Trishna TV Serial - Doordarshan DD National (DD1)

Trishna is an Indian adaptation of Jane Austen's acclaimed romantic novel Pride and Prejudice. It is a Hindi serial that premiered on the small screen in the year 1985. Doordarshan Channel, also known as DD National (DD1), was its official broadcaster. We all are aware of how in the novel, the Mr. and Mrs. Bennet want to marry all of their daughters into wealthier households. However, one of their daughters is not coy and doesn't shy in mincing words. Similarly, the show revolves around a middle-class family. It consists of a mother, father, and their five daughters. It was based on Jane Austen's 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice, and suitably adapted to an Indian middle-class family. All the characters of the novel were maintained in the show, with their traits shown exactly as in the book. The screenplay, written by Kamna Chandra is a faithful adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

Since they are not financially secured, the parents want their daughters to marry affluent and eligible bachelors so that they can enjoy their life at the ripe old age. All of them go to a party of an opulent man. He starts to fancy their elder daughter Radha, whose character takes inspiration from Miss Jane Bennet. Meanwhile, Rekha, who is outspoken and doesn't mind calling a spade a spade, meets his friend, who is obnoxiously rude and doesn't think much about other people. However, he is very prosperous and good-looking.

His character is very similar to the male lead of the Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy. Rekha shows traits similar to Elizabeth Bennet, the lead female protagonist of the novel. She immediately starts to hate him. But after initial few meets, he starts to feel attracted towards Rekha. Meanwhile, the guy who feels enchanted towards Radha has a sister named Roopa, who starts to envy and hate Rekha since she wants to marry him due to his looks and wealth. She tries all tricks in the book to insinuate him against Rekha.

Also, another man enters into the picture who wants to marry Rekha. Will the Rekha be able to overcome her hatred and fall in love with her or will Roopa succeed in her task? Will all the daughters meet their match and will lead a happy life? What true love triumph or will the materialistic things gain prominence? The viewers will have the answers to all these questions as it progresses. In the end, it teaches us a lesson about how one should listen to their heart and not take all their decisions based on consumerist things.

In the novel the family has five daughters, but in this series they have four daughters, the second of whom is called Rekha (Sangeeta Handa). She is honest, intelligent and has a lively disposition. She does not think much of those who are pompous. She meets a rich, handsome guy, Rahul (Tarun Dhanrajgir) at a party, who has gone there with his friend Ravi (Vilas Kalgutkar) and sisters. She is instantly prejudiced against him due to his pride and arrogance. The elder sister, Roopa (Aparna Sharma) falls in love with the friend Ravi, whose sisters do not think much of her family and persuade him to jilt her. The role of the youngest sister, Roohi was portrayed by Kitu Gidwani and the character of Mrs. Bennet was played by Ratna Bhushan.

The audience and critics, alike, lauded the makers for managing to successfully adapt the book for the television and also for molding it according to the Indian sensibilities. Sangeeta Handa and Tarun Dhanrajgir, who brought to life the parts of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, became successful for their nuanced performances.