Can old shows rework their magic again on the small screen? The question kept coming back to me, while I was on the old hit Ek Mahal ho sapno ka on Sab TV. A few years ago I used to regularly watch this family drama on Sony. A powerful soap opera of a Gujarati business joint family with its trials and tribulations. In today's glossy screen environment, though the soap looks low on the production aspect but the strong story and characterization can still rake in audiences.

Also, I found it rather interesting to watch old actors like Apara Mehta who have now grown over the years. Apara played the happy-go-lucky 7 wicked daughter-in-law and now she's the famous Savita chachi of Ekta's Kyunki Saas bhi kabhi bahu thi.

So, in an changed environment, on a different channel, the soap is still bound to attract newer audiences and a few of the old viewers. In all, I think the Buniyaad (foundation) of the serial has to be strong enough for it to rake in newer audiences.

Moving on to the relaunch of Ramesh Sippy's Buniyaad. It will be interesting to see if the show can recast its magic again in an era of lavish sets and designs (though it's said that it's one of the few serials made those days on lavish sets and design). This week Sahara One is all set to bring this classic based on the partition of India and Pakistan. The channel promises the show some technical upgradation and on a slightly glossier note. A show which made television history about two decades ago and emerged as one of the most watched shows on TV those days. Many have called it the first modern family soap opera which made millions laugh and cry. I am sure for many serious viewers, the show is an opportunity to understand the magic of DD shows.

And on a personal level having heard about Buniyaad from the older generation, I am waiting with bated breath for this soulful soap rooted in our culture and tradition.

That also reminds me of Shaktimaan, a DD show which staged a comeback on Pogo last year. And with some changes on the editing front, the story was successfully adapted for the Generation X.

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Since, we are on soaps, caught some rushes of Sony's new kid on the block Ek Ladki Anjani Si. The show, which is based on RCTV International's telenovela Juana's Miracle, is slowly working its magic. I quite like the lead actress Kanchi Kaul who sort of stands like a breath of fresh air on the small screen. The young protagonist's innocent ways coupled with her soft features and off-beat sense of dressing up is sure to catch on with the younger viewers. But somehow, there seems to be very little chemistry between the male protagonist Shakti Anand and Kanchi.

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With the market being flooded with beyblades of all kinds and kids going ga-ga over these toys in almost all the building compounds; I had a looksee for myself on Cartoon Network to try and get a hang on just what it is about Beyblade that has all the kids hooked. The show has a toy so central to its character that the niche audience can relate strongly to it. Also, the fact that kids often have grown up playing with tops in India that the concept fits in so well. An excellent example of offline merchandising while capturing on the popularity of a television show.

That reminds me of the famous Ramdevji Maharaj of Aastha channel. The yoga guru is also now been seen on other news channels like India TV and Zee TV. So, while tele viewers continue to breath ek, do teen along with the saffron dhoti clad yoga guru, there seems to be immense offline merchandising of his products.