Will Tulsi do it again???
(Posted on 6 March 2006
)

When the going gets tough for the viewers, Ekta gets going with her script writers. This I find is true, at least as far as her highly successful Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi goes. When the plot begins to sag and the characters begin to suck big time, a new twist in the tale keeps the 'K' brand flying.

Last week, on Kyunki… Savita Virani (Apara Mehta) was on her deathbed. With the doctors having given up hope, the anguished ma-in-law was begging Tulsi for salvation from life… Mujhe mukti de de Tulsi… What? Another high point in the narrative as the whole plot now revolves around the concept of mercy killing, which is legalised in some parts of the world.

Must admit I quite like the embodiment of emotions portrayed between the saas and bahu, whom viewers have been more used to seeing engaged in a war of one-upmanship for the last five years. Somehow though, what is difficult to digest in this never ending weepy drama is why does Savita want Tulsi to commit the gruesome act.

So, will Tulsi do it again? The current plot brings back images of a trigger-unhappy Tulsi gunning down her errant son Ansh to set things right. The murder, which paced up the narrative, helped the story go forward and of course further built up Tulsi's strong character. The current plot too will take the basic concept of the serial forward as Tulsi becomes the next saas and the soap takes another leap. Therein perhaps lies the secret of Ekta's shows - five years and going strong - they are not finite stories but concepts wherein different plots are weaved in for better characterisation. Also, with newer characters there's always an innovative factor with the story retaining a contemporary flair.

Meanwhile, kudos to Apara Mehta who has done full justice to her role. A theatre actress who played the mischievous bahu in the good ole Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka days, and later as the dominating but doting ma-in-law.

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Since, we are on saas-bahus, let me just say that I've never been quite able to fathom the real story in Baa, Bahu aur Baby. Because somehow nothing really makes sense. And moreover, the humour element on the weekend show seems too clichéd.

Speaking of the great Indian soap, one constant is that they're always in search of ratings heaven. So innovate, cash in or perish. And for two Zee serials, it's perish the soap. In the coming weeks, the Aruna Irani produced Rabba Ishq Na Hove and the much hyped Sarrkkar are both set to bite the dust.

Though Irani managed to work wonders with her Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand on Star Plus, I wonder what happened here. Did the producer get too filmy, which she does sometimes. Filmy, meanwhile, is an understatement when trying to describe what I saw on Zee's Sindoor. Main protagonist Gurpreet, who was earlier seen in Star's Sanjivani, is in what can be described as a situation (if you want to be generous about it). There she is at a Shiv mandir in front of a group of people. And she couldn't figure out who her real husband was. And how did this turn of events come about?

Her husband's long lost twin brother (who else?) has also been weaved into the plot and has somehow claimed ownership of the 'Sindoor' so- to-speak. I just hope, Gurdeep Kohli figures out who her real Sindoor is… The show's producers should be hoping that the viewers care too… or else another one may bite the dust in due course.

Since we are on Zee, saw some promos of the big ticket show Business Baazigar. Looks like the show is finally going see the light of day.

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Speaking of light, it's heartening to see that some news channels have taken up the Jessica Lal case with unrelenting vigour. Normally, one is used to seeing issues fizzling out in the media. Apart from the issues of witnesses turning hostile, which is quiet common in our country, the focus has also been on the working of the judiciary and the courts.

Since, we are on courts, I caught India TV's Rajat Sharma grilling designer Ritu Beri on Aaj Ki Aadalat. In his rather famous tongue-n-cheek style, Rajat kept hurling accusations at Beri. Some of them being - that only she herself wears the Ritu Beri collection and nobody else. That Beri's forever fighting with everyone and has no friends in the industry.

Somehow, the glam designer handled all the questions with panache. So while her design skills be open to questions, her communication skills have definitely taken her places. Sample this: Beri did not waste the opportunity of being on screen and invited the audience to have a dekko at her clothes.

 
 
 
 
 
 
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