14/6/11
Gulaal's sworn declaration that she is willing to leave him forever left Kesar breathless. He walks into his room panting for breath. Pacing up the room, unsure of his actions whether he held his head between his hands or tugged at his Kurta, he was hurt by her words, her crying, her feelings that she took the decision thing he was hers. He was angry more at himself since he did not expect such an outcome to his game of vengeance. Tears rolled down as he looked at her photograph. He threw the photoframe down and sat down on the bed, defeated and totally shattered.
KESAR AND SUDHA
Why Sudha couldn't sense him crying? Sudha asked him "Yeh toot gaya?"". When Kesar wiped his tears away, we could feel that not just the photoframe, Kesar was broken. Sudha was the concerned mother requesting Kesar to keep her daughter happy and he acknowledges her concern. Kesar was plainly hurt and anguished. What made Sudha mistake it for wedding jitters is something unusual.
His silent "Hmm" to Sudha saying he was fine, uncertainty when she mentioned about wedding jitters, silent nod to her concern when she says "Tumhe tang karti hai, bahut bolti hai, bachpana hai, pyar karti hai tujhse were too good.
Neha Kaul playing Sudha is a good actor too. When she was rubbing her hands against Kesar's shoulders we could see her affection for Kesar as well as her concern for Talli. Her brief pauses between her words to cover up the lump in her throat were lovely. When Sudha said she was sure of him that he would handle it well, he was unsure of himself and worried at the probable breach (from his end) of confidence that she has in him.
KESAR AND PANNBA
Poor Kesar has spent the whole night crying. When Pannba walks in with his wedding outfit, he is till seated, dazed, eyes swollen out of crying and dark circles evident. Appreciate the make up to give a touch of realism to give the real feel of a sleepless night. When Pannba asks him if he was happy with this marriage, Kesar I felt was touched about the fact that someone actually asked him about what he thought or felt. Kesar did not want to admit that Gulaal influenced him that he cuts it short by saying he wants to get ready.
KESAR'S WEDDING
Kesar was disinterested in the girl's talks and wanted to meet Talli. What is surprising is that the girls in the whole village seems to have gathered as the bridesmaid to Talli who was supposedly an orphan whereas Kesar was so alone and lonely in that entire household.
I am tired of the Kasam's since Neil's Karol Bagh days. Gulaal literally tortures him emotionally. She has not left anything for him to say when she finally gives that "Kasam" on her name and Vasant's name that he would "behave well" with Talli postmarriage. I think it was immaterial to take Vasant's name. With "Gulaal ki Kasam", Kesar would not do anything beyond that. Can't she sense the difference? He was so much in that vengeful mood previous day and here he was struggling to put words together chanting Lekin mei…mujhe…and helplessly wanting to speak to Talli. When JamnaKaki forced the garland on him, he had already lost control of the situation. Everything was happening so fast before he could even react.
Kesar kept looking at Gulaal when he walked down the stairs. He was not concentrating and throughout appeared dazed, looking at everything around, looking for something that would help him out of this situation. Those comments from his friend that this "arati" would be similarly done to people who are being sent for a battle, Kesar could relate himself to this battle he is so unwillingly being forced to take up.
Kesar appeared disoriented with the happenings. He sought Gulaal, he was dazed when the Pandit tied the sacred thread on his hand, he was shocked seeing Talli being led to the Mandap, he still kept looking at Gulaal. His expressions were one of those kinds where he was pleading to be saved from the situation. The "Please save me out of this mess" look in his eyes makes one feel helpless along with him. Why can't anyone notice that his gaze is fixed on Gulaal. Was Gulaal uncomfortable that moment?
Chunni voiced the feelings in all our minds. His friend's suggestion to finally think over as a last chance from life imprisonment was also our feelings. Kesar was mechanically going through the proceedings, when he garlands Talli, his mind is fixed at Gulaal.
When all the confusion for Kanyadaan is going on, Kesar is still dazed. Gulaal can sense his strange silence. But won't all this "who is to perform what ritual" be decided firsthand. But why was Gulaal so worried. Again, once again, I could not interpret Gulaal's expressions. Was she worried because Kesar sat there like a zombie or because it finally hit her that HER KESAR is becoming Talli's or was it because she was really worried over his previous disclosure that he would torture Talli. But why on earth was Gulaal asked to do "Ganthbandhan"? Wasn't some elderly person supposed to do? In some communities, the groom's sister does it. Anyways…if not then how would they give importance to GULAAL, THE GREAT? Or how else would we get the scene where Kesar gets a closer look at Gulaal. Why it is that no one is noticing the short eyelocks between Kesar and Gulaal? Why isn't anyone present there asking about the Diyarvatu? Come on yaar, all haven't turned saints in our society. Koi toh kuch kaho…..
One closer look at Gulaal makes Kesar realize that this marriage would spell doom for him and his relationship with Gulaal. I don't understand why Talli is being helped each time to get up from where she is seated. Talli is so eager to get married. Poor Kesar is not even getting up for the 'Pheres'.
Loved it when with each 'Phera' he was taking with Talli, he was relating to his promises and situations with Gulaal.
MARRIAGE VOWS
The first Phera : He realizes the promise he had given to Gulaal saying he would always protect her.The second made him relate to how he had taken care of her; the third phera came with a promise to keep one's wife happy. Well that is what Kesar has always wanted for Gulaal. Her happiness, always asking her "Aur tu" is nothing but the same. A brief absence of Gulaal from his vicinity makes his eyes search for her. The fourth "phere's meaning hit him hard. That was about fidelity and truthfulness to his wife that will alleviate a man towards liberation/Moksha. Obviously he related to the Vat savitri vrat that Gulaal kept for him. He nods his head in denial that he can't make this promise. He has grown up without swaying his loyalty to Gulaal even when he has been away from her. So obviously he couldn't promise that to Talli. Talli is trying hard to push Kesar to start taking the Phera. Such drama doesn't happen in a wedding. Gulaal has to come running to remind him about the "Vaada on vasant's name". How long will this Gulaal do this? In what all steps will Gulaal remind him about this? I wonder if ever Kesar married Talli, for what all will he be forced in the name of Vasant?
He said he won't break the promise in Vasant's name. Gulaal told him that he should not hurt Talli after marriage. He lays Gulaal's doubt to rest saying he would never do that. But both did not mention about the partner in this marriage. Of course now if he marries Gulaal, he is not going to torture Talli in any way. Kesar is keeping the promise. Finally, he learnt that no one could save him other than himself. From the lost defeated and vulnerable Kesar, he turned into a responsible man, standing up for himself and HIS WIFE. Though she has not given an importance to this ritual, Kesar has lived his life abiding by it in its true essence. Knowingly or unknowingly, he has maintained his loyalty to Gulaal.
Right now, Kesar has forgotten about the Vasant murder issue. I think with the second slap he got from Gulaal when he mentioned about Gulaal and Dushyant, he has realized one thing. When Gulaal denied him any rights saying only Vasant held any such rights over her, Kesar is clear about one thing. What bothered him if Gulaal could possibly have taken a liking for Dushyant was laid to rest with that slap. So nothing else matters to him now. When the Vasant murder issue comes up, I am sure the family is going to rebuke Gulaal and only Kesar will be around to support her.
Kear has declared that he should be maintaining loyalty to his actual wife GULAAL and hence he can't make this promise to Talli.
Precap: I hated the fact that his hands are still tied to Talli, but at least he is questioning Gulaal and asking her to think from his POV. I did not see anger in Gulaal's eyes when he is staing facts. So let's see if there is hope to this unusual and unique love story.
Sampoorna
Bindi
