Maa-sa and Sugna both walk down memory lane – Balika Vadhu

It was a time of remembrance and nostalgia for the main characters of Balika Vadhu. Maa-sa (Surekha Sikri) finally shows her vulnerable side by reliving her past. The event is triggered off by Mahadeo Singh’s act of entrusting his property and his haveli (palace) under Basant’s care. A non-believing Basant smells a rat in this ploy too and refuses to accept the responsibility. Bhairon asks the Munim of Mahadeo Singh’s estate to hold under his care all the important documents till such time that Singh comes back from the hospital. At this point Maa-sa says that she will keep the keys to the haveli with herself.

As a bewildered Bhairon and a surprised Basant look on, Maa-sa literally snatches the keys. Basant asks his mother what made her accept the keys in spite of knowing the fact that it had been built from Mahadeo Singh’s ill gotten wealth. To this question Maa-sa answers defiantly that the haveli is a symbol not only of Mahadeo Singh’s wickedness but it represents all the hard work that has been put in by generations before him (Mahadeo Singh). It is then she takes a walk down memory lane and we get to see her relive all the tender moments she had spent in that house. She lives through all those moments that transformed her from a tender child bride to a confident of a mother of two.

For the first time the viewer gets to see a softer side of this hard-hearted woman. She makes a telling remark at one point, saying that it is almost as if she has not lived a breath ever since she walked out of that place. All her struggles, the many battles she has waged , won or lost, the umpteen times she has fallen and picked herself up-all of it is captured so beautifully by this single remark.

On the other hand Sugna on her way to her prenatal check up stops at the same place that used to be her clandestine meeting place with her first husband Pratap. The flood gates are opened unto her once she steps under the familiar yellow flower tree. She remembers and cries for her lost first love. Shyam (her present husband) finds her in a pensive mood and instead of begrudging her the tears she has shed for the dead soul, he comforts her. He reassures her that he will never ever hold her past against her. Such generousness is so difficult to find in men, who are forever ready to find faults with women while perpetually overlooking their own.

While Maa-sa’s memories helped us to connect with her better, Sugna’s reliving of the past prepared the viewers for better and happier times that are soon to come.

Saying goodbye to Kis Desh Mein Hai Mera Dil and Tujh Sang Preet Lagayi Sajana!

What do you do once a serial loses its steam, its key actors and of course the much needed TRPs? Sensible makers tie up all the lose ends and bring down the curtains; while those who pray for a miracle (that of improving TPRs) keep flogging the dead horse till such time that the channel just yanks off the offending serial. Thank God the makers of Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil and Tujh Sang Preet Lagayi Sajana belong to the former group! Very soon Star Plus will bid adieu to these two afternoon shows after tying up the lose ends.

Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil began as an evening daily and focussed on the star crossed couple of Prem and Heer. It began with a bang as the fresh pairing of Harshad Chopra (Prem) and Additi Gupta (Heer) worked their magic on viewers and their loyalties. Soon they had become the toast of tinsel town as their on screen chemistry set the television screen ablaze. As their stories became more tangled and complex with numerous near death sequences, viewer interest and TRPs began to taper off. Soon it was shifted to the afternoon slot, considered by many to be a demotion. Now the serial is all set for a grand farewell where lose ends will be tied. Heer and Prem will ride off into the sunset as a happy couple.

The other show, Tujh Sang Preet Lagayi Sajana began as the televised version of Subhash Ghai’s film Saudagar. Thus there were the two neighbouring villages who were sworn enemies and the hero (Yug) and heroine (Vrinda) belonging to these two warring groups. In Yug and Vrinda we found another fresh and youthful pairing. Soon the lovebirds were battling all odds trying to save their love story. But sadly the two had to part ways. Vrinda is married off to Rajbeer. She finds it difficult to settle down and accept Rajbeer as her husband. Slowly she gets to understand and appreciate her husband’s honest charm and falls in love with him, pushing to the back of her mind all thoughts of Yug.

As the show is about to wind up viewers were expecting Yug and Vrinda to end up together as Vrinda and Rajbeer have been facing difficulties in their relationship. But keeping in mind the Indian culture of marriages being for keeps, Vrinda will stay with Rajbeer. Had some untoward incident taken place with Rajbeer, it would have been alright to unite the two lovers. However Yug too will find a new love and begin his journey anew. So here’s a warm adieu to both the serials for having entertained us for so long.

Bairi Piya - Digvijay Thakur’s real face to be exposed to his wife, Urmila!

Digvijay Thakur’s (Sharad Kelkar) character in Bairi Piya (Colors) has to be one of the vilest characters ever written for Hindi serials. A serial womaniser, he has scant respect for women in particular and uses them like playthings. The most powerful landlord of his region and belonging to an upper caste, he enjoys a dual advantage. Economically and socially he is placed at the highest rung of the social and economical hierarchy. Women especially are more vulnerable to him as their fathers/brothers/husbands/friends are at his mercy.

Thakur’s only means of salvation is his wife Urmilla (Shubhi Mehta) - a loving and caring human being. She has not only been a good wife to her husband but also a loving surrogate mother to her many nephews and nieces. She looks after everyone in the family including the hired helps. In fact it might have been her good deeds that negated all the evil doings of her husband who escapes unpunished and unrepentant every time. Thakur’s pet fancy of late is Amoli (Supriya Kumari) a poor girl whom he got married to his servant Radhe so that he could take unfair advantage of her.

Urmilla has been so far unaware of Thakur’s evil deeds. She has stood by her husband like a rock, believing him to be a good and decent human being. However things are set to change. Thakur’s planning will see Radhe caught up in a political riot from which he is saved by Amoli. They will take shelter in a temple and complete their last “Phera” (circumventing the sacred fire) and complete their marriage. This will enrage the Thakur further. He will be furious to know that the marriage has been solemnized. He will then drag Amoli to the haveli (palace). Radhe will try to intervene but will fail to stop him.

As soon as he enters the haveli, Urmila will hear the entire conversation that takes place between Amoli and Thakur. He will narrate to her (with Urmila listening in unaware) all his past diabolical plans and threaten Amoli. Urmila will thus come to know that the husband whom she has loved and worshiped for so long is actually a cad. She will come to know that her husband has not only exploited Amoli but also the other girls of the village. Urmila’s faith in her husband will receive a big blow hearing this. Whether she decides to stay back with her womanizing husband or leaves him for good, only time will tell us all.

Rahul Mahajan begins his swayamvar with a bang!

Swayamvar Season 2-Rahul Dulhaniya Le Jayega has finally begun. Fifteen beautiful and very hopeful girls will be vying to win Rahul Mahajan’s affection and admiration. Like the previous season (Rakhi’s Swayamvar), the first episode was a grand event where the aspirants were introduced to their prince charming. Set in one of the beautiful palaces in Udaipur Fatehgarh Palace, the contestants alighted from expensive vintage cars to be greeted by Rahul, bouquet in hand. Most of the girls also carried small gifts in order to make a good first impression.

The fifteen hopeful girls came from all over India. The average age of the girls will be around twenty five years and most of them were visibly nervous as they were out to woo a man (and not the other way round) and that too on national television. It takes guts for a woman to pursue a man rather than the reverse. Most of the girls were either students or aspiring models and there even was a lecturer of a college. Most girls came bearing presents so as to make a mark in Rahul’s heart at the very first opportunity. Twinkle Mukherjee from Kolkata gifted Rahul an idol of Goddess Durga, “jor” and cheli– that marks the 'gathbandhan' (wedding knot) between a bride and groom in Bengali weddings. Charmy from Ahmedabad showered her affection and wished Rahul good luck by gifting him a showpiece of 'Farishtey'(angel). Nikunj Malik, an accessories designer from Faridabad made Rahul's day truly special by gifting him a wallet especially designed by her with her picture in it. Rashmi from Lucknow gifted him a set of a Lucknawi Kurta-Pajama.

Tannu from Faridabad and Mrinal from Nagpur gifted the Dulhe Raja a statue of Radha Krishna and a Bhagwad Gita respectively.Rahul was visibly overwhelmed and touched by these warm gestures and could not suppress his joy and happiness as the girls made his way to him one by one. A lovely party had been organised where the girls tried their best to spend some one-on-one time with Rahul. While some made him dance, others sang to express their joy and some even spouted poetry. It was very evident from the behaviour of all the contestants that they meant business and were serious about their efforts to woo Rahul.

The coming episodes will be interesting to watch as we will get to see the girls more up close and personal. The kind of chemistry each girl is able to strike up with Rahul will determine the length of their stay in the show. There will cat fights galore as the girls have already started back biting about each other from the first episode itself. Whether Rahul’s Swayamvar is as successful as Rakhi’s only time will tell, but viewers can certainly look forward to many entertaining episodes full of drama, romance and excitement.