Nukkad (Street Corner) was the name of a popular Hindi TV serial that aired on the Indian television channel DD National in 1986–87. It was directed by Kundan Shah and Saeed Akhtar Mirza; it was written by Prabodh Joshi.
It starred Dilip Dhawan, Rama Vij, Pavan Malhotra, Sangeeta Naik, Avtar Gill in lead roles. The serial received tremendous response from the viewers and some of the characters such as Khopdi, Kaderbhai and Ghanshu Bhikari became household names. Nukkad was one of the three most popular light hearted TV serials on Doordarshan in the eighties; the other two being Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi andRajani. The first season of Nukkad aired in 1986–87 had 40 episodes. Each was based on an everyday issue of lower income people and often revolved around one or two specific characters. Some episodes ended on hope and positive consolation while some had a sad but realistic conclusion. The treatment was based on simplicity and reality, making the episodes endearing.
Due to the popularity of this series, the producers re-launched the Nukkad brand in 1993 in a new modern "avatar". It was titled Naya Nukkad and included the original cast with new characters. Naya Nukkad did not match the popularity of the original Nukkad series.
Overview
Kundan Kaushav's Nukkad dealt with the struggles of the lower income labor class in cities.
Cast
Dilip Dhawan—Guru (aka Raghunath) is a small-time electrician and the de facto leader of the Nukkad gang. Helpful and impartial by nature, Guru is often useful in resolving petty quarrels between the Nukkad residents)
Avtar Gill—Kaderbhai (aks Kader Kutty) owns a small dingy restaurant which often becomes a meeting point for other Nukkad members. He is generous and does not charge the poor Nukkad members for tea and snacks)
Pavan Malhotra—Hari (aks Hari Mourya) is a humble hard working youth who owns a small shop for repairing bicycles and filling air in bicycle tyres. Hari is besotted with Madhu, the attractive, educated daughter of Gupta seth. However Gupta seth despises their romance and is always watchful of Hari & Madhu.)
Sameer Khakhar—Khopdi (aka Gopal) is a chronic drunkard who is loved by all)
Haidar Ali—Raja (aka Raja Patel) is a smooth talking vagabond who moves around smartly dressed in a suit and with an "I know it all" attitude)
Javed Khan—Karim Hajaam. Karim is a barber and owns a small hair cutting salon.
Sangeeta Naik—Radha (The domestic maid) works in the houses at Nukkad. She loves Hari and is annoyed that he does not reciprocate and instead loves Madhu.)
Rama Vij—Teacherji (aka Maria) is a widow who lives alone. Guru and Maria both love each other, but do not explicitly confess their love.
Ajay Wadhavkar—Ganpat Havaldar. Ganpat is the neighborhood havaldar often called in whenever there is trouble at Nukkad.
Suresh Chatwal—Dukhiya shayar (aks Dukhiya Chandigarhi) is an unemployed "shayar" who lives for free with Guru. Dukhiya bores everybody with meaningless shayaris (couplets). He along with Khopdi and Raja form the unemployed trio who live off other's money.
Suresh Bhagwat—Ghanshu Bhikari (aka Ghanshyam) is the beggar at Nukkad.
Shrichand Makhija Chaurasia Paanwala. Chaurasia is a paanwala with a paan-beedi shop next to Kaderbhai's restaurant.
Kundu Mochi (The cobbler by the streetside)
Tambi Waiter(Tambi works as a waiter at Kaderbhai's restaurant)
Dagdu Jamadar(Dagdu is the municipality sweeper at Nukkad)
Bengali Bandwala ( An old trumpet player)
Kalabaaz (a guy who gathers paid people for political rallies)
Gupta Seth (Owner of grocery stores)
Maniklal Seth (Owner of a silverware shop
mamta - Madhu .
Other characters included Madhu (Hari's love interest and daughter of Gupta seth), Suresh (rich spoilt son of Seth Maniklal) and the wives of Maniklal and Guptaji.
Description
The serial dealt with the struggles of lower income people in cities trying to make a living in an increasingly harsh social and economic climate. The premise was that they all work and live together at the local street corner (Nukkad) and every evening they share jokes and sometimes their never-ending troubles and unfulfilled dreams with each other.