Hindi TV Serial - Do Hanso Ka Joda - How Preeti is moving closer to her husband Surya Kamal

Do Hanso ka Joda is a show on Imagine TV that looked it was based on the hit Shahrukh movie - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. After all, you had a character who was a plain person, spectacled, and even looked like the character in the movie. And he gets married to a girl who wanted a romantic life, somebody who would be very different from the person whom she got married to. After all, Preeti wanted a person who was a shining knight, who would sweep her up and take her away to the land of her dreams, and Surya Kamal certainly did not fit that profile.
However SuryaKamal was a person with a lot of strength and attractiveness of his own, once you got to know him; so, over a period of time, the quiet love, as well as the space he gave Preeti slowly started winning Preeti over, and she got over her dreams and started falling in deep love with him. And of course, Surya Kamal was always in love with her.
But there are many challenges that they have to face. Surya Kamal's mother (rather step-mother) is used to having a son who listens only to her, and also never liked Preeti from the beginning, and does not leave a chance to show the effect of her sharp tongue on both of them. And this has an effect, when, Surya Kamal and Preeti spend some days outside, and once they are back, they are greeted with many abuses by his mother because his sister has had to be taken to hospital (and Surya Kamal loves this sister a lot). The blame for neglecting his sister has been put on Surya Kamal and Preeti, and he also believes this to some extent, and as a result, he starts to believe that his profound attraction towards Preeti is affecting his responsibilities.
On the other side, Preeti's cousin, Sumi married somebody who would seem much more attractive and desirable, a young and dashing person called Rishi; however, this is very different outside. Rishi is without any major feelings for Sumi, beats her, exploits her for his business, and believes that she will always do everything that he says.

And the Best Mamma’s Boy Award goes to… depiction of mama's boys from various Hindi Serials

The Indian man for long has been caricatured as the perfect ‘mother’s boy’-dutiful, obedient, respectful and forever toeing his mother’s line. Delve into history, look up all the mythologies, in fact even in popular mass media-the definition of a good person and a good son is synonymous. You cannot be one without being the other. Hindi serials too do their bit to uphold and strengthen this notion. The hero is most often and without fail, the good son to his parents. He is unflinching in his duties. He is loving, caring and values the happiness of his mother over and above everything. Here are a few good examples of Hindi televisions’ good sons.

The first position goes to Shubh of Maat Pitah ki Charno Mein. Brought up by his step mother, he worships the ground that she walks on. Her word is the Gospel truth for him and he is willing to go to any lengths to honour her commitments. So much so that he is willing to stay back with his injured step mother rather than pursue the villain who has kidnapped his wife and whose life is in danger. The questions is-does Shubh’s devotion to his mother negates all his other relationships and responsibilities?

Suryakamal, from Do Hanso Ka Joda comes to mind next. Surprisingly, here too the mother is a step mother. Suryakamal’s deference to this sharp tongued woman makes him come across as a wimp. Where is it written that you have to trade in your sense of self respect in order to show love and respect to you parents? Suryakamal is aware of his mother’s undercurrent of jealousy and hatred that laces her feelings and reactions towards him; but instead of standing up he takes it all with a smile.

Next in line are Raghav and Yoginder, Ammaji’s eldest and youngest sons from Na Ana Is Des Mere Laado. While Yoginder is a partner in crime in all of Ammaji’s evil doings, Raghav goes even a step further to prove his devotion. He marries the woman who has been a thorn in his mother’s life and then makes her a servant girl of the family. In order to avenge his mother (a mother who is evil and diabolical), he jeopardises the life of a young girl, destroying her faith in love and relationships. Where is it written that in order to be a good son, you have to give in to all the unjust demands of your mother?

A mother-son relationship is definitely a bond that is above all else. However the most important relation that one has is the one with our own self, our own conscience. Any act or relationship that puts a question mark over this crucial tie cannot be good for the individual.

Do Hanso Ka Joda - Reaffirming the stereotype of the ‘good boy’!

The process of image building and image sustenance is a part of modern day entertainment media. Advertisements, films, serials, and public relations-all these businesses are in the business of creating stereotypes of images, institutions and characters. Suryakamal’s entire ‘look’ for the character of a ‘good’ boy reaffirms this fact. He is dressed in monochrome colours of a single shade with black heavy framed spectacles, a moustache and oil slick hair. His stride is hesitant and he smoothes his hair ever so often to hide his shyness. He is a classis example of the preconceived notions that is attached to ‘goodness’ and the way media goes on reinforcing the stereotype rather than destroy it.

Preeti’s first reaction of dislike for her to-be-husband, Suryakamal stemmed from the way he looked. Had he been a cool T-shirt and jeans wearing ‘dude’, her reactions would have been far more favourable. This totally irrelevant correlation between looks and values has been the cause of many a heartbreak and misunderstanding as it is between the lead characters of the serial. Can a person be good only if he/she dresses in a particular way and sports a particular look? Are we not propagating a certain myth about ‘goodness’ by dressing it up in a certain way? Preeti’s response to Suryakamal is a very good pointer to what image construction does to human psyche.

Preeti has grown up on a strong does of Hindi films and her head is full of notions of love that are straight out of a film. Of course she dreams of a man who will at least in the looks department strongly resemble all her favourite heroes. Her dreams are shattered when she is married off to Suryakamal who is a far cry from all her dreams. Yes, he has a heart of gold. But does a heart of gold always have to come in a package so lacklustre? Can not a decent looking, smartly attired guy also have a good heart and soul? Why do the two notions of looks and character have to be mutually exclusive? If you have one, you cannot or rather you are not supposed to have the other. The good guy does not have to be a ‘Greek god’ in his looks but he also does not have to be doormat in the looks department. Let us just focus on the book and focus out its cover; for what matters is what is inside.

Is Suryakamal Preeti’s Mr. Right? - Do Hanso Ka Joda on NDTV Imagine

Do opposites really attract or is it a myth that has been propagated by society so as to keep diverse personalities together? In the natural world, we all know that like poles repel and unlike poles attract each other. But is it fair to assume the same of human emotions? NDTV Imagine’s Do Hanso Ja Joda is attempting to answer this very pertinent question. Preeti (Shubhangi Atre) is a girl full of dreams. Pampered and loved by one and all in her family, she has grown up nurturing dreams of her perfect man. In her dreams her “Mr.Right” is a combination of all the leading heroes of Hindi cinema, be it Shahid Kapoor, Ranbeer Kapoor or Salman Khan. However her dreams come crashing down upon her when her mother chooses Suryakamal (Shaleen Bhanot) as her future son-in-law.

Suryakamal is a very ordinary middle class boy whose feet are firmly planted on terra firma. He is the caring son to his scheming step mother and the protective brother to his step siblings. He is dutiful, sincere and soft spoken. Such a man is a far cry from the kind of man Preeti would have liked to marry. She would gladly settle for Rishi (Ali Merchant) who is dashing, free spirited and carefree. However Preeti’s mother selects Suryakamal as her future son-in-law. Upon being questioned by her husband as to why she picked Suryakamal over Rishi, she said that it was Suryakamal’s simplicity that won her over. She is aware that her daughter and Suryakamal are as different as chalk and cheese but she firmly believes that the two will be happy together. She tells her husband that were Preeti and Rishi to marry, their union would fall apart at the slightest test, given that both of them are so flighty.

Preeti however is heartbroken over her mother’s choice. In Suryakamal she sees a person who epitomises everything that she did not want her husband to be. His ordinary looks, his down to earth demeanour, his apparent lack of charm, all of it puts a dampener on her spirits. Her aunt gleeful about the fact that an eligible bachelor has been turned down by Snehalata, tries to fix up a match between her daughter (Sumi, Preeti’s first cousin) and Rishi. Sumi is unlike her Preeti and is a practical and level headed girl. Her cousin’s downcast face troubles her a lot and she tries to find a solution to the problem. Are Suryakamal and Preeti and Rishi and Sumi polar opposites? Whether the ‘twain’ can meet and build a happy and productive life together; whether Snehlata is right in her assessment, remains to be seen.