a rich and popular family known as the Nanavatis, with her six sons and five daughters-in-law. The eldest daughters-in-law of the family (Manjula, Parul, Alpa, Jalpa, and Rajeshwari) want Mohan (played by Maadhav Deochake), Devkiben's youngest son, to marry a woman who will demand anything from the family and act like an overlord. Bhakti marries into this family when her would-be elder sisters-in-law (jethanis) see her in Ahmedabad and choose her for their brother-in-law after seeing Bhakti's educated, gullible, and sensitive nature. The story flows onward, where viewers witness how she is treated in this family by her sisters-in-law. Manjula, Parul, Alpa, Jalpa, and Rajeshwari try not to love Mohan and Bhakti, but in the end, good wins over evil, and they indeed start loving Mohan and Bhakti.

The character of Padmini is introduced with her seven-year-old daughter, Shikha, who people believe is Mohan's illegitimate child. Padmini wants to marry Mohan, and obtain the assets of the Nanavati family. She plays many tricks to fulfill her evil intentions. In one scheme, she kidnaps Bhakti (now pregnant) to blackmail and marry Mohan, but she is caught by the police.

The story then moves forward twenty years, and now the story focuses on Mohan and later, Bhakti's daughter, Aastha (played by Vidhi Sindhwad), and Padmini's daughter, Shikha (played by Ekta Saraiya).

This is after Bhakti died from giving birth to a mentally-ill daughter, Aastha, who the Nanavati family adopted. Aastha is raised by all her aunties with love and care and is a sweet and bubbly girl. Meanwhile, Shikha grows up to be ill-mannered like her mother. The show introduces Raj, Shika's love interest. Raj and Shikha love each other but cannot marry because an astrologer predicted Raj's first wife will die. They create a plan so that if Raj marries Aastha, it won't matter if she dies. After the marriage, Aastha shows no sign of death so Raj, with the help of Shikha and his aunt Rasila, plans to murder Astha and 'get-it-over-and-done-with'. Somehow, Aastha miraculously survives, and the five daughters-in-law succeed in taking their revenge from Raj and Rasila.

After that, Mohan marries Vrinda. Even though she is a genuine and loving woman, the Navavati bahus think she is here to steal her money. They eventually realize that Vrinda is a nice woman. Then comes another twist; the family of the Nanavati's only daughter comes to steal money from the Nanavati house. They kidnap Aastha, but Vrinda rescues her and the kidnappers go to jail. The story ends with the Nanavati family celebrating Vrinda's pregnancy.

Cast

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Production

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Speaking about the series Producer Shobhana Desi said, "Nothing works as well as a Gujarati family on Indian television and that is the reason why Hamari Devrani is centred around a family living in Gujarat."[4]

In November 2008, the shootings and telecast of all the Hindi television series including this series and films were stalled on 8 November 2008 due to dispute by the technician workers of FWICE (Federation of Western India Cine Employees) for increasing the wages, better work conditions and more breaks between shootings.[5] FWICE first took a strike on 1 October 2008 when they addressed their problems with the producers and production was stalled.[6] A contract was signed after four days discussions and shooting were happening only for two hours content in a day then after which differences increased between them while channels gave them time until 30 October 2008 to sort it out.[7] Failing to do so lead to protests again from 10 November 2008 to 19 November 2008 during which channels blacked out new broadcasts and repeat telecasts were shown from 10 November 2008.[7][8] On 19 November 2008, the strike was called off after settling the disputes and the production resumed.[9] The new episodes started to telecast from 1 December 2008.[10]

In May 2011, the storyline took a leap while the lead Krishna Gokhani quit when her character was killed and Eva Ahuja, who was cast Bhakti's daughter Aastha became the lead.[11]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Hamari Devrani

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from Grokipedia
Hamari Devrani is an Indian Hindi-language family drama that aired on Star Plus from 24 May 2008 to 27 January 2012, comprising 951 episodes broadcast on weekday afternoons. The series centers on the affluent Nanavati family in , , exploring the dynamics between matriarch Devkiben—a single mother raising six sons and one —and her five daughters-in-law, emphasizing themes of familial bonds, conflicts, and reconciliation amid traditional joint family life. Produced by Rajesh Ram Singh, Rahul Kumar Tewary, and Amitabh Kumar under Star India's banner, the show featured a ensemble cast including Krishna Gokani as the central character Bhakti Mohan Nanavati, a resilient young woman from humble origins who marries into the family, alongside Eva Ahuja as Vrinda, Urvashi Upadhyay as Manjula, and Maadhav Deochake as Mohan Nanavati. Its extended run marked it as one of the longest-running afternoon soaps on Indian television during that era, sustained by viewer interest in intergenerational relationships and cultural portrayals of Gujarati family traditions. The narrative often highlighted the challenges faced by daughters-in-law in upholding saas-bahu (mother-in-law and daughter-in-law) harmony, with Bhakti's journey from an outcast to a unifying figure driving much of the plot.

Overview

Premise and Setting


Hamari Devrani centers on the Nanavati Parivaar, a joint Gujarati family in , , depicting the interpersonal dynamics among its members in a traditional setting. The core revolves around the relationships between five elder (bahus) and the introduction of a new youngest sister-in-law (devrani), showcasing both supportive bonds and underlying tensions inherent in living.
The series portrays the fictitious Nanavati as a microcosm of urban Gujarati society, emphasizing routines, rituals, and social obligations typical of joint families in during the period from to 2012. Conflicts often stem from generational expectations and resource sharing, while resolutions underscore values of and collective rooted in cultural traditions.
This framework highlights causal factors in family interactions, such as power imbalances among and adherence to patriarchal norms, without resolving into idealized outcomes but reflecting realistic frictions in maintaining unity.

Broadcast Information

Hamari Devrani premiered on Star Plus on 26 May 2008, airing Monday through Friday at 1:30 PM IST as part of the channel's weekday afternoon slot. The series concluded on 3 February 2012 after a run of over three and a half years. The show produced a total of 951 episodes, establishing it as one of Star Plus's longest-running afternoon serials during its era. As of 2025, episodes remain accessible for streaming on platforms including JioHotstar with advertisements and VI Movies and TV. No official remakes or reboots have been produced.

Cast and Characters

Principal Cast

Krishna Gokani played Bhakti Mohan Nanavati, the central devrani who enters the affluent Nanavati family as the youngest daughter-in-law, embodying resilience amid cultural clashes and familial duties in the series' initial phase from 2008 to 2010. In May 2010, Gokani was abruptly written out before a 17-year storyline leap, with her character dying during childbirth, prompting a narrative shift to the next generation. Vidhi Sindhwad portrayed Aastha Nanavati, Bhakti's daughter and an emerging lead post-leap, who upholds traditional values as a bahu while navigating the family's evolving dynamics and external pressures. Her casting leveraged physical resemblance to Gokani to maintain continuity in the family's matrilineal thread. Maadhav Deochake initially enacted Mohan Nanavati, the youngest son and Bhakti's husband, central to the devrani-bhabhi tensions within the joint family structure; the role transitioned to Paresh Bhatt in later seasons to sustain the patriarchal anchor amid plot developments. Manas depicted Gautam Nanavati, an elder family member reinforcing the ensemble's depiction of hierarchical bonds and collective in the Nanavati household. These leads underscored the serial's focus on interdependent roles, with replacements reflecting production adjustments to retain viewer engagement over the show's 2008–2012 run.

Supporting Roles

Neelam Panchal portrayed Rajeshwari Gautam Nanavati, the fifth daughter-in-law from a background who resists assimilation into the Gujarati Nanavati household, highlighting inter-community marital tensions and identity preservation amid family expectations. Her character embodies cultural clashes, often clashing with Gujarati traditions while navigating joint family dynamics. Urvashi Upadhyay played Manjula, a recurring member in the Nanavati parivaar, contributing to ensemble scenes of interactions and support for principal storylines across 951 episodes. Zankhana depicted Devkiben Nanavati, an elderly widowed figure who provides continuity to traditions and mentors younger members amid evolving relationships. Eva Ahuja enacted Vrinda Mohan Nanavati, Mohan's wife and a stabilizing presence in the , facilitating social and relational subplots without dominating the central narrative. Vidhi Sindhwad portrayed Aastha Nanavati, a younger member whose arc underscores generational shifts and themes within the Ahmedabad-based . Kaushal appeared as Sannat Nanavati, adding depth to patriarchal structures and decision-making in councils. These roles collectively amplified cultural and interpersonal conflicts, such as Rajput-Gujarati frictions, through recurring portrayals that supported the core inter-marital .

Production

Development and Writing

Hamari Devrani was conceived by Shobhana Desai Productions as a weekday afternoon drama for Star Plus, debuting on March 3, 2008, to fill the network's daytime slot aimed at homemakers and family viewers. The series drew inspiration from traditional Gujarati joint family structures, centering on the affluent Nanavati Parivaar in , , to explore dynamics among multiple daughters-in-law and their interpersonal tensions within a multigenerational . This setup leveraged cultural tropes of familial harmony disrupted by everyday conflicts, such as sibling rivalries and in-law hierarchies, to foster relatable narratives for its target demographic. The writing team, coordinated under producer Shobhna Desai, featured story contributions from Raakesh Paswan and screenplay by Mrinal Tripathi, with additional input from , Bhavna Vyas, and Pawan K. Sethhi for dialogues and episodes. Scripts emphasized formulaic conventions, including serialized daily episodes that built on escalating personal dramas and moral resolutions to maintain viewer retention over its 951-episode run until September 2012. While specific pre-production ideation remains sparsely documented, the approach prioritized incremental plot advancements rooted in realistic family disputes rather than fantastical elements, aligning with Star Plus's strategy for sustaining long-form content through emotional continuity. To extend the series' viability amid declining initial traction, writers introduced generational leaps, including a notable 17-year time jump around early 2011, which shifted focus to newer characters and refreshed conflicts across generations. This tactic, common in Indian soaps to combat viewer fatigue, involved two approximate 20-year leaps overall, incorporating fresh cast members while preserving core themes of familial duty and reconciliation. Such adjustments reflected a pragmatic scripting evolution, prioritizing longevity through narrative resets over rigid continuity.

Filming and Technical Aspects

Filming for Hamari Devrani took place primarily in Mumbai-based studios operated by Shobhna Desai Productions, located in areas such as Andheri West and . The production replicated domestic interiors and family compounds characteristic of middle-class Gujarati households in , , to align with the serial's narrative setting in that city. This studio approach allowed for controlled environments suited to the daily episode schedule, avoiding extensive on-location shoots in despite the story's regional focus. The series utilized a multi-camera setup, a common technique in Indian television s for efficient capture of dialogue-heavy scenes and ensemble interactions. This method supported rapid turnaround, enabling the completion of 951 episodes aired weekdays from May 26, 2008, to February 3, 2012. Production logistics emphasized high-volume output, with episodes scripted and shot in quick succession to maintain the afternoon slot's pacing demands, typical of Star Plus's weekday dramas during that era. No major deviations from standard protocols, such as live audience elements or extensive outdoor filming, were reported.

Reception and Impact

Viewership and Ratings

Hamari Devrani premiered on Star Plus in the weekday afternoon slot at 1:30 PM IST, targeting primarily homemakers and audiences interested in family dramas, and maintained sufficient viewership to run for four years from 2008 to 2012, producing a total of 951 episodes. This longevity in a competitive time band, where soaps often face cancellation for low ratings, reflects steady empirical performance rather than blockbuster peaks typical of prime-time shows. In its debut week of June 2008, the series garnered a Television Viewership Rating (TVR) exceeding 3.0, outperforming rival afternoon program Paanchvi Pass and establishing early momentum. By July 2008, it averaged 3.1 TVR across episodes, with the Monday installment peaking at 3.8 TVR, indicating strong initial retention among regional viewers attuned to its Ahmedabad-based joint family narrative. Subsequent tracking showed resilience: in May 2009, average weekly TRPs reached 2.9, including a high of 3.2 for select episodes amid storyline developments. Later, by late 2008 and into 2010, episodes sustained TVRs in the 1.2–1.3 range during sampled weeks, levels adequate for the afternoon demographic where lower absolute figures still signify viability due to targeted reach over mass appeal. The absence of format overhauls or abrupt ends, despite genre conventions, underscores causal factors like cultural resonance with Gujarati familial roles—evident in the Nanavati household dynamics—that drove consistent, non-volatile audience hold without reliance on .

Critical and Audience Response

Hamari Devrani received a generally moderate reception from audiences, reflected in its rating of 6.7 out of 10 based on 11 user votes. The series, centered on familial dynamics within a Gujarati joint family, garnered appreciation for its portrayal of interpersonal relationships, particularly the tensions and bonds among co-wives and in-laws, which resonated with viewers familiar with traditional Indian structures. Some audience members highlighted nostalgic value in retrospective reviews, describing it as a "classic" Star Plus serial that evoked fond memories of family-centric storytelling amid evolving television trends. Critics and online commentators noted strengths in individual performances, such as Urvashi Upadhyay's enduring portrayal of a key character, which continued to receive fan acclaim years after the show's 2012 conclusion. Similarly, actress Krishna Gokani's commitment to her role as was praised for authenticity over two years of airing. NETTV4U aggregated critic reviews at 3.20 out of 5 and user scores at 3.53 out of 5, indicating a middling but not dismissive evaluation. However, the show faced criticism for adhering to conventional tropes, including repetitive plotlines and exaggerated family conflicts characteristic of saas-bahu dramas. Forum discussions on India Forums expressed frustration with "wacked storylines," suggesting the narrative's predictability contributed to viewer fatigue. Broader commentary on similar Star Plus offerings pointed to a "dry story" as a factor in the series going off-air, aligning with patterns in afternoon slot soaps where sustaining engagement proved challenging. No significant controversies or widespread backlash emerged, underscoring a reception defined more by routine limitations than exceptional acclaim or .

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8765598/
  2. https://nettv4u.com/about/hindi/tv-serials/hamari-devrani
  3. https://www.filmibeat.com/television/news/2008/star-launches-hamari-devrani-230508.html
  4. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8765598/fullcredits/
  5. https://nettv4u.com/about/hindi/tv-serials/hamari-devrani/all-cast-and-crew
  6. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8765598/plotsummary/
  7. https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/hamari-devrani/954759/concept-and-story
  8. https://alchetron.com/Hamari-Devrani
  9. https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/hamari-devrani
  10. https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/15833-hamari-devrani
  11. https://www.indiaforums.com/article/i-have-always-given-my-100-to-the-role-of-bhakti-krishna-gokani_18267
  12. https://www.indiaforums.com/article/krishna-gokani-unceremoniously-dropped-from-hamari-devrani_18169
  13. https://www.indiaforums.com/article/hamari-devrani-takes-a-leap-madhav-amp-krishna-gokani-not-part_18123
  14. https://www.apnnews.com/hamari-devrani-completes-4-years-gets-a-new-devrani/
  15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qv0H4BZncY
  16. https://www.indiaforums.com/show/hamari-devrani_4521/cast
  17. https://star-plus.fandom.com/wiki/Hamari_Devrani
  18. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/raakesh-paswan-enjoys-dual-roles/articleshow/12366138.cms
  19. https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/hamari-devrani/1581280/written-updates
  20. https://ir.mica.ac.in/bitstreams/c05671c7-7992-49f4-a5f6-de0f8962b67f/download
  21. https://www.justdial.com/Mumbai/Shobhna-Desai-Production-Pvt-Ltd-Near-Monginis-Andheri-West/022PK044146_BZDET
  22. https://www.zaubacorp.com/SHOBHNA-DESAI-PRODUCTIONS-PRIVATE-LIMITED-U92140MH2000PTC123675
  23. https://www.tring.co.in/celebrity-list/hamari-devrani
  24. https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/15833-hamari-devrani/titles?language=en-US
  25. https://www.tellychakkar.com/tv/tv-news/hamari-devrani-outperforms-paanchvi-pass-080621
  26. https://www.indiaforums.com/article/hamari-devrani-running-high-on-trps_6900
  27. https://www.indiaforums.com/article/hamari-devrani-gets-a-leap-in-trps_12175
  28. https://indianjournalofmarketing.com/index.php/ijom/article/download/37335/pdf_340/152229
  29. http://indiantelevisiontrp.blogspot.com/2012/11/trp-ratings-from-24012010-to-30012010.html
  30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4eroZsz2SY
  31. https://www.facebook.com/100064530739238/posts/from-theatre-to-television-urvashi-upadhyays-journey-is-inspiring-unlike-many-ac/1063643419130006/
  32. https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/hamari-devrani/1558766/kill-this-show
  33. https://www.ranker.com/list/star-plus-tv-shows-and-programs/voteable
  34. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8765598/reviews/
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