Here’s a quick quiz: Who says Daya darwaza tod do, to whom in which serial? No? Okay here’s an easier one, which character is prone to using the line ‘Hello hi, bye bye’? Or try this, which character says Hambe with a deep breath? We are not jesting, these catch phrases or takiya kalaams as they are popularly known have become a rage among the TV viewers. The trend first caught on with Ararara used by Dakshaben aka Ketaki Dave in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.
So popular are these, that even if you are not familiar with the serial, chances are you will be aware of these maxims! Says Hema Singh, who plays Imarti Devi in Kairi, “I’m better known for my takiya kalam on the show, Saaf Kehno… Sukhi Rehno… Hambe... The show’s dialect is loosely based on the Awadhi spoken in Lucknow and Agre-waali boli. My mother-in-law would use Hambe a lot I’m glad that most of my fans address me as ‘Hambe’.” Actor Usha Nadkarni, who uses the word halkat regularly in Pavitra Rishta was amazed to hear little kids in Israel shouting halkat when they saw her! “Since the beginning of the show, my character keeps saying ‘halkat’ to people when she is frustrated with them. The word has caught on so much that I find people cheekily calling me by that word wherever I go,” smiles Nadkarni.
However, Utkarsha Naik, who plays Manorama in Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon has a big grouse. “I am no longer known as an actress, I am only addressed as Hello hi bye bye,” she laments. So much so that even her family members and friends have started using it. “The other day I was organising a picnic and I texted my cousins about it and guess what, everyone replied with a hello hi, bye bye at the end,” smiles Utkarsha, who has blogs devoted to her character.
For Shivaji Satam, who plays ACP Pradyuman in the long-running detective series CID, there is no dearth of takiya kalams. From Daya darwaza tod do to Kuch na kuch toh gadbad hai, the followers of this CID, specially kids have the catchphrases down pat. “Every kid wants to copy my mannerism. The funny thing is when they see me, they want to say it and show it to me rather than the other way round,” laughs Satam.
So popular have these phrases become, that makers now are trying to give every character one takiya kalam in their serials. Ararara...
