Zabaan Sambhal Ke

Firstly, if you've seen 'Mind Your Language', I needn't tell what this is about. Only that the language here is Hindi. I don't know if it's an official remake (probably not), but has a lot going for it.

The best part about the serial is it's cast - it has some of the leading actors from Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati and Sindhi stage from that era, well led by none other than the thespian Pankaj Kapur who then went in to star in other landmark TV serials by the same director - like Office Office.

It starts of well, with the centre stage being 'Hindi learning'. But unlike MYL, it soon starts depending on stories related to the characters and not with language. So the differentiation that the serial has from other comedy series starts reducing. They start getting a new funny guest character, usually as a new student (lasting just that episode) for this. Eventually, they have to resort to getting the prime comedian Rakesh Bedi as a student (who stays) whose character as a dimwit is quite trite. So the series starts losing its hold on audiences who liked it for what it started as - a witty comedy around language.

Nevertheless, in comparison with TV series and comedy shows today, ZSK still scores with its innocence, talent and warmth. A good walk down the memory lane currently on Amazon Prime.