Media has always been a mirror to society and the new OTT shows reflect the lifestyle, values, desires and relationship dynamics of the evolved youth. Let’s take a trip down memory lane to revisit some of the iconic youth-centric shows of the 90s and watch them along with the more recent OTT shows that reflect similar themes that also resonate with the GenZ. The digital era has come a long way. While it is refreshing to see new and relevant content, the joy of revisiting those golden memories from the 90s is just something else!
So why choose, instead here’s a list of some of our favourite old and new shows that focus on similar themes but in different eras.
Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan on Voot and Banegi Apni Baat on Zee 5
Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan is one of the most popular youth-based shows with a massive fan following. It chronicles the life of five friends – their friendship, struggles, romances and future plans. The simple narrative is relatable, fun and aspirational, while the stellar performance by the star cast has garnered each of the leading actors a significant fan following. To know more about these crazy and yet endearing friends, watch Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan only on Voot.
Banegi Apni Baat– This iconic dram showcases the dreams and struggles of the 90’s youth. There were no mobile phones, instant playlists or laptops back then, but the essence of relationships, the unexplainable joy of one’s first love, the immense pain of heartbreak – all remain the same. Watch this show on Zee 5 to also witness some amazing performances by industry veterans such as the late Irfan Khan, Madhavan and Shefali Shah.
Hostel Daze on Amazon Prime and Hip Hip Hurray on Zee 5
Hostel Daze: A comedy-drama with Nikhil Vijay, Ahsaas Channa, Shubham Gaur, Adarsh Gourav and Luv Vispute in prominent roles. The miniseries, which first premiered in 2019, showcases what goes inside an Indian engineering hostel, through the lens of four friends, Jatin, Rupesh, Ankit and Chirag, streaming on Amazon Prime Video
Hip Hip Hurry: A 90’s coming-of-age, high school drama that showcased the journey of high school students resonated with the youth of its time for its endearing narrative and fantastic performances by industry veterans such as Purab Kohli. The pranks might have changed but the unfiltered bliss of school life remains unchanged even in this tech-savvy new world.
Kota Factory on Netflix and Shaka Laka Boom Boom on Disney+Hotstar
Kota Factory, based on the life of JEE aspirants, portrays the extreme level of stress faced by the students in the city of Kota as they prepare for some of the country’s most competitive examinations. It also showcases the friendships formed within this rather competitive environment. The show is streaming on Netflix.
Shaka Laka Boom Boom was one of the most popular 90’s show that revolved around a mysterious magic pencil and the antics of the very cute Sanju and his gang of friends. The show is streaming on Disney+Hotstar.
Watch these curated assortments of old and new shows that celebrate the essence of youth and the relationships that define that golden period of one’s life
