Swaragini on Colors - Finally trying to turn the tables on Ragini

For quite some time, the show has been showing Swara not having an easy time. Not knowing the intentions of her sister Ragini who wanted to marry Swara's fiancee, Laksh. She did the ultimate back-stabbing, plotting over a period of time to convey that Swara was not interested in the marriage, and also managed to ensure that Swara would not reach the marriage location. To her sister, she actually acted with a lot of malice and threw Swara off from a bridge (not knowing whether her sister was alive and dead). At the marriage hall, she managed to twist things by saying that Swara was not interested in the marriage and finally her wishes get fulfilled when Laksh agreed to get married to Ragini. In many of these machinations, she was supported by Sanskar, who wanted revenge from Laksh. However, Swara finally managed to get Laksh to forgive the reasons why he wanted revenge and decided to support Swara in whatever he did.
There were many complications after this. Swara's and Ragini's dad did not forgive Swara for what she did, and over a period of time, made clear his feelings that he did not consider Swara his daughter any more and remained very angry at his wife, Sharmishta, essentially breaking off relations with his wife because she did not agree to support the marriage of Ragini and Laksh.
In the meantime, Swara and Sanskar decided to try and ensure that the truth would come out, although no one really believed them; they considered that Swara was really upto no good and that Ragini was the good daughter-in-law. Swara and Sanskar pretended to get married to ensure that Swara would remain in the same household as Ragini to try and expose her. However, it was not so easy, and every attempt they made was ending in failure, with Ragini and Laksh determined to expose the false marriage between the 2 so that Swara would leave the house. It was even more complicated that Laksh still loved Swara and had not had yet established physical relations with Ragini, and this love of Laksh was troubling Ragini a lot.
However, of late, there is a change in the storyline, with the story starting to support Swara a bit more, and of late, Laksh, ever since he fell off the same bridge as Swara and established that she had indeed fallen in the water, was wanting to know the truth. So he is apparently making a plan where Sanskar and Swara would seem like they are hurting and killing Laksh, and with the sheer anger of Ragini at this move, would expose her for the actions she had taken against Swara. 

Themes yet unexplored by Hindi Serials...

Till recently Hindi serials had been under the strangle hold of the formulaic “Saas-Bahu” serials with its high pitched drama, forever sacrificing heavily bejewelled women and settings that were far removed from reality. Just as viewers had had enough, a sort of coup happened that changed the face of Hindi serials. A few new channels, some bold production houses and producers and some very good writers ushered in the new phase of Hindi serials. As stories and content became more issue-based, there was virtual explosion of new themes that tried to capture a slice of the real life. Shows like Balika Vadhu, Na Ana Is Des Mere Laado, Uttaran, Bidaai, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai slowly set the new grammar for Hindi serials.

Like all good things spark off a herd mentality, this trend too did the same across channels. Thus the new benchmarks of good television shows began to spawn off pale imitations that tried to imitate the success stories without quite getting the tone right. In fact it is time that some well meaning individual should take it upon herself/himself to point out the themes that have been unexplored by serials. Here are a few themes that come to mind immediately.

• Anandi-Jagiya but with a difference- The strong teen school going teenage population of India is yet to have a show that caters to them exclusively. The genre of teen-centered shows remains largely unexplored in films as well as television. Thus a serial that can speak their ‘lingo’, talk about the issues that bother them and that they have to face as part of everyday life (like exam related stress, competition, dating, drugs, consumerism) will surely be a hit with this segment. It will also appeal to the older audience as it can help them to understand their kids better.

• New-age families-Urban India has become a hotbed of relations that have so far been on the margin-the live in couple, the single parent, the step-parent, the single and not interested in dating individual, the single working woman unit-all of it will surely make for interesting themes.

• The Plain Jane/Average Joe Story- where the individual has nothing remarkable about himself/herself, not even a heart of gold. The journey that every common, regular human being undertakes without having to resort to a makeover or a miraculous turn of fortune can be an interesting story to narrate.

• The story of a neighborhood/mohalla/nukkad- where no one family gets to dominate proceedings and the story is populated with small families, individual characters and the interaction that they have with each other and the outer world.

• Karamchand Revisited- where the detective genre is treated with respect and dignity and not made out to be a farce. Stories can deal with crimes that are unique and common to modern India. And of course a very enigmatic detective figure has to be the lead.

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.

Manav does the unthinkable in Pavitra Rishta !!

The unthinkable has happened. Manav, goaded on by his mother has indeed put vermillion on Shravani’s forehead thereby solemnising the promise he had made to protect her honour and dignity. A tearful Archana could only look on helplessly as her husband took on another woman as his wife. Everyone present and involved is in no doubt of Archana and Manav’s real feelings for each other. However no one is able to do anything to prevent this from happening. But why is this so? Why could no one who witnessed the event unfold step forward and stop Manav from carrying out a senseless act? The answer of course is TRPs.

Every good love story needs a very good obstacle. Manav and Archana have had many. First it was Archana’s mother who refused to accept Manav as her son-in-law and her daughter’s husband because of his humble background. Manav, a lowly mechanic did not match up to her exacting standards. Thus despite Archana’s apparent willingness she refused to accept the sanctity of the marriage and even forced Archana to leave Manav.

Then it was the turn of Manav’s step mother. She has always looked upon her step son as the means to a comfortable life and had hoped that he would bring in a lot of dowry via his marriage. She is unable to stand Archana’s mother’s high-handedness and taunts. She passed on her immense dislike for the mother on to the daughter and now wants to see Archana suffer at any cost. She has been one of the biggest obstacles in the Manav-Archana love story. Archana’s sister-in-law Manjusha and her mother have been the other villains of the story. She along with her mother and brother tricked Archana into being present in a not so respectable part of the city but made it seem as if it had all been Manav’s doing. This act alone made the lovely couple reach divorce proceedings.

The hurdle presented in the form of Shravani is even more surmountable for the duo. Shravani is pregnant with Manav’s deceased younger brother’s child. Now it is a question of an unborn innocent life and a young girl’s honour and reputation in society. Manav reluctantly agreed to shoulder the burden when he and Archana were on the verge of a divorce. But now that Archana has come back to him and wants to continue their life together, this promise made by him has become a cross for him. What justification can he give to Archana for breaking her heart? What justification can he give to Shravani if he is unable to protect her good name? Can he live with himself if his dead brother’s yet to be born child is lost to the shadow of illegitimacy? These are questions that he and Archana as a couple will have to find answers to.