Ekta Kapoor’s Naagin series opened Pandora’s box for desi TV viewers. The magic of gorgeous women turning into snakes was too hot to resist. Suddenly, all we wanted to watch were fantastical TV shows with plot twists so intense that one couldn’t believe their very eyes. Thus followed a menagerie of sorts. Lizards, monkeys, eagles…nothing was off-limits. And before we knew it, Indian TV had become the ichchadhari land.
No complaints, honestly! As a cringe connoisseur, I actually chase the thrill. I like to keep a count of all the actors who turned into birds, animals, and whatnot. (“There is a reason why they keep making these shows…yada yada”). Well, the list is longer than one would expect it to and thankfully, an Instagram account is documenting it all. Scroll down for eight times Indian TV gave us weird shape-shifting creatures:
Ichchadhari Dragon
George R.R. Martin can quietly sit in a corner ‘coz GOT got nothing on Indian TV. We have literally come to a point where shape-shifting dragons sound like a great idea to desi production houses. Well, good for us ‘coz the more ridiculous, the better!
Ichchadhari Owl
This one showed an entire owl family with a grown-ass shape-shifting man hatching out of an egg. Nope, I am not questioning anything. It’s kinda hilarious to watch ichchdhari ullus making out on the screen though.
Ichchadhari Cat
Some cats go feral and some turn into lehenga-clad brides. That’s the beauty of desi soaps. The show is called Vish—A Poisonous Story and I am beginning to understand why! That said, a huge shoutout to the production team for not casting a random cat from the sets and scoring a Persian one instead. The small things matter you see!
Ichchadhari Monkey
I feel bad for the actor who played this ichchadhari monkey in Divya-Drishtii ‘coz he literally got beaten by a basic, powerless human. Now, that’s just unfair. I mean what’s even the point of shape-shifting when anyone can come and beat the crap out of you?
Ichchadhari Bull
Aly Goni openly apologised for playing a shape-shifting bull on national TV and honestly, the entire cast of Tere Ishq Mein Ghayal should learn from his example. They owe us that much for making a gandi copy of Vampire Diaries.
Ichchadhari Frog
I just want to talk to the scriptwriter who sat with the makers and convinced them that shape-shifting frogs would be a good idea. I am convinced they can sell anything to anyone!
Ichachadhari Lizard
Ya, this one gave me the heebie-jeebies. Spotting an odd chipkali in your living room is one thing but watching a human-sized version on national TV is something else. This is where the makers should have drawn a line ‘coz it’s a ‘nope’ from me!
Ichachadhari Centipede
Did I tell you that this ichachadhari virus isn’t just confined to animals and birds? Well, the TV production houses are getting quite wild and creative. They aren’t even scared of exploring shape-shifting insects at this point. Take, for instance, this shape-shifting centipede. Wow!
I’d also list the more famous shape-shifting flies, nevlas, and snakes of the TV world but you already know about them (and I have frankly lost the will). Hope you enjoyed the wild ride!
Featured Image: Instagram
