The Khichdi franchise is a Hindi language franchise of television series and films created by Hats Off Productions and UTV Software Communications, written and directed by Aatish Kapadia. It is one of the earliest franchises on Indian Television to adopt the western model of appearing in seasons[1] and also the first Indian television series to be adapted into a Bollywood film series.[2]
In 2010, the franchise was rebooted and adapted into a full-length feature film titled Khichdi: The Movie, with most of the main cast reprising their roles from the television series.[5] 8 years later, the franchise returned with a third season (another soft reboot with the same main cast[6]) as a prime-time weekend show on Star Plus and then on streaming platform Hotstar.[7] A direct sequel to the first film, titled Khichdi 2: Mission Paanthukistan, released in 2023.[8][9]
Over the years, the franchise has seen several re-airings on Star Plus and its affiliated channels like Pogo, Star Utsav, Star Bharat etc[10] and has garnered a cult following.
Development
After establishing their company "Hats Off Productions" to produce plays, Jamnadas Majethia and Aatish Kapadia engaged in various projects, including their collaborations for serials like Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka with Vipul Shah and Babul Ki Duwayen Leti Jaa with Shobhana Desai.[11] As they transitioned from theatre to television, they recognized a void in the television landscape at that time with dearth of comedy-centric content.[11] Aiming to fill this gap, they approached Star Plus with their proposal for a new show, inspired by the storyline of their first Gujarati Play from Hats Off Productions which was titled Ladakvaya, that led to the creation of Khichdi.[11]
Format
The first two seasons on television primarily followed an episodic format, with most plots resolving within one or two episodes. Occasionally, the show delved into subplots that spanned a few episodes and sometimes employeed flashbacks to advance the narrative. The initial episodes of the first season portrayed the trials and tribulations of a joint family and often touched an emotional cord. Subsequently, particularly in the second season, the focus shifted towards situational comedy as the characters started fitting themselves into their eccentricities.
Several new characters are introduced during the course of the television series, enriching the ensemble. With the film adaptation in 2010, the franchise took a new direction and dropped-off most of the recurring characters from the television series, focusing mainly on the principal ones.
The series introduces the Parekhs as an eccentric Gujarati joint family living in an old mansion in Mumbai.[12]
The first season focuses on the idiosyncratic members of the family, led by the elderly Tulsidas Parekh who does not permit his family members to sell off their house and separate into nuclear families. Later, the Parekhs move into a much larger house left behind by a deceased aunt of Tulsidas. In the last episode, Parekhs become overnight millionaires when they discover oil in their older property.
The second season focused on the Parekhs as they try to settle themselves into higher society with their new-found wealth (in the first season).[13] They live on in their own eccentric way, trying to ace the lives of the super-rich.
The third season presents a rebooted story-line, as Parekhs gets stuck after the builder escapes in between the construction of their apartment and some people threaten them to kill until they do not return the money taken in exchange of apartments.[6][14]
Films
Jamnadas Majethia with Narendra Modi, at the screening of Khichdi: The Movie in 2010.
A film based on the series, titled Khichdi: The Movie, was released on 1 October 2010 starring most of the same principal cast. In the film, Parekhs deal with the murder mystery of their neighbor Chakku Singh.
In the sequel, the Parekhs are sent on a covert operation to a country called "Paanthukistan" to abduct the tyrannical king and free an Indian nuclear scientist held captive to construct a weapon of mass destruction.[9]
Crossovers
In 2005, the series had a crossover with Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, where Himanshu and Hansa are revealed as distant cousins of Maya Sarabhai.[15] The crossover is titled as Khichdi with Sarabhai, with Part 1 and Part 2 serving as the 25th episodes of Sarabhai vs Sarabhai and Instant Khichdi, respectively.
^Rajeev Mehta also portrays the character of Tulsidas's deceased wife, Damyanti Parekh, occasionally in the series.
^Nimisha Vakharia replaced Vandana Pathak in the 2010 film due to Pathak's unavailability. Vakharia had earlier appeared in a guest role in season one.
^Himanshu's character is introduced midway through the first season and later becomes one of the main characters in the franchise.[17]
^Parminder's character appears intermittently in the franchise as Himanshu's love interest or wife, occasionally taking on a more prominent role, especially noticeable in the films.
^Dinyar Contractor appears in a brief role in the 2010 film as the Courtroom Judge.
^Bollywood filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan plays a fictional version of herself in the film series.
Reception
"The essence of comedy is to surprise people with as many unusual things as possible & make their eyes go wide in amazement."
— Jamnadas Majethia in 2004, on the success of the first season.[11]
The first season consistently ranked among the top family-oriented shows on Star Plus till its last episode in July 2004.[6]
The 2010 film initially performed below expectations at the Box Office and was declared "Below Average" but it ultimately recovered its costs and yielded decent profits.[18] The sequel, released in 2023, received mixed critical response.[9]
