Chandra Nandini 23-25: Helen 2.0 - Page 12

Originally posted by: kautilya04

Btw aunty, you must read this enjoyable article. I'd shared it in the Naamkaran forum some time ago. The write-up is hilarious and enlightening😆.

http://www.arre.co.in/culture/the-secret-diary-of-a-saas-bahu-writer-indian-daily-soaps-television/

Returning to the show, I have some doubts that I'm going to share quickly. Going by some lines in your previous posts, I'm guessing one of the main themes of the show is heart versus mind' or some balderdash of that sort. I'm confused about who is supposed to represent what. From what I understand, neither Helena nor Chandra lack Dils. If anything, both are driven by powerful emotions, albeit dissimilar ones. And they are using their brains to achieve objectives set out by the heart, which, I think, is a pretty dandy and sensible thing to do. What is supposed to be the opposite of that (as represented by Nandini, I assume)? Using your heart to look for ways to achieve what your brain wants?😕😆 That is not the heart's area of expertise. In fact, that is a highly certified recipe for disaster😆.

Or is EBM rooting for amar prem? Because that is what the eternal spirit of an ancient and spiritually powerful country like India roots for?😆 For two specific people to fall in love, get married, produce children and live happily until one of them kicks the bucket? Or finds another soulmate? God, the only way I'll be able to tolerate EMB's malarkey is if she clarifies that she is not touting the cause of eternal love, but of the two main characters - Amar and Prem - in that awesome movie Andaaz Apna Apna. That would be a lot more understandable and acceptable as far as I'm concerned😆.

Now I'm going to vanish again, and will try to be back within two days :)

Originally posted by: BabyHimavari

BTW adwitiya... I loved your username... "Durgeshnandini"... another historical delight by Bankimchandra Chatterji... I guess after sharadindu babu... it was only his historicals and Abanindranath Tagore's Raajkahini which also fascinates me to some extent(its sad that there is a void of historcial fiction in bengali literature apart from these few gems)... I remember i tried to read Durgeshnandini while i was in 6th std but quited due to his utterly pure Tatsama Bengali pronouncr...😆... I read that ltr...

Originally posted by: kautilya04

@sashashyam

Auntyjiii, I finished a crucial bit of the work last night, and so my dimaag gave itself permission to chill out for a short while😆. Logged in here and read your reply. It has prompted me to type a looong reply.

Arre auntyjii, I am notorious for my nautanki here, there and everywhere😆. Don't believe me? Oh... you do😳😆. Right then. Err...let's move on...😆

Oh yes, I forgot to mention the photo in my previous reply. It is perfect😃. That was the precise moment that caught my attention😆

I'm glad you feel I might have something worthwhile to contribute regarding Helena. I have my doubts😆. But a couple of points did occur to me while I watched some scenes and then read your lovely post, though they are based on my instinctive feelings about the thought-processes of the CVs rather than an analysis of the character and her actions. First, I'll share my current thoughts on the overall depiction of the character, which are based mainly on your posts since I've only watched 3 episodes so far, quickly before my conscience hauls me away.

The writing with respect to Chandra-Helena has been good. But the tenor of the writing, including Ekta's Bharat Mata's (who shall henceforth be referred to as EBM in my posts because I cannot let that feckless mind and voice even pretend to be the real thing🤢) preposterous vishesh tippanis, is obvious and off-putting.

While I don't feel any empathy or affection for the character yet, Helena is undeniably tough. She can think coolly, act bravely, make intelligent plans, and she doesn't let emotional weakness come in the way once her mind is made. Hence, she is a good partner in war, but but but but she is unworthy of qualifying as a man's soul-mate, which is what every woman aspires to be😆. As you've mentioned, if these same qualities had been depicted in a man in any show, he would have been deemed an alpha male, born to be drooled over😆.

The few Chandra-Helena scenes I've watched so far, even the ones that are outwardly positive, give me a feeling the CVs are going to great trouble to show that Helena's interest in Chandra is by and large tactical, with the foundation of respect and a sprinkling of affection. In the post-defeat scene, Helena encourages him and infuses fresh strength into him. And she is certainly affectionate. But they don't allow her to express genuine warmth towards him. At least, I didn't get that feeling. Don't be gussa on me, but, this time, I felt I was watching the owner of a sports team bolstering the confidence of the favourite/star player after a crushing defeat in a match. I feel the CVs don't want the audiences to forget this is a partnership of convenience, obviously in preparation for the explosion of passion that is going to occur between the titular characters and melt everyone's TV screens😆.

Chandra-Helena first night- Loved your take😆. Yes, it was a good and surprising scene in many ways. However, here again, I sensed a slightly malicious motive behind the writing😆.

Look at the scene. It is the bridal chamber...where she is supposed to be Rambha herself, seeking only to please her husband *rolling eyes a hundred times per minute*😆. But what do we see? A calm woman who is fully in control of the situation. Lying sinuously on the bed, she laughs and confidently asks her husband to come closer. Then she proceeds to unveil a battle strategy😆. Now contrast that scene to the traditional, and highly popular, idea of an Indian bride on the wedding night - a shy, afraid and breathless young woman sitting on a flower-strewn bed, shrinking coyly from the advances of her husband😆.

In the show, Chandra displays no sign that he is tempted by her looks, or (unless I'm forgetting any scenes mentioned in your posts) even seeks her company of his own volition when he is downcast. And Helena's behaviour is shown to be cold and bold - two things a woman ought not to be😲😆😆. So yes, while it was a good scene, it appeared to be an attempt to underpin the Truth that she is, after all, a firangi aurat, devoid of shame/shyness, and holds no real attraction for the Indian hero. A woman of the world' as opposed to innocent Indian beauties who merely seek to kill their husbands with spiky armours on the wedding night😆. That said, I do have a soft corner for Nandini for reasons that only have a little to do with the show😆.

Originally posted by: .FemmeFatale.

Do I see Ranjana di in the thread? 😲 Di,I have followed your Prithvi fanfic like a bhakt! 😆

Originally posted by: sashashyam

For which, my dear Disha, you owe me a big vote of thanks, for it was I who, having stumbled on her by sheer accident in another forum that I was visiting, coaxed her to join us here.😉

Shyamala Aunty

Originally posted by: shailusri1983

Aunty supposing this Patalgram and other areas were not under Magadh or any particular kingdom. They could be small village hamlets or principalities skirting Magadhan kingdom and nearby the Former Greek ruled areas in India. This chap, Durdhara's dad could be the Chieftain of these regions. This could also work. Moora was running for day/days together in pregnant avastha. So she could well have crossed the borders of Magadh before she was recaptured by the Magadhan soldiers.

Chandra was irritated by the love soap opera tune of his foster mother so he never visited her. But he kept visiting Durdhara who was his childhood friend occasionally whenever he had vacations at Taxilla gurukul!

@sashashyam - Dear aunty, your comments drag me back even when I try to stay away from this site 😆I'm typing this from a rickshaw, so please forgive any errors.

Aunty, my views on prem, soul mates and marriage - be it in this century or a thousand years ago - are more cynical than that of a woman who has endured ten lifetimes of marital misery😆😆. Believe me, I was joking when I wrote every woman aspires to be a man's soul mate😆. And it was something of a black comedy wala joke 💔😆

I'm sorry my post disappointed you :( but honestly, I hadn't meant for my post to be considered a reply to your analysis. Your mention of Helena induced a bout of mental diarrhea in me😆 and josh mein aake I jotted down whatever I remembered of the thoughts that had passed through my mind while watching those scenes😆. The actual comment related to your analysis will hopefully be posted after I complete my work and am at peace😳. Filhaal, my mind is like an Indian railway station before the departure of several long-distance trains🤪. As for my way of looking at those scenes, I'm helpless. Until early last year, I used to invest some thought into the characters I watched onscreen. But I've lost that ability now. Ab I mostly look at a character through the lens of "What was going on in the script-writer's mind while writing this?" 🤔😆 Yes, it is a very drab and joyless way of watching a show 😆 To snap out of that mode, I have to follow a show for some time, and it helps greatly if the writing is sharp over a sustained period. Then I can forget everything and focus on the characters. Otherwise, all I think is - Could they have written this scene in some other way? Used some better dialogues? Blah blah blah 🥱🥱 Yes, my mind is a tiresome place😆. Perhaps I'll be able to give some rational takes on the characters after I watch some more episodes *fingers crossed*

@Disha - Hey darling, your username is unfamiliar, but your real name does strike a chord :) Thank you for the sweet words 😳🤗