Has Ityadi lost its charm?

We all collectively share a fond memory of a particular Friday at 9 p.m. when the whole family gathers in front of the TV set, and the most iconic intro starts, 'Kew kew obiram chupi-chupi...' We all know it's going to be a wholesome couple of hours. Ityadi is a show that has connected three generations of viewers. But does the show need help to maintain the charm it once had?

People from various age groups have different viewpoints about the current state of the show. Each generation interprets the show differently, based on their own experiences, memories, and expectations. Let's explore how the influence of the show has shifted over the generations.

Salma Parvin, a 53-year-old housewife from Sirajgonj, has been a regular viewer of the show since it first aired. "Back then, BTV was the only channel on TV, so we didn't have as many options as we do now. Newspapers advertised the show a day in advance, and our whole family would gather in front of the TV after the 8 p.m. news broadcast."

When asked about the most anticipated segment of the show, she replied, "I loved the Bangla Dub segment the most. It was hilarious. Mr. Bean, The Three Stooges, and other popular comedy shows dubbed in local dialects somehow made the whole thing even funnier. Later on, they introduced a segment where they would dress foreigners in local clothes and act out typical Bangladeshi household scenarios. That was pretty funny, too. I also enjoy the part where the audience gets selected randomly to participate in an act."

In response to a question about whether or not she still enjoys the show, Salma replied, "It has been a while since I watched a new episode. It is not the same as it used to be. But I often find myself reminiscing about the good family time this show has given us."

The longtime viewers of the show had a genuine fondness for it. Their attachment to the show was rooted in the content, humour, and charismatic presence of the showman himself, Hanif Sanket. And that's what made it stand out among other BTV programs all this time. 

Contrarily, for today's viewers, the show is valued mainly because of the nostalgia associated with watching an iconic program and the quality family time it brings with it.

Maisha Medha, a law student at BRAC University, shares her fond memories and says, "This is the only show I can remember that we watched as a family. My grandmother refused to watch anything else unless it was Ityadi. I think that's what makes the show so close to my heart. The skits that were once humorous now just seem dry and forced. But I believe there's room for improvement. The team should consider involving more young minds. Involving stand-up comedians might add a refreshing tone to it."

Md. Shafin Sadat, an 18-year-old student at Birshreshtha Munshi Abdur Rouf Public College, Dhaka, shares his perspective on the show. He contrasted the current state of the show with a Greek paradox, which puts the show in a completely different light.

"There is a Greek paradox, according to which, after winning a war, people brought a ship as a trophy. With time, several parts of the ship stopped working, hence being replaced. After some time, it was seen that all the parts of the original ship were replaced. Now the question is, is it the previous ship, or is it a new ship? Practically, it's a new ship since none of the parts belong to the original ship, but emotionally, it's the same old ship. Since the show has been going on for so long, most of the previous artists have left. So the Ityadi is a new show. But people watch it, remembering the good old times, as a form of emotion. On one hand, people struggling in the newly formed nation watched the show. I would say it is time for the show to end."

Throughout its long 36-year journey, the show has changed yet somehow remained the same. It continually tries to keep up with recent events and the inconsistencies that surround us, but it struggles to capture the young generation with the same charisma it once had. Considering the opinions, should the show change according to the pulse of this generation?

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