Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (transl. "Taarak Mehta's Inverted Spectacles"), often abbreviated as TMKOC, is an Indian sitcom and Indian comedy based on the weekly column Duniya Ne Undha Chasma by Tarak Mehta for the magazine Chitralekha. Produced by Asit Kumarr Modi, it is one of the longest-running television series in India. The series premiered on 28 July 2008 on Sony SAB and is also digitally available on SonyLIV.[1] The series has garnered national attention and has developed a substantial following over the years, and regarded as a cult classic and one of the greatest sitcom in the history of Indian Television series.
The series is set in the city of Mumbai and revolves around the lives of the residents of Gokuldham Co-operative Housing Society, who hail from different cultural and regional backgrounds. The Gokuldham Society is often referred to as "Mini India" and "Eighth Wonder of the World" by its residents as they represent and celebrate the various cultures and traditions of India and have fostered a familial bond among themselves. They help out each other with their problems, celebrate festivals, and sometimes even the smallest of joys together. Most story arcs depict either an individual, family, or maybe all of the residents of the Gokuldham Society getting into various kinds of problems and ultimately finding their way out. The character who faces the most troubles in the show is Jethalal Champaklal Gada, whose life seem to jump from one trouble to another with only momentary happiness coming along his way.
In the first week of 2017, the show stood in the fourth position with 6,004 TVT ratings. In the fourth week, the show entered the top five and stood in the fifth position with 6,059 TVT ratings. In March 2017, the show remained within the top five shows urban-rural metrics. From 19 June to 25 June 2017, the show stood at the top spot with 6,092 TVT ratings. Just next week, the show stood at third spot with 6,049 TVT ratings. It is the longest-running scripted show on Indian television. In the first week of 2018, the show topped the chart with 6961 TVT ratings.[49][50] From 14 October to 20 October 2019, the show stood at the first position with 7952 TVT ratings. From 13 July to 19 July 2020, the show emerged as the number one show after the COVID-19 lockdown with 6477 TVT ratings.[51] However, the show has faced criticism over the years. Viewers have pointed out repetitive storylines, such as the recurring Popatlal marriage arc and the portrayal of Tapu Sena being childish despite the show's long run. Additionally, the absence of original cast members like Disha Vakani (Dayaben) since 2017 has been noted, with some fans expressing that the show's humor has been affected. Despite these criticisms, the show's older episodes continue to be cherished by many viewers, and have become the part of dinner ritual of many families.