Screens with soul

A poem that shows the iconic TV shows, ads, and movies that shaped every 90s kid’s childhood. From Shaktimaan to Simba, Hum Paanch to Scooby-Doo ( in India).

Back when school bags were heavy and hearts were light,
and Sundays was meant for Parle-G, coconut oil, and cartoons,
we sat cross-legged on the floor.
The antenna fell half-off, and we used tape on the remote.
We waited for something more exciting than homework.

And there it was.

Shaktimaan spun like a moral tornado.
We believed in chakras and justice,
even if we didn’t fully understand them.
Dads read newspapers behind us while moms folded laundry beside us,
but we were in the fight for dharma.

Then came Mowgli.
"Chaddi pehen ke phool khila hai" was a line we memorized like a prayer.
Baloo felt like a second uncle,
and Bagheera was wiser than most teachers.

Betaal asked questions we couldn’t answer,
but we still tried.
Our mouths were full of biscuits as we argued with cousins like we were on Kaun Banega Crorepati.

Captain Vyom took us to galaxies that felt more like Film City.
He fought aliens with more intense expressions than we showed during board exams.

We laughed with Dekh Bhai Dekh,
where laughter echoed in the studio without needing punchlines.
Tu Tu Main Main was iconic.
Saas-bahu banter happened before it turned tragic.
And Hum Paanch? Five daughters, one father, and a talking photo frame
can you think of a better setup?
I’m waiting.

Byomkesh Bakshi made us scribble clues in the back of our notebooks.
Hip Hip Hurray made school corridors seem cool and made our uniforms feel almost rebellious.

On the side, we enjoyed Chacha Chaudhary (whose brain ran faster than a computer),
and Sabu, the original gentle giant.
He could lift a car but wouldn’t hurt a fly.

And when we thought things couldn’t get cooler, they did.

Karishma Ka Karishma showed up,
a robot girl who could blink and do your homework our collective fantasy.
Then Son Pari flew in, with gold dust and “Frootie” magic,
And then there was Sanju, the boy with the pencil from Shaka Laka Boom Boom.
We all wanted that pencil.
We all believed that if we drew any thing,
it just might appear.

Then the gates to Hatim's world opened.
"Yeh hai Saat Sawalon ka Safar..."
We didn’t just watch; we journeyed with him through deserts and demons.
Good vs. Evil never looked so shiny.
while we had school at 7 AM but stayed up anyway.

Bollywood raised us with traditions and songs.
Hum Aapke Hain Koun taught us that weddings needs songs like that.
DDLJ showed us that love happens on European trains.
Raja Hindustani gave us rain kisses
we didn’t understand but definitely watched again.
Then there was Hum Saath Saath Hain
a movie so focused on family that it made our own family seem distant.
Matching outfits, bhajans, drama,no villains, just misunderstandings.
It was beautiful.

Then came the cartoons.
Oh, the cartoons.

Tom & Jerry had no dialogue but more drama than a K-serial.
Jerry was us, and Tom was life.
Every chase taught us a lesson.
Every frying pan hit was a reality check.

Baby Looney Tunes made us go "aww"
before that word became an emoji.
Tweety, Taz, Bugs Bunny and fun.

Then a van pulled up.
Bright green and spooky music.
Scooby-Doo and the gang solved ghost crimes with snacks and sarcasm.
Velma lost her glasses, Shaggy screamed, Scooby munched, Fred planned, and Daphne sparkled.
Somehow, every ghost turned out to be just a grumpy old man in disguise.
It was perfect.

Then came Simba.
The roar echoed through our childhoods.
The Lion King wasn’t just a movie;
it was a lesson in grief and growing up.
We didn’t know what “Hakuna Matata” meant, but we felt it deep inside.

Between the shows, real icons emerged,the ads.
Washing powder Nirma had more choreography than school functions.
Lalitaji represented every mom with a budget and strong will.
"Bhookh lagi hai!" meant Maggi in two minutes or twenty.
Complan promised height but didn’t deliver.
Rasna had its own personality.
Vicco Vajradanti played like background music in our bones.
If you didn’t sing “I love you Rasna,” were you even one of us?

We didn’t binge-watch.
We waited.
If you missed an episode, tough luck.
Unless someone recorded it on a half-used VHS with the news cutting in midway.

No pause, no skip intro,
no “next episode in 5 seconds.”
Just patience, reruns, and a lot of rewinding.

We didn’t just watch TV.

We lived in it.
We laughed, cried, imagined, and believed
all from the glow of a warm box in the living room.

We were the 90s kids.
Our screens had soul.

Author's Note

Why I Wrote This Poem

Back in the '90s and early 2000s, we waited eagerly for our favorite cartoon theme songs, weekend serials, Sunday movies, and even ads. They weren’t just background noise; they were moments. Events. We knew the timing, the jingles, and the feeling of sitting cross-legged in front of the TV.

A few days ago, I started searching for Scooby-Doo, one of my old favorites. Just like that, a flood of memories hit me. That’s when I got the idea: Why not write about my childhood? I tried to write every possible thing I remember.

So here it is, a poem straight from the heart, celebrating every jingle, every laugh, every “Shaktimaan!” and every “Zoinks!” that made growing up unforgettable.

A proud '90s kid

Reviews

[Ms claws]

Dear, Write every single word you desire.
*hakuna matata means
there is no problem* --My 31 years old kid still says it.

No one has the right to judge you but our Creator, HE gave each of us different fingerprints to remind us we EACH are DIFFERENT but HE loves us the SAME.

Bukowski wrote nearly every thought and some of them became famous!
Let no one censor you... * (I know people who watch even today. There are good morals.)

[Neha agrawal]

Your words truly warmed my heart. Hakuna Matata !what a perfect reminder that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful. Thank you for the love, the wisdom, and the gentle nudge to keep being me.

Different fingerprints, same love .I’ll carry that with me.

[hiren]

Hi
Today i wanted to re read again this poem. Imagining what if I was sitting beside you watching you with cross legged, I know that moment may not come..
Maybe our good wishes keep our soul relaxed because in life so many things may not happen and we miss few but I was just reminding you might be of 5 th or 6th grade by that time..
Anyways I like your poetry...
We want to write so much but if we keep on writing thoughts as come and every thought we write make people may missunderstand.
I don't know who taught me to stay be right not wrong.. I see wrong it hurts me though cry or fear in face can't wait to feel for them..
You are amazing writer don't write everything you think keep some not to be thrown stones on like how I did in the morning..
It's just a suggestion..

Jessy Jacob..

[Neha agrawal]

Hi Jessy,

Thank you for your kind words about my poetry. It means a lot that you remembered it and took the time to reflect on it in such a personal way. The image of us sitting together, cross-legged, watching quietly—that’s a beautiful thought, even if it's only in imagination. You’re right, life moves on and not every moment we wish for happens. Still, it’s these small connections and good wishes that keep our hearts soft.

That said, I do want to gently clarify something. I honestly didn’t want to write that story or bring up anything to hurt you. But what you said was wrong, and more than that, dragging my mom into it was really hurtful. I never said anything to offend you, your family, or anyone else. You know I wouldn't cross that line.

I understand the pain that can come from being misunderstood—I've felt it too. That’s why I try to be careful with my words, and I hope we can respect each other’s space and truth. Some things are better kept unspoken, yes, but it’s also important to clear the air when boundaries are crossed.

I hope this message comes with calm and clarity, not anger. Just honesty.

Take care,
Neha

[DIVYA]

Thank you for this treat of a poem, Neha. All our national icons are here and I loved it. You took me straight back to those days. Great work.

[Neha agrawal]

You are welcome and thank for reviewing my poem😊

[Gregoria Ahmed]

It brought back feelings I didn’t realize I’d forgotten. From tape on the remote to the magic of Shaktimaan and Scooby-Doo, you capture what it meant to live inside the TV, not just watch it. Beautifully nostalgic and simply told.

[Neha agrawal]

That means a lot, thank you!
“Living inside the TV, not just watching it,” you said it perfectly. That feeling of being part of the stories, the characters, and the magic—we didn’t just grow up with TV; we grew through it.

I’m so glad it brought those forgotten feelings back.
With a smile,
Neha

[Gregoria Ahmed]

You captured it perfectly, Neha. I'm grateful to have remembered with you.

[JessyJacob]

Hi Neha, I was one of you not 90 kids but I used to watch Doordarshan TV, where I used to watch what you mentioned. My experiences with so much TV was cool. I think you added entertainment series, I learnt lawn Tennis watching, I liked the game and was fan of few players and Cricket too was much interesting.
My fav ones are Jungle book, Duck tales, Tom and Jerry, bhyomkesh bakshi secret agent, but was scary to watch this serial which used to come in night.
I used to watch so many old movies, and Hindi songs Chitrahaar with songs like baar baar dekho, chand sa roshan chehra, mera jhootha hai japani, pyaar huwa hain ikrar huwa hain ..
and more, I was then got to know Hindi songs and movies because I am from Warangal state of telugu we used to watch regional ones too. But Sunday was so special with early morning songs.i never used to miss though I was quite older to watch TV.
I was big fan of Steffi Graph

We never had color tv for so long no dish channels later, but Doordarshan was a good channel ..
Just wokeup my early morning, I liked the writing you covered more of them.

Nice to know those who taught us so many things as I grew where my parents never restricted is to watch but to learn and enjoy.


But you reminded me so many memories found of.
My fav news reader was Usha Alberque I don't know whether I spelled it correctly, I used to see she had my name.

Jessy Jacob.

[Neha agrawal]

Hi Jessy,
Your message truly warmed my heart. It felt like a gentle rewind button to a simpler, golden time. Doordarshan was indeed magic. From Jungle Book to Chitrahaar, every show left a little spark in us. I loved hearing how you discovered Hindi songs through it too!

Thank you for sharing your lovely memories. You made me smile today.

With warmth,
Neha

[JessyJacob]

One of my fav songs are from Junglee movie, chahe koyi mujhe Junglee kahe. I am not sure you were born when I watched the news of the legend of stars of Hindi movies Raj Kapoor passing away from this world, his greatest hit movie, Mera naam Joker, might your dad and mom hav watched. We used to get Video player watch movies, whole Street kids and elders used to come to my grand mother house to watch. These are more beautiful and rare memories I had with TV in my childhood.

Thank you you too made me to smile back. How your day went well and hav a good night.

Jessy Jacob.

[Neha agrawal]

Hi Jessy,
Thank you for sharing such a warm memory. It truly made me smile. "Chahe Koi Mujhe Junglee Kahe" is a classic! I'm only 31, so stories like yours feel like a lovely trip back in time. I'm glad I could share in your nostalgia tonight. I hope your day went well too. Sweet dreams and good night!
Neha

[JessyJacob]

Hi,
It made me to see how you grew and spent childhood watching and living tv, where most of kids nowadays spent playing video games. But you had fun and also learning morals. Glad you made me a drive through your childhood every line above depicts what your thoughts on each program in tv. You had nice roots knowing to grow better further.

Thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts.


Jessy Jacob.

[Neha agrawal]

There’s something incredibly heartwarming about revisiting the simplicity of childhood — the joy of television shows that not only entertained but shaped values, friendships, and imagination.

[A.H.]

this is a quite a jog down the lanes of those childhood days, many images and memories passed by as I read through this and familiar ones too. in early 90s .. there were few other TV shows then on DD, (only channel on TV then) Street Hawk, Chandrakanta, Surabhi and on the cartoons - HeMan, DuckTales, The Jungle book, Talespin, that was an era! Later, once we had the Cartoon Network - that was so much fun too. Thanks for writing and bringing back some of those fond memories.

[Neha agrawal]

Hi A. H.
Your words reminded me of a warm breeze from the past. Street Hawk, Chandrakanta, Surabhi, oh yes, those were unforgettable gems. And those cartoons, He-Man, Talespin, DuckTales, they had their own magic. That slow, sweet time of waiting for shows and enjoying them with family, nothing compares.

Thank you for sharing and taking this trip down memory lane. It made me smile too!
Warmly,
Neha

[Soren]

Many images come with this write but age and culture leave many gaps. I remember before TV getting our first one when I was five old black and white. Not many cartoons back then and only three channels that signed off at 11:00 PM. Never the less you stimulated many memories with the poem.

[Neha agrawal]

That’s such a beautiful memory ,black and white TV, three channels, and the magic of it all. Amazing how a few lines can bring the past rushing back. Thank you for sharing that.

[Soren]

My pleasure

[W. Barrett Munn]

Neha,

This is a truly fine example of how to show the story with details instead of telling us with abstractions. Really good.
I can offer what I think my critique group would say: Great detail and engaging but it ran a little long without enough compensating movement or changes. As Richard Hugo advised, get rid of words like “meanwhile” as the reader can work that out.

Winston

[Neha agrawal]

Thank you so much,I really appreciate your thoughtful feedback! You're right, tightening it up will add more punch. I’ll definitely trim the extra and let the details breathe. Grateful for your kind words and guidance! 😊