'New Delhi: Doordarshan is taking us back to the 90s with a re-telecast of cult shows such as ‘Ramayan’, ‘Mahabharat’, ‘Byomkesh Bakshi’ and now ‘Shaktimaan’. Yes, actor Mukesh Khanna’s ‘Shaktimaan’ returns to TV and Twitter cannot contain its excitement. Netizens are taking a trip down the memory lane and tweets such as “my favourite childhood hero is back” and “Thank you for returning the good old days.”
‘Shaktimaan’ will be aired for an hour daily on DD National network from the first week of April at 1 pm. Remember how most of us used to wait for the weekends patiently to watch our favourite childhood superhero Shaktimaan?
Headlined by Mukesh Khanna, ‘Shaktimaan’ narrated the story of a human with superhuman powers. Khanna played the double role of Shaktimaan and his alter ego Gangaadhar. Actress featured as Geeta Vishwas, a reporter in love with Shaktimaan.
So, as we wait for the telecast of Shaktimaan yet again with bated breath, here’s how Twitter is celebrating its return to TV.
After Ramayan & Mahabharat, Shaktiman will be re-telecasted soon. I'm be like, the biggest Shaktiman fan ever. #Shaktimaan #mukeshkhanna Thank you for returning the good old days. 24 Years of fandom pic.twitter.com/3CGyv2QJXk
— Soumit Das (@SoumitD91703155) March 30, 2020
#Shaktimaan
Woowww thank you DD
My and INDIA'S 1st superhero is back. pic.twitter.com/DnoOtREcsY— KAMAL NAYAN (@KAMALNA77536433) March 31, 2020
Good news#Shaktimaan on @DDNational pic.twitter.com/L3Focnc6WL
— Yagnesh (@YaganeshD) March 30, 2020
#Shaktimaan is back pic.twitter.com/HTpqZbnmjv
— cpdhaundiyal (@cpdhaundiyal) March 31, 2020
#Shaktimaan Thank you DD. You were and you will always be evergreen. https://t.co/wUISdJ6rl8
— Vishal Wadhwani (@VishalW30819877) March 30, 2020
As India observed a 21-day lockdown period to combat coronavirus pandemic, the government decided to re-run ‘Ramayan’ and ‘Mahabharat’. The shows started airing from last Sunday. Apart from 'Ramayan' and 'Mahabharat', other shows that began airing from Sunday are detective series 'Byomkesh Bakshi', 'Circus', featuring Shah Rukh Khan, 'Hum Hain Na' and 'Tu Tota Main Maina'.
In a statement released on Monday, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry said Doordarshan will also be retelecasting other five shows like ‘Chanakya', 'Upanishad Ganga', 'Shaktimaan', 'Shriman Shrimati' and 'Krishna Kali'.
Apart from 'Shaktimaan', 'Ramayan' and 'Mahabharat', here is a list of the iconic shows that have been scheduled for re-telecast from the first week of April:
'Upanishad Ganga': 52 episodes, produced by Chinmaya Mission Trust and directed by Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi, also scheduled for afternoon slots.
'Chanakya': The 47 episodes of 'Chanakya', directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi, is planned for daily telecast in the afternoon time bands.
'Shriman Shrimati': The rib-tickling comedy produced by Markand Adhikari is scheduled for a comeback in the 2 PM slot.
'Krishna Kali': 18 episodes are scheduled for a daily telecast at 8:30 pm.
'Byomkesh Bakshi': 52 episodes telecast for 1 hour daily at 11 am.
'Circus': 19 episodes and featuring Shah Rukh Khan is being aired at 8 pm.
'Hum Hain Na': Comprising of 60 episodes has been scheduled as a daily serial at 10 pm.
'Tu Tota Main Maina': Comprising of 26 episodes has been scheduled as a daily serial from March 28 at 10.30 pm.
