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Driving back from office, reflecting on different people's reaction to the the current track and DAK in general, made me ponder! Why DAK was so popular among some, while some could not identify with it at all?
It leads me to two major points, one as Lekz mentioned in her weekly summary (http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4430992) is the social evil that is being dealt with and two the way it is being dealt with!
I remember watching some episodes of DAK last summer while on vacation. Looking back on those episodes, I now clearly see, the issue that was being dealt with. It was none other than domestic violence. Many of us think violence involves physical harm (& so did I, till the time writing a research proposal, I looked up for the definition and found that it also included the verbal abuse) "domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone."
Urmi was in an abusive relationship, despite being from a upper class family. Another sterotype we all have, is that people of the lower socio-economic strata are the ones who face this abuse. We do not see or ignore the violence around us. That is the mental make-up we are brought-up with!
Not having followed the serial, but from the post leap episodes it is clear that she got out of it. The PH showed the story in a way that was accepted to the masses, was not grisly or formidable, had some lighter moments, and all in all, women watching it, could relate to it!
These are women who want to relax after a grilling day of work, dealing with the chores, the children, in-laws and of course the husband ! I totally understand their sentiments.
I am reminded of my college days, when watching the main-stream cinema was unheard of, most of us only watched the newly introduced parallel cinema (movies viz; Ankur, Nishant, Bazaar, Arth, Bhoomika, Mandi etc). An aunt of mine refused to watch these saying "she is not upto such serious stuff after a hard day's work, she needed something which was lighthearted". I was judgmental and branded her as someone who "lacked good taste". Today, having crossed my 50ies, I too am, as lame as, that aunt of mine and enjoy a Govinda movie or Shah Rukh's "Happy new year", much more than anything profound.
The PH dealt with the topic of abuse, with Urmi not only getting out of the abusive marriage, but also remarrying. Those who have read Tahmina Durrani's "My feudal Lord" or Betty Mohmoody's "Not without my daughter" will cringe to think of what some women go through, over and over! A larger message has been given in DAK, which is so important, since getting out of the relationship is the one part, but remarrying quite another, especially so in the Indian context! Men can get away with murder, but young divorced/widowed women with child/children, remarrying, is rarely heard of.
Having said this, now I come to the post leap story, the PH wanted to put across another social issue i.e rape. The trauma of the victim, the families reaction, the authorities' apathy. And if the PH decided to have a role of the man who supports the victim played by Kunal, then who are we to expect that the whole story should suddenly revolve around him. After NBT, it was a natural reaction from all of us, since for us, what mattered most was, Kunal's screen space. We acted like spoilt children throwing a tantrums when not getting his/her way.
Today, some of us are resigned to the situation, while some understanding that the PH needs to do, what needs to be done. So, I guess we all need to relax and enjoy what we get to see.
Oh yes, by the time I finished writing this piece, there is news doing the rounds that indicate a more proactive role from Shaurya in Diya's pursuit for justice.
Any which way, I am here to stay! :)
It leads me to two major points, one as Lekz mentioned in her weekly summary (http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4430992) is the social evil that is being dealt with and two the way it is being dealt with!
I remember watching some episodes of DAK last summer while on vacation. Looking back on those episodes, I now clearly see, the issue that was being dealt with. It was none other than domestic violence. Many of us think violence involves physical harm (& so did I, till the time writing a research proposal, I looked up for the definition and found that it also included the verbal abuse) "domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone."
Urmi was in an abusive relationship, despite being from a upper class family. Another sterotype we all have, is that people of the lower socio-economic strata are the ones who face this abuse. We do not see or ignore the violence around us. That is the mental make-up we are brought-up with!
Not having followed the serial, but from the post leap episodes it is clear that she got out of it. The PH showed the story in a way that was accepted to the masses, was not grisly or formidable, had some lighter moments, and all in all, women watching it, could relate to it!
These are women who want to relax after a grilling day of work, dealing with the chores, the children, in-laws and of course the husband ! I totally understand their sentiments.
I am reminded of my college days, when watching the main-stream cinema was unheard of, most of us only watched the newly introduced parallel cinema (movies viz; Ankur, Nishant, Bazaar, Arth, Bhoomika, Mandi etc). An aunt of mine refused to watch these saying "she is not upto such serious stuff after a hard day's work, she needed something which was lighthearted". I was judgmental and branded her as someone who "lacked good taste". Today, having crossed my 50ies, I too am, as lame as, that aunt of mine and enjoy a Govinda movie or Shah Rukh's "Happy new year", much more than anything profound.
The PH dealt with the topic of abuse, with Urmi not only getting out of the abusive marriage, but also remarrying. Those who have read Tahmina Durrani's "My feudal Lord" or Betty Mohmoody's "Not without my daughter" will cringe to think of what some women go through, over and over! A larger message has been given in DAK, which is so important, since getting out of the relationship is the one part, but remarrying quite another, especially so in the Indian context! Men can get away with murder, but young divorced/widowed women with child/children, remarrying, is rarely heard of.
Having said this, now I come to the post leap story, the PH wanted to put across another social issue i.e rape. The trauma of the victim, the families reaction, the authorities' apathy. And if the PH decided to have a role of the man who supports the victim played by Kunal, then who are we to expect that the whole story should suddenly revolve around him. After NBT, it was a natural reaction from all of us, since for us, what mattered most was, Kunal's screen space. We acted like spoilt children throwing a tantrums when not getting his/her way.
Today, some of us are resigned to the situation, while some understanding that the PH needs to do, what needs to be done. So, I guess we all need to relax and enjoy what we get to see.
Oh yes, by the time I finished writing this piece, there is news doing the rounds that indicate a more proactive role from Shaurya in Diya's pursuit for justice.
Any which way, I am here to stay! :)
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