Bepannah ~My thoughts ~ ep 44~17.5.18 .. Being visible & being heard
Was old an saying, "children should be seen, not heard remember it well, being said it often to me. Discouraging me to speak, unless spoken too , especially in the presence of adults. If my memory serves me right it was a widely practiced Victorian times aristocratic norm, applied specifically to girls training them to become young ladies. In general, the saying indicates, that children best be quiet and show restraint in their behaviour. Well, at present times, educational standards encourage children, regardless of which gender, to develop their speaking and listening skills as its the key to language acquisition.
Zoya's gruelling session with Kanti Virani reminds me of the saying with a slight deviation women should be visible not heard. Again in this day and age the concept behind the saying will be subject to much censure. But the origin lies entrenched historically, in social structures down the ages, where the head of the household has been a patriarchal figure. Kanti Hirani stands for the traditional old school patriarchal figure whom none dare challenge, only confirm to and accept his dictate, both men and women alike. The episode, also shows a contrast between Kanti Virani and the younger, contemporary male figures like Adi and the junior Virani's. Their perception of women deviates from Kanti Virani. Take Adi for example, despite all his fall outs with Zoya, he remains silent, lets her break through her nervous tension, and say her piece as best as Zoya can.
Aditya may be a rake, flippant and erratic in this manner. But the last thing he is, is a male who controls and manipulates a situation against the wishes of a woman. Especially if the woman is Zoya. As he stands poised before her with the MS. Her body language speaks loud and clear to him. As much as the whole act is a hoax Adi's eyes can read the windows of her soul clearly. While Zoya mumbles a prayer for some miracle to happen so that the moment passes! Adi's stares at her cringed, sided face.. a real man refrains from forcing himself against the will! the very soul of a vulnerable woman! I wonder also if his soul withdraws back with fear, who knows if Zoya still reserves the circumference of her neck with the withheld memory of the MS given to her by the cheater Yash?? But for the minute the need of the hour for him is to pull Zoya out of her misery! Thus Adi , never short of smart thoughts and with equally shrewd words, addresses her as Mrs. Hooda but slaps a condition that when she is up to the mark.. that'll be the day he'll put the MS around her neck. Aditya forfeits his male dominance before her, and gives her the upper hand. An equality, that when she is emotionally ready to accept him with all his imperfections, that'll be the day when he will give his all in the form of the reverent Mangulsutra.
The roaring laugh from Kanti Virani , typifies how male dominance under the grab of tradition and convention , when it comes to decision making in society is made light off.no wonder some find it a chore to make decisions, as most decisions are taken, in their lives by fathers ,brothers, husbands or sons!
Virani's guffaw, Shows the old fogey's instant likeness for Adi. But to me its all tongue in cheek! as the old patriarch misunderstands Adi's true colours, in what he says to Zoya? and why? For Adi it was a rescue Zoya expedition! Instead, Virani gives approval for Adi's attitude of keeping his "wife in line ,as he believes given women an inch and take a yard! hence should be kept in their space! Zoya's moment of terror passes by default! But by now, Zoya can sense old Virani has some caveman orthodox mindset! He might just have it in for her! she'll need to watch her step. She knows too, Aditya Hooda yet again saves her skin..
Seems to Zoya, quite rightly, it's a man's world. It's Adi, who Kanti Virani wants to talk business with. She fumes.. no way will she let the matter rest. Being excluded by Adi's as his co-partner in Zosh, To her its contemptible!! The way Adi plays along with the orthodox Kanti Virani. Is Zoya being rather hasty. Is she being insensitive to how precarious the circumstances are? That getting the contract is crucial. She needs to have faith in Adi's actions.
Their squabbles are inevitable, yet they bind and bring them closer. Zoya thanks him for bailing her out of a spiritual discomfiture, but digs her heels in, that duping Virani's with a serious blatant lie, is morally still quite serious at least for her, and probably socially scandalous.
To Adi all lies appear similar. He fails to differentiate between them. Is probably miffed at her for fussing about feigning to be his wife, while before she agreed to Mahi carrying on the same pretension with him. Are they both beating about the bush regards their undefined bond? Yet both regurgitate reasons before each other to erase any underlying meaning to their existing interaction. Zoya goes on about giving a false statement. Aditya reminds her of retrieving Zosh from bankruptcy and leaves it to her! however she wants to deal with her upholding the truth issue!
The scene rather neatly leads on to Zoya being visible and being heard before the unquestioned patriarchal figure head of Hirani Spices. The scene speaks of Adi's expressions of here goes the deal down the drain! I suspect he too, fails to realize how far his dare to Zoya, go tell the truth to Kanti Virani then will go? But it ends up shaping ,where both Zoya, Adi and the employees all end up being comfortable with the forthcoming business venture. Zoya for one, rather dexterously speaks the truth, despite being rather unceremoniously rebuked by the intractable Virani ,who talks to men only. Zoya gathers her courage and declares she is not[only] Aditya s wife ,but also his business partner! Adi finds it hard to supress his relief. Almost ,I will say admires her presence of mind wherein Zoya rescues herself from falling in her own eyes, by speaking the truth. While on the other hand she keeps the reason why the lie is put in practice? Adi with lowered eyes bucks her up silently, when she jumps through the hoops with every awkward gender disregard1 that Kanti Virani fires to exclude hers.
It's interesting to see how Zoya uses this platform to promote quite vocally , her strictly business bond with Adi. He too can see that her sincerity of expression goes more towards, the credence she gives to running a family business, a criteria the Virani's sought, and less to some personal development between them. Her focus remains to show, that in being business partners, how consultation occurs between them in business matters. Adi still continues to be smug that Mz. prime, proper prude Zoya, is catching on to the art of playing with words ,as long as they fit in with her morality mode.
No wonder that Zoya's simple, truthful, succinct speech wins them the contract on trail basis to show if Zosh can deliver what they profess! All ends well except, that the old traditionalist trashes up the issue of Zoya still clutching on to the MS in her palm. Virani growls and suggests the inevitable.. business is business!but what of her other role! that of wife!
Lovely scene. .its awkwardness says it all. Adi turns his face the other way.. she has to earn it! Zoya gulps .this contract! This chance is crucial! She decides. Spares Adi from an action bound by what he had said. Now it only lies in her hands , to show she is not coerced by Adi.. by her own personal morality. This time she will be answerable only to herself. Why she did what she did? Her conscience is clear..a lie that saves others ,br,ings joy and relief is worth sinning for, perhaps! Zoya with her own two hands puts the sacred MS around her neck! It's blessings are not limited to two people but goes beyond being loyal to those who are loyal to them! Hamlet53.18.4.18
The episode creates rebellion against deep rooted traditional ,orthodoxy in patriarchal mind sets Especially in the area of discrimination against women. All done in order to restore some form of order in the governance of society. Where it all begins in is the family unit, from there its stems out into the wider areas of society. That men are stronger than women physically . Now we know it's a stereotypical view, as individuals vary. Aditya and Zoya both suffer a common pain. The way they deal with it, is quite individualistic. We also see, the elements of changing times, in the shape of Zoya, Mahi and the younger men as compared to the old school Draconian Kanti Virani. Its funny to see as soon as the old man leaves. The daughter in law rebels and reveals she shows reverence for elders, but maintains power over her husband plus has her clout! But some issues remain. Does she have a direct say in decision making, the right to disagree ? before her patriarchal father in law?? Or does she too, abide's by conformity to the way things are?? Zoya and Mahi stand out as women who can speak their mind .
I thought it was a good offering by the cvs.. not outrightly condemning tradition and conventional thinking, but rather celebrating the fast fading strength and unity of the family unit. Virani's also stand for hard work, concerted effort , and exporting ones cultural values through spices across the shores of where it all began for them. So the choice is there.. move with the times and challenge tradition if it devalues you as a person. But hang on to the values of your roots that make you who you are..
Sorry for late post.. was busy.. much love hammie
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