The Khichdi franchise is a Hindi language franchise of television series and films created by Hats Off Productions and UTV Software Communications, written and directed by Aatish Kapadia. The franchise is one of the earliest on Indian Television to adopt the western model of appearing in seasons and also the first Indian television series to be adapted into a Bollywood film series. The franchise has seen several re-airings on both STAR Plus and its affiliated channels.
Inspired by the first Gujarati Play produced by Hats Off Productions, titled Ladakvaya, the franchise commenced as a weekly sitcom, debuting its first season on 10 September 2002 on STAR Plus. The principal cast consisted of actors Supriya Pathak, Rajeev Mehta, Anang Desai, Vandana Pathak, and Jamnadas Majethia, who also co-produced the series with Kapadia. The sitcom consistently ranked among the top family-oriented shows on the channel till its last episode in July 2004. It was succeeded by a direct continuation called Instant Khichdi, which aired on STAR One.
In 2010, the franchise was rebooted and adapted into a full-length feature film titled Khichdi: The Movie, with most of the principal cast reprising their roles from the television series. The film initially performed below expectations at the Box Office and was declared "Below Average" but it ultimately recovered its costs and yielded decent profits.
In 2018, the series returned to television with a third season as a prime-time weeknight show, featuring the original principal cast and characters with a revamped story-line. This season premiered on STAR Plus on 14 April 2018, concluding its run on 22 June 2018.
The success and positive feedback of the 2010 film after its telecast on television encouraged Kapadia to start working on a sequel which is slated to release on Diwali in 2023.
Format
The television series primarily follows an episodic format, with most plots resolving within one or two episodes. Occasionally, the show delves into subplots that span a few episodes or employs flashbacks to advance the narrative.
The initial episodes of the first season portrayed the trials and tribulations of a joint family and often touched an emotional cord. Subsequently, particularly in the second season, the focus shifted towards situational comedy as the characters started fitting themselves into their eccentricities. Several new characters are introduced during the course of the television series, enriching the ensemble.
With the film adaptation in 2010, the franchise took a new direction and dropped-off most of the recurring characters from the television series, focusing primarily on the principal ones.
Television series
Khichdi (2002–2004)
The series introduces the Parekhs as an eccentric Gujarati joint family living in an old mansion in Mumbai.
The first season focuses on the idiosyncratic members of the family, led by the elderly Tulsidas Parekh who does not permit his family members to sell off their house and separate into nuclear families. Later, the Parekhs move into a much larger house left behind by a deceased aunt of Tulsidas. In the last episode, Parekhs become overnight millionaires when they discover oil in their older property.
Instant Khichdi (2004–2005)
The second season focused on the Parekhs as they try to settle themselves into higher society with their new-found wealth (in the first season). They live on in their own eccentric way, trying to ace the lives of the super-rich.
Khichdi Returns (2018)
The third season presents a rebooted story-line, as Parekhs gets stuck after the builder escapes in between the construction of their apartment and some people threaten them to kill until they do not return the money taken in exchange of apartments.
Films
Khichdi: The Movie (2010)
A film based on the series, titled Khichdi: The Movie, was released on 1 October 2010 starring most of the same principal cast. In the film, Parekhs deal with the murder mystery of their neighbor Chakku Singh.
Khichdi 2: Mission Paanthukistan (2023)
After 13 years since the original film, the second film is finally slated for a Diwali release. It is written and directed by Aatish Kapadia and stars the cast from previous film.
Crossovers
In 2005, the series had a crossover with Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, where Himanshu and Hansa are revealed as distant cousins of Maya Sarabhai. The crossover is titled as Khichdi with Sarabhai, with Part 1 and Part 2 serving as the 25th episodes of Sarabhai vs Sarabhai and Instant Khichdi, respectively.