Hum Log was the first Indian soap opera that aired in the
1980s. It was telecast on Doordarshan. It is the story of an Indian- middle
class family of the same era. The show was known for dealing with social
issues, struggles and aspirations prevalent at that point of time. Over a
period of a year, around 156 episodes of
‘Hum Log’ that were broadcast. The show aired for thirty minutes, except
for the finale which ran for an hour
The family had to deal with issues regarding an alcoholic
father, unemployment, “unrealistic” aspirations, elopement, superstitions,
gender equality, family planning and national integrity.
One of the many highlights of the show was the appearance of
Ashok Kumar (hindi film actor), at the end of every episode, discussing the
ongoing situations of the characters of the show. He connected the drama to the
viewer’s everyday lives and thus created a special place for these characters
in the minds and hearts of the audience. Even while discussing any negative
aspect, he used to openly ask for public review and also encourage them to
inform the nearest authorities if they do witnessed any such incident.
This was one of the best methods to create social awareness,
and this method has been followed in film and broadcast media to this date.
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