Overview
Bandini is an Indian Hindi-language television drama serial that was telecast on NDTV Imagine. The show premiered in 2009 and was produced by Balaji Telefilms, the production house founded by Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor. Set largely in the Indian state of Gujarat, the serial revolves around the life of Santo, a young woman whose existence is shaped by tradition, marriage and circumstance.
Key facts
| Title | Bandini |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama, family |
| Language | Hindi |
| Original network | NDTV Imagine |
| Production house | Balaji Telefilms |
| Producers | Ekta Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor |
| Premiere year | 2009 |
| Setting | Gujarat, India |
| Country of origin | India |
Plot
The narrative follows Santo, the female protagonist, who is married into a traditional Gujarati household. The story explores her relationships with her husband, her co-wife and the wider extended family, addressing themes such as polygamy, sacrifice, duty and the position of women within patriarchal joint-family structures. The title Bandini, which can be translated as "the bound one" or "captive woman", reflects the central motif of a woman bound by familial obligations and social expectations.
Cast
- Aasiya Kazi as Santo
- Ronit Roy as Dharam
- Prachi Shah as Mansi
- Kiran Karmarkar in a principal role
Production
Bandini was developed under the Balaji Telefilms banner, which by the late 2000s had become one of the most prolific producers of Hindi general entertainment content for Indian television. The serial was part of NDTV Imagine's slate of fiction programming during a period when the channel, launched in 2008, was attempting to establish itself against established players such as STAR Plus, Zee TV, Sony Entertainment Television and Colors.
Setting and styling
The show drew heavily on Gujarati cultural elements, including costumes, household rituals and language inflections, situating its characters within the social fabric of a Gujarati business family. Sets and wardrobe were designed to reflect a traditional milieu, in keeping with Balaji's signature family-saga aesthetic.
Broadcast
Bandini aired on NDTV Imagine on weekdays during prime time. The serial continued through the channel's operational period before NDTV Imagine ceased Hindi general entertainment broadcasting, after which the show ended.
Reception and significance
The serial was noted for centring its narrative on a female protagonist navigating polygamous marriage, a comparatively uncommon premise on Hindi general entertainment television at the time. Aasiya Kazi's performance as Santo brought her wider recognition in the Hindi television industry. Bandini is also cited as one of the prominent fiction shows associated with NDTV Imagine during the channel's brief run.