Happy 50th episode everyone!Let's celebrate!

Two families, two cultures ' and miles between them

The Borisagar family ' run by an autocratic matriarch. Full of secrets and lies. Brother pitted against brother, sister-in-law against sister-in-law ' Umaben writes the rules and implements them strictly. Tradition is her God, and as for God, even He exists for her convenience first, the rest of the world can follow once she's done.

The Sarabhai family ' headed by a kindly loving matriarch. A woman more opposed to Umaben cannot be imagined. For her, her daughter-in-law is a daughter, tradition comes second to the happiness of individuals, and her happiness lies in seeing her children happy.

Her son wanted to follow an unconventional path, he was supported. Her daughter-in-law is educated, works as a History professor, but still hasn't mastered the kitchen ' so what? She is still a wonderful daughter-in-law, and gets all the respect and love that she deserves.

The Borisagar family ' does anyone even talk to each other freely in that family? Umaben keeps secrets from her husband, she doesn't trust her sons too far either, she has handpicked her daughters-in-law and made sure there is no chance of rebellion or questioning from that front. She keeps her daughters-in-law under her control by a judicious mixture of carrot and stick ' she is sharp, and knows the weaknesses of each bahu, and uses the knowledge to control them. The whole family is cowed by her. Except for her youngest son and her only daughter, who have figured out a way to slide through the cracks in the rules. Mansi, by using her mother's favorite son, Manav ' and Manav, by flattering and coaxing his mother into bending her rules for him. No one says things straight out or directly here ' it's all through indirect means. As Manav told Himanshu after meeting Chhanchhan's family for the first time, in his house, everyone has to think a hundred times before saying a single word.

The Sarabhai family ' the only rule here is that there are no rules. Freedom of thought and expression, freedom to talk and discuss everything. The children, like their father, are free to follow their own path, all have chosen unusual professions, and receive full support and encouragement from the elders. They are all educated, confident young people of today, yet maintain their culture, respect for elders, and traditions in their own way. They don't let tradition stifle their thinking, instead the basic values of their culture and traditions form the bedrock of their lives.

Manav's brothers all help in running the family business. Were they ever given a choice to decide if that was really what they wanted to do?

In Chhanchhan's home, dowry is a bad word, and is shunned, in any form, by any name. In the Borisagar home, dowry is 'vyavhar' or trade ' it is part and parcel of the business of arranging an alliance between two families.

Chhanchhan's friends run free in her home and are treated like daughters, rather than friends. While even Manav's one friend, Himanshu, is barely tolerated by his mother.

Manav never told his family about meeting Chhanchhan. Chhanchhan's family knew the details of every meeting, they knew when their fights changed to friendship to something more ' Chhanchhan never had to hide anything. She was free to invite Manav to her house to meet her family ' Manav could never dream of inviting Chhanchhan to his.

The superficial differences like the mandatory pallu covering the head come later. The deep differences lie in the thoughts and values that govern the two families. The Borisagar family has stayed mired in hide-bound tradition ' is it really tradition, or merely a convenient way for Umaben to exert her control over her family?

And how will a free spirited thinking girl like Chhanchhan adjust within the bounds of tradition in the Borisagar family? Will she adjust? Or will she break free, expose the double standards imposed by tradition-minded conservative Umaben, and in doing so, liberate the rest of the family too?

Chhanchhan will make for an interesting watch!

Chhanchhan being a progressive show, has brought up some social issues during the short journey of 50 episodes. Some of these '

Dowry ' the show started with the cancellation of Purvi's marriage due to dowry demands. Unlike most other shows, here the bride herself refused to go through with the wedding. The groom's family were left pleading for the wedding to take place, as it was a question of their prestige. We've always seen in shows that the bride's family is the one pleading, and the groom's family breaks the relationship ' it was refreshing to see the reverse happen here. Although of course, Umaben showed the world that the boy's side had broken the wedding ' after all, that is the way it always happens, so everyone believed her lies.

And it was good to see the boy, Hitesh, take the onus of re-joining the alliance, by first convincing his parents that he did not need dowry, and then asking Purvi for her hand again. A good way forward for the younger generation to take the lead in stamping out this practice.

Economic independence of girls ' taking the dowry matter further, Chhanchhan's solution for Purvi's troubles was not to find her another groom, or for her to sit quietly at home and hide her face. Instead, Purvi used her training to set up computer classes for girls, and be independent, as well as help to support her father. When Umaben managed to choke her first attempt, Chhanchhan and Purvi used Umaben's own plan to backfire on her and re-start the stalled classes. Leaving Umaben with her hands tied ' there was nothing she could do further!

Chhanchhan, the show, has also taken the lead in showing working women as capable homemakers, in the form of Chhanchhan's mother, and has shown working girls as being a blend of tradition and modernity, while giving them out of the box professions ' Chhanchhan is a dog trainer, and her sister, Rushali, a tattoo artist. Reminded me of the movie, 3 Idiots.

Stop Waste ' it was a very good message, the general consensus was that it could have been done better to leave a more positive impact. Still, the first step is always the hardest ' so credit should be given where it's due. Chhanchhan and her family opt for a simple wedding, no frills, orphans in attendance, recyclable dishware and no waste of food. In the current scenario where weddings are becoming more and more lavish, this was a very timely message to give.

Courtesy : Diya