Soap Opera 📺

History of Soap Operas

In the World

Origin:

• Soap operas first appeared on radio in the United States during the 1930s.

• They were called “soap operas” because soap companies like Procter & Gamble sponsored them.

• The stories were usually serialized dramas focused on domestic life, family issues, romance, and personal struggles.

Transition to Television:

• In the 1950s, soap operas moved from radio to television.

• Famous early TV soaps include Guiding Light (originally a radio show) and As the World Turns.

• These shows aired during the day, targeting housewives who were at home.

Global Spread:

• Soap operas became popular worldwide by the

  
  
  1960s–70s.

• The UK produced Coronation Street (1960), now the world's longest-running TV soap.

• Latin America created the "telenovela," a short, emotional version of the soap opera (e.g., María la del Barrio).

• Australia launched iconic soaps like Neighbours and Home and Away.

Modern Times:

• Today, soap operas exist in various formats, from long-running daily dramas to limited series.

• Streaming platforms also produce serialized dramas inspired by traditional soap storytelling.

Examples:

Country	Soap Opera	Year   Started	Special Note
USA	The Young and the Restless	1973	Still running; focuses on family and business rivalries.
USA	General Hospital	1963	One of the longest-running American soaps.
UK	Coronation Street	1960	World's longest-running TV soap opera.
Australia	Neighbours	1985	Launched the careers of stars like Kylie Minogue.
Brazil	Avenida Brasil	2012	Hugely popular telenovela with international success.
Mexico	María la del Barrio	1995	Famous Latin American telenovela starring Thalía.

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In Sri Lanka

Beginnings:

• Soap opera–style dramas started on radio with serialized stories broadcast by the SLBC (Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation) in the mid-20th century.

Television Era:

• After TV was introduced in 1979 (with Rupavahini), local teledramas developed.

• Early Sri Lankan TV dramas were deeply influenced by Indian and Western soap operas but had a unique Sri Lankan cultural style.

Key Developments:

• Lucien Bulathsinhala and Dhamma Jagoda helped establish the format of the TV drama in the early days.

  

• Series like Dimuthu Muthu (1980s) are considered pioneering local teledramas.

• These shows focused on family life, rural-urban migration, social issues, and romance.

Modern Sri Lankan Soap Operas:

• Today, Sri Lankan teledramas, often aired daily or weekly, cover a wide range of themes—family, love, crime, supernatural events.

• Popular networks like Sirasa TV, Derana TV, and Swarnavahini regularly produce soap operas with large fan followings.

• There’s growing influence from Indian soap operas, but a strong effort remains to keep local flavor alive.

Examples:

Soap Opera	Year Started	Special Note
Dimuthu Muthu	1984	First Sri Lankan television drama.
Doo Daruwo	1990s	Focused on family struggles and social changes.
Paba	2007	Very popular family-oriented drama.
Sidu	2016	Children's fantasy drama, extremely popular.
Deweni Inima	2017	Focused on teenage love and school life; huge youth following.
Api Api Wage	2020s	A more recent soap, exploring modern family life and relationships.