GK - Classic Protagonists With A Twist?!

"Even in popular fiction, novel writing, the main character is a hero or a heroine... someone who has done something, or achieved beyond the normal range of experience. A hero is probably someone who has given his life to something bigger than himself or other than himself. The moral objective of all hero myths, is to save something, by sacrificing himself for something." - Joseph Campbell

Jzephyr, Thank you for deep analysis about the show and casts. This show has captured my heart like none other show has.

Hey! Jzee, you wont believe it, i was waiting for someone to mention this particular topic about the uniqueness of this show and how every character is different from other characters that we see on television. And specially the character of Kesar which to me is larger than life. You nailed the essence of his character so well. To me, the story of gulaal seems like another unusuall fictional story of shakesphere. His stories have mainly purposed the uniqueness of love from his ''Romeo and Juliet'' to ''Hamlet'' which again had great comparison. Gulaal seems one of the other shakesphere novel where a male lead is portrayed with his unusual behavior and attitude towards the other. The way you said ''Kesar is the hero - and hints of him being the central male lead were always subtly imparted even when Vasant had seemed like the guy''. His existence as a character imparted a sense of importance in the story. The way writers used some of the subtle hints from the begining,were predictable that his character would just be different from all the other character that we have seen so far. Their infrastructure was solid to begin the story at first and the rest just followed the track.The things that makes this character and the story unique is how the writers have taken each step out of the box so consciously. They didnt compromise with the plot of the story but have maintained that level of integrity that makes this serial different from the others.

The character of kesar has so many colors that shines through the story: Audacious, vulnerable, sweet, caring, calm and yet so anxious. The way neil has portrayed nuance of his character was beyond just saying well done! Its so hard to put yourself in a characterr's shoe which is complicated and yet so comfortable. He precised his character's emotion according to the part that was given to him, which is why his character looked larger than life.

The justice that everyone has done with the story and to their independent character was excellent. They are an exemplar for the entire industry, i should say. And that is why the story and the characters are so unique from rest of the others.

One more thing, its off the topic but its just my thought, i thought i wouold still share. I think Neil doesnt look younger than mansi at all. I know they have selected him since he has done karol bagh with the same conept of him being younger than his lady love. He looked alot younger that simi the lead girl in karol bagh but he doesnt loook younger than mansi. I guess the way her body structure is doesnt make herself look older than him. They truley complement eachother!😊

The vidoe mix is another sense of this topic! Excellent song!👍🏼

Great post!

Mano.

Yayyy…weekend thread!

I need a hero, I'm holding out for at hero 'till the end of the night
He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero, I'm holding out for a hero 'till the morning light
He's gotta be sure and it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life, larger than life

Now that is what comes to mind when I think of a Knight in shining armor. I used to feel that Gulaal in herself was a one woman army but as usual the wonderful CV's have provided such beautiful layers to her character…she is strong courageous woman but she is Oh so flawed and that makes her the hatke protagonist! Kesar on the other hand HAS the potential to be a one man army but he holds himself back because so far his efforts for the major part caused her a lot of pain. He is one guy who will go all out for his love but every time he tries he looks into her eyes, sees this uncertainty and then backs off completely by cracking some lame joke or excuse! They bring out the best and the worst in each other. Gulaal has never needed a hero…right? When she met Vasant and came to Talsagara, she was put up on this pedestal by the family and the village, given this God like larger than life status. Its only after V's death that her world came crashing down but that status remained for Kesar. So, if anything Gulaal has been Kesu's hero. Even when Kesar was angry at her…a part of him still believed that she could not have done anything wrong but of course malicious gossip, his own imagination and doubts would get the better of him.

Even now, Gulaal has a completely different place in his life, he is deeply in love with her but he still holds her in reverence. Though she can do no wrong for him, he has seen her go wrong, make mistakes and he accepts her as she is (still perfect in his eyes though). For as long as she has known him, Gulaal has pretty much seen the good, the bad and the ugly in Kesar but now for the first time she is seeing the really good in him and it is all for her. I think they are each other's heroes…

On a different note, I loved all the GulKes scenes yesterday but I have to say I was a bit peeved by the way Gulaal rebuked him and told him to go sit in some corner. He was being all helpful and she could have said it differently…it sounded like she was talking to young Kesuda again which kind of defeated the whole purpose. I don't know, maybe I saw it all wrong but those few seconds the way she looked…it was neither cute or intense. Its not like we are making leaps and bounds in the Gul Kes romance department but I still don't want her to treat him like a child!! 🤢

The only thing that makes the story a unique is Kesar-Gulaal relationship (apart from the technical perfections and the amazing acting abilities of the leads)

Originally posted by: Manoshono

One more thing, its off the topic but its just my thought, i thougt i wouold still share. I think Neil doesnt look younger than mansi at all. I know they have selected him since he has done karol bagh with the same conept of him being younger than his lady love. He looked alot younger that simi the lead girl in karol bagh but he doesnt loook younger than mansi. I guess the way her body structure is doesnt make herself look older than him. They truley complement eachother!😊

The vidoe mix is another sense of this topic! Excellent song!👍🏼

Great post!

Mano.

Oh, I forgot to add...

Kesu wears his heart on his sleeve. He is not afraid or embarrassed to show his love for Gulaal. The moment he realized that he was in love with her , no time was wasted and he professed his love to her pretty much the same day. He does not care about who is listening or their reactions when it comes to his love for Gulaal (in fact he begged her not to leave and declared his love in front of the family also created a scene in front of her house at night)! He has been childish, belligerent, petulant, moody but switched to unselfish, mature, amicable, calm and has literally become the bigger man to make her happy and comfortable.

At the moment he is aware that she might never love him the way he wants her to...in fact he has accepted the fact that she might walk away and never look back but he is willing to put all that aside, leave his own family just so that he can be with her...

Most classic love stories have some sort of a cat and mouse game but Kesar is not for the chase. He has made his bed and is willing to sleep in it come what may...as long as he can be with his Gulaal for as long as she will allow him😍

Can I reply to Anjali's comment about Gulaal treating Kesar like a child yesterday by telling him to sit far away. She only really did what he did the day before remember? He patronised her completely but that's how they are. He treats her like a kid sometimes so it's only natural she takes the upper hand at other times. Some things don't change. To be honest this whole scolding aspect is a part of who they are...


Jzee, LOVE the topic. I am in a rush so I'll come back to reply properly but I think the bottom-line is that this love story began between a child and adult. I'm not talking about any romance, just simple and unconditional love which set off this classic love story. Their history makes this love story truly unique! I have never seen a male lead with so many layers as Kesar and a more complex female protagonist as Gulaal on Indian television. Together they are BLOODY FASCINATING!

Gotta rush! Sorry!

^Reemz...I was fine with the scolding and I know this kind of banter is usual and part of their relationship...I just did not like her expression when she told him to go. He treats her like a kid as well but he is always mischievous about it. I suppose I am just tired of seeing Gulaal like this now..its like what Nur was saying a few days back. It was such an adorable scene and I felt that the way she asked him to go sit in a corner was just too abrupt especially after we got a nice eye lock to Piyu. I enjoyed all the scenes - the bike, the chulha, the fact that he thought she was really following all the traditions of being a patni etc etc...everything was really nice. He is doing so much for her and he always has a smile on his face, he feels sad when she is down, he cries when she cries...

I don't know, I just felt her expression was too sullen when she asked him to stay out of her way...the banter is all good...I just felt she could have said it differently...