Top Television shows, 2008

This year has seen many new shows on television, and new channels as well! As the year comes to a close, we take a look at the TV shows that we loved.

1. Balika Vadhu, Colors

Balika Vadhu is the story of Anandi, a minor who gets married into a rich household. The daily soap focuses on the social evil of child marriage.

Child stars Avika Gor and Avinash Mukherjee have stolen everyone's heart with their brilliant performances. Today, the show is one of the most popular shows on TV. Avika has threatened all the bahus and betis of the television industry, earning accolades for the show.

2. Bidaii, Star plus

It is the simplicity of the show that makes Bidaai so popular.
Bidaai the story of two sisters Ragini and Sadhana -- one dark complexioned, and the other fairer. The show many twists and drama, especially Ragini's dowry saga.

Sadhana's sacrifice to get married to a mentally challenged rich guy in order to save her family from the financial burden was well accepted by the audiences.


3. Bigg Boss, Colors

The second season of Bigg Boss turned out to be much better than the first, with newsmakers like Rahul Mahajan, Monica Bedi, Jade Goody and Raja Chaudhary thrown into the house.
Controversial elements like Rahul giving a massage to girlfriend Payal Rohatgi, Raja Choudhary and Sambhavana Seth hurling abuses at each other, and wild card entry Diana Hayden's chemistry with the eventual winner Ashutosh Kaushik made the show very interesting.

4. Ramayana, NDTV Imagine

Anand Sagar's Ramayana was a welcome diversion from today's soap operas, and became an instant hit. The Sagar family, which scored television's biggest triumph in the 1980s with the first Ramayana, takes you back to the story of Rama in a new spectacular way.
India's greatest epic was retold on an epic scale, and even dubbed for audiences down south.

Gurmeet Choudhary made Ram perfect while Debina Bonerjee's strong portrayal of Sita was praiseworthy.

Surprisingly, Ekta Kapoor's take on the other epic -- in her show called Kahaani Hammaray Mahabharat -- did not fare as well.


5. Dill Mil Gaye, Star One

Dill Mill Gayye is a show aimed at city youngsters. Set in a hospital backdrop, it deals with the pressures, drama, romance, relationships and humour in the lives of young doctors.
Dill Mil Gaye seemed to be the perfect show for those who don't like saas-bahu sagas. The chemistry between Dr Armaan Mallik and Dr Ridhima, with able support from the rest of the cast, is another highlight.

6. Khatron Ke Khiladi, Colors

India's desi version of Fear Factor -- Khatron Ke Khiladi -- was interesting. Thirteen beautiful model-actresses put down their makeup kits, and did some daring stunts.
Host Akshay Kumar entertained the contestants, and us, and performed a couple of stunts too.

While contestants like Vidya Malvade (remember the goalkeeper of the Chak De! India hockey team) was visibly nervous for most of the stunts, others like Yana Gupta and winner Nethra Raghuraman proved that they were made of sterner stuff.


7. Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar, Star Plus

Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar saw the winners and runners-up of other singing reality shows come together, giving them all another turn at the winning title.
The baap of all musical reality shows captured the attention of every music lover and became very popular.

Music director duo Vishal-Shekhar and choreographer-turned-filmaker Farah Khan judged the show, while the glamorous Mandira Bedi hosted it. Rahul Vaidya won the title after defeating the first ever Indian Idol Abhijeet Sawant.


8. The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, Star One

Unlike the first three seasons, the fourth season of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge showcased women contestants also.
Three women -- all from Punjab -- showed India that they had sense of humour too.

Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Sidhu and actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha judged the show, and voted Suresh Albela as the winner.

9. Nach Baliye 4, Star Plus

Celebrity dance show Nach Baliye had 12 couples competiting for the winning title. And this time the couples were a mix of television actors, comedians and a singer.
Farah Khan, Arjun Rampal and Karisma Kapoor judged the show, and upped the glam quotient.


10. Indian Idol 4, Sony TV

The fourth season of the original singing reality show, Indian Idol, had its share of laughs, tears and talent.
Javed Akhtar, Annu Malek, Kailash Kher and Sonali Bendre judged the show, and made it more interesting with their constant squabbles.