The Top Television Shows of 2011

This year, television audiences were regaled with loads of fiction and non-fiction shows. But the shows dealing with kitchen politics were the ones that topped the TRP chart.

Still, there were some love stories, dance, game, and music reality shows that came quite close.

Here's our pick of TV shows that captivated audiences this year.

Saath Nibhana Saathiya (Star Plus)

The soap is based on the old saas-bahu relationship, retold through the point of view of a naive girl, Gopi.

Gopi and her cousin Rashi have both married into the same family.

Gopi hopes to win the love of the family she is married into. The show has taken saas-bahu shows to a different level. It has garnered the highest ratings across channels ever since it hit the small screen.

The show explores the worlds of two different personalities, Priya Sharma (Sakshi Tanwar) and Ram Kapoor, who fall in love after they marry.

Both leading characters are 30-plus, which sets this series apart from the current crop of teenage romances.

The relationship starts off on the wrong foot -- neither can initially stand the other.

It's a refreshing, 'mature' love story and has earned a dedicated viewership, which has placed it high up on the popularity charts.

Amitabh Bachchan hosted the popular game show, which helped many contestants achieve their dreams.

The tagline 'Koi bhi insan chota nahi hota' (no man is too small) proved dead right when Sushil Kumar, a computer operator from a small village in Bihar won the top prize of Rs 5 crore and made headlines. 

About the strong emotional bond that a daughter shares with her mother, the serial catches the flavour of the relationship as it tells of the mother's search for a desirable match for her daughter.

The show is looking strong, with decent ratings, and the makers are hopeful that the 20-year leap in events will give the serial a further impetus.

Another reality show that was expected to do very well as it marked Hrithik Roshan's debut on television as a judge.

His dancing skills and ability to connect with the contestants were endearing. He was measured in his praise and gentle with his criticism.

Since emotion is a must on such shows, Hrithik showed plenty of it when contestants got eliminated and when he presented them with the cheques.

Bigg Boss season 5 started off on the right note with its unexpected list of participants -- 12 females, one male and one transgender.

Currently, Bigg Boss is the flavour of the season, especially after the much-publicised entry of porn superstar Sunny Leone and cricketer Andrew Symonds.

However, it's not done as well as past seasons, though TRPs improved after Sunny Leone entered the house. The porn star was the trendy topic on the internet for several days.

The parent-child relationship is the theme of this serial about two sisters, Sweety Ahluwalia and Pinky Ahuja, who compete in the parenting stakes.

Pinky believes that one needs to be a friend to one's children, whereas Sweety believes in being strict and a disciplinarian. Many real-life parents might find some useful pointers here. 

Simple yet attention-grabbing, the serial does have something to say about the challenges of modern-day parenting.

Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, in its fourth season, had contestants from diverse fields. But the highlight of the dance show was Dhak Dhak actress Madhuri Dixit.

She made her comeback to showbiz as a judge together with Malaika Arora Khan and Remo D'Souza.

Viewers were delighted and the show got a good response. The channel has roped her in for the next season.

It's a star-crossed love story presenting an interesting contrast of personalities entangled in a relationship wavering between love and hate.

Khushi and Arnav have entirely different ideologies. For Khushi, relationships are most important, whereas Arnav believes all people come with a price and can be manipulated for one's benefit.

The sizzling chemistry between the good looking lead pair, Sanaya Irani and Barun Sobti, adds to the drama.

The show is running strong, giving tough competition to Bade Acche Lagte Hain.

The long-running story of two friends -- Ichcha and Tapasya -- from two completely different backgrounds keeps, audiences engaged as it twists and turns.

The two girls, best of friends initially, begin to drift apart when the rich Tapasya's family grows very fond of the sweet-natured Ichcha. Things only get worse when Veer, Tapasya's suitor, falls in love with Ichcha.

Tapasya attempts to put down Ichcha and deny her happiness at every turn. Audiences eagerly follow every twist and turn of the plot played out against this general theme.

One of the most talked about shows on television when it began, Balika Vadhu traces the tough journey of child bride Anandi from childhood to womanhood.

The eight-year-old Anandi had to accustom herself to a new family of strangers and accept her roles as friend, lover, wife and daughter-in-law when she was herself but a child.

She is now a young adult and faces new challenges as she tries to carve out her own identity in the world. The magic of the generation leap has worked for the show.

Sandhya dreams of becoming an IPS officer, but after her parents' death, she is forced to marry Suraj, a man of modest education.

Like a model metrosexual, he helps his wife fulfil her dreams of becoming a civil servant.

The show is simple yet fresh. You may not find the 'correct' life partner, but you could end up finding a soul mate in your life partner, it seems to suggest.