A case of Split Personality in DostiYaariyanManmarzian? Telly Ta

Oh No...this is 'NO' breaking news or an exclusive piece from the sets of Star Plus popular show Dosti...Yaariyan...Manmarzian but an attempt to try and analyze to the best of my ability as to what happened or happens to Radhika Mishra essayed by the very talented Monica Singh during the course of an episode where she showcases two entirely different personalities.

Radhika Mishra is undoubtedly one of the most resilient characters in the show and that makes her distinct from the others and an interesting watch. Though new to the whole 'taking life' head on she comes across as a strong young woman. So imagine my shock when I see a completely different Radhika along with the Radhika I have come to know, grace my television screen for the past few days.

Nahi Samjhe? Well ever since Saral came into the picture or rather came to Mumbai, Radhika has been shown in an altogether different light and somewhere it is hampering the character sketch of Radhika that everybody has grown to love before Saral's entry.

Radhika is not rude or crass, she is smart-mouthed and knows very well to stand her ground. She knows to respectfully tackle a situation and not stand in the corner as a muppet. Which is why its impossible to understand why an educated, working, 21st century girl like her would lay down and take every crude remarks, insults, baseless accusations, uncomfortable moves and inappropriate touches made by Saral.If she was shown as such from the beginning then its a different scenario but that wasn't how she was shown was it?

OK, Saral is Radhika fiance, so 'bluntly' put he can touch her, hug her, kiss her even BUT if she is uncomfortable with it should he not keep his hands to himself? And if he fails to read his fiancee body language- her apparent hesitation and uncomfortable stance with his actions shouldn't she be saying something? Chalo chodo lets reason a bit- "Saral was drunk and he did not know what he was doing". To an extent the reason I believe Radhika kept mum could be because Saral was drunk. What do you say to a drunk who has lost his senses? What is the point in saying anything to man who is heavily inebriated, but what came as a shocker was how casually Radhika took the whole matter once Saral was sober. Once Sober, Saral yet again tries to force himself on Radhika by asking her a 'Kiss' when she clearly was uncomfortable but Radhika just stood there trying to free herself like a bechari-abla naari when we have seen and know that Radhika is capable of much more. So what if Saral is her fiance- a sentence that Saral keeps throwing in on Radhika's face every now and then. Did that indirectly or directly have the meaning 'You are my property'? Does getting engaged to be married mean you have lost your voice? You have lost your power to reason?

Moving on, tonight's episode was predominantly dominated by Saral-Radhika and we got to see that inebriated or not when it comes to Saral, Radhika loses her power of speech and strangely this has happened post her engagement to the man because before their engagement, Radhika never hesitated speaking up and she got her words across to him respectfully. So how can one not be disappointed to see Radhika who is very much capable of giving Saral a piece of her mind for being the obnoxious, insensitive arrogant male specimen he was being.

At a shop in the Lokhandwala market Saral asks Mala, I mean Mummy Ji to select a sari for herself which he happily announces he would buy for her. Though Mala refuses, Saral insists saying some rather wonderful things; only that he did not mean it one bit because if he did Saral wouldn't have passed that snide comment about Mummy ji jumping at the opportunity to get a new expensive sari which was equivalent to disrespecting and downright insulting Mala Mishra. Interestingly Radhika just looks at Saral, a feeble expression of shock on her face but says nothing. Then she tactfully tries to change the subject and seeks permission to buy something for her mother with her first salary, something that every loving child does; which man of the hour aka Saral blows out of proportion for no rhyme or reason. Saral not only ridicules Radhika, he insults her, compares her to Riddhima (Radhika's Sister), keeps shoving Mumbai ne tumhe badal diya hai', tum badal hayi ho' which he has been doing ever since he stepped foot in Mumbai and eventually accuses of her showing money power because she is a working woman today. Even after requesting Saral to keep it down, he purposely keeps raising his voice creating a scene and Radhika stands there like a mannequin with tears rolling down her face.

This is a fictional show -True, but let's face it Manmarzian's treatment, the execution of several scenes and sequences has been relatable since day one; with the fictional element only scattered here and there for the sake of bringing that dramatic value to the screenplay as and when needed. So how is Radhika's non-reaction, her listening to Saral's crude remarks and shedding silent tears of hurt relatable in this day and age when it is he who should be biting his tongue for uttering such words?

Wondering why the title contains the word "Split Personality"? Well the same Radhika has no issues speaking her mind out when it comes to locking horns with Arjun. There have been several instances when Radhika has given it straight to Arjun without any hesitation. Radhika even went on to slap Arjun based on a misunderstanding but nevertheless she did it because she thought he was misbehaving with her. So what is Saral doing? Misbehaving, insulting, mocking, ridiculing and all Radhika does is remain Silent'. Why, because he is her fianc? Because her sister brought the proposal and something Radhika says or does can have an adverse reaction on her sister; because Radhika does not want to upset her family? Yet again which day and age does Radhika belong to? Because on one side she is shown as today's spirited modern contemporary Indian woman but on the other somebody that belongs to the 'Bahu' category in the saas-bahu dramas.

Why the writers are sliding towards a rather hypocritical writing is beyond comprehension because clearly a silent Radhika when with Saral and a fierce daring one when with Arjun is simply done for the sake of added drama in the former's case and chemistry in the latter's case.

But sadly when such drastic is the treatment; the value and essence of the character fades away making her a regular which Radhika clearly was not. A character need not be same at all times, no character is. They have shades and layers but irrespective of all that, beneath all those shades and layers the core personality remains the same which is slowly becoming a miss in Radhika's case. Simply put the character consistency is missing. This by no means is an implication that Radhika should shut Saral up out and showcase a side of hers that no way resembles her; though it would not be that bad, but completely muting her, showing her as a weakling when with Saral goes against the beautiful character sketch that Radhika Mishra is.

We can only hope that the writers would not make Radhika a regular hindi soap character because quite frankly she is not and that's why she is loved by the viewers.

-Vijitha Rajan