Revisiting the first episode of popular sitcom 'Hum Paanch'

Indian television saw a renaissance in the 1990s with the introduction of cable TV network. Amidst the sensation created by other soap operas, Hum Paanch became India's most favourite sitcom. Aired for the first time in 1995, this comedy series ran successfully for four years before taking a small break, returning to screen again in 2005. The show aired its last episode in mid-2006, but is still one of the most favourite shows ever to have appeared on Indian television. Taking a retrospective look at the serial with fondness, we bring Hum Paanch all over again to you. 

The plot is based on the life of Anand Mathur who lives with wife, Beena and five daughters -- Meenakshi, Radhika, Sweety, Kajal, Choti -- who create enormous ruckus in their father's life, which makes Anand believe that he lives in a 'mental asylum'.

The first episode is knit around Anand's constant agitation due to his family. It begins when he bumps into his beauty-without-brains daughter Sweety and starts cribbing about his family with second wife Beena. Beena always takes her daughters' side and does not miss a chance to irk her husband. As the plot builds up, Radhika's nerdy-geeky character is introduced; she uses a hearing machine and annoys her father with her disability.

Taking the story further, mischievous Kajal - the tomboy - asks Anand to meet her school principal. When Anand refuses to go, she asks him for a compensation. On knowing this, Beena tries to bash Kajal and begins to chase her. During the ruckus, Meenkashi loses control over the tiffin that she's carrying and spills it all over Anand. Because of this, Anand is forced to bathe again and catches a cold. In the meanwhile, Choti, the youngest sister, is shown gossiping about neighbours with mother Beena.

Anand decides to take a leave from office and visit Kajal's principal. He gets upset to know about Kajal's misbehaviour at the school and decides to go on a fast until she agrees to behave properly like a girl, but Kajal refuses. Eventually, starvation makes Anand wonder how people fast for days on end. Concluding that he cannot stay hungry for long, Anand goes to the kitchen and gets caught by Kajal near the refrigerator. Saving each other's ego, the father-daughter duo decides to break their fast by making a pact to abide by each other's conditions and leaving other family members clueless about how the situation improved so suddenly.