Hindi TV Serial - Geet - Hui Sabse Parai - The budding love story between Maan and Geet

Geet - Hui Sabse Parai takes the story of a small town girl who is tricked by a NRI. Geet is the young and bubbly girl from a Punjabi family belonging to Hoshiarpur, who was married off to a very eligible NRI Dev from Canada, a dream prospect that her parents and family were so happy about. However, like it has been reported so many times in the recent past, this was a deceitful alliance, with the groom ditching her. It was a huge shock, and then Geet broke off with her family in order to go to the city.
Now, in the present, Geet is working with Maan, a successful but arrogant businessman. Geet was hired by Maan's grand-mother, and started working with her in terms of taking care of her, something that Maan was somewhat skeptical of since he really does not believe too much in the capabilities of Geet. His office has its own sense of politics, with many of the office colleagues being bitchy towards Geet.
However, they start moving somewhat towards each other when they meet again in a dargah, and Maan's feeling of concern towards her is shown much further when she is coopted along with a more senior colleague for a presentation towards a very difficult client, and when the client turns hostile towards Geet, Maan terminates the relationship with the client because he did not really like the way that the client behaved towards Geet.
Geet also is very apprehensive of the feelings that she is starting to feel towards Maan, and tries to run away from these feelings by maintaining a distance towards Maan. What makes it more complicated is that the person who deceived Geet, Dev, is the younger brother of Geet, and is making an entry into the serial again.
Characters:
Geet: Drashti Dhami
Maan: Gurmeet Choudhary
Dev: Abhinav Shukhla

Na Ana Is Des Mere Laado-Inspired writing helps to take show to No.1 slot!

The team behind the show “Na Ana Is Des Mere Laado” have much to rejoice about. The high voltage drama of the past couple of weeks in which Ammaji was killed off and then brought back in time to nab her killers has helped the show to garner maximum TRPs. It has now become the Number One show across all General Entertainment Channels (Hindi). The entire build up to Ammaji’s (fake) death, the revealing of her true enemies and then her return to prominence and life, very much like the proverbial phoenix, has helped to entertain millions of viewers across the country. Such is the appeal of this show that even men (who generally stay off serials and soaps or so goes the myth) try to not miss an episode.

The escalating pitch of the drama found its culmination point when Dharam Veer and DM Vora were punished by Ammaji, even though the latter did manage to escape. Kudos to the writing team of the serial for they have immediately changed the tone of the show by introducing a love track between Raghav and Sia. Just as viewers were preparing themselves for the full fledged development of this relationship, with some even hoping for Ammaji’s consent to it, the makers decided to add in another twist. They brought in Raghav’s ex girlfriend, Sonali! Even before the lovebirds could have declared their true feelings for each other, the entry of this other woman has added more drama to the show. To top it all, Sonali has even impressed Ammaji who sees in her a reflection of her own younger self.

But there can hardly be a good love story without any obstacle barring its path. Sonali and Ammaji’s mutual admiration society has driven a sharp wedge between Raghav and Sia’s about to flower relationship. In fact Ammaji has made up her mind to marry Sonali to Raghav. In this decision she is supported by her eldest son Yoginder. However the women of the household, namely Jhumar, her mother and Yoginder’s wife are preparing for a silent coup. They have decided to put an end to Ammaji’s tyranny by not allowing the Raghav-Sonali union. They are determined to not allow Ammaji’s wilfulness destroy Raghav and Sia’s happiness for they are convinced that the two are meant for each other. They also believe that if Raghav decides to join hands with the good and righteous Sia, then Ammaji will be dealt a severe blow as it will mean the fall of her most trusted soldier. Indeed if Ammaji’s fall is orchestrated by those who have suffered most due to her and that too in such a silent and peaceful manner, it will symbolise the true victory of the oppressed over the oppressor.

When do we say enough is enough! - Ye pyar na hoga kam

It is heartening to see that Hindi serials have taken it upon themselves to question the many old and often harmful notions that continue to plague modern India. Be it child marriage, the stigma attached to widow remarriages, female infanticide, the helpless conditions of poor farmer who are forced to sell their children, almost all the serious subjects are being covered. There are serials whose main pivots are these sensitive and topical issues. However there are other shows that are trying to do their bit by weaving in equally important issues as sub plots.

One such show is Yeh Pyar Na Hoga Kam (Colors) where the track is focusing on the unfair and unequal treatment that the bride’s family has to tolerate and endure. The structure of society is such around the world that women are pegged lower than men in terms of social status and hierarchy. In India there is a strong male child preference given culturally and ritually prescribed notions like the son’s right to light the funeral pyre, his sole authority to perform last rites and so on. Patriarchy, where property passes on from father to son, has helped to strengthen this system of unfair bias. Even during a marriage it is the bride’s side that has to bow down and give in to the demands of the groom’s side, no matter how unfair these are.

Rashmi and Madhav are in love and have decided to tie the knot. They belong to two different caste groups and also come from different linguistic background. Madhav’s parents unhappy with the match have been unkind and disrespecting to Rashmi’s parents from day one. Madahv’s mother especially has been cruelty personified. She has used every opportunity to belittle Rashmi’s parents, using barbed comments to hurt and wound. Madhav’s mother is so caught up with her power as the ‘groom’s mother’ that she has not stopped to consider how her behaviour affects her son’s happiness. The final straw in all her evil schemes was when she refused to let the bride’s family perform any ritual according to their own tradition.

The final obstacle will come in the way of the demand for dowry that she will put forward. Reshmi’s family has stood by mutely with folded hands accepting every taunt and insult with tears and pleas of understanding. This is drama, but there are thousand families across India who would have experienced a similar situation during the time of a daughter’s marriage. Women in their different forms-mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend- are one half of the population and the pivots of families. Isn’t it time we stop harassing them and their family members all in the name of tradition and custom? Isn’t it time to change for the better?

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.