Posted:
Okay - so the title is pretty straight forward today. For me it sums up pretty much everything important in the episode today.
Starting from...
** My best friends - Sikka &Tuntuna 😆
I really like how the CVs of this show weave in the minor details with the major ones. A reminder of the ever faithful sikka, and then the musical instrument tuntuna (I have no idea what it is - can someone tell me if it has a history in Kesar's life from the past? Anyway, for now I give it a name of my own). I can't not make mention of what a relief it is to see this side of Kesar - where he's grown up and mature, but he's still Kesar - and with his head and heart both sorted and in place, he has put himself to task fixing all the mess, one by one. Gulaal can continue to play her singular hide and seek game all she wants - her peace making, for all it's dubious intents, is working wonders for Kesar. I know its unfair to take away his credit, and more so to share it with Gulaal - but really, that's Kesar. Even with his tangled web of thoughts all cleared out, minus Gulaal's maafi we would probably not see him so much at ease - that he can devote his attention to greater matters. Like MB. His focus may never shift from Gulaal - but her being by his side (however shallow it is ity atm) is like the beginning of his journey of taking Vasant's place in the house. For me, today Kesar was being everything that this Talsagra home needs in their heir - a son, a husband, a brother... even a friend. And the happiest of all facts is, that even in being all that, he's not becoming Vasant - but retaining every element of his character which is an amalgamation of boy and man. To me, that's what the first scene was about. Kesar tending to grave matters - in Kesar style. He told Gulaal yesterday, how she has always been with him to help him solve his problems - fact is, he has never needed her to actually solve them for him. It's merely what he said - tu saath rehti hai, to hausla bandha rehta hai. Kesar only needs a reassurance of her backing - and come to think of it, it's always been so from when he was just a kid. I had my quick moments of aww and laughing when he went hey bhagwan, koi to upaay sujhaiye cause only days ago, he was telling God how he never comes to him to ask for help, but that he's been compelled to it, with no one and nothing else to look up to. In fact, on a deeper level - I like the comparison drawn between Kesar and God scene that day, to Kesar and God scene today. It shows the evolution of his character from then to now, in just a matter of days. He's no longer desperate, he's not defeated, and he's striving to make things right - by actually stepping into the shoes of others. The optimism in him is evident, and even when he tells God agar aapse sache man se maanga jaaye, to aap niraash nahin karte (God's voice: Kesar ji, sache man se to aap Gulaal ko bhi maang rahe the! 😆) one can see that Kesar has finally discovered (the hard way) that old adage of God helps those who help themselves. All in all - a wonderful doze of Kesar - with many little things to show his change of attitude and the consequent pay offs that have begun to work his way!
** Kitchen Politics - Not A Man's World!
Everyone ought to have had a good laugh at how this scene kicked off. First there is a problem. What does Kesar need? Gulaal's assurance that it can be solved, and will be solved. Then there is a solution. What does Kesar need? Gulaal's stamp of approval and willing promise to be his ally. Everything - including all those things that are not about Gulaal - still start and end at her for Kesar. I always enjoy this play between his need of her, and his responsibility for her. Anyway, this scene again, for me, was a comparison between a recently past scene, and today. Of the day Kesar was ill with fever and came chanting Gulaal in the kitchen; and of today. The difference is evident, not just in Kesar, but also in Gulaal. Yes we've discussed how Gulaal still has her walls ready to come to instant defense at the slightest sign of foreboding - but I didn't deny myself the little pleasure of how it didn't bother her, or make her awkward, how Kesar came chanting her name; how he made an excuse briefly, but then Kesar being Kesar once on an agenda doesn't understand the terms patience or bidding for his time - he just has to go bam bam bam! He tries to be subtle - but really Kesar, subtlety et tu?! 😆 So he just gives up and tells her he needs to talk. No mater her work. And alone. And now. Like now! 😆 It doesn't matter if you tell me once or twice that you're doing kaam because if you don't listen, then I just go find my next ally in the place, aka Reva, lol! I really like how all of that doesn't bother Gulaal - how natural and comfortable she is in being subjected to this side of Kesar. Somewhere, it goes on to prove how very deep and far her intuitive understanding of Kesar is - the one she likes to shun at the most crucial times to pretend the convenience of ignorance. There is subconscious instinct in her - which is purely Kesar oriented, and it knows exactly when to buzz the alarm, and exactly when not to. This was the harmless side of Kesar, the kind who needs her to look at his new found big bang theory and clap for it - and Gulaal loves patronizing this side, doesn't she? She's always so proud and happy about Kesar's maturity - as long as it's not pertaining to showing her a mirror (oh such a hypocrite world!) So even when she tells him to go with Talli cause she has work - she's not making excuses at all. Again, even as Kesar is playing a responsible card - seeking a solution to MB's anger with them, and discussing it with Gulaal - the image is no reflection of Vasant and Gulaal - but an exclusive peek at how GK can be GK - the equal status man and wife.
Oh btw - Standing ovation to JK for the conclusion to this scene: Bhagwan hi jaane kya khatam hua, aur kya shuru. Mujhe is ghar ke qaide nahi samjh aate - jaane kab kya hojaye?! Kamaal hai! 😆 Oh JK, I feel your enigma - I totally do! 😆 And then again, at the end of sneaking at GK talk, JK: Gulaal! Main tujhe aur Kesar ko lekar badi duvidha mein pad gayi hu. We hear you JK! Hum bhi! 🤔 Someone needs to tell me I'm reading too much into Kesar telling Gulaal to get ready, and adding that he'll go get Talli! 🤢 Why did he need Talli? No, this is not the Talli hater in me at all - I'm honestly bemused by the possible way to explain this. Was Kesar trying to keep Talli in between for Gulaal's comfort? That goes down very badly with me. I don't even want to think of this as Kesar's conscious efforts of making up to Talli - by showing her how the dynamic of their friendship can't change and she will always be his bestie - and he, hers. So whatever they do, they do together. Oh sigh - if anyone can better sense of this - please discuss and reveal!
Finally - Gulaal to accompany, to spite JK. For once, I really can't blame JK to freak out. These two can stun anyone! So I'm going to assume Gulaal's spite call was her new found way of proving if she's innocent, she doesn't need to cower and confer. Kesar is unsuspecting of JK and Gulaal's exchange - which is good enough for now. He's got enough on his plate. And Gulaal is doing a good job of dealing with JK. In fact, it might be the only good job she's doing atm, in complete control.
Btw - notable statement from Gulaal here - mujhe aankh micholi khelne ki koi zarurat nahi hai, na aapse, na samaaj se... my question - aur khud se Gulaal?! 🤔 Notable part 2: Aur teen mahine tak hum pati patni hain. Whoaaa! That one stumped me. Did she just play a trump card on such dicey grounds? I want to know what Kesar would make of that statement. Just like I wanted to know what Gulaal would have made of Kesar telling Poonambaa yesterday that he still loves her. Gulaal ka to pata nahi, CVs are sure playing aankh micholi with us.
** Syndromes, Sirens and Second-guessing
To me, this was the scene of the day. We've finally got a blunt glimpse of what tomorrow hails -here in. The trio in a single frame is effing annoying, of course. Not to forget bothersome. Fast forward to Kesar's eagle eye catching the exclusive pair of earrings (Kesar and his many hidden talents ☺️ Clearly, boarding was not just all about being bitter and writing countless Inlands!) Gulaal realizing Kesar hasn't come along walks back and beckons him - and turns around Kesar with a look that sets off the blaring siren inside Gulaal's head. The wall takes nano seconds to come into action. Can Kesar see it? Of course - he's not the boy he was until last week. Does it intimidate him? No! This is his trump. He has officially relinquished his rights on Gulaal, and they have officially refreshed their 'friendship' tab. With every ounce of confidence that he extends the earring towards her ear, you can see Gulaal is this far from screaming boogeyman, bhaago! in his face and running away 😆 And then he compliments her - boy, has anyone resembled a ghost anymore in the face of being praised?! Well, anyway. She can't rebutt him with any paap BS, so she just tries to pull on the reproach voice, but not fast enough, cause Kesar realizes he's scared her enough for a while - and calls it off on Reva's name. Interestingly, he doesn't take back his compliment - tujhpar acha lagra hai to Reva par bhi lagega! (Hain?!?!?! 🤔) They both know it's a lie - and I love that confronting look he gives her, like he's daring her to challenge and say he's lying - of course she can't! This is Catch-22 at its best! (Go Kesar! 😎 )
But who should step back into the frame at this point and be the ultimate, never failing killjoy? Talli madam. I know I should have hated her for what ensued in the form of reaction expressions on her face - but I kinda just pat myself to have predicted this a week ago. So I throw up all the words that I ate for breakfast, lunch and dinner in undeserved punishment back then. Okay, don't hurl stuff at me yet - I'm getting back to the scene. Talli is clearly face to face with reality check #1 - and this is just beginning. She's going to get the bitterest medicine of all, so if she would let me, I'd still tell her to back off already. It makes me smirk how Gulaal goes off into an instant excuse making mode - justifying to Talli; Kesar doesn't. He doesn't even reaffirm Gulaal's statement with a that's right. His momentary fall of expression on Talli's intrusion is purely his guilt of having wronged her - because that he accepted long ago, and knows he can do nothing to repent enough about. But thank you Kesar - even in the face of guilt, you're not lying, or playing the ostrich game. The only reason he even names it on Reva is to save Gulaal a stroke. He's decided to bid his timing with Gulaal - and I applaud him for that. Anyway - the final and conclusive part of this scene - Talli, like Kesar and Gulaal knows inside, the Reva excuse is a lie. Period. And am I glad that on that one account, there are no misunderstandings - although Gulaal is trying her 'vintage' best to talk herself into one. Oh this woman! 😳
Oh sorry! Did I say conclusion already? How could I forget the random guy who decided to spew venom? Well, venom, when it translates to hard facts. I personally it was about time that these three had to face some kind of public repercussion on account of their fickle minds. More than anyone else, Gulaal needs this reality check. One of these days she will have to face up to the decision of having been the sole one responsible for the deeyarvattu - and also its consequent revoke appeal. I'm not blaming her, but I'm just saying it's not so far away, her moment of bearing the responsibility of her actions. To me this scene was significance of how she can silence Kesar, and make him go her way - but how the entire world is not going to say aye, when she bids them to. Unlike the last time a decade ago, when see could challenge the people for their rigid and blind customs - she can't call out righteousness this time to her defense. When (and not if) she will be set up to explain herself, this time her arguments will not bear conviction, because all she has in her favor are make beliefs she has crowded her head with. To me, the ending angry streak of Kesar was also a sign here. He's matured, he's evolved, but don't put his Kesar element past him, when his buttons are pushed too far. It was the way he made his first appearance after a decade. And there is always the impending opportunity of Vasant's murder mystery when showdown sequences will become the norm.
** Knight and Damsel ☺️ ... aur Woh! 😳
The mandir scene was reflective on many accounts. When they first begun climbing the steps - GK walked up together, like it was the most natural thing to do. Then, Gulaal's siren goes off. It's almost as if she read the camera man's mind as he strives to focus his frame on them, and in her opinion, give the audience wrong ideas 😵 That, or she has a telepath connection with her love Talli. 🥱 It's like in the spur of a moment she realizes what we're seeing (and *sigh* relishing) and she beckons Talli to come play her wall for the while. It was this particular scene where I found Gulaal particularly selfish. I personally don't think she's setting up Kesar Talli anymore - the precap seems to indicate as much - but the fact that she keeps Talli for a fall back every time she needs to make space between Kesar and herself is just, inconsiderate. She should know, more than anyone else, what Talli undergoes in every such situation. Perhaps if I was nice to Gulaal - or if I was too enamored by her 'goodness' - I would put down her shifting focus to Talli as her intention of not making her feel left out - but really, it's plainly and simply one of her wall antics. Her guard from the jewelry shop has not yet come down entirely.
Talli in her part, is hurt, obviously, as the evident consequences of bringing GK back on cordial terms weighs ominously down on her. But when she rushes to move ahead and not just walk between them - after giving both Gulaal and Kesar a look each - I'm almost inclined to respect her, and give the idea a thought that she may have her demons to deal with - and it wont be an easy ride - but she won't really turn even grey, forget vamp-ish. I just think she wont have it in her to play cupid too long for these too - or even maintain the same level of friendship - but she's only human, why blame her?! Her moving out from between them, and moving ahead, is a good symbolism to me. Even when Gulaal loses her footing, Talli is truly concerned - of course - but to me it's just a sign of how she will never quite manage to wish ill on these two - no matter how much it pains her. She may (or will?) come to a point where she finds it hard to forgive, not just Kesar, but Gulaal - but she wont really avenge it, I think.
As far as Kesar - I really, really liked him through the scene. His discomfort, and somewhat displeasure at how Gulaal brings Tall in between - because to his newly acquired sensibility, Gulaal's wall tactic is plain as glass. He's letting her be that way - but it can't be expected to never tick him off. Anyway - before he can dwell over his exasperation, Gulaal decides to pull off the cliche fall. Yes, the scene was cliche, as Reemz said in her post - but at this particular point, it is symbolic of times to come - when she will be falling, and Kesar will be watching her back to catch her. Gulaal being Gulaal steels up her walls, and snatches her hand out - when she mutters thik hu thik hu - she might as well be talking to herself and chanting till she believed it. Of course, we're not talking about the literal fall here. Kesar's expression at this point is laudable. He knows exactly what's happening, and he reads her mind like an open book now - he's not angry, he's not shocked, he's not mesmerized (even when he holds her, he's just concerned for a second, then satisfied that she's alright), he's not expecting to be thanked, he's not even hurt. He just looks on, with that speculating look - will you ever give up on pretense?
** Repairing Cracks
The quick scene between Kesar - and Raman-Sudha was again symbolic. Kesar, like Vasant, wants his family to be a family. I think, just like Vasant, he will eventually - when all the storms are past - still find it within himself to forgive, and move on like a unit. It's interesting how Reva is sent off to call everyone in the family, but Kesar comes to intimate his current top of list enemy - Sudha bhabhi! Its another one of those small details which are showing the evolution in him - he's not just walking out of places and scenes, like he was a week or so ago; in fact he's confronting the greatest issues head on. Sudha taunts him, and he takes it because like in Tali's case, he knows he has wronged - and reasonable or not, he will take his crap himself. Talli walks in, and he looks to her for help - not to be saved from the berating, but to simply convince his family to be family - if only for an evening, for MB's sake... Raman the diplomat sides up. Sudha obviously gives in - when Talli comes to rescue.
** Not forgiven. Not forgotten.
The final scene was a big picture. JK's apprehension on Dushyant-Gulaal account. Dushyant's reaction to Gulaal's very natural serve him drink. Sudha momentarily dismissing bitterness to take a chance at her fallen home - Raman paying no heed. A lot of underlying dynamics. Raman is right - Dushyant still loves Gulaal, of course. Gulaal has forgiven him, yet not. She's just come to terms with things. There is blunt indication of Gulaal Dushyant - but it is equally blunt that the same can never happen. Raman is the hardest nut of all to crack. He has no vulnerability whatsoever. JK has Dushyant. Dushyant has Gulaal. Sudha has Raman. Raman has none. He's the only potential bad guy atm - who scares me about his extent of going evil.
Moving on to MB - yes he loosens up and gives in to his old passion. As far as breaking the ice with MB is concerned, Kesar has succeeded. As for forgiveness - no. MB is not Gulaal - he's not going to forgive Kesar, and/or Gulaal so simply because he's not wearing make shift walls in his life, and he's not going to live half pretend peace - because that's the easy way out. He has a solid reason to be upset with them - and they have done nothing to correct that. There is no other redemption than fixing the flaw as far as MB goes.
Talli - back to square one. If her removal from between GK in the mandir was a good sign, her going beside Kesar in this scene was bad. Almost like he's a drug in her veins. Gulaal moving away was implication of her walls being at least mildly in tact. They share a smile - but that's beyond the walls. She doesn't do what Talli does - go sit by him - they share a smile, like allies do, in the face of their plan bearing fruit - but even as she rejoices MB's brief spell of happiness, she is no where closer acknowledging her mistake, forget redeeming it.
Here's how the chain looks - Gulaal smiles at MB; Dushyant smiles at Gulaal; Talli smiles at Kesar. And Kesar being the Kesar he has become, is taking one step at a time - unadulterated pleasure at the success of his plan; only pure happiness to share with his partner in crime, shares his widest best smile with Gulaal.
Phew - took a long time, because today just seems to be my phone day. But here I am finally - I had breaks between putting this post together, but I hope there will not be too much incoherence.
All in all - an intricate episode. I like how the focus has not moved away from GK - but has at the same time begun to encompass all the other lose directions. Nur and Reemz - I called it heavy duty, because there was so much movement in the plot that way. Dushyant's wistful look towards Gulaal has shown up after ages. It's been more or less regret, and meek retrieving all this time. Sudha after ages actually forgot her bitterness just for a second. I almost felt sorry for her. Almost. JK has more complication on her hand than ever before. GK are beginning to puzzle her - for obvious reasons - and she never did outgrow her apprehension of Gulaal and Dushyant. That, when she still has no idea about Vasant's murder. MB is not going to be a side card just yet. Talli's big third angle finally begins to look blunt and obvious. AND, Kesar has not resigned on Gulaal yet. For the first time, he knows exactly how he is going to approach is multidimensional problems one step at a time - and Gulaal will come in, when it's her turn. And of course, Gulaal still knows everything that she pretends no longer exists.
Dive into the discussion,
xx
JZee
Fan Fictions
Cricket
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
