Posted:
I have been a silent follower of the show for some time. The concept and, naturally, Uday's character caught my attention. I believe in offering constructive critique to writers and producers of shows that I have an interest in. Please don't read my post as something negative. I enjoy DEK, but I just want to share my thoughts on it with ya'll and see some progress/depth - eventually.
Normally, it takes time to come around and delve into the essence of characters and the relationship between characters on any show. However, in the wake of about 40 episodes repeating themselves in terms of drama, I've some thoughts to share that I hope will be taken as constructive critique and feedback.
Some comments and suggestions on the characters/relationships on the show:
1) Brijraj and his wife
They have little to no space and/or development on the show. The actors play their parts brilliantly, but there's almost no interaction between them and their family. For a man who had his daughter kidnapped, Brijraj should feel extremely troubled about his own emotions toward Manyata. What exactly does he feel for her? What consequences will it have for their relationship? I have questions about his person. Does he feel remorse for what he did to Murali's family? Is Brijraj good or bad or grey? He seems to have a strained relationship toward his own wife. Why? Because his wife and mother are closer? There was some serious interaction between both him and his mother. They also seem to have a strained relationship, distanced. Why? And does he feel resentful toward his wife because she couldn't give him sons? In that case, what is his relationship toward Jainandini? Has he ever been the father that she needed? I wish that the writers would delve further into his character. I wish that we could know why he feels so alienated in his own home, at times. He is kind of blind when it comes to Uday, because he appears to be the perfect son, the one he always wanted. He, of all people, should be most hellbound on having one of his daughters marry Uday.
I guess that I find Brijraj's character quite plain, at the moment. He needs some layers, some emotions, some kind of powerpacked scenes to make him appear a lot more interesting. Image, wealth, and status matters the most to him. How does it connect with him killing Murali's family by drunk driving? He must have a dirty past behind the elegant, ethical exterior. Let us see it.
His wife has lived in silent fear for her daughter's death. And now that she finally has Manyata back, I expected her to dote on her. I expected her to be extremely overprotective of Manyata, spoil her, defend her against anyone who wants to "fix" Manyata, because in her eyes Manyata would be perfect. It should only matter to her that she has found her long lost daughter - as a mother, she should've become blind to everything else. Manyata's wellbeing matters the most. It seemed almost weird that she didn't take care of Manyata when she was ill, but that it was DS who checked up on her. Doesn't seem logical at all.
2) Udayveer
I have absolutely no sympathy for him. Honestly, I feel that he is a cold, confused, and shallow character with no layers to him. It's only Ashish's brilliant acting and handsomeness that keeps me attached to the screen whenever he shows up. Yes, he is a typical bad boy and that's incredibly attractive. He's a handsome, spoiled prince who is used to getting exactly what he wants. He's arrogant, cocky, and incredibly cruel, at times - those are characteristics that make him appealing as hell. But at the same time, as a viewer and Uday fan, I need layers to his character, I need to see that under his tough exterior, he's human with a vulnerable side. He needs a reason to be a womanizer. Someone as hard and cold as him needs a past. He needs to struggle with inner demons. For instance, maybe his mother left him when he was a kid because his father cheated on her? Maybe he hates his father and blames him? Maybe he hates his mother for not taking him with when she left? Maybe he treats women like objects because, indirectly, he's punishing his mother? I feel like Uday needs layers, a struggle, a past, and a strained relationship toward his father.
This would give his character depth and allow Ashish to portray him from another angle. To convey a story - and emotions such as hatred, anger, and detachment. A distrust in women, a self-doubt. Because if his mother left him - maybe she didn't love him. And if she didn't love him, why should anyone else?
3) Manyata
Now, coming to Manyata, I feel that the line between being a free spirited young girl and being a disrespectful, spoiled brat has been blurred. Manyata is verging on the latter. I know that the point is to turn her from a "wild, untamed, free spirited girl" to a "princess with dignity and manners", but she lacks even some of the most basic manners which only makes her character seem too much of a drama queen. It's just too much. Swearing at Uday is great. Disliking her little sister is understandable as well. But the way that she acts sometimes is just ridiculous. Her character, as well, needs some serious layers.
Has she forgotten about the man who raised her already? Despite what he did those years ago, every memory that she has of him is only positive, only of love. Of how he took care of her. That should matter more to her and make her feel conflicted about living with her biological family. Though he took her away from them, they took his family away first. However wrong that was, her loyalty toward him should seem to run deeper. I expected her to shun her family because a part of her still loves Murali as her father, and misses him.
Furthermore, she seems much too preoccupied with Akash. She's in love and that's fine. But by showing how she moons over Akash in every episode, her interaction with the rest of the family, her inner struggle with coming to terms with who she really is, the identity crisis, and her strained relationship toward every member of the family - it has all been dropped. Which makes her character seem shallow and, to a certain point, intolerable. She comes across as incredibly immature and obnoxious rather than a free spirited firecracker with hopes, dreams, and an inner battle with herself.
Manyata doesn't need an ultimate makeover right now. What she needs is to be a bit more curious about her biological family and slowly attempt to understand them, the way they are, and eventually accept that she's there to stay. When she can do that, it'll make sense for her to allow a complete physical makeover to happen. Because as she learns to understand who they are, she begins to understand who she is and how it's only a matter of time before she can't deny what will happen eventually. At the same time, with her allowing the physical changes, she should struggle to sustain the person that she is because she'll be afraid of losing herself by submitting to their etique/lifestyle.
4) Jai
Here's a character who started out great, but has turned confusing and illogically conniving over time. I like Jai. I really do. Despite being a spoiled, selfish witch, I have seen some redeeming qualities in her and I understand that there's a reason why she is the way she is - and she's not to blame for it alone. I only wish that the writers would delve into her layered character and explore it further. For instance, someone like Jai should have serious mommy issues. The negligience she feels from her mother should be made more apparent. It's why she dislikes Manyata. She made it clear once that Manyata has always come first, and that no one spared her a single thought when they broke the engagement between her and Uday. Jai is hurt. Which makes sense. She lost Uday to Manyata, just like she feels that she lost her mother to Manyata. Even Uday uses her for his own amusement, rubbing salt in her wound.
I really must suggest that the writers explore her softer side. Deep down, she isn't the conniving witch she appears to be. She's a spoiled princess who wants attention and genuine consideration from the people who actually matter the most to her - her parents. Uday is twisting her up in knots - which is really interesting to watch - but she doesn't have anyone to show her that things can be different for her. That she can have genuine and unconditional love and affection from someone who doesn't have an ulterior motive behind it.
It makes sense for a character like her to have an opposite attraction. Akash is the perfect match for someone like Jai. He's simple, hardworking, honest, caring, and selfless. He's her opposite in every way and she could learn from him. Akash as her love interest would give him some layers to - as of right now, he's quite boring. The fact that he could fall for someone like Jai, a selfish and manipulative girl with a need to be loved, the fact that he'd see something in her that would make him feel curious about her...
He wouldn't buy her crap, but teach her something about life. He wouldn't feed her hatred, but teach her to rise above it and move forward. Love. Plus it would add a bit of interesting conflict as she's the young princess who knows little to nothing about life, while he's the poor, hardworking peasant who has experience. It would give his character an actual purpose - other than chasing after Manyata and moan about his love for her.
5) Uday and Manyata
I realize that they are a much adored couple and even I find their relationship very entertaining and intense. But I feel like it's on repeat. Uday's attitude toward her is confusing and I can't figure out what the writers want him to feel. I mean, is it a) he knows how to handle her, or b) he thinks he knows how to handle her because he is an expert with women, but really he doesn't know what to do about her? Manyata is constantly testing his patience and temper. I have yet to see him do something about all the threats that he's continously throwing at her.
Is it part of "the point" that he hasn't realized he came closer to her by being nice and teaching her how to shoot, offer her ice cream, etc. rather than taunting her?
Their relationship needs layers. I understand that they can't fall in love right away, and I wouldn't want them to either. Part of the pleasure is watching the foreplay. I just wish that their interaction could develop, be given more depth. Manyata needs to witness cracks in his cool and composed attitude and wonder about it. She needs to become curious about him, his family, his past, and dig into it against his warning. Maybe to spite him. Maybe because she sees that he distances himself from in fear that she'll get past his controlled demeanour and see what's behind the exterior.
I don't know. But their relationship needs to develop somehow. Little steps, but at least make them actual steps.
Overall, my conclusion is that DEK's characters need layers, depth, a struggle - with themselves, with each other - and the relationships should be given a logical turn for the better or worse. I'm not sure if the show is supposed to be entertainment only, or a balance between humor and serious drama, but I do wish that it'll be given a bit more attention character-development wise.
Thanks for reading. God bless.
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
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