When One Channel Was Enough

Before endless choices and noisy screens, our families gathered around a single flickering TV, finding stories that spoke to our lives with honesty, warmth, and respect.

- Syed Majid Gilani

There was a time in Kashmir when watching a film on television was an event that brought everyone together.

I remember how Hindi films from the late '70s to the '90s had a simple charm that felt close to home. Those stories spoke gently but deeply, with grace and emotion that touched the heart.

Films like Anand, Bawarchi, Chupke Chupke, Masoom, and Sparsh felt like reflections of real life, told with dignity and respect for the audience. Watching them, you learned about kindness, patience, and love, all without anything that felt forced or exaggerated.

Even as the '90s brought new hits like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, these stories stayed true to their roots.

Families in Kashmir could watch together without discomfort. There were no bold or crass scenes, no unnecessary glamour or cheap tricks. Actors wore modest clothes, and the romances were tender, not explicit. It was entertainment that respected our values and spoke to the heart.

The songs from those films still echo in our memories. Whether from Masoom, Saath Saath, Ram Teri Ganga Maili, or Sajan, those melodies carried feelings that never faded.

Every week, shows like Chitrahaar and Rangoli brought those songs into our homes, making them part of our routine. Even today, many young singers on reality shows pick these timeless tunes, proving their lasting beauty.