Posted:
Today's episode has brought us to the real meat of Shivaay and Anika's track, the one that this specific couple's USP always promised. For once, I am hopeful that though SSO is a Gul Khan hero, there is a chance...maybe a SLIGHT chance--that in this one, the hero will have a redemption track equal to his "crimes"-- but honestly, Gul will have to be a genius to get him, and Anika out of this one.
So what makes me worried? Ladies, its the exact wrong thing to be worried about--the hero and the heroine are both right. Shivaay Singh Oberoi's crime is that he is an arrogant ass, with a bee in his bonnet about khoon khandaan parivaar, but other than that, he is a pretty nice guy. And his issue is a totally sensible view for a man who's business, class and society will not accept Anika. And Anika is not someone who will change. I think we should not underestimate how little she cares for people's views about her, when it took her less than a second to destroy her "izzat" for a friend/ex boss--she literally could not give a damn. And no matter how much they are equal internally, on the outside, Shivaay needs a Janvi, not a Pinky, in his life. Again, he is right, his own mother has revealed what being a Pinky in the Oberoi family has done to her. Why should he marry Anika and make her (and himself) miserable?
So what makes me worried? Ladies, its the exact wrong thing to be worried about--the hero and the heroine are both right. Shivaay Singh Oberoi's crime is that he is an arrogant ass, with a bee in his bonnet about khoon khandaan parivaar, but other than that, he is a pretty nice guy. And his issue is a totally sensible view for a man who's business, class and society will not accept Anika. And Anika is not someone who will change. I think we should not underestimate how little she cares for people's views about her, when it took her less than a second to destroy her "izzat" for a friend/ex boss--she literally could not give a damn. And no matter how much they are equal internally, on the outside, Shivaay needs a Janvi, not a Pinky, in his life. Again, he is right, his own mother has revealed what being a Pinky in the Oberoi family has done to her. Why should he marry Anika and make her (and himself) miserable?
If you look at Gul's past heros, you will agree with me that Shivaay's actions are not just acceptable, they are nothing compared to her other heros, who were horrible people. ASR from IPPKND was such a cruel man, he married Khushi literally so he could torture her. Barun is the only actor I know off who could humanize the character he played. Even the biggest fan of that show STILL cannot tell you-- what the hell Khushi did that finally made ASR fall in love with her. There was no real growth between them as a couple, and as for being equals in marriage or life? ASR and Khushi? Please...
I don't want to write an essay here, but the other Gul heros? Lets take a quick look. One married the pregnant wife of his brother, and because of his temper, put her life in danger constantly. Sahir from Hunsafars hates his heroine and deliberately sets out to make her fall in love with him because she talks back a lot, while he is married. And the less said about the disdain, misogyny and shaming Zoya faced from Asad, the better. My point is, on any medium other than a Hindi soap, these men would be anti-heros, maybe out and out irredeemable. And so, redemption let the women come back and "fix" them.
In contrast, what has Shivaay done?
He has NOT led Anika on, first thing. He did not seek her out, or harass her. Its not his fault they are attracted to each other, he's fought that attraction like its his full time job. He has been upfront about the Tia shaped problem in his life. He has fallen hard, but not once has he invaded her space or her person to do haq jataana. He was drugged and drunk the two times when he expressed what he felt. First time they both decided to never talk about it, and today, he tried to apologize for the second. He finds her beautiful but he wont make her uncomfortable, nor is he physically intimidating, he doesn't hate women, he has had healthy relationships with people, all his life. For a Gul hero, the man is a saint.
I don't want to write an essay here, but the other Gul heros? Lets take a quick look. One married the pregnant wife of his brother, and because of his temper, put her life in danger constantly. Sahir from Hunsafars hates his heroine and deliberately sets out to make her fall in love with him because she talks back a lot, while he is married. And the less said about the disdain, misogyny and shaming Zoya faced from Asad, the better. My point is, on any medium other than a Hindi soap, these men would be anti-heros, maybe out and out irredeemable. And so, redemption let the women come back and "fix" them.
In contrast, what has Shivaay done?
He has NOT led Anika on, first thing. He did not seek her out, or harass her. Its not his fault they are attracted to each other, he's fought that attraction like its his full time job. He has been upfront about the Tia shaped problem in his life. He has fallen hard, but not once has he invaded her space or her person to do haq jataana. He was drugged and drunk the two times when he expressed what he felt. First time they both decided to never talk about it, and today, he tried to apologize for the second. He finds her beautiful but he wont make her uncomfortable, nor is he physically intimidating, he doesn't hate women, he has had healthy relationships with people, all his life. For a Gul hero, the man is a saint.
His beliefs, on the other hand--they are not of the "gold digger, low aukaat" crap we know by heart. He really is regretful that such a great, smart, funny, beautiful, kind girl has such bad blood. He's not wrong, here. He truly feels bad that there is a lakeer--he doesn't gloat, he is stating facts, and not even that often, because its like an embarrassing detail about your friend you don't mention. This for me is why I am worried Gul wont be able to transition them into a love story--why should he change his mind for her? Just because he finds her attractive? He isn't an uncontrollable guy who takes decisions without thinking-- he is the most deliberate hero I have seen. And because he is so "dimaagi" he actually likes her-- his opinion about her is not a bad one, he likes, respects and even trusts her. Her blood, on the other hand--its JUST not good enough and nothing she OR he can do, will change that. Pasand hai, bohut pasand hai, dusro se alag bhi hai, per class nahi hai. And if he somehow marries her, she will be forever trying to make up for her blood--and never being able to fix what is wrong in her.
Its easier when the hero is clearly in the wrong. Its easier when its just a cruel mentality, or misunderstandings that are the issues, these things can be fixed. How do you fix blood? Since starting from Geet, moving to Khushi, staying on course with Zoya/Arzoo and finally now with Anika, Gul has given her heroines bigger and bigger obstacles, and they have overcome those, to get their man. Geet's inconvenient baby disappeared, Khushi went to a makeover show, Zoya turned out to be immortal --but now she has given a problem to Anika that is literally impossible to fix.
He will lose her, she will walk away...but Gul...how will you justify bringing her back?
He will lose her, she will walk away...but Gul...how will you justify bringing her back?
Book Talk
Anupamaa
