GK - Classic Protagonists With A Twist?! - Page 2

Ahhh weekened discussion! Lovely topic, Jzee! I really want to join in on the discussion but might be a bit busy this weekend *sigh*...but will still try to pitch in later tonight.

Quick reply to Anjal's comment...dude I totally know what you mean...and honestly I know where you're coming from regarding Gulaal's expression there...and I'll tell you what...that was my first reaction too...these days I can't help but wish for more softening, some kind of RESPONSE in her towards Kesar...especially when we get moments like this...But to me that scene wasn't about her patronizing him in so much as the fact that she just looked so TIRED, so fatigued...still kinda dead inside...although brief moments like the banter about the choolha...the way she said 'bujh gaya' had hints of vintage mischievous Gulaal but we're still not fully there.

It kinda comes back to what you said about Kesar wearing his heart on his sleeve...Gulaal has always been the opposite...she's cagey about her feelings for as long as she can be...

But I noticed something about her in the second scene...the one at the end when she gives him dinner...there she was actually smiling differently as he first made the comment about the pati thing...there are very very subtle gradual changes happening in her that you see on a rewatch sometimes...that's what happens to me...lol

So yeah to sum it up...her telling him to go and sit away seemed more abrupt cuz of that dead look in her eyes as I see it...she wasn't really being patronizing as much as being irritated/exasperated with him saying the food won't get made.

Originally posted by: nureat01

Ahhh weekened discussion! Lovely topic, Jzee! I really want to join in on the discussion but might be a bit busy this weekend *sigh*...but will still try to pitch in later tonight.

Quick reply to Anjal's comment...dude I totally know what you mean...and honestly I know where you're coming from regarding Gulaal's expression there...and I'll tell you what...that was my first reaction too...these days I can't help but wish for more softening, some kind of RESPONSE in her towards Kesar...especially when we get moments like this...But to me that scene wasn't about her patronizing him in so much as the fact that she just looked so TIRED, so fatigued...still kinda dead inside...although brief moments like the banter about the choolha...the way she said 'bujh gaya' had hints of vintage mischievous Gulaal but we're still not fully there.

It kinda comes back to what you said about Kesar wearing his heart on his sleeve...Gulaal has always been the opposite...she's cagey about her feelings for as long as she can be...

But I noticed something about her in the second scene...the one at the end when she gives him dinner...there she was actually smiling differently as he first made the comment about the pati thing...there are very very subtle gradual changes happening in her that you see on a rewatch sometimes...that's what happens to me...lol

So yeah to sum it up...her telling him to go and sit away seemed more abrupt cuz of that dead look in her eyes as I see it...she wasn't really being patronizing as much as being irritated/exasperated with him saying the food won't get made.

Exactly!! You are right...maybe she was not patronizing him and I know she is tired and mentally exhausted but like you said every episode I wait for some sort of softening as well. We get such awesome expressions from Kesu...his look when she was patting his back...it was not just a look of longing..it was a combination of EVERYTHING he has ever felt for her and right after that amazing look we got this abrupt - you need to go sit in a corner or you won't let me do anything. I was like...nooo Gulaal...let him be there...just give him something to hold on to!

The thaali scene was beautiful and you are right, I saw her slight smile as well. Even his voice has expressions...it kind of broke when he asked - accha? I suppose I am going through what you went through a few episodes back...I just want Gulaal to come out of this sadness and give Kesu some kind of a moment that will make us jump up and down with JOY!!!

Originally posted by: alanta

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)

1. Man being younger to his wife is common since older days and became very common nowadays.There is nothing unique in it.

2. Younger boys (stepping in to adolescence) falling for young women is also a common thing. I've heard many of the men when they are asked to tell about their first love,telling how they had infatuated/fallen for their young teachers/senior batch girls. If you have seen Tere-Liye, Anurag was infatuated by his teacher. So this phase also doesnt make the show unique.

3. Devar marrying/falling in love with his bhabhi esp after his brother dies. Again how many times we have came across this track through cinemas and soaps. Not only Deeyarvathu in Gujarat and Punjab but Jews also practiced/still practicing this tradition.

Gulaal was not his bhabhi, when he was attracted to her at first, and she was not his bhabhi when he fall in love with her and by the time he confessed his love for her, she was his wife. Doesnt he has the right to confess his love to his wife? Ofc yes.

Then what is the uniqueness?

Yes the answer is simple .

Kesar is a very human being unlike those alpha male protagonist and Gulaal being the female protagonist has natural flaws which is inevitable being a human.

The incompleteness without each other and the way they compliment each other and the amount of true/unconditional love they share and even their subtle exchanges that echoes they are just made for each other make them a unique couple and the same is the uniqueness of protagonists and the show.

Originally posted by: Anjalg

Exactly!! You are right...maybe she was not patronizing him and I know she is tired and mentally exhausted but like you said every episode I wait for some sort of softening as well. We get such awesome expressions from Kesu...his look when she was patting his back...it was not just a look of longing..it was a combination of EVERYTHING he has ever felt for her and right after that amazing look we got this abrupt - you need to go sit in a corner or you won't let me do anything. I was like...nooo Gulaal...let him be there...just give him something to hold on to!

I know what you mean yaar...Kesar's expression there just gives you goosebumps and makes you long for a response from Gulaal even more...but the thing is, it was Kesar himself that first changed the subject to more light hearted bantering to ease the awkwardness/the charged air in that moment...Gulaal basically took that phoonk maarne wala thing from his hand and started doing her work to just get away from the moment but Kesar started talking about how he doesn't think the food will get made till night and THAT'S when she told him to go and sit away and let her do the work...so the scene kinda flowed in that sense.

Kesar as always puts himself aside for her sake and he did that again...so the entire grumpiness there from him was an act...and Gulaal knowingly/unknowingly went along with it to get away from the moment.

But if you take a look at the actual moment...when he's looking at her and she also looks back...there is amazing depth to that look they share for a moment before ofcourse she breaks away.

Originally posted by: likarsh

I think Gulaal being older comes through quite often. Perhaps Neil and Manasi look the same age, but the way Manasi portrays Gulaal, I think you can tell by her demeanor, body language and facial expressions that she is older than Kesar.

Then there's the fact that sometimes the kid Kesar Neil incorporates in KesGul interactions.Latest example -- his coming home on the bike and telling Gulaal of his day. There's a hint of young Kesar in there. It's in no way a bad thing. In fact it just adds to the story and relationship, and just makes their tale even more beautiful.

Yes, technically Manasi and Neil look the same age even if Manasi is otherwise a few years older than him...but it's the way she portrays Gulaal...the body language, the demeanor that does make it obvious many times that she's the older of the two...I think a big part of all of this is also the way they dress her...the ghoonghat makes her look older than she otherwise is...

Beyond that, Gulaal in general has that tendency to patronize/talk like a wiser/older person...she does it to everyone she can...

At the end of the day, the age isn't really a factor b/w them...to Kesar, it has always been inconsequential and he has never treated her like she is older/younger than him...she is just simply Gulaal to him...Gulaal on the other hand has had an evolutionary process in some ways regarding that cuz it's taken her a while to come to terms with the fact that Kesar has grown into a man...and he's been a tempestuous individual in many ways so that further brings out Gulaal's wiser/older side when dealing with him.

In some ways, the circumstances that they've faced have made both Gulaal and Kesar age beyond their years mentally...

Originally posted by: Anjalg

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'

@bold: Fantastic point, Anjal...I totally agree...she is Kesar's hero...he has always held her in reverence...but what is interesting to me is that while there is reverence, it is still so HUMAN...he is in awe of her on one level and on another level, he is the first in line to tell her when her thinking, her actions are wrong too! Who else but KESAR in Gulaal's life can tell that what she is thinking/talking is nonsense?? And can I just say I love the way he tells her that?😆

So THAT is one of the genius paradoxes in characterization regarding this show to me as well...both the characters are flawed and very human, we agree...like Jzee said in her original post...this has been a relationship of EVOLUTION above all...that is what puts them in equal standing...Yes, Kesar holds her in reverence yet she is not an untouchable Goddess like figure either...she is very much human to him who HAS her fallacies...who CAN make mistakes...and he is the one to ultimately make her realize her own fallacies sometimes when she is unable to see them.

Gulaal on the other hand has for the longest time post leap had to see the bad, the ugly...and it is now like you said that she is truly seeing the greatest goodness that is inside him and it's all for her...

I loved the point you made about how Kesar accepts her in every form with all her faults...his love for her is all-consuming...so while he may rant and rave at her, even try all his best to hate her at some point but ultimately his love for her is such that it accepts her in every form...he doesn't know any other way...he can be in awe, he can be upset with her, distrust her, believe in her...but everything just boils down to HER...Gulaal.

For Gulaal, in a sense it is NOW that she is fully realizing Kesar as the hero in her life...before that, yes they have been each other's saviors throughout this time in many ways...but while for Kesar, it was all a constant in a sense even as it evolved...for Gulaal, the true ramifications/meaning of the word KAVACH is only NOW coming through I think.

Sometimes I think...those ten long years...those letters he wrote to her...somewhere even in all the turmoil, the attempts to hate her, it was only that which kept him sane...in every which way, only thoughts of HER, FOR her sustained him...and they still do.

Originally posted by: nureat01

@bold: Fantastic point, Anjal...I totally agree...she is Kesar's hero...he has always held her in reverence...but what is interesting to me is that while there is reverence, it is still so HUMAN...he is in awe of her on one level and on another level, he is the first in line to tell her when her thinking, her actions are wrong too! Who else but KESAR in Gulaal's life can tell that what she is thinking/talking is nonsense?? And can I just say I love the way he tells her that?😆

So THAT is one of the genius paradoxes in characterization regarding this show to me as well...both the characters are flawed and very human, we agree...like Jzee said in her original post...this has been a relationship of EVOLUTION above all...that is what puts them in equal standing...Yes, Kesar holds her in reverence yet she is not an untouchable Goddess like figure either...she is very much human to him who HAS her fallacies...who CAN make mistakes...and he is the one to ultimately make her realize her own fallacies sometimes when she is unable to see them.

Gulaal on the other hand has for the longest time post leap had to see the bad, the ugly...and it is now like you said that she is truly seeing the greatest goodness that is inside him and it's all for her...

I loved the point you made about how Kesar accepts her in every form with all her faults...his love for her is all-consuming...so while he may rant and rave at her, even try all his best to hate her at some point but ultimately his love for her is such that it accepts her in every form...he doesn't know any other way...he can be in awe, he can be upset with her, distrust her, believe in her...but everything just boils down to HER...Gulaal.

For Gulaal, in a sense it is NOW that she is fully realizing Kesar as the hero in her life...before that, yes they have been each other's saviors throughout this time in many ways...but while for Kesar, it was all a constant in a sense even as it evolved...for Gulaal, the true ramifications/meaning of the word KAVACH is only NOW coming through I think.

Sometimes I think...those ten long years...those letters he wrote to her...somewhere even in all the turmoil, the attempts to hate her, it was only that which kept him sane...in every which way, only thoughts of HER, FOR her sustained him...and they still do.

WOW Nur...you hit the nail on the head bang on!! I loved all the bold parts!👏

I have to say the characters are so brilliantly written and MP, NB add the chaar chaand to the characters!! Very very true, Kesu is the only person who can tell Gulaal straight up that she has made mistakes. This is so well portrayed in the scene where PB gets angry at Gulaal when she finds out that both Gulaal and Sudha had planned this whole Kesu Talli wedding. Kesu is standing at the door and he taunts Gulaal. She starts crying, apologizes to Kesu for making such a huge decision on his behalf and swears on Vasant that she will never show her face to Kesu again!! So, Kesu was holding a mirror to Gulaal but the most beautiful part was the change in his expression as he watched her cry. He was literally thinking - 'Oh crap...this is not I wanted, I don't want Gulaal out of my life'! So they literally are each others mirrors and though they point out each others mistakes and fallacies...they are quick to forgive and forget as well! It was the same when Gulaal slapped Kesu, he was angry and decided to leave home. When Dushy brought him back and Kesu went for the Vat Savitri thing, Gulaal apologized to Kesu...you can see him just breathe in and let go of everything else. That is all it takes...one look at Gulaal, one apology from her and everything is forgiven and forgotten!

Kesar is definitely her hero right now but then he has always stood up for her. Even young Kesuda used to pick up fights if anyone said anything about his Gulaal. Over the past few episodes I have seen her look at him with admiration and a sense of pride. I loved the way he asked PB why no one has bothered to ask Gulaal why she did what she did...and his unflinching belief that no matter what people say...he knows in his heart that she did everything for the family's happiness.

Oh, I loved the way you explained the underlined bold part! Gulaal has been the cause of his insanity but then again, she has been the very reason for his existence and his sanity!!

You know, I found the precap very interesting. She is giving him the haq to ask her all the questions that have haunted him for years and his immediate response - nahi nahi...mujhe kucch nahi jaannaa...why do you think he said that?

Originally posted by: Anjalg

^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...

Originally posted by: Anjalg

I have to say the characters are so brilliantly written and MP, NB add the chaar chaand to the characters!! Very very true, Kesu is the only person who can tell Gulaal straight up that she has made mistakes. This is so well portrayed in the scene where PB gets angry at Gulaal when she finds out that both Gulaal and Sudha had planned this whole Kesu Talli wedding. Kesu is standing at the door and he taunts Gulaal. She starts crying, apologizes to Kesu for making such a huge decision on his behalf and swears on Vasant that she will never show her face to Kesu again!! So, Kesu was holding a mirror to Gulaal but the most beautiful part was the change in his expression - 'Oh crap...this is not I wanted, I don't want Gulaal out of my life'! So they literally are each others mirrors and though they point out each others mistakes and fallacies...they are quick to forgive and forget as well! It was the same when Gulaal slapped Kesu, he was angry and decided to leave home. When Dushy brought him back and Kesu went for the Vat Savitri thing, Gulaal apologized to Kesu...you can see him just breathe in and let go of everything else. That is all it takes...one look at Gulaal, one apology from her and everything is forgiven and forgotten!

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