Sarabhai V/S Sarabhai

Introduction

Sarabhai V/S Sarabhai is an Indian television sitcom that aired from 2004 to 2006. It was created by Aatish Kapadia and produced by Hats Off Productions. The series Sarabhai V/S Sarabhai revolves around the Sarabhais, an affluent Gujarati family living in the upscale neighbourhood of Cuffe Parade, South Mumbai. The family members include the matriarch Maya Sarabhai and her husband, Indravadan; their two sons, Sahil and Rosesh; Sahil's wife, Monisha; and Indravadan's brother Dushyant and his wife, Madhu.

The TV show was known for its strong characters and humorous take on societal issues. Even today, it is considered a cult classic in Indian television. In 2017, a web series titled "Sarabhai vs Sarabhai Take 2" was released, which featured the same cast reprising their roles. This show also received several accolades.

Table of Contents

• Details
• Plot
• Schedule
• Casting
• Crew
• Character Analysis
• Predictions
• Seasons
• Behind the scenes
• Controversies
• TRPs 
• Awards
• Interesting facts
• Conclusion

Details

Plot

"Sarabhai vs Sarabhai" is a sitcom that portrays the lives of the Sarabhais, an upmarket Gujarati family living in South Mumbai. The head of the family is Maya Sarabhai, a snobbish woman who always tries to maintain her high social status. Her husband, Indravadan, is a mischievous man who enjoys teasing his wife and other family members. 

They have two sons, Sahil and Rosesh. Sahil tries to keep everyone grounded, while Rosesh is an aspiring poet who often makes everyone cringe with his eccentric poems. Sahil is married to Monisha, a middle-class woman constantly trying to fit in with her wealthy in-laws. Indravadan's brother Dushyant and his wife, Madhu, are also a part of the family.

The show depicts the humorous situations arising from the family's interactions with each other and with others. Maya's snooty behaviour often leads to conflicts with Monisha, while Indravadan's playful nature gets him into trouble. Sahil deals with his own personal and professional challenges.

Maya always attempts to maintain her high social status, Indravadan struggles with his financial troubles, and Sahil with his career and married life.  

Schedule

Sarabhai V/S Sarabhai - Season 1

The original TV show, "Sarabhai V/S Sarabhai", aired on Star One from 2004 to 2006. In 2006, it was abruptly cancelled, disappointing fans. The reasons for the cancellation were never officially announced.

Now, it is streaming on the OTT platform- Hotstar.

Sarabhai Vs. Sarabhai Take 2

The web series sequel, "Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai Take 2," which was released in 2017, is also available for streaming on Hotstar.

Casting

Crew

• Creator, Writer, Producer - Aatish Kapadia
• Producer - Jamnadas Majethia
• Director - Deven Bhojani
• Music Composer - Sameer Kulkarni
• Creative Director - Dharmesh Shah
• Production Designers - Raju Desai, Sharad Joshi
• Production Company - Hats Off Productions

Character Analysis

• Maya Sarabhai: Maya is the matriarch of the family. She is extremely proud of her high social status and often looks down upon others. Maya is known for her wit, sarcasm, and razor-sharp tongue. However, she is also a caring mother and wife who loves her family deeply.
• Indravadan Sarabhai: Indravadan is Maya's husband. He is playful and enjoys teasing everyone. He uses his sense of humour to diffuse tense situations.
• Sahil Sarabhai: Sahil is Maya and Indravadan's elder son. He often finds himself caught between his mother and his wife. Sahil is kind-hearted but struggles with his career and personal life.
• Monisha Sarabhai: Monisha is Sahil's middle-class wife. Often the target of Maya's snobbish behaviour, she is always ready with a witty comeback.  
• Rosesh Sarabhai: Rosesh is Maya and Indravadan's younger son. His family often misunderstands his good intentions. He has a unique perspective on life and is not afraid to express himself through his poetry.

Predictions

With the success of the show and the nostalgia still fresh for the fans, the makers of Sarabhai vs Sarabhai are all set for another season. This was also confirmed by JD Majethia, the show's producer. The cast has also shown excitement over a potential 3rd season.

Seasons

Season 1 - TV Show

"Sarabhai V/S Sarabhai" had only one original season, which aired on Star One from 1 November 2004 to 23 May 2006. The season consisted of 70 episodes, each approximately 22 minutes long.

Season 2 - Sarabhai Vs. Sarabhai Take 2 - Web Series

In 2017, the series sequel titled "Sarabhai V/S Sarabhai Take 2" was released on Hotstar. It featured 10 episodes, each approximately 20 minutes long. Take 2 was also directed by Deven Bhojani and produced by Hats Off Productions. 

In total, 80 episodes of "Sarabhai V/S Sarabhai" are available for viewers to enjoy.

Behind the Scenes

Play

• The show was created by Aatish Kapadia, who also wrote the script for every episode. Aatish is a prolific writer in the Indian television industry and has made several successful shows like Khichdi and Baa Bahoo Aur Baby.
• The show was produced by Hats Off Productions, a production company founded by Jamnadas Majethia and Aatish Kapadia. Hats Off Productions has produced several successful TV shows, and web series, including Khichdi, Baa Bahoo Aur Baby, and Sarabhai V/S Sarabhai Take 2.
• The show's director, Deven Bhojani, also played the role of Dushyant. Deven is a well-known actor, director, and producer in the Indian entertainment industry.
• The show's witty one-liners are a hallmark of the show. The show was also known for its use of pop culture references, which added to its appeal among younger audiences.
• The TV show's catchy title track became very popular and is still remembered fondly by fans.

Controversies

• The portrayal of Gujaratis - The show was set in an upper-class Gujarati family, and some people felt that the characters and situations portrayed were stereotypical and offensive to Gujaratis.
• The use of English - The show was known for its use of English, which some people felt was way too elitist for the Indian masses. Some viewers criticised the show for not using more Hindi or regional languages.

TRPs

• The TRP (Television Rating Point) of "Sarabhai V/S Sarabhai" during its initial run from 2004 to 2006 was not widely reported, as TRP measurement and reporting in India was still in its early stages at that time. However, the show was widely considered a success and was especially popular among urban, English-speaking audiences.
• In 2017, a second season of the show, titled "Sarabhai V/S Sarabhai Take 2," was released on Hotstar. The show reportedly did not receive the viewership numbers expected.

Awards

The show was also nominated for several other awards, including the Filmfare Award for Best TV Show (2006) and the Screen Award for Best Comedy Show (2006).

Interesting Facts

• The director, Deven Bhojani, had stated that before Sarabhai V/S Sarabhai became a web series, they were considering making a movie out of it.  
• The show's iconic lead pair, Satish Shah and Ratna Pathak were already famous as the pair of the hit TV show Filmi Chakkar. 
• Maya Sarabhai's blouse style got so famous that people started referring to it by her character name.  

Conclusion

Sarabhai V/S Sarabhai has left a lasting impact on Indian pop culture. The show was known for its witty writing, strong characters, and talented cast, and it won several awards during its initial run from 2004 to 2006.

The show's enduring popularity is a testament to its quality writing, memorable characters, and the way it captured the zeitgeist of a certain section of Indian society. Sarabhai vs Sarabhai is a classic Indian sitcom that continues to be celebrated and loved by audiences worldwide.