The Best TV Shows on DD National

Based on the novel by Bhisham Sahni, Tamas is an epic drama set against the backdrop of riot-stricken North India on the eve of Partition in 1947. Nathu, an outcast, is hired to kill a pig, whose carcass he’s later appalled to find in front of the mosque. A riot follows and, ridden with guilt, Nathu takes his ailing mother and pregnant wife and leaves town.

Bharat Ek Khoj is a 53-episode Indian historical drama based on the book The Discovery of India by Jawaharlal Nehru, that dramatically unfolds the 5000 year history of India from its beginnings to the coming of independence in 1947. The drama was directed, written and produced by Shyam Benegal with cinematographer V. K. Murthy in 1988 for state-owned Doordarshan. Benegal's regular script collaborator Shama Zaidi also co-wrote the script.

An Indian TV series dealing with the struggles of the urban youth who strive to make a living in Mumbai.

Chanakya is a 47-part epic Indian television historical drama. The series is a fictionalized account of the life and times of 4th century BCE Indian economist, strategist and political theorist Chanakya and is based on events occurring between 340 BCE and 321/20 BCE, starting with Chanakya's boyhood and culminating in the coronation of Chandragupta Maurya.

Shrimaan Shrimati is a sitcom that first aired on Doordarshan in 1994. It starred Jatin Kanakia, Rakesh Bedi, Reema Lagoo and Archana Puran Singh in the lead roles. The story involves two neighbours Keshav and Dilruba who covet each other's wives more than their own. Hilarity ensues when they try their level best to flirt with and get closer to each other's wives.

Ramayan is a highly successful and phenomenally popular Indian epic television series created, written, and directed by Ramanand Sagar. The 78 episode series originally aired weekly on Doordarshan from 25 January 1987, to 31 July 1988, on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. IST. It is a television adaptation of the ancient Indian Hindu religious epic of the same name and is primarily based on Valmiki's Ramayan and Tulsidas' Ramcharitmanas. It is also partly derived from portions of Kamban's Ramavataram and other works.

Malgudi Days is an Indian television series based on the works of R.K. Narayan. The series was directed by Kannada actor and director, Shankar Nag and Carnatic musician L. Vaidyanathan composed the score. R. K Narayan's brother and acclaimed cartoonist R. K. Laxman was the sketch artist. The series was made in 1986 by film producer T. S. Narasimhan with Anant Nag as the lead actor. Thirty-nine episodes of Malgudi Days were telecast on Doordarshan over three seasons, starting in 1986. The first season was simultaneously made in English and in Hindi. Subsequent seasons were made in Hindi, and have been dubbed into other languages. It was re-telecast on Doordarshan and later on Sony Entertainment Television, and Maa Television in Telugu. This television series was shot entirely near Agumbe in Shimoga District, Karnataka. In 2004, the project was revived with film-maker Kavitha Lankesh replacing Shankar Nag as director. The new series of fifteen episodes was telecast from April 26, 2006 on Doordarshan.

Alif Laila is a TV series based on the stories from The Arabian Nights. Produced by Sagar Films, two seasons were made; the first aired on DD National and the second on SAB TV. The series covers well- and lesser-known stories from One Thousand and One Nights.

A dynastic struggle occurs for the throne of Hastinapur, the kingdom ruled by the Kuru clan, between the Kauravas and Pandavas, collateral branches of the clan, which causes the Kurukshetra War.

Dekh Bhai Dekh was one of the most popular comedy Hindi sitcom created, developed, edited, directed and line produced by Aanand Mahendroo, produced by Jaya Bachchan, starring, Shekhar Suman, Navin Nischol, Farida Jalal, Bhavana Balsavar, Deven Bhojani, Sushma Seth, Vishal Singh, Nattasha Singh lead roles. It premiered on Doordarshan's metro channel, on 6 May 1993 until 1997. Subsequently, there have been several re-runs on DD National, Sony TV, and SAB TV till 2005. It is considered as a classic, among Indian television shows.The story revolves around three generations of the Diwan family, who live as an extended family in an ancestral bungalow in the suburbs of Mumbai. The serial takes the viewer through their various ups and downs. Their never-say-die attitude helps them overcome sibling rivalry, relationship troubles, business problems, irksome parents and in-laws. A distinctive feature of this show were its fast speaking characters.

'Dishayen is an Indian serial, shot by the TV company Time Magnetics Ltd in 2001–2003. Its first night show started on the channel DD-Doordarshan’s National Network and revived the genre of soap-operas. The originality of the TV serial Dishayen was in the idea of double roles where one actress plays twins. The serial was shown several times by the channels "Channel 7-9", "Ajman TV". The serial was bought by China, Hungary and reached the Commonwealth of Independent States.

When darkness get strengthened to destroy the world, Suryanshis chose Shaktimaan in order to fight against the forces of evil.

A highly popular TV Series about the admission a batch of trainees in a commando school, their training and eventual induction as soldiers.

Luv Kush is an Indian television series created, written, produced, and directed by Ramanand Sagar. It is a follow-up to Sagar's highly successful Ramayan, featuring mostly the same cast and production crew. Luv Kush covers the last book, the "Uttar Kand," of the ancient Indian epic Ramayana, following Ram's coronation, especially focusing on his children Luv and Kush.

Suraag – The Clue is an Indian television detective-crime drama series that aired on DD National in the late 90s on every Monday at 10:00 to 11:00 pm IST. The series, starring Sudesh Berry as CID Inspector Bharat in the main lead, was directed by Gautam Adhikari and produced by Shri Adhikari Brothers Limited. In the drama, Inspector Bharat and his assistant Inspector Srivastav formed a formidable partnership in solving crimes, mostly murder mysteries. This series, unlike previous detective-crime dramas in India, involved tackling of one case every episode and seldom were the story or case of one episode continued to the next one.

Kayaamat - Jabb Bhi Waqt Aata Hai is a Hindi-language television series that was originally aired on DD National channel. Due to its popularity, the series was listed in the top 20 shows at the time it was first aired. In addition, the series was also shown on TV Asia channel in USA.

Meher is a Hindi television emotional thriller soap based on the story of a Muslim girl who fights for her own destiny. The drama-series is an Indo-Pak joint production by the collaboration of Pakistan. The show was first aired on DD National channel in India, but currently airs on Prime TV channel in Pakistan, and TV Asia channel in USA.

Kashmakash Zindagi Ki is an Indian TV series produced by Reasonable Advertising Limited, based on the story of an adopted girl who is hated by everyone in her new family except her father. The story portrays the sour relationships in a family. The series premiered on November 20, 2006, and stars Deepshikha in the maid lead as Aradhana. The series is one of the long-running television programme of DD National channel, which completed its 300 episodes in June 2008 & 500 episodes on March 20, 2009.

Buniyaad is an Indian television drama-series that was directed by Ramesh Sippy and Jyoti Sarup. The series was written by Manohar Shyam Joshi and dealt with the Partition of India in 1947 and its aftermath. Buniyaad first aired in 1986 on the Indian state television channel DD National, which is owned and operated by Doordarshan network. It was re-aired on DD Metro in early 2000s. It has since been re-aired a number of times on various new Indian private television channels, such as Sahara One. From 25 July 2013, it will be re-aired on DD National every Thursday at 20:30 hrs. It was first aired on TV 27 years ago in 1986.

Kalpana is an Indian television series of DD National channel, based on the story of a girl who supports her family, especially her drunkard father through her talent of singing. The series airs every Monday at 9pm IST. Besides, the series is noted as one of the popular television shows of Doordarshan network, and has received 4.22 TVR rating from its third episode.