Usha Laxman, the daughter-in-law of the well-known cartoonist RK Laxman, talks to Ayushi Sharma about the world he created and why his show Wagle Ki Duniya is iconic

In the history of Indian television, there have been many shows which entertained the audience for years. However, there have been very few that have gone on to achieve a legendary status so that people reminisce about them fondly long after they were first aired. One such show was Wagle Ki Duniya, created by the famous cartoonist — RK Laxman. It is a highly relatable storyline with beautifully crafted characters which made the nation fall in love with the simple story of a common man. The RK Laxman classic has recently received a new lease of life as Sony SAB presents its adaptation — Wagle Ki Duniya - Nayi Peedhi, Naye Kissey. We talk to Usha Laxman, the cartoonist’s daughter-in-law, about the world that he created, how it always reflected varied hues of a common man’s life, and why the show is still iconic. Excerpts: 

Recently, in an interview, you mentioned that the new series is based on the same concept but on different grounds. What set it apart?

The story has been set in today’s time with the new generation of Wagle and family. It’s a warm, slice-of-life story which revolves around Rajesh Wagle, a simple, family loving man, who aspires for a better lifestyle for himself and his family, yet is hesitant to take risks and move with the times. The show portrays the strong value system and humble upbringing of the middle-class of today, their daily life and issues. With a change in the generation, the nature of issues has changed too, the middle-class of today has progressed and evolved with times but at the same time they also have a newer set of dilemmas as compared to earlier times.

So Aatish (Kapadia, one of the creators) is trying to look into the original Wagle... and see how he could bring forth the similar situations and fit them into the present times. Of course, an original can never lose its charm, and whatever you do later, it becomes just an adaptation. So if you look at it as an adapted version, I think Aatish is doing an amazing job for two reasons: First, he has kept the concept of life alive, which is the way dad (RK Laxman) used to look at it in the original Wagle... Second, he has given it moral values and an emotional connect.

How did the original version happen?

Tina Khote, daughter-in-law of Durga Khote, approached dad (RK Laxman) and said why not bring your cartoons on to the television. How about looking at it in a different way altogether. He agreed to it. But the common man in his cartoons does not speak. He wanted to create something based on the concept and ideology that he had of common man’s life, to bring out the humour in every situation. He then created a character, a person who is going to actually present every situation of a common man’s life.

Why do you think Wagle... is still iconic?

The show has celebrated the aspirations of a middle class family. RK Laxman has immortilized the common man with sarcasm that brought smiles to millions. His intelligence and humour helped people survive at that time. And people till date find empathy in his work. It’s basically because he looked at situations through the common man’s eyes. And people used to look at him through his depiction of a common man. Even today, no matter who I have gone and spoken to... Right from the top notch people to the low-line ones, of course at the professional level, everybody’s response was “what a legend he was.” After all, it was a common man who was his representation. That’s the goodwill he has left behind.

His work is very much relevant even today. He has covered every topic under the sun, be it politics, science, social or any other. He has tapped into the common man and his life. Even today, when we are facing a pandemic, his cartoons are so relevant. There have been so many of his cartoons related to viruses in general, which came very close to what was happening and what we were facing today. So, I feel his representation is eternal.

He always said that the dignity, sophistication, and perfection of his work is what he wanted in Wagle Ki Duniya as well. I think that’s what brought him success through the show — the level of subtlety and reality he brought in as far as comedy was concerned. He used to explain how one needs to bring humour in a very subtle way and bring down comedy to the level of reality, exactly how you and I would face every day.

RK Laxman’s appeal to the present generation...

The current generation has their own medium of entertainment, through which they watch anything they want at any time. I sincerely feel the concept of his show might prove to be an inspiration for the millennials, teaching them the true meaning of family, the subtlety of humour and concept of life.

If dad would have been alive today, I don’t think he would pin point and bring forth something as a message to the current generation. He was a person who used to go with the flow of the situation. From the early 40s till date if you actually analyse his cartoons, they used to change as per the situation and as per each decade. He always used to tell my daughter to fulfill her dreams and read a lot. He was very particular about that because, for him, it’s the only thing that gives one enough knowledge. It helps you comprehend any situation and has power to make you see things from another person’s point of view. If I have to address the present generation on his behalf, I think this is what he would say, “Please read and gain knowledge as much as you can because that’s the only treasure that is going to make you independent and handle situation in a matured way.”