Posted:
Hi Friends,
I am much behind in watching the serial's episodes, but stopped by today to comment on a related point. There are some who feel this serial should be shut and that it is crude. There are some who feel it is boring. Well I respect that as its each person's view.
However, I feel AJMBHK is a multi faceted intellectual serial. Here are my two cents: I think the serial rocks, not because of the acting (which by the way is one of the best on Indian TV) or for the reality it projects (which again is quite true in the South Asian context and those who dont think it is reality, please google or read Indian newspapers), but because it has the guts to show a powerful story of how ordinary people are wronged and can still emerge winners.
Does the AJMBHK serial have crude rural language?
Yes it does.
But frankly, I rather listen to the Thakur abusing as per the storyline, than watch overpaid TV stars crudely abusing their guts out on various reality shows.
Does the serial have an adult theme (no matter how meaningful and horribly true in some parts of India); a theme which is not for living room viewing with kids?
Yes it does.
But then again, I rather watch this than watch the diluted lustful gazes, fantasies and rompings of Indian TV serial lead couples which are enacted to the background of ill placed movie songs in TV serials. Or the horrible antics of reality show stars (eg Big Boss or Jungle Se bachao or Bollywood ka ticket). Or the crass actions of reality TV hosts who think abusing or wind breaking or toilet humor is entertainment (eg Dus ka Dum)!!!
Does the serial have an objectionable theme of girls being treated as a commodity, no matter that many Indian girls are indeed abused (perhaps by known family members, for those in doubt read "Bitter Chocolate", a book on child abuse by Pinki Virani)?
Yes it does.
But I rather watch it than watch voodoo, or love affair with a ghost or surrogate motherhood at the drop of a hat or a woman marrying 5 times all this while lustily looking at her pehla pyaar. hahahaha
BUT, heres the thing.
Does AJMBHK have a heart and guts??
oh YES!!. Loads of it.👏👏
The guts and heart to show the triumph of human spirit despite all odds. The guts and heart to show that at the end of the day, you can be physically and mentally savaged, but no one, absolutely no one can savage your soul.
Laali had the guts to face the truth, and run from the haveli, the guts to face the truth and leave her family (those who think than an Indian Pati like Ganesiya will take her back, hahaha, have a conversation with any Indian adult and hear the 90% of social sermons you will get).
Lali has the guts to go back. Is it a sign of defeat. Perhaps no. Before anyone tells she should have taken more options, answer one simple question. How many lone girls survive without being abused in Bihar, the Indian state where this story is based. Forget that, answer an even simple question. If a woman like Laali comes to your house, looking for work as a maid or nanny, will your family grant her that job??? Will your family go that extra mile to rehabilitate her, educate her and help her find a job. Or will you just hand her a few rupees and tell her to leave. Think about it. 😳
Its very easy to sit with a coffee in Starbucks in a western world or in a rich urban environment and then pass loftly moral comments on poor crude rural Indian context . Its very easy to preach that those who think this is reality for some unfortunate girls are shameful people. In reality, its downright difficult to actually be there and survive in a hopeless and caste and gender prejudiced environment.
In the end, life has to be lived with dignity, even if you are a prostitute like Sanichari, who has made a choice to do just that (is she an escapist?. Perhaps not. The people abusing her now are outsiders. What about her own parents who abused her for a few notes of money. So maybe the girl has chosen the lesser of the emotional evil).
Maybe I have a very low taste in entertainment. But I feel that based on the story shown so far, AJMBHK has a much more moral and intellectual stimulating viewing material, than the hordes of saas-bahu, iternal love and behen-bhai ka pyaar serials.
Thanks for letting me state my views.😳
Regards
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
Members Lounge
