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Many of us criticise
and even mock at the serials dished out by Ekta Kapoor's production
house, Balaji Telefilms. Her shows are too far-fetched, it seems
farcical that all the bahus are dressed in sarees and sindoor
at all times. Sometimes, one wonders, if it's necessary that women
have to be goody-two shoes or inky black in character, as portrayed
by Kapoor in all her serials.
How
do ordinary people relate to Ekta's shows? Do they think she is
causing a gradual degeneration of society? After all, her messages
are hammered into the drawing rooms of thousands of Indian households,
day in and day out.
On
the one hand, some say she is depicting modern day India and its
domestic travails. On the other, it is called entertainment. But
what is she actually cashing on? Is it the urge for the middle class
woman to aspire to be in the protagonist's position? We tried to
find out how the serials influence some avid Balaji fans:
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| Ronit
Roy and Smriti Irani in a scene from Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu
Thi |
A 33-year
old hardcore fan of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, who is
the only son of his parents, stays in south Mumbai and claims to
have watched the serial uninterrupted for three years.
This
marketing professional, Ashok Khemlani, who travels abroad at the
drop of a hat, says, "Watching Kyunki... with my parents
has become a habit - a sort of family get-together. It's all about
how the youth can gel with their elders, if the elders are flexible.
For instance, Baa has reconciled herself to her bahu and
the bahu's bahu and even to the nerd-like lovable character,
Indu."
Khemlani
says, "If the older generation is flexible, then they can strike
a rapport with the young and infuse traditional values in a subtle
way. If this is done, the new generation will become a perfect blend
of the old and the new - like in Japan. India needs this desperately
today because our youngsters are not proud of our culture."
Another
interesting aspect he points out is related to the joint family
system which is a dying institution today. "Kyunki proves
that the joint family system can exist and be successful in today's
context. A joint family teaches you the mechanics of self-control
or team work - or other management precepts. The key is to imbibe,
internalise and become a living embodiment of the learnings."
When
asked whether he watches the ads too, Khemlani says, "When
the ads are on, I switch to Zee TV's Kittie Party."
A
student from a city college has a different perception of the Balaji
serials. She says, "I think, Ekta is a very smart woman with
a definite agenda. She knows the Indian middle class is detached
and insensitive, and likes to prey on the traumas of others. It
gives people a high to see others going through abject misery, especially
those who are economically well off. People enjoy watching the sufferings
of those born with a silver spoon in their mouth!"
This
collegian says Ekta is a shrewd entrepreneur. According to her,
the entire Kapoor family has a breathtakingly clear notion of what
the consumer wants. "I've heard many of my aunts, cousins,
friends and colleagues (who are avid watchers), discuss among themselves,
whether Ekta takes her audience for fools. Yet they don't miss even
one episode," the student says.
According
to a businessman from Malad, "The popularity of Ekta's programmes
do not speak highly of the intellectual ability of our women. I
am no male chauvinist, but the reality is staring us in our faces.
Ekta's strength is that she is able to create strong characters,
even though her stories revolve around the ridiculous."
He
says, today, while people can't recognize an Amisha Patel or a Neha
Dhupia in a magazine, they can easily spot a Balaji character like
"Ba, Babuji, Gomzi, Parvati, Pallavi, Tulsi, Komollika, Ramola
and Shaina".
A government
employee from Goregaon adds, "I think Ekta portrays a lot of
regressive characters. Every alternate woman in her serial is having
an affair or plotting to kill somebody, and the rest are the pallu-gharelu
or family types. Why
can't she depict a normal working woman?"
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| Mouli
Ganguli as Shaina in 'Kaahin Kissii Roz' |
However,
this Goregaon resident agrees that she watches all Balaji serials.
"I am mesmerised by the look of some of the characters in her
shows. I am bonkers about the glamorous blouses of Ramola Sikand
in Kaahin Kissii Roz. I wish, I could dress up like that
and go to work. But in terms of nature, I am closer to Shaina's
character in the same serial. Whenever I see Kaahin..., I
put myself in Shaina's place."
She
opines that Ekta does go a bit over-the-top, "but she has many
characters in every serial, with whom people can identify".
However,
another bank employee from Goregaon says, "Ekta's serials are
an extension of everyday life. That's why I like them. That's why
they continue to be at the top positions. We don't want to see any
stuff which is drastically different from our everyday life."
She
points out a very significant quality of Indians. "We are always
opposed to change, whether it's for good or bad. For instance, the
common man is not in favour of CAS. Why? Because without realising
the necessity of a thing, we discard it saying that it is a jhanjhat
(cumbersome). Mind
you, I am not absolving myself from the majority. I too have often
resisted changes in life."
According
to a young TV reporter, "For three years I am trying to figure
out why my mom needs to see these serials every day. During her
spare time, she talks about Ekta's characters rather than about
her personal and social life. Watching
Kyunki... is like watching someone's life, frame by
frame. Hitler should have used these serials for mass murder instead
of the gas chambers!"
Responses
are myriad. Some praise Ekta's serials to the skies, some ape the
characters and adopt their dress sense, and yet some think its a
waste of time. What is significant is that, there are those who
hate it and those who love it, but we didn't spot anyone who hadn't
heard of the 'K' soaps.
Also
read:
"There's
no place better than Balaji" - Costume designer Nim Sood
"We
want to make some films for channels" - Balaji Telefilm CEO
Shobhaa Kapoor
"
No company which does not have an attitude can ever be successful"
Balaji Telefilms creative director Ekta Kapoor
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