Remember when TV was all about joint families, endless saas-bahu drama, and that one evil character with a very suspicious background score? Well, in between all that glittery melodrama, a few shows decided to throw the rulebook out of the window. These were the OG disrupters shows that tackled bold themes before hashtags, woke culture, and Twitter debates existed.
Let’s rewind to the 90s to see the shows that were truly ahead of their time:
Hum Log (Doordarshan, 1984)
India’s first soap opera, and honestly, still one of its bravest. Hum Log explored unemployment, alcoholism, gender inequality, and middle-class struggles with raw honesty. It wasn’t glossy or glamorous — just real people, real problems, and real conversations. Long before “relatable content” became a thing, Hum Log was already living it.
Tara (Zee TV, 1993)
Tara gave Indian TV its first independent, career-driven, and unapologetically modern woman. Tara and her gang of girlfriends weren’t sipping chai and gossiping — they were chasing careers, fighting stereotypes, and being impulsive. For the early 90s, that was as shocking as watching your Dadi try TikTok.
Banegi Apni Baat (Zee TV, 1993)
Way before Campus dramas became a trend, Banegi Apni Baat gave us college corridors filled with friendship, heartbreak, ambition, and rebellion. It was the ultimate youth show — addressing peer pressure, relationships, and identity crises when most TV teens were still dancing in rain songs.
Shanti (Star Plus, 1994)
Long before Mandira Bedi became a fitness icon, she played Shanti, a fearless journalist unearthing dark secrets of the rich and powerful. With themes of illegitimacy and rape, the show was nothing short of revolutionary.
Swabhimman (Doordarshan, 1995)
Directed by Mahesh Bhatt, Swabhimaan was dynamite for its time. It portrayed an ambitious woman caught in a high-profile scandal, with power politics, messy relationships, and unapologetic ambition at its core. Forget damsels in distress — this was a drama with grit.
Hasratein (Zee TV, mid-90s)
Extra-marital affairs on TV? In the 90s? Hasratein made audiences squirm but also reflect. It humanised messy relationships, showing that love doesn’t always follow society’s rulebook.
Aarohan (Doordarshan, 1996)
If you thought uniformed heroes on Indian TV meant only cops or army men, think again. Aarohan told the story of women joining the Navy and breaking barriers in a male-dominated field. At a time when even talking about women in combat was radical, this show proudly put them on deck, steering ships and stereotypes alike.
Alpviram (Sony TV, 1998)
Before India was even ready to discuss the concept of rape out loud, Alpviram shouted the truth in a bold way! The story of Amrita, a young woman who went into coma and was raped while unconscious, was gut-wrenching and bold. It portrayed vulnerability with sensitivity, refusing to glorify victimhood. If made today, it would still spark debate on consent and justice.
These shows were the unsung rebels of Indian television — raw, bold, and years ahead of their time. While today’s TV often plays safe with glossy drama, these gems remind us that true entertainment isn’t afraid to make us uncomfortable. Honestly, don’t you think it’s time we had a reboot of this fearless era of storytelling?