Indian television drama

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Indian television dramas (also known as Indian series colloquially known as serials^[1]) are dramatic television programs written, produced, and filmed in India, with characters played by Indian actors and episodes broadcast on Indian television.^[2]

India's first television drama titled Hum Log (Hindi), aired from 1984 to 1985,^[3] and concluded with 154 episodes. Ekta Kapoor's Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (2000–08) became the first Indian television drama to cross 1000 episodes in the history of Indian Television, thus entering the Limca Book of Records, and completed its run with 1833 episodes.^[4] Char Divas Sasuche (Marathi) (2001–13) was the first Indian series to cross 2,000 and 3,000 episodes, also entering in Limca Book of Records, which concluded with 3,200 episodes. The Telugu series Abhishekam (2008–22) was the first Indian series with 4,000 episodes and concluded on 1 February 2022.^[5] The television drama Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (2009–present) with 4500+ episodes is the longest-running Hindi TV show of India, and the longest-running soap opera, airing for 15 years as of 2024.

Indian series are made in almost all of the major languages in India, though many also contain a mix of the predominant language and English. Indian dramas are also broadcast in other parts of South Asia, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Western Europe, Southeastern Europe, the Middle East, North America, Latin America, North Africa, Southeast Africa, and francophone Africa.^[6][7]