Originally posted by: sunnygrin
This show is based on a story created by Bengali writer Leena Gangopadhyay. I read her interview after the original serial Ishti Kutum became a hit. She said this is based on a real life story of a woman that the writer is still in touch with. I find the story very interesting from a psychological point of view- Forced marriages in India held at gun point are in the news occasionally and the writer is trying to explore the emotional roller coaster the man and woman involved go through. That means there are real people who live through these stories. I like the fact that this is one of the most real stories I have seen.
Life often forces people in to strange roads and yes- not everyone will be morally correct all the time. Yes - Aditya wasn’t brave but in one of the early episodes they did show that he tried to tell Malini that he got married to Imlie and Malini collapsed and doctors said emotionally she is too fragile. At that time he believed himself to be in love with Malini and could not see her suffer and yes - he had no feelings for Imlie. But circumstances caused him to change- he realised that just as he was trapped into marriage with Imlie- she was also trapped. And Imlie through herself in the path of danger again and agian for him. But despite liking each other, they try what good people will try- she tries to leave him and he tries to leave her but they find out that they can’t.
Yes we wish there were a happy ending where no one is hurt but there isn’t. Life isn’t so black and white. There is so much grey. In IPKKND Anjali is so sweet and we feel it’s so wrong whatever happened to her but it’s easier to bear because her husband is pure evil. And the hero Arnav is pure good. Aditya is not in a situation where he can come out looking good.
I don’t think the show promotes polygamy rather it shows the quandary people can get into if they try to make everyone happy. Aditya is not like Shyam ( in IPKKND) who deliberately cheats two people. He is a victim himself. He genuinely believes that he loves Malini but is getting torn trying to do right by Imlie too- unlike Arnav in IPKKND who played with Lavanya’s feelings and was at the brink of marrying Lavanya knowing that he doesn’t love her.
Aditya is a very nuanced and difficult role to play which is precisely why Gashmeer who is a Marathi playwright and stage as well as film actor chose the role.
I can understand that people feel strongly about characters but in the end it is a story.
I don’t think it promotes marital rape or polygamy. To keep things simple I think an effort has been made to show that Adi and Malini never had an opportunity to have sex. And even if they did they are two epoeple who believe they love each other(it’s rape if one of the partners is not willing). But Adi- Malini relationship is kinda like Lavanya and Arnav in IPKKND ( remember the ‘live-in’”).
Except Adi goes thru rituals with Malini and believe they are married. Though legally their marriage is invalid because Adi is first and already married to Imlie. As long as Adi didnot divorce Imlie first- he is not married to Malini.