Indian TV soaps that have similar plots

Many television shows on the small screen have been adapted from international shows. Some shows, though not adapted, have drawn inspirations from their international or regional counterparts, while there are some that have been inspired from our own desi shows...take a look:

Bandhan/Pyaar Ka Bandhan/Kahi To Milenge:

Yes, we admit that there are repetitive themes in every Balaji show. But this particular storyline of estranged siblings seems to have fascinated TV Czarina so much that she's made three shows revolving around the same. We are tired of seeing four estranged siblings meeting at such a point in life where they have turned against each other. Unfortunately, none of the shows could strike the right chord with the audiences.

Kasamh Se/Bayttaab Dil Kee Tamanna Hai:

 Here are another set of Balaji shows with similar plots. Though these two serials were significantly different, we cannot help but point out that both the shows focused on the lives of three sisters, who come to the city of dreams, Mumbai, to establish themselves. In the turn of events, one of the sisters gets married to their boss, who is one of the most influential business tycoons of the city (Ram Kapoor and Prachi Desai in Kasamh Se and Sumana Das and Aman Verma in Bayttaab Dil kee Tamanna Hai). And after much complication, another sister ends up marrying one of the loyal and most loved employees of their brother-in-laws (Roshni Chopra and Naman Shaw in Kasamh Se and Karan Kundra and Priyamvada Kant in Bayttaab Dil Kee Tamanna Hai). Uff! 

Miit/Do Saheliyaan:

Directed by Anurag Basu, Miit, is based on a classic Bengali novel Noukadubi by Rabindranath Tagore. Centered on the theme of mistaken identities, Basu successfully recreated the magic of the plot by giving it a modern touch. Almost after eight years of Miit, the same channel came up with a similar story in Do Saheliyaan. It initially started off as a tale of forbidden friendship among two young girls, one belonging from a lower caste, while the other being rich. Later on, after a leap similar to Miit, this show also focused on mistaken identities of the two childhood friends after they both meet with an accident.

Aashirwad/Parvarrish:

Exploring the central theme of parenting, both the daily soaps focused on two families, who raised their children in contrasting styles. One of them allowed their children all the possible liberties, while the other family kept a strict hold over their kids. 

Saaya/Kkoi Dil Mein Hain:

Both the daily soaps Saaya and Kkoi Dil Mein Hain were quite popular on Sony TV. Focusing on the lives of two inseparable besties, both the shows traced the journey of their lives from friendship turning into hostility, making them enemies. Manasi Joshi Roy and Achint Kaur’s subtle yet matured performances were real show stealers of Saaya. But Poorva Gokhale and Karishma Tanna with overly dramatized plot and unnecessary twist and turns couldn't live up to the expectations. 

Saaksshi/Sajda Tere Pyar Mein: Saaksshi (Mauli Ganguly) and Sajda Tere Pyar Mein (Deblina Chatterjee), both traced the journey of young middle-class, educated women, who in turn of events join anti-terrorist organizations. Though Saaksshi ended on a tragic note, Sajda Tere Pyar Mein had a happy ending. 

Left Right Left/Powder:

 These two shows can never be termed as having a similar storyline, but both these unconventional series dealt with one common subplot. In Left Right Left, cadet Naina (Priyanka Bassi) joined army after her brother’s death, to prove his innocence. In Powder, Brinda (Geetika Tyagi) joined Narotics Control Bureau after her brother’s death in a war. Both these series sketched the journey of two young women trying to survive in a male-dominated profession.

Special Squad/Arjun:

Bhanu Uday-starrer Special Squad is one of the most popular crime drama series on Indian television till date. It followed the journey of the Head of Special Squad, Aryan Khanna, who has only one unsolved case in his career that of his wife and daughter. On the other hand, Arjun was about the Head of an elite crime investigation bureau, who like Aryan of Special Squad, had a dark past relating to his wife’s death.

Taak-Jhaank/Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah:

No doubt that TMKOC is far more popular than Taak-Jhaank. But the early 90's show was formatted almost in the same pattern as TMKOC and featured a society in a city. It also showcased the  daily life of its members belonging from different cultural backgrounds.

Shrimaan Shrimati/Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain:

Popular 90’s sitcom Shrimaan Shrimati presented a humourous concept of how two neighbors are attracted to each other’s wife. Soon, a newly-launched GEC is all set to come up with a similar concept of two neighbouring couples, where the husbands will be attracted to each other’s wife or Bhabiji.

Apart from similar storyline, many popular daily soaps follow the same formula, like entry of vamps, saas-bahu fights, plastic surgeries, ten years leap and so on.

If you think we have missed anything, please mention in the comment section below...