Aunty Shyamala,
First and foremost, thank you for taking your time to do this. I can deduce from you recent comments that you aren't exactly feeling peachy at present, and yet you have put in so much of effort ( I say this because i know how long it takes to even write on paragraph at times!) in doing this.
secondly, my ex-boss used to say 'why mend what is not broken'. For your post I shall change that to 'why analyse what is already impeccable'. I am afraid I might be parrot-ing myself if I do try to inline my own thoughts. However, I have had some thoughts on certain things which I have written in blue here.
Originally posted by: sashashyam
Part 1: On a switchback road
Folks,
We dont have many switchback roads here, and I certainly have not travelled in one. But by your description, I am already feeling dizzy
The road now bent suddenly to the right, and we ended up with two semi-comic, semi-emotional scenes : that of Lep Scene No. 1 (there are going to be numerous, whence the advance numbering!) and of The Choice of Mura's Birthday Present. It was enough to flummox anyone who attached some importance to consistency of tone, but the scenes were so charming ki sab kuch maaf!
From yesterday's episode, I dare say you should also start numbering the hamam scenes ...do they change the flowers floating about regularly? Are they even real?
Of two snankakshes: Lest we should get spoilt, a sharp left turn came up, with Roopa inviting Malayketu to the snankaksh. Which led in turn to two bathing scenes with totally contrasting moods, as a touchingly hopeful Chandra, abruptly disillusioned, lashed himself into a fury of bitter disappointment, and sought to humiliate Nandini the only way he seems to know, by canoodling with Helena in front of her.
Immediately, we went right again, as Nandini cuts her hand, and runs away, with Chandra haring after her to their room. Follows the portrait scene - I owe you that one, Sri! - then Lep Scene No.2. By now, the road seems uncertain about which way to turn.
And we go
Leftish, finally, as Nandini weakly denies all the allegations, and is later told by the vaidya' that she is suffering from the vipareet vyaktitva vyadhi (clearly that old crone is a fan of alliteration! ) .
I am sure she is fake a fake vyadh
Involuntary romance:
I actually liked these scene for the reason that they looked extremely comfortable with each other in this scene and his 'chalagayi chalagayi' and her 'vaanar kahenga' was cute. But only when i focus this as a stand alone scene. As a whole it was the starting point of finding it hard to keep with Chandra's yo-yo-ing personality
The switching of the gifts got me disgruntled about the lack of guards or servants come about. The palace is shown as being opulent but void of servants?
The gift fiasco:
If it was bad that she decided to wear the red joda, it was even worse that she would wear the mangal sutra. WHY MOORA? WHY??? (Explains Chandra stupidity though) Btw why would nandini be giving Kanika ma a mangal sutra? Shouldn't she have one already?
Technically he did not use his cells grey or otherwise Aunty. He was on his way to rain hellfire on her, had not Kanika herself call him to tell about the wrong gift that has been left in her room. If she did not do it, he woudl not have investigated anything. We must at least applaud the story writers of JA for they thought that its a good idea to once in a while to show the Shehenshah using his brains, unlike the current writers who seemed to have start thking its better for Chandra to use his bare upper torso than his brain to raise TRP...wonder if that actually works
Of diyas and kumkum:
SBP looked sweet and pretty in this scene. She is lovely girl and getting more so..
Unbelievably distasteful:
While you thought abotu Chandra i was thinking about Avantika, only because as she saw Nandini coming she was commenting on how happy she is to see the relationship between C and N. Why does she not re-act swiftly, especially with a furious literally burning Nandini with his laser beam intense look?
The follow through of this exhibitionism was both predictable and unpredictable. The Chandra-Nandini madirawali scene was undoubtedly powerful, and it would head the list of my choice scenes over these 2 weeks. But in the end, it was nothing but a masochistic parade of lacerated feelings by two individuals, the kind of parade which has, I am forced to say, become predictable, and fatiguing. Chandra's question - Who are you really, Nandini? - remained unanswered, and Nandini's fine sounding lines about her hruday made no real sense at all. We are here talking only of the scripting, not the acting, be it noted.
Duly Noted and agreed. Her answer was in Pluto while his question was in Mars...
Incomprehensible leniency ?:
Oh, i did lament about this a wee bit earlier too...not only moora but the entire Nand female gang, of course exclusive of Sunanda. Doesn't anyone feel like asking her what kind of bad breakfast she had that she would do something so stupid like that? Not that she will answer them anyway. For of course she has bound herself to this stupid promise she made to Sunanda which earns her a distinction in stupidity.
If you have split personality disorder, and you are the queen, you do not go promising people I will keep it a secret and hope to be cured. BTW Sunanda has only provided so called medicine once, and that too is cosidered a failure due to the drunken dance fiasco. So Nandini is basically waiting for Godo of a cure to come save the day . Why must they always make the lead female a mahan with so less brain cells?
A kundali angle?:
Hmm...i had a different idea which i had shared in your other thread - as below
My theory on why Moora prefers Nandini in the absence of a kundali is that between the 3 daughter in law, Nandini would make the perfect queen for Chandra. She already knows of Helena having another side though she doesn't know the real extend of it, and she also knows how immature Dhurdhara is. For a son that she could not raise, I think she would like to ensure she finds him someone who will be his support for life...something she as a mother should have been to her young son, but failed. Its like Tamil movies where before dying the mom would like to find a good wife /husband for the son/daughter so that they have someone after their passing.
And Moora was never really shown as holding grudge against anyone except for Nand. So the whole Nand-Putri anger angle does not apply to her me thinks. Just my 2 cents
A quadrangular confrontation:
My only comment - Malay and Chhaya should be shipped off to his kingdom instead of him sitting idle here. Oh, but i forgot, perhaps its the Magadh rule that the king should be seen doing nothing... I did not see Nand doing any, and now Chandra does nothing too...so when in Magadh do what teh Magahdwasi do - nothing!!!!
Champagne sparkle:
Dadi...hindi-yile ennaku pidikatha orai varathai! I simply cannot tolerate her. I feel the idea is to have this cute loveable grandma figure trying ot play cupid. But what actually translate on screen to me is this OTT grandma who is just...ugghh...🤢
Crass and repetitive:
And stupid helena...does she not realise that he never focuses on her? And that it is done is such a way meant to hurt Nandini...if he so in love with you, care to explain why he is permanently gluing Nandini to his room? I hate it when a female who had the potential to be a superwoman is reduced to a ill-tempered vamp
Yeh Nandini bhi - I simply cannot understand her female hormones...really. Fine, she is helplessly in love with him and thus like a patience mom who tolerates all the antics of a unruly child, she reduces herself to being an amoeba when he is snarling, yelling, threatening her. But why must she become pudichi vache pulliyar when he is snogging Helena?
In her place, I would have put my chin up, and assured Chandra that I would beat Helena hollow. The girl is a certified masochist. Ugh...
In her place I would have as haughty as i can say 'bite me, you jerk' and sashay off
*NB: The Mukhya Maharani pratiyogita:
Thank you Aunty for the explanation on what Dadi ( ) said. As I mentioned earlier in you other thread, I was quite sure that whatever she set as the entry requirement would eliminate Dhurdhara. Dadi might be a pain, but I don't think she is dumb
Inviting prospect ahead: T
Oh, aunty your deduction that she is a unguided missile is so accurate. After yesterday's track, I am SO looking forward for what is to happen to Apama-Sunanda duo and their plans. Now she wants Nandini to win and hold solidly to Magadh queenly powers...
Chanakya: Unexpected revelations:
The daughter does not look like a shrinking violet, and one presumes that the wife will now insist on the two of them accompanying him to Pataliputra when he returnes to the court, so as to find her a suitable bridegroom.
@bold - Glad taht both of us had the same prediction. I did say she will be demanding him to use his Minister power to get a good husband for the daugter, but did not at all think about the girl falling for Chandra... . Woudn't that be fun?
Nandini: Caught in a trap:
You need something more stronger in spirit than lady luck to turn the luck of this hopeless heroine. For despite the untrue accusation being heaped on her to the point where she is being painted as a hussy - she STILL will not reveal her split personality to him
Roopa: An angry, wild spirit:
What I don't understand is why reveal Roopa now? It was not like Sunanda knew Chandra would ousted Nand. If she spared her for her gain, what was she planning to do with Roopa anyway?
When Roopa first came, I liked the contrast of attitude between her and Nandini. While Nandini was becoming too docile and practically a worm, Roopa was a unending source of energy. And I loved how she mad Chandra go mad with confusion. Though, parts of it remain true now, I feel SBP sometimes does the Bhojpuri act a tad OTT. It looks like she is trying too much. My opinion of course. Maybe because I do roughly know how those who speak this language converse, and I do not see that norm in her.
Roopa also hates the father who was ready to kill her, or have her killed, to save his own skin, and she asserts that she wants him to die at her hands. But somewhere deep inside her, there might well be a different feeling, the need to be accepted and loved by the very father she now professes to hate. And because of the duality of her feelings vis a vis her father, her virulent hatred towards Nandini - the one whom that very father loves more than himself - gains in strength.
@bold -
The sticky point will come when she really falls for Chandra. For to cut Nandini off from Chandra without exposing herself would mean cutting herself, Roopa, off from him as well. Will she accept this ? Or would she switch plans, try to eliminate Nandini altogether and replace her in Chandra's life, however tough such a transformation might seem for Roopa to pull off? We have to wait and watch.
After yesterday's episode, this is a likely scenario. The only glitch I see here is how on earth is Roopa going to fake the studious' part of Nandini? Nandini is almost always hugging a book after all
I prefer SBP as Nandini rather than Roopa. Not that she is lousy at it. Just her Nandini is far more convincing
Chandragupta :Crippling obsession:
He is a swinging pendulum of raging female hormones. Yes, female hormones that act crazy especially during pregnancy.
He loves her when he thinks he should hate her. But he cannot bring himself to hate her. Nor walk away from her. The only thing he can do is be a sap, bully and a Grinch rolled in one. When he is so convinced that she loves Malay and he cannot have her, then he should just let go. If it is impossible, as it does appear so, to do that, then for the sake of his own claim of loving her he should at the very least behave less beastly with her. One moment he is chasing her around the room, basking in her laughter and the next he is having Helena on his lap to infuriate her. Rajat may not like what is being asked of him, but gosh, he can play a male vamp very well
Frozen grey cells:
After last night episode we may even safely say he has none! Just one thing - he was in the bath with her and saw that she was wearing the same pink dress that he sees her wearing in the room. They had life size dryer that Nandini just walked pass and her clothes got dried, and she out ran him to the room to sit pretty with a book?
The same guy who deduces that the oil from which Dhurdara fell must have been deliberately put there, though there was no evidence of such malice, could not to save his life think that something is extremely fishy with this dual Nandini?
Would the same Nandini who gave him that uninterrupted speech about why Helena is not suitable for Mukya Maharani would suddenly turn seductress in the hamams? Even Rajats display of abs was not enough to cure me of my anger at Chandra.
What an idiot!!!
No wonder Chanakya keeps drilling think with your head not your heart'...just he didn't realise how less of a head Chandra has!!
I must confess that this is not the post I set out to write. It has become far longer than planned (so what is new? ), and also different in format. I do not know if you will like it,or if you do, how much, but I hope it has not turned out too badly.
@bold - What rubbish aunty? Really! It was a great write up and I thank you for your input on dadi's requirement to enter the tournament and also Roopa's character and its connection to her father.
Please also bear with me for not being able to respond individually to the comments that might be made on this thread. This post has been very hard for me to do, and I am just not up to detailed responses. I am sure you will understand.
Please do take care of your RA. That is more important. I think we are more than happy to see a like' from you, which meand you have read it.
