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Indian television drama
Indian television dramas, also known as Indian series or Indian serials, are scripted television programmes produced in India and featuring Indian actors. These dramas are broadcast on various Indian television networks.
India's first television drama, Hum Log (Hindi), aired from 1984 to 1985 and consisted of 154 episodes. Ekta Kapoor's Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (2000–2008) became the first Indian television drama to surpass 1,000 episodes, completing 1,833 episodes and earning a place in the Limca Book of Records. The Marathi series Char Divas Sasuche (2001–2013) reached 3,200 episodes, becoming the first Indian television series to exceed 3,000 episodes, also entering the Limca Book of Records. The Telugu serial Abhishekam (2008–2022) was the first Indian show to reach 4,000 episodes, concluding on 1 February 2022. The Hindi series Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (2009–present), with over 4,700 episodes as of 2025, is India's longest-running Hindi television drama and soap opera, having aired for 16 years.
Indian television dramas are produced in most major languages spoken across the country, often blending the regional language with English. These shows are also broadcast in several other regions, including South Asia, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, Latin America, and parts of Africa.
By the late 2010s, the popularity of daytime and afternoon dramas had declined, and mainstream channels ceased broadcasting such programmes. However, in 2017, television networks attempted to regain viewership by reintroducing shows in the afternoon and daytime slots. Currently, the major Indian television networks with nationwide prime-time dramas include JioStar, Zee, Sun TV, and ETV.
Hum Log was India's first television drama, airing from 1984 to 1985 with a total of 154 episodes. At the time, it was the longest-running serial in Indian television history. The show attracted approximately 60 million viewers, with each episode lasting about 25 minutes, except for the final episode, which was approximately 55 minutes long.
Television dramas have had a significant impact on Indian society, influencing issues related to national integration, identity, globalisation, the status of women, ethics, and social issues in rural areas. The first Indian television drama series, Hum Log, was originally conceptualised as a family planning programme but soon evolved into an entertainment-oriented show. Despite this shift, it continued to promote pro-development messages, serving as a model for using television serials as a form of "edutainment"—a concept later adopted in several countries around the world.
A 2007 study examining the introduction of cable television in rural India found that it led to "significant decreases in the reported acceptability of domestic violence towards women and son preference, as well as increases in women's autonomy and decreases in fertility." The study also presented "suggestive evidence that exposure to cable television increases school enrolment among younger children, possibly due to the increased participation of women in household decision-making."
Since the 2000s, Indian television serials have relied on television rating points (TRPs)—also referred to as target rating points—as key indicators and benchmarks of a programme's success, used to measure audience interest and viewership.
Indian television drama
Indian television dramas, also known as Indian series or Indian serials, are scripted television programmes produced in India and featuring Indian actors. These dramas are broadcast on various Indian television networks.
India's first television drama, Hum Log (Hindi), aired from 1984 to 1985 and consisted of 154 episodes. Ekta Kapoor's Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (2000–2008) became the first Indian television drama to surpass 1,000 episodes, completing 1,833 episodes and earning a place in the Limca Book of Records. The Marathi series Char Divas Sasuche (2001–2013) reached 3,200 episodes, becoming the first Indian television series to exceed 3,000 episodes, also entering the Limca Book of Records. The Telugu serial Abhishekam (2008–2022) was the first Indian show to reach 4,000 episodes, concluding on 1 February 2022. The Hindi series Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (2009–present), with over 4,700 episodes as of 2025, is India's longest-running Hindi television drama and soap opera, having aired for 16 years.
Indian television dramas are produced in most major languages spoken across the country, often blending the regional language with English. These shows are also broadcast in several other regions, including South Asia, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, Latin America, and parts of Africa.
By the late 2010s, the popularity of daytime and afternoon dramas had declined, and mainstream channels ceased broadcasting such programmes. However, in 2017, television networks attempted to regain viewership by reintroducing shows in the afternoon and daytime slots. Currently, the major Indian television networks with nationwide prime-time dramas include JioStar, Zee, Sun TV, and ETV.
Hum Log was India's first television drama, airing from 1984 to 1985 with a total of 154 episodes. At the time, it was the longest-running serial in Indian television history. The show attracted approximately 60 million viewers, with each episode lasting about 25 minutes, except for the final episode, which was approximately 55 minutes long.
Television dramas have had a significant impact on Indian society, influencing issues related to national integration, identity, globalisation, the status of women, ethics, and social issues in rural areas. The first Indian television drama series, Hum Log, was originally conceptualised as a family planning programme but soon evolved into an entertainment-oriented show. Despite this shift, it continued to promote pro-development messages, serving as a model for using television serials as a form of "edutainment"—a concept later adopted in several countries around the world.
A 2007 study examining the introduction of cable television in rural India found that it led to "significant decreases in the reported acceptability of domestic violence towards women and son preference, as well as increases in women's autonomy and decreases in fertility." The study also presented "suggestive evidence that exposure to cable television increases school enrolment among younger children, possibly due to the increased participation of women in household decision-making."
Since the 2000s, Indian television serials have relied on television rating points (TRPs)—also referred to as target rating points—as key indicators and benchmarks of a programme's success, used to measure audience interest and viewership.