Ridhima
The advent of Doordarshan marked the beginning of television media in India. It was the first state-owned public broadcasting organization, initially limited to Delhi for the first few years, but it eventually spanned across the nation, becoming the largest broadcasting network to this day.
For a multicultural nation, they wanted Doordarshan’s message to be congruent to all. They chose a straightforward logo designed by Devashis Bhattacharyya, consisting of two interlocking curves representing the acquisition and transmission of information.
Doordarshan, also known as DD, began with programs on social education that aired twice a week. The first show to be telecast was Krishi Darshan. A program disseminating agricultural information that is said to be the longest running tv series in India. Subsequently, news, films, songs, and soap operas became part of the broadcast. Some of these timeless classics include “Hum log”, “Malgudi Days”, and cultural shows like “Mahabharat” and “Ramayan”. At that time, it was the sole visual source of information and entertainment.
Naturally, DD gained everyone’s attention and earned its place in everyone’s heart. TVs were a luxury; only a portion of the population could afford them, but that didn’t stop families from gathering together to sit and watch the small screen. Doordarshan’s enchantment would bewitch people into sitting for hours in anticipation just to catch a glimpse of its shows.
With the advancement of technology and arrival of private broadcasting channels, DD has not lost its authenticity and continues to be the only government-owned broadcaster. Broadcasting world that is constantly evolving, trends that are rapidly changing, Doordarshan’s ability to incite excitement in people and gain their attention has not faded. Sixty-three years since it’s inception, maybe it’s the nostalgia, but even now people get bright-eyed and bushy-tailed while talking about Doordarshan and its shows. Doordarshan is an epitome of magic spell that, once cast, never truly wanes.
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