Ek Tha Rusty

Ek Tha Rusty is a Doordarshan show based on the stories of writer Ruskin Bond, broadcast in 1995 (season 1), 2012-2013 (season 2) and 2014-2015 (season 3).^[1]

Produced and directed by Shubhadarshini Singh, the show stars Zarul, Nadira, Pankaj Berry, Raj Zutshi, Ayub Khan, Vipul Gupta, Bhanu Uday, and Suhasini Mulay.^[1] In seasons 2 and 3, Gupta and Uday respectively played the role of grown up Rusty.^[1]

Ruskin Bond, the author of Rusty and other short stories for children, presented seasons 2 and 3 of the show and appeared in the beginning and end of each episode. The series is semi-autobiographical, as many of the stories adapted are incidents and experiences from Bond's life.^[2][3]

Synopsis

Season 1 (aired in 1995) is about a ten-year-old boy Rusty, his life at a boarding school and his friends and family in Dehradun. This season is set in 1930s, when India was under British rule.

Season 2 shows the time when Rusty is about 30 years of age and a struggling writer. It is set in 1960s, when Rusty has returned from England, to live in Mulberry Cottage, Mussoorie. Season 2 had Vipul Gupta playing a 30 year old Rusty. It included ten of Bond's stories - Love is a sad song, Sensualist, Dead Man's Gift, Last Time I saw Delhi, Hanging at Mango, Who Killed the Rani?, Binya Passes By, From Small Beginnings and At Greens Hotel,^[4] along with his novel Maharani.^[5] It was shot in Mussoorie and Dehradun.^[1]

Season 3 had Bhanu Uday playing a 35 year old Rusty. It includes Bond’s stories - Time Stops at Shamli and Shooting at Mango Top.^[6] The show was shot in Mussoorie.^[6] Bond’s granddaughter (from his adopted family in Mussoorie) Shristi, also acted in the show.^[7][8]

Set in 1960s, Seasons 2 and 3 of the show were shot in the beautiful woods and snowy hills, where alongside interesting stories, some of beautiful tracks are also featured; including "Hawaon ki dhun and Zindagi keraye ka ghar hai".

Cast

• Zarul as Rusty (season 1)
  • Vipul Gupta as 30-year-old Rusty (season 2)
  • Bhanu Uday as 35-year-old Rusty (season 3)
• Raj Zutshi
• Ayub Khan
• Suhasini Mulay