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Dilip Joshi and Disha Vakani as Jethalal and Daya in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
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We first met the Gadas of Gokuldham four years ago. Today, without much fuss, Jethalal Gada and his family and friends have become an integral part of our weekday TV viewing. Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah on SAB TV (Monday to Thursday at 8.30pm) is a phenomenon, finding a place in the hearts of the viewer and a permanent slot in the top 10 TRP charts. What makes this laugh riot tick? t2 peers through the lens to find out.
FAMILY FUN: The drama centres around Jethalal (Dilip Joshi), the owner of an electronics store, his wife Daya (Disha Vakani) and their family in Gokuldham Society. Taarak Mehta (Sailesh Lodha) is their neighbour and the narrator of the show. The lives, loves and laughter as well as the trials and tribulations of the residents of Gokuldham Society comprise the daily goings-on of the show. What works? The sticky situations the characters get into bring on the laughs as well as impart some lessons about life. Most importantly, the comedy is clean, making the show a fun family watch.
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| Salman Khan (top) and
Ranbir Kapoor on the show |
RELATIBILITY FACTOR: The Gadas could be your friends... your neighbours... or even you. The slice-of-drama comedy has characters that could belong to any housing society in any part of the country. Family matters, in-law issues, job-related stress or the pangs of seeing children grow up — Taarak Mehta mirrors real life. Our favourites, besides Jethalal? Wife Daya who is a simpleton and is ready to break into a garba jig at the drop of a dandiya and Jetha’s mischievous son Tapu.
MESSAGE WITH MIRTH: Much like the popular Rajani on the Doordarshan we grew up with, Taarak Mehta slips in a socially relevant message along with the belly laughs. From the dangers of allowing knee-high kids to carry mobile phones to school to episodes on environment conservation and cancer awareness, the show has its heart in the right place. “I love how the show weaves in a social message even when it has me rolling in laughter,” says homemaker and Taarak Mehta fan Shalini Jain.
BOLLY COMES TO GOKULDHAM: Such is the popularity of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah that every Bolly star promoting a latest release makes it a point to be on the show. Whether it was Abhishek Bachchan and Ajay Devgn for Bol Bachchan, Salman Khan for Ek Tha Tiger or Ranbir Kapoor for Barfi!, they have all paid a visit to Gokuldham Society.
Trivia: Along with Bade Achhe Laggte Hai, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah is the most watched show on YouTube. The popularity of the show has prompted the producers to plan a film adaptation!
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