It’s probably been a while since you managed to watch a comic show on TV and didn’t feel like you were sitting at the deathbed of a very close friend. You probably watched with bewildered consternation – waggling your outraged finger at the likes of Kapil Sharma as they made merry of women’s lips and unmarried aunties. You probably woke up in resignation the morning after to parties for and against – the ones baying for their blood, and the others evoking the many innovative ways to take a “chill pill, yaar.”
And then, you heard the glorious piece of news – Sarabhai vs Sarabhai from the early 2000s was making a comeback. The producer of the show, JD Majethia recently flooded Twitter (and millennial memories) with reunion videos – eventually going on to tell us that the show would resume (!), albeit in a web-series format.
Also Read: ‘Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai’ is Coming Back to TV After a Whole Decade?
We don’t care what medium they use, we’re just excited our favourite funny TV team is coming back. Can you imagine all the Rosesh-berating, the Indravadan-jokes, the Maya-quips? We can let our imaginations run wild over what to expect from the show, but for now, here’s just why we want (nay, need) S vs S most desperately to come back…
Because ‘Comedy’ Needs a Breather
We cannot emphasise this enough. We particularly cannot remember the last time such a large demographic was so unanimous in its non-bashing (in the world of Twitter trolls, that’s a thing) of a show. There’s been very little “you old thing, you die!” and a lot more joyous anticipation.
This isn’t a surprise, considering the amount of hogwash we’ve been offered on TV recently in the name of humour. Apart from Kapil Sharma’s two shows (two), there’s been a smattering of forgettable comedy on TV – and Sarabhai, with its good, good writing, is just what we need to tickle the funny bone again.
Because Simar and Her Kin Should Really Take a Break
Here’s a mad, mad idea. Imagine the whole cast of Sasural Simar Ka (daayan, chudail, house fly, what-have-you) sitting propped up on couches in their living room, laughing and getting along to the tunes of Monisha and Maya Sarabhai. Can you not just see latent mythological hostilities flying (excuse the pun) in the face of non-generic television?
What we mean is, after all the Naagin’s and Kawach’s and Simar squads, we really would like to be able to say we watch television and not be judged for it. I particularly have a hard time getting that sentence out and then hiding from judgemental eyes.
That ‘Family’-iar Feeling
Quick tip. Scramble to Google and type up lists for “best comedy shows” et al, in India. You’ll be able to see a familiar set of 3-4 names popping up – Dekh Bhai Dekh, Hum Paanch and Taarak Mehta ka Ulta Chashma – inciting a strange sense of nostalgia and wonder.
Because long before ‘family shows’ meant running to your plastic-surgery-returned husband at the door, they also meant wonderful, nippy comedy. We had that with Sarabhai vs Sarabhai. Indravadan as the father/father-in-law was never a patriarch (if he ever tried, he was sweetly shut down by the irascible Maya). Maya herself was a revelation with cocktail soirees and jibes at her daughter-in-law (that were unfailingly accompanied by the sound of a gunshot). And if you thought said daughter-in-law cringed through them, you couldn’t be more wrong. Monisha had a whale of a time teaming up with said father-in-law for the most outrageous pranks on Maya.
Because We Miss Our Sarabhai-isms
Remember ‘Popat ka aatma’ and the accompanying funeral (!) ditty that went with it? How about Rosesh’s tremulous Momma’s and “Yay, whoopies!” – and impassioned ‘poetry’ readings (the camera always panning to Sahil Sarabhai’s horror-struck face)? And what of all the newspaper ads with 50% sale offers that you couldn’t see for years after without thinking of Monisha’s jubilant jigs?
We miss our Sarabhai-isms and we’re dying to hear them again.
And laugh. Really and truly.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)