Barbapappa
Originally uploaded by Ralli.

The brain is a collection of memories; you temporarily forget some but the most endearing and the most embarassing invariably re-emerge as part of conversation and idle dreaming.

Amongst the ones that pleasantly haunt me from my childhood (and I trust any indian childhood of the 80s) are the gems of Doordarshan. In fact I am tempted to claim that the 80s were probably the golden era of Indian television watching from a nostalgia point of view. Well, maybe not - I can quite imagine a group of 30 somethings fondly reminiscing about the Power Puff girls 15 years from now...

In any case, let me see if I bring tears to your eyes with the following-

1. Barbapappa , the name apparently is a corruption of the French word for candyfloss; The story of Barbapapa, Barbamama, Barbalala, Barbabright, Barbabelle, Barbazoo, Barbalib, Barbabeau and Barbabravo.

Check out the title song here and look around for a few episodes

2. Johnny Sokko and his flying robot - video here

The story of a little boy with a giant robot that could destroy the strongest and evilest. Combined a Hitlerian army with a collection of spectacular monsters. Sample the following

Globar - The Giant Devil-Ball

Gargolyle Vine, A Space Plant

Gangar - The Colossal Hand

Spaaki - The Electric-Current Monster

Terror of the Man-Eating Sand

Opticorn Must be Destroyed (Ganmons - Eye of the Devil)

The Monsterous Flying Jawbone

The Mummy Mutants

Hydrazone - The Germ Spore

3. Ek anek aur Ekta - Who can forget this? video here Anyone know the Raag? Anyone know the Raag?

4. The Mole - Video here . Czechoslovakian animation with molar morals.

And while you are all thanking me through tearfilled eyes and wishing to kiss my feet (for being so jobless), I shall reveal that I actually tried searching for a few more - Tree of unity, Swimmy - but could not find these.

And specifically for DD Calcutta watchers - anyone remember Chiching Phank (especially the opening doors?) or the title track of Telescope? No videos were found, sigh :)

BTW - if you have an opinion on Don (the old or the new) then check out my cousin's blog - he suggests an interesting alternative

- posted by Rallix @ 3:12 AM 3 comments