Famous comic characters of Indian television

Rosech Sarabhai: Sarabhai vs Sarabhai
Rajesh Kumar aka Rosech was the the most unique character of the series Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai. Momma’s boy Rosech loved to write poems which no one liked to listen. He kept starring in silly plays playing oddly hilarious characters. Rosech’s father Indravadan Sarabhai didn’t like him much. His style of saying ‘momma’ in a childish and duck-ish way was one of the USPs of the show. Rosech’s no-sense poetry was inspired by his father, and always had an ‘oink’ tone in them. His collection of poetry is still acclaimed all over!
Ek Common Man Ko Mili Hai Pari, Jaise Chikoo Ke saath Ho Strawberry,
Aage Aage Mummy Aur Piche Piche Daddy, Jaise Tom And Jerry.

Daya Ben: Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah Disha Vakani aka Daya Ben is also recognized as the loud housewife of Jethalal. Dayaben’s character is famous nationwide. Her garba style, her screeching laughter and her favorite dialogues like ‘Hey Maa, Mataji’ is known in almost every household. She plays the role of an ideal housewife who doesn’t take her husband’s name and calls Jethalal as ‘Tapu ke Papa’. Her onscreen chemistry with Jethalal, played by Dilip Joshi has been really appreciated by the viewers. Daya’s accent and garba has made her one of the hilarious comic characters of Indian television.

Tulsidas Parekh: Khichdi Anang Desai aka Tulsidas Parekh is better known as ‘Babuji’, the head of the madhouse of the iconic TV show ‘Khichdi’. Babuji’s character is one of the funniest ones from the series. He is always in a bad mood and is fed up of his stupid family. His past time was cribbing about his elder son Praful, who’s IQ was zero! His entry in the show always started with him calling his younger daughter-in-law, Jayshree (Vandana Pathak) for tea by saying ‘Chai la rahi ho, ya bahar se mangwaun’ in the typical Gujju way. His dialogue ‘Praful tu gadha hai gadha’ was also one of the famous ones from the show. Babuji’s dialogues are still remembered by the viewers and became a trademark. Anang Desai is a marvelous actor and has worked with a lot of international projects as well.

Praful Parekh: Khichdi Rajeev Mehta aka Praful Parekh: If you want to meet someone who really has no IQ, you should meet Mr Praful Parekh. Praful’s character has been one of the most loved characters on Indian television. Praful knew nothing. He was paid by his employees for not coming to office. His zero knowledge made Babuji always mad at him. Praful loved his wife Hansa and their couple was one of the cutest and dumbest on TV. His ignorance about almost everything and his illogical sense made every situation hilarious. Though he didn’t know much of English, but he was the only one who cleared all the doubts of his wife Hansa in a rib-tickling way. From his body language to his dialogue delivery, everything was amusing. ‘Hansaa, main hoon na’ was one of the many funny dialogues he said before answering Hansaa’s query which is again imitated by a lot of us. Here are a few Hansa Praful moments: Hansa: Praful confuse matlab?
Praful: Confuse Hansaaaa
Jab humaare ghar pe light chali jaati hai to kudkud-Kumar Babuji kya kehte hain?
Hansa: Ae Babuji toh kehte hain ki..."Lo fuse udd gaya, ab fuse theek kaun karega? Kaun fuse theek karega?
Kaun Fuse
Acchha Confuse...Achhaa Acchha Confuse Hansa: Praful "decide" matlab ?
Praful: "decide" hansa ... Vo cassette player mein hum cassette nahi dalte usme hota hai na ... "a side" - "b side" ... Toh "c-side" ... "d- side"...."decide"

Hansa Parekh: Khichdi Supriya Pathak aka Hansa Parekh: As stupid as her husband, perhaps more than him, Hansa Parekh is again an iconic favorite character remembered on television. The bahu of the dysfunctional Parekh family, Hansa will leave you in splits with her idiotic queries and perfect humor timings. Hansa never works in the house and gets tired already (‘Main toh thak gayi bhaisaab’). She is always dressed gorgeously tip to toe and wearing a gajra is a really important factor in her life. Hansa doesn’t understand English, like her husband, and is helped by Praful for all her questions leading to hilarious results.

Mussadi Lal Tripathi: Office Office Pankaj Kapoor aka Mussadi Lal: This show was the top one of its times. Mussadi Lal was the quintessential common man who was always asked for bribe for his work to be done. He was an honest man who wanted to fight against corruption. Pankaj Kapoor’s acting skills and sarcastic witty dialogues wooed the audience making the show a huge success. Mussadi was the representation of the middle class and the lead character of the show.

Dilruba: Shriman Shrimati Rakesh Bedi aka Dilruba: The house husband of Archana Puran Singh (Doll), Dilruba’s character is surely an iconic one. The show was the biggest sitcom of that time and revolved around the stories of two neighbor couples and how they are interested in each other’s wives. Dilruba’s character had a female touch in him. His way of talking and his patent hand movement became the highlight of the show. Chintu’s way of calling Dilruba as DilBura Uncle made Rakesh Bedi one of the biggest stars.

Chandramukhi Chautala: F.I.R Kavita Kaushik aka Chandramukhi Chautala: The spitfire Haryanvi cop Chandramukhi Chautala was one of the funniest characters on television. The funny female inspector and her sub-inspectors attempt to solve the cases were hilarious and worth a hearty laugh. Her typical Haryanvi accent and badass attitude made her character loved by all.

Keshav Kulkarni – Shriman Shrimati Jatin Kanakia aka Keshav Kulkarni: Keshav Kulkarni or Keshu Ji or Keku, was the central character of the epic television show Shriman Shrimati. Keshav Kulkarni who was married to Koki, had a crush on the actress living next door to them Prema Shalini (Archana Puran Singh). His humor and admiration towards Prema Shalini, made his character the funniest of the times.The contrast between his behavior towards Koki and then Prema Shalini made us roll on the floor laughing. Keshu’s witty remarks on Gangu Mausi, Chintu and Dil were hilarious. This show made him the ‘Prince of Comedy’ and he with his other co-stars spread the laugh riot across the nation.

Suhasini Diwan: Dekh Bhai Dekh Farida Jalal aka Suhasini Diwan: Remember ‘Eyi Ji Oji Suniyeji’? Farida Jalal brought life to Suhasini’s character in Dekh Bhai Dekh. Balraj (Navin Nischol) was married to Suhasini who ran a beauty parlour from the house. She was an over-dramatic confused wife but really funny at the same time. Her favourite dialogue “Tere mooh mein keede tere mooh mein dhul” was one of the famous ones.

Radha and Devaki – Tu Tu Main Main Radha aka Supriya Pilgaonkar and Devakiben aka Reema Lagoo: Way before the saas-bahu sagas started on our televisions, there was Tu Tu Main Main which showed the quirky love-hate relationship between the saas Devaki and bahu Radha.It revolved around a dominant and loud mother in law and an equally bubbly daughter-in-law. This classic comedy sitcom was hysterically funny. The rib tickling arguments between the saas bahu made the show run for 11 years.

Sweety – Hum Paanch Rakhi Vijan aka Sweety: The cute, curly-haired Rakhi Vijan is still remembered as Sweety Mathur from Hum Paanch. We all must have at least once opened the house door with a singing and dancing performance everytime the door bell rang like she did in the show. One of the 5 daughters of Anand Mathur, Sweety played a huge role in making the show a huge success. The beauty without brains Sweety was funny by being stupid and her silly joke surely cracked us up. Her character gained overnight stardom making Hum Paanch an iconic show of Indian television.

Indravadan Sarabhai – Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai Satish Shah aka Indravadan: The notorious Indravadan Sarabhai was the sweetheart of Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai. He was the Narad Muni of the family always playing pranks and gossiping. His childish antics stole almost every viewer’s heart. His jokes and sarcastic taunts made him the favorite in almost every household. Satish Shah did full justice to the role by becoming a mischievous husband, father and father-in-law. His smile used to steal the show.

Jaspal Bhatti – Flop Show This Hindi satirical comedy series was written, directed and acted by Jaspal Bhatti. Though the show had only 10 episodes, it was a not so flop show. Jaspal Bhatti acted in the show with his wife Savita in all the episodes striking the chord with the masses. The show dealt with socio-cultural issues faced by a common man. Jaspal Bhatti’s humor timings were too perfect. The show had snappy dialogues and a great script. Jaspal not only showed the issues faced by a common man on the show but made sure that everybody had a smile on their face once the episode ended. His style was different and made people laugh by his dry humor and composed smile. His on screen wife who was also the off screen wife, produced the show. Though there were only 10 episodes, the show became one of the most popular shows on television. The veteran comedian did put his point across to the audience by making the show uncommon and revolutionary.

Maya Sarabhai – Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai Ratna Pathak aka Maya Sarabhai : The high society sophisticated Maya Sarabhai was the heart of this show. The talented Ratna Pathak made Maya’s character an iconic one. Maya is the actual head of the house. Her off shoulder blouses and chiffon sarees made her look classy and up market. The only thing she could not take was her middle class daughter-in-law Monisha Sarabhai who she never missed a chance to taunt by being sarcastic with her and saying ‘Don’t mind beta’ after it. Her sense of exclusivity was her driving factor. Ratna played this role beautifully and created a laugh riot all over.