The BBC Asian Programmes Unit was formerly known as the Immigrants Programmes Unit. The change in name was a recognition that many people in Britain of Asian origin were born in Britain and therefore content for an Asian audience needed to be responsive to these social changes.

Shows produced by the Unit included Nai Zindagi Naya Jeevan (1968-1982) and Gharbar (1977-1987). A noticeable change in content was the increasing shift towards the use of English instead of Hindi.

See below Lata Mangeshkar performing ‘Lag Jaa Gale’ on Nai Zindagi Naya Jeevan in 1979: