Chasing the Signal: A Life Spent Running Towards the TV

I was very fond of watching TV. I have travelled further than most would imagine to watch TV. But my journey of watching TV is not always about the distance I had to travel, but also the access and technological development.

nostalgic image generated by ChatGPT 

The place where I was born, there were only two television sets in the entire hamlet. One was at Arjun’s house and we had the other. People gathered in either of the houses to watch TV, choosing on which one was closer and who they were comfortable with. Mom confirmed that ours was not the first.

Fixing the antenna

My father bought a B&W television set for 3000 rupees after I was born, so that I would have company at all times. I remember people in bed, on the chairs made of cane and on the mat watching their favourite programs. There was only one channel to choose programmes from - Rangoli, on Sunday mornings, and Chitrahar. I don't remember anything but the beat of the title track of Yug, which I think came on Wednesdays. I don’t remember Vyomkesh Bakshi either, but I have heard about it from my parents.

There was no electricity. We had a battery to power the TV, which had to be taken to the town before the weekend to charge it, so that we do not miss the Friday and Saturday night shows. Jai Hanuman was “brought to you by Britannia Tiger Biscuit” followed by the signature tune ‘ting…ting…tiring..’. It came at 9 pm on Fridays. And a feature film was televised at 9:30. ‘Saundarya sabun Nirma’ girl Sonali Bendre was the first girl I fell for. Ever since then I have wanted to get into TV.

An antenna was tied as high as possible on a bamboo post to catch a better signal. When it rained or wind blew strong the antenna would get twisted and turn its face like an angry kid. Someone would have to rotate the pole to fix the antenna in a right position to effectively catch the signal, while people inside would give directions if the signal is getting better or worse. “Aaya, aaya…chala gaya….aaya, aaya…phir chala gaya…” I am grinning as I remember.

Dawn of the colour TV

The third TV in our neighbourhood was a colour TV set from Philips, at my aunty’s place. I also remember some people putting a coloured (transparent) plastic screen or sheet to simulate colour on their B&W TV. Have you seen any of those?

I was in kindergarten when I first saw an episode of Shaktimaan at my aunty’s house. We also watched Dayasagar there. 

No electricity. No boundaries

A few years later, we were living in a village which was not far from the town and a pakka road was only a kilometer from my home. Most families in that village survived on daily wages. Some families had agricultural lands while a handful of families had someone who earned through monthly payments. However, there were more TV sets in that village. Since our parents had to travel far for work everyday, me and my brother were free after school and all day on holidays. We would watch TV in different houses - an Assamese family beside the railway track and a couple of Bengali families along the same line. But, we mostly watched TV, with many people in the village, including children, at a Nepali house. We played together with their children and watched films at their house. We also watched “Maha….bharat” (with the tune).

Watching cricket

It is there I grew fond of watching cricket. I remember India playing Windies - Gayle opening with Wavell Hinds, followed by Carl Hooper. I remember the matches against Aussies, Kiwis and Lankans. It is there where I saw Nehra bowling out Anwar with a sharp yorker, Sachin hooking Caddick from outside off over square for a six.

Battery powered hopes

We still had the Onida with us. Father used to rent a battery for the weekend at Rs. 30. But since the charge rarely lasted through Sunday, he eventually stopped bothering.

But a new TV arrived as a new member of the Bihari family living next door. They used to watch daily soaps, one of which I remember is Talaaq Kyun, and Shikwa whose title track went like, “Hoth jalte hain muskurane se…. Phir bhi shikwa nahi zamaane se…” On Saturday nights we had to pass through Aap Beeti at 9:30 before getting to watch a film at 10:30 pm. It is there I saw Nasser Hussain pulling his cap to hide his face after being smashed by Sehwag and Dada. 

We were still watching Doordarshan on TV powered by batteries by the way. But “Suraj sa Chamke Hum, School Chale Hum,” was a hope for us. Oh! And how can I forget “Mile sur mera tumhara”?

Multi-channels dished out

By that time friends in my school had multiple channels at the homes connected through cable services. Therefore I used to stay silent and listen to their gossip about programmes they watch on channels dedicated to non-stop edutainment, daily soaps, feature films, sports etc. We were watching outdated DD National even when we shifted to the company quarters. I was in eighth standard then. While my friends watched wrestling, Indian Idol, Fame Gurukul, KBC etc. 

My brother and I never missed any opportunity to watch TV whenever we visited any house. But we could not just go into anyone’s house to watch TV like we did in the village. It was only cricket which dismissed the norms and my hesitation to watch it anywhere. 

However, we got to watch unlimited films at our home. We had two CD players, which my father had won in a business quest, and there was a CD shop next to our quarter who kept their CD boxes at our home for safekeeping. Tarzan the Wonder Car - we played it a hundred times. Every guest listened to “Oo lala re” that Christmas.

The entertainment monitor

Families were moving from cable TV to satellite TV. Dish TV was the first name I knew, followed by Tata Sky with Aamir Khan advertising on TV with a catchy tagline, “Isko laga dala, to life jhinga-lala.” We only got the DD direct plus after I passed my school and left the town.

I was far from home, very little exposure to TV. But I used to read a lot of entertainment features in newspapers and magazines. I would also go to theatres to watch films, sometimes all by myself. I have watched Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Ghajini alone at Sujata Picture Palace within the same week.

When I was in the senior secondary, I was the sports monitor of our hostel. Also the entertainment monitor. I was the one responsible for making arrangements for watching cricket matches and bringing CDs on Sundays. One film (CD) cost us twenty rupees for a day. The rule allowed one film each Sunday. 

Two thousand kilometers for a dish

The day I took admission for graduation, my brother informed me that Dish TV was set up at home. Can you imagine what I do? I travel almost two thousand kilometers, from Ranchi to Margherita (in Assam) to see my long time wish come true. That too in general coach. That is how crazy I was for TV and films. No doubt I chose to study film and TV production. 

Not the first time that I have run for watching TV. I remember, once, when I was in seventh standard, I was with my cousin aka friend, Munna, at a different colony. It was quite far, but we ran for about four kilometers in 15 minutes to make it in time to catch Shaktimaan, without missing the recap as well.

When we were in college, my friend Sashi told me that he could see how desperate I was to watch TV. True indeed. Everyday I would visit his room after college, and even before college sometimes, to sit in front of the TV. I have heard people call me filmy. I guess it has been engrained ever since I was an infant.

Now, when I look back there are so many thoughts to ponder upon. The journey of broadcasting technology, social reality or my own personal journey. Back then, we chased signals. Today, signals chase us. But I’m not sure which one felt more alive. Oh and our Onida? It was there with us till I completed my Post Graduation, until my mama took it with him.

Is this extreme to relate to, my insanity for watching TV? Or do you have similar stories? You can share with me. Also things I have not been able to cover? You can mention them.

Here’s more of similar tales, germination of Nostalgic Tales and those Black and White Onida days.