| Should evil be so EVIL? |
The Indian soap dish has turned virulent - mostly with the poison barbs that have been dominating almost all serials on all channels as those gorgeous looking vamps for whom evil knows no bounds. There has been genuine outrage against this all-round destructive negativity by viewers but the she devils have only grown by leaps. Gauri kohli surveys the bad women and elicits opinions on how evil should evil be
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Where there's good, there has to be evil. All virtuous and immaculate beings on the small screen are subject to decay and when the mean men and women in our soap operas summon, they must obey.
But the evil mind has now broken all boundaries and gone beyond the bounds of sane imagination. The fallen angel has become a malignant devil. The expressive eyes that narrated the modus operandi of the Ramolas, Komolikas and Mandiras, have now turned into dramatic monologues that smell of burning hatred and a killing desire for fatal revenge. Gone are the days when just soliloquies or harsh remarks would make our Tulsis, Parvatis and Prernas cry. Murders, vicious motives, money matters, hatred and even rape are the new ways the bad prefer. | |
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When Ramola Sikand, played by Sudha Chandran in Kahin Kisi Roz (incidentally this serial was finished off in one night through a in which all good characters were killed by the evil Ramola), made several attempts to get rid of her bahu, it was a something that the audience had never seen or imagined.
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Her daughter-in-law too, decided to tread a different path, that of a non-contemporary bahu. Eventually, it was the evil mother-in-law's torture and trouble that went in vain as Shaina, the virtuous woman, decided to add a tinge of evil to her personality, thus refusing to give in.
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Times have changed now. The thirst for vengeance is increasing actuated by selfish and vicious motives which most of them justify. With the intensity of evil more magnified now, the good don't want to shed tears in isolation, cribbing and complaining.
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Tulsi Virani, television's most popular bahu shifted gear. In an attempt to prove that she would not take nonsense from anyone, including her own family, she took a step seldom taken - she shot her son for being a big, bad rapist kidnapper.
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Ditto with Parvati, who married her husband's killer so that she could avenge his death.
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The enmity between good and evil is not restricted to the saas-bahu domain. Sisters-in-law, too, have joined the bandwagon. Jigyaasa, Sindhura and Kaveri lead from the front in wrecking havoc on good birds Bani, Pia, Rano, Vidya and Saloni. Their hearts are poisoned with a no-remorse nourishment of jealousy and hatred.
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These prima donnas of evil come with equally develish make-up, heavy jewellery and expensive attire not to mention a power of eloquence.
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And the winner of this battle between good and evil? Well, the war is far from over but most rounds go to evil. No crime, no mischief and no vendetta is unachievable for them. Can it get any bigger than this, rather, more drastic than what we savour every evening?
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Komolika
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She is the vamp who triggered a PIL against negativity on television. Her meanness and plots often transcend imagination. Meting out sufferings to the other characters on Kasauti has become a fine art with her. Some examples: Marrying Anurag to take revenge from Prerna and kidnapping their son Prem beside several unsuccessful attempts to bump off main characters Anurag, Prerna and Mr Bajaj.
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Ramola/GK
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Beside her daring and unimaginable moves, it was her designer sarees, eminent bindis and loud make up that did the talking. After plotting to kill her virtuous daughter-in-law Shaina, she didn't have any qualms getting rid of her foster son Kunal. "It was one rare occasion where evil surfaced over good. Ramola was the strongest character with a lot of shades and she surpassed all boundaries," says Chandran herself. Of late, she has played GK in K Street Pali Hill with similar tones, which include her Ramola Sikand look and style.
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Jigyaasa
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She is the true vamp material on small screen today, but with a difference. Dealing with not one but many characters simultaneously, her soft targets are the three innocent sisters, Bani, Pia and Ranu. Her reason for turning negative can be justified to an extent. She is one antagonist who plots her fatal moves to keep secure her children's future, so what if it means destroying her brother's marriage. "Jigyaasa is a negative person but worth various shades. She had no reason to turn negative but circumstances made her so," says Kalsekar. Strong looks, heavy dialogues and an unfriendly tone is what makes her stand apart.
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Kaveri
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Unlike many of her counterparts on the idiot box, she is totally in love with her character. Another aspect that makes her stand out among others is her unique but rather overdone look. Her colourful net sarees with matching jewellery, a sparkling arm tattoo, big kohl-eyes can even give Ramola Sikand a run for her money. She provoked her first sister-in-law Shubhra to have an affair and once she became a mother out of wedlock, brought her paramour back on to the scene. If that was not enough, she made life hell for husband's parents, forcing the poor couple out of their haveli. Topping the list of her enemies is her other sister-in-law Saloni. Kaveri's overzealous attempts to know what's happening in Saloni's household are always gaining momentum. These days, she is trying her hand at being a good bahu. "I think I'm the female Ravan on television today. But unfortunately, most of my plans are foiled," says Dwivedi.
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Sindura
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She has a subtle look to flaunt, not so characteristic of a vamp. She is one of the many for whom action speaks louder than words. She is not only making life miserable for her illiterate and naive sister-in-law Vidya, but her mentally challenged brother too. Television being a source of melodrama and exaggeration, there's little scope for reality. "The audience is taking Sindura seriously and simply love to hate her. I think evil wins over good on TV," says Kamya.
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Mandira/Pallavi
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First she came in as Mandira, giving a nasty tinge to small screen's Ram-Sita jodi, Mihir and Tulsi. After playing a unrequited lover (she did succeed in gaining Mihir's sympathy and also had a son from him, Karan, whom she groomed to be equally rebellious initially) in Kyunkii, she was back in action as replacement Pallavi in Kahaani. Always out to spell trouble, she plays an extremist to perfection. Having donned the garb of evil twice, Kaur does not feel great about her characters. "I feel television is not great when it comes to characterisation. The roles that I play are not believable. It is too melodramatic and exaggerated," she says.
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