IKRS 18th August 2015. 8th episode My Take
Live coverage given by Tripurari to his father Dashrant .. first the good news, then the bad! note the widows line of communication was cut of.. here how evil disseminates info.. to grind his own axe. He teases his father's curiosity for more news about Viplav's presence in the pitch battle .The impossible seems to happens , Dashrant sees his decrees being challenged.. his values being thwarted.
Bold practical presence statements from Viplav .. gives vivid pictures of protection for the vulnerable. Scenes of utter vandalism. Really Viplav's presence here in the ashram under siege! clearly states whose side he is on and to Tripurari his father's empire's ramparts are now wobbling. Pandit faces fears of further back lash from the almighty Dashrant , when he discovers who the young brave defender is? So now is the chance for Tripurari when he can show his clout and powerful intervention as he is the one who orders the pandit to get the violence stopped! The pandit does so very shrewdly like a judge.. ..enough! the widow has seen the power of what befalls to anyone who steps out of line! here the wily pandit uses Viplav's words of "let's not take the law in our hands" pandit understands what to say that will curb people.. the reference.. if she dies we could get into trouble .. he manipulates people.. a means to an end.. this short scene of inciting , facilitating and then stopping the rebellion, shows the immense power faith men hold over the community.. Dashrant works on similar lines too ,wields power over people. It's like a vicious circle!
This is the issue , generally people pick and choose ,what they want, to suit their own purposes.
Order prevails in the ashram, the looters and the fanatical vandals are made to retreat.. and both the target and the stuntman who gets the beats in place of target! are consoled by their respective families after the ordeal. A wounded Viplav is carried away heroically from the war ravaged battlefield .. well yippee! the wily big bro scores a point in Viplav's eyes and probably in Dashrath's eyes too, but better still its Viplav.. who gives Tiripurari a reason enough to cross the threshold of the Dashrant's hivali.. besides the big man himself decreed that he should bring Viplav babaa home
Typical family scene in a common crisis mode.. each member highly strung , his mother, promotes philosophy of minding one's own business.. gives justifications.. her side of the story and defends her parental responsibility, of not being able to stop her son from leaving home. Dashrant let's off steam on his wife as usual. Wounded Viplav is carried back into the security of his four walls and the distressed family rallys around him. To me this scene was quite funny.. the fussing , the swooning and over exaggeration of seeing a loved one badly hurt covered in blood.. Viplav is secure in the privacy of his comfort zone with his complete family.. The scene, however contrasts sharply with the four walls of the widows shelter.. where their very existence is challenged as the mob barges and vandalizes their property and terrorizes them.. amusing bit too is when Viplav turns down his families pandering and pampering and almost tells the lot of them off! for over reacting!
Opportune moment for the Tripurari to tour the hivali. His personal offering of bringing Viplav back.. now appears to be a smart move which actually brings him into the private quarters of this mansion, out of which normally he was barred entry! So now Tripurari tastes the splendor of each quarter of the house.. how he spreads his wings like a sharp eyed falcon ,who has spotted it's prey! He plans to hover over this territory.. as the injustice niggles him.. Viplav lives in heaven.. while he rots in the pits of hell! Question is will he soften Viplav's mother's heart into granting him access into the mansion, as a payback to him for saving her son's life??.. it's give and take policy, he and his father believe in it .. his father paid him back for inciting a revolt.. by visiting his mother ,who waits for one look.. of his father.. so now he expects some favour from Kanak, Viplav's mother
Back at the ashram resilience of the widows continues, as they pick up the pieces.. to get on with life as if nothing had happened. Is this resilience part of the teachings of being a widow.. to gather the pieces of one's life and move on?.. but this is perhaps in the worldly practical ways, as shown in tidying up the rumpus ,tending to wounds received in the defensive battle .. but Dhani shows that where the spirit is bruised.. healing takes time.. and her mother consoles her that time is the greatest healer.. as one forgets.. but scarring does happen.. of letting someone's trust down! madam ji's..dhani feels she was given the power to fulfil a job but..she was unable to fulfill the responsibility that she felt she was given with the power..
Mother and daughter talk about the importance of responsibility.. as humans we live in social units, our family ,our community and as such we also have personal, social and moral responsibilities and it's when we realize those responsibilities and commitments to each other that we ensure order or disorder in our lives.. our attitudes have a bearing on who and how we interact with other.. a person who bears responsibility of others and then takes up a stand for others as opposed to one self is considered exemplary.. Dhani is in the making of such a person..she thinks not only for herself ,but the rest of the widows ,
This episode also stands out for me particularly .. for it touches upon the level of value and praise given to children by their elders/guardian when they perform exceptionally.. Dhani gets her encouragement from baddi amma.. However Viplav.. although being rich , blessed by a joint complete family , parents/grand parents.. doesn't get recognition of any kind for his brave feat, instead he gets molly coddled! but then how could poor Viplav be praised?? he went against the rules of his gramps... rule over weaklings not support them!
Badi bau.. was very subtle in her talk with Dhani.. although she praised her Herculean task of facing the frenzied mob.. she also warned her to be careful.. and then casually.. brought in the timely intervention of "that boy".. badi bau's opinion mattered in this place and very soon ,Dhani's mother actually gave him the epithet of being god almighty himself who saved her daughter Dhani still holds a grudge... His watch she spots and picks up is an appropriate prop cvs use as a reminder for Dhani of all the agro viplav gave her ,and that his immature prank caused so much destruction.. of course later on she off loads before her friend Sushma.. that she blames him for all the humiliation and vandalism that the widows suffered today.. it was due to him she couldn't honor the responsibility and the work commitment .. also he will be responsible for the fact if they are not given a job again.. by madam..
On the whole Dhani perseveres and works to fulfill her commitment of remaking all the garlands.. she is honest ,hardworking and devoted to her faith.. seeks pardon for leaving the house without informing the elders where she was heading..
The injection scene injects some comic relief like a court jester does and slyly tongue in cheek jests and talks about the kings weakness in a veiled way.. the injection is also used as a comparison with Viplav's facing the mob.. Where as one is a minor pin prick to grant life.. the other is of greater magnitude as it can end in loss of life!.. the injection also is a means of fighting infection.. that causes damage. Dada ji, injects his false concern into Viplav.. the truth is he wants to deem how much Viplav knows? does he know that his grandfather and brother were behind the attack? The injection is also a probe.. Dada ji also wants to ascertain, the extent of Viplav's involvement in defending the widows? He is concerned perhaps some other parallel group is working against him and have perhaps used Viplav. The devious vile ruling class is anxious about others forming resistance groups against it. Cunningly Dashrant injects questions into Viplav .. to understand his grandson's mind set ,his perception and opinion.. about the attack.. better still to find out if young Viplav thinks like he does?
Viplav's answers are his views about, the treatment of women/widows.. in general.. he clearly denounces women being abused, either verbally or physically ,or emotionally and he justifies his intervention to safeguard her from physical harm by the mad crowd! Who he expresses behaved like insensitive animals released into society from a jungle. He denounces behaviour where humans resort to the law of the jungle! and that to in the name of faith! Dashrant , yet again misuses his authority and impresses upon his grandson.. the world is full of good or bad people.. besides all civilized humans have the primitive and carnal dormant side within themselves.. and sometimes forced by circumstances, humans are forced to face , they have to bring out the insensitive beast within them into action!.. This was a great scene where it is slowly coming to pass, the differing mind sets of the two generations.. Viplav and his dada ji.. I wonder if the old man is having second thoughts as to who will step into his shoes?
Niggling question prompted by today's episode.. will Dhani continue to think of him as a demon of destruction?a all lot has happened. Dhani has to fulfill her task too.. after that will may she mull over his rescue act? and perhaps have a change of heart??.. I for one thought her reaction toward's Viplav is partly justified.. when she looks around her ashram.. the girl needs time.. after all good girl she may be.. but she is human, and smarts too..rakshas created chaos in the lives of the ashram widows " to err is human, to forgive divine"..
Hamlet53 ~ 19.8.15
Anupamaa
