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Honour killings on TV: Is Indian television growing up?
Slowly the wind of change is coming on Indian Television. After a long reign of saas-bahu serials, entertainment channels are concentrating on the social evils. Such serials are getting popular among the audience and drawing critical acclaim.
IN THE recent past, cases of honour killings have risen significantly. The coverage of such cases by the news media has brought the issue to the forefront and forced the government to make strict laws to deal with such crimes. Now, it seems that television soaps are also taking up the issue. We have seen varied changes in the content of television soaps in the last few years. After a long reign of saas-bahu serials, entertainment channels are concentrating on the social evils. Such serials are getting popular among the audience and drawing critical acclaim.
A few months back Geet hui sabse parayi made debut on Star One. In the show the protagonist, Geet had to marry a non-resident Indian (NRI) boy at the behest of her family. The boy was actually interested in the money and the land which was to be transferred in the name of the girl's husband. After marrying Geet the boy abandons her on the airport and takes away her money, jewellery and the papers of the land. She was forced by her family not to disclose anything about her marriage to anyone. When the family discovers that she is pregnant they try to marry her again. But the things don't go well. She was pressurised to abort the child and when refuses to do so her elder brother tries to kill her.
In a dramatic turn of events the protagonist survives. She takes a bold move and disowns her family. However, before leaving her village she gives a long lecture in front of the community members.
A few months back Geet hui sabse parayi made debut on Star One. In the show the protagonist, Geet had to marry a non-resident Indian (NRI) boy at the behest of her family. The boy was actually interested in the money and the land which was to be transferred in the name of the girl's husband. After marrying Geet the boy abandons her on the airport and takes away her money, jewellery and the papers of the land. She was forced by her family not to disclose anything about her marriage to anyone. When the family discovers that she is pregnant they try to marry her again. But the things don't go well. She was pressurised to abort the child and when refuses to do so her elder brother tries to kill her.
In a dramatic turn of events the protagonist survives. She takes a bold move and disowns her family. However, before leaving her village she gives a long lecture in front of the community members.
Another television soap, Jyoti on NDTV Imagine, is now going to show something similar. Here, the boy is from a rich and orthodox family and the girl is a divorcee. The family of the boy doesn't want him to marry a divorcee who is at financially weaker position. Several references have been made that the boy's family is very stereotypical and many children have been killed to save the honour of the family. In the latest episode of the show the boy has been poisoned by his father.
Peculiarly, both the serials showed feudalist, orthodox and patriarchal families who can kill their daughters and sons for the sake of the honour of their haveli/family. In both the serials the victims are obedient to their parents and family but they are also open-minded and firmly believe that every individual has a right to live and make choices in their lives. Both the shows put forward some serious questions before the society. Why it is always a woman who has to care about the family honour? Why the sons and daughters have to pay price with their lives for the honour of the family? Does killing your own loved ones and getting jailed for the same saves the family honour? Are these families able to keep the honour when they are exposed in front of the whole nation?
The questions are many and only society can answer them. But the need of the hour is to think rationally. Killing someone is a heinous crime whatever may be the reason of it. Besides, killing a person doesn't put an end to the problems. It is good to see that after news media, entertainment channels are also addressing the issue. Slowly and steadily the wind of change is coming on Indian Television.
Peculiarly, both the serials showed feudalist, orthodox and patriarchal families who can kill their daughters and sons for the sake of the honour of their haveli/family. In both the serials the victims are obedient to their parents and family but they are also open-minded and firmly believe that every individual has a right to live and make choices in their lives. Both the shows put forward some serious questions before the society. Why it is always a woman who has to care about the family honour? Why the sons and daughters have to pay price with their lives for the honour of the family? Does killing your own loved ones and getting jailed for the same saves the family honour? Are these families able to keep the honour when they are exposed in front of the whole nation?
The questions are many and only society can answer them. But the need of the hour is to think rationally. Killing someone is a heinous crime whatever may be the reason of it. Besides, killing a person doesn't put an end to the problems. It is good to see that after news media, entertainment channels are also addressing the issue. Slowly and steadily the wind of change is coming on Indian Television.
Source : Merinews
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