A Toast || The Infuation with Violence

So today's episode has pretty much left me in shock, mixed with a shit load of disgust and disappointment.

I don't know about any of you, but I find it so extremely ironic that the forum was so extremely excited by the precap, because we were under the impression that for once, Shivaay would get the biting reply he deserved, while Annika finally got equal with him for all the crap he has put her through in the recent episodes.

And so while I emotionally prepared myself for what I thought would finally be the return of our lioness, Gul Khan decided to gift us another emotional experience altogether.

What the heck was that episode?

I had to pause the episode a million times in between, so I could calm myself down.

Him throwing her on the bed, grabbing her jaw, fisting her hair - it was one of the most repulsive things I have ever, ever seen on Indian television. And trust, I've watched QH and IPKKND and KKB, and for me, this was on par with some of their most terrible scenes.

It's been made obvious before that the CVs visit the forums, so if there is any chance that the CVs of Ishqbaaaz are reading this, I just have one question for you.

Do you think that violence is attractive?

Many of us have watched GK's other shows, and pretty much, one of the most common denominators between all of them is the use of violence. Violence is used for everything.

To distinguish villains, to glorify male leads, to create sexual tension - Gul Khan seems to be a big fan of force and violence, indeed.

Don't we all remember Khushi's bleeding wrist from Arnav's grip? The gruesome murder of Asad and Zoya? Aahil undoing Sanam's dori just to freak her out in the early episodes?

It's unnerving at best, and downright abusive at the worst decree. And yet, we all avidly watch it in every one of her shows, because come on, we all know that Gul Khan has a bit of a tendency to recycle.

Anyhow, as a woman, I found today's episode to be sickening. I felt terrible for Annika, and I think that this is one of the worst times he could be so violent - because really, this was the peak of her understanding, compassion and trust towards Shivaay. And in one fell swoop, he pretty much destroyed it.

We could have seen an angry Shivaay, I have no issue with that at all. It's in character, and if he wasn't angry, then this whole track would make absolutely no sense. But did they really have to show all that manhandling? Was it really necessary for them to throw in the implied rape references?

What was the point in the whole Mallika track, which was supposed to support the female voice in society, when fifty episodes later, they decide that its perfectly okay for the male lead to forcibly marry the female lead, all the while manhandling the crap out of her?

I'm just so goddamn sick and tired of Indian television showing us so much manhandling, so much violence, and expecting us to condone it, and hell, even better, enjoy it. The worst part?

I think some of us do.

That's terrible, and I wish Gul Khan would finally get the message that showing her male leads throwing around their romantic interests is neither original, nor enjoyable.

He treated her like absolute shit today - and it hurts me to know that she is eventually going to fall in love with this man. That's what always happens with the hate/love pairings, am I right? He saves her from goons, he realises that he's in love with her, he falls ill, he then decides that he's going to tell her he loves her, and then surprise surprise, it turns out she loves him too! They're madly in love with each other, they might even get remarried (because they all have very romantic weddings the first time round, see) and all shittiness is forgiven, because all is fair in love and war.

Is this really what we want to be teaching the new generation?

Why are they condoning violence and abuse? If they are so hellbent on doing so, why bother with all the bullshit about women's rights, and equality?

On another note, the only good thing about this episode was the brilliant acting. Kudos to Nakuul and Surbhi for being so fantastic in their respective roles, and making us hate SSO and empathise with Annika.

However, I'm done with everything right now. I don't think I can bear to watch this week's episodes, because I need some time to mentally prepare myself for all the regressive, misogynistic crap that is going to come out of Ishqbaaaz in the coming weeks.

Let us toast to Gul Khan and her CVs, and their infatuation with violence.

Spot on. Couldn't have said it better myself. It;s disgusting what they are trying to show here. I think I am done with Ishqbaaz now because there is no way I can excuse this sort of abusive behaviour all in the name of "passion". The worst part is I don't think SSO understands what he has actually done.. I want him to imagine if this sort of thing happened to Prinku.. what would he do then??

you exactly penned down my feelungs.. Hats Off!!!

Originally posted by: Innika

So today's episode has pretty much left me in shock, mixed with a shit load of disgust and disappointment.

I don't know about any of you, but I find it so extremely ironic that the forum was so extremely excited by the precap, because we were under the impression that for once, Shivaay would get the biting reply he deserved, while Annika finally got equal with him for all the crap he has put her through in the recent episodes.

And so while I emotionally prepared myself for what I thought would finally be the return of our lioness, Gul Khan decided to gift us another emotional experience altogether.

What the heck was that episode?

I had to pause the episode a million times in between, so I could calm myself down.

Him throwing her on the bed, grabbing her jaw, fisting her hair - it was one of the most repulsive things I have ever, ever seen on Indian television. And trust, I've watched QH and IPKKND and KKB, and for me, this was on par with some of their most terrible scenes.

It's been made obvious before that the CVs visit the forums, so if there is any chance that the CVs of Ishqbaaaz are reading this, I just have one question for you.

Do you think that violence is attractive?

Many of us have watched GK's other shows, and pretty much, one of the most common denominators between all of them is the use of violence. Violence is used for everything.

To distinguish villains, to glorify male leads, to create sexual tension - Gul Khan seems to be a big fan of force and violence, indeed.

Don't we all remember Khushi's bleeding wrist from Arnav's grip? The gruesome murder of Asad and Zoya? Aahil undoing Sanam's dori just to freak her out in the early episodes?

It's unnerving at best, and downright abusive at the worst decree. And yet, we all avidly watch it in every one of her shows, because come on, we all know that Gul Khan has a bit of a tendency to recycle.

Anyhow, as a woman, I found today's episode to be sickening. I felt terrible for Annika, and I think that this is one of the worst times he could be so violent - because really, this was the peak of her understanding, compassion and trust towards Shivaay. And in one fell swoop, he pretty much destroyed it.

We could have seen an angry Shivaay, I have no issue with that at all. It's in character, and if he wasn't angry, then this whole track would make absolutely no sense. But did they really have to show all that manhandling? Was it really necessary for them to throw in the implied rape references?

What was the point in the whole Mallika track, which was supposed to support the female voice in society, when fifty episodes later, they decide that its perfectly okay for the male lead to forcibly marry the female lead, all the while manhandling the crap out of her?

I'm just so goddamn sick and tired of Indian television showing us so much manhandling, so much violence, and expecting us to condone it, and hell, even better, enjoy it. The worst part?

I think some of us do.

That's terrible, and I wish Gul Khan would finally get the message that showing her male leads throwing around their romantic interests is neither original, nor enjoyable.

He treated her like absolute shit today - and it hurts me to know that she is eventually going to fall in love with this man. That's what always happens with the hate/love pairings, am I right? He saves her from goons, he realises that he's in love with her, he falls ill, he then decides that he's going to tell her he loves her, and then surprise surprise, it turns out she loves him too! They're madly in love with each other, they might even get remarried (because they all have very romantic weddings the first time round, see) and all shittiness is forgiven, because all is fair in love and war.

Is this really what we want to be teaching the new generation?

Why are they condoning violence and abuse? If they are so hellbent on doing so, why bother with all the bullshit about women's rights, and equality?

On another note, the only good thing about this episode was the brilliant acting. Kudos to Nakuul and Surbhi for being so fantastic in their respective roles, and making us hate SSO and empathise with Annika.

However, I'm done with everything right now. I don't think I can bear to watch this week's episodes, because I need some time to mentally prepare myself for all the regressive, misogynistic crap that is going to come out of Ishqbaaaz in the coming weeks.

Let us toast to Gul Khan and her CVs, and their infatuation with violence.

Nothing more to say

The thing is even if they do show a redemption track at some point, that does not take away from the fact that he actually used physical force on a woman. This guy keeps prattling on about lineage, family and upbringing, but he doesn't have the basic understanding that it is not cool to physically bully a woman. Domestic violence is a fact and comes from this very mentality that it is somehow okay to raise your hand on your wife. It is not okay.

Awesome post. I agree to everything that you wrote here.

This is such an on-point post! There have been others too on the forum which have raised some very good points: why are such regressive thoughts being packaged as entertainment in today's India?

I used to love the characters and actually thought that Ishqbaaz would be an overall interesting show (looking at some of the early episodes and the technical budget).. but I think I am done.

True love is an intense journey, absolutely! Dramatic sure, but no where abusive.

I don't care whether the production house claims it's all part of a long term track wherein they will eventually try and say that this was not okay - SSO reformation or something on the lines. This episode was NOT OKAY.

The girl slept with someone for money, so? That does not give you the license to manhandle her.

She interfered in something that was not directly her matter? So? That does not give you the right to manhandle her?

She slapped you because of your comment. That slap was not a challenge. It was an absolute refusal.

You could be some form of God himself and a no would still mean a freaking no.

You happened to pen down my feelings the way I felt, exactly. This is not something new nor is it really going away at some point. The fact that we know that Anika will inevitably end up with Shivaay at some point is probably what gets me. For someone who didn't want Daksh to touch her, or at the Sangeet when he stated that "No" means "No"- where was all that today? Where was the man who fought for equality, respect, and consent of women today as he threatened the life of a child, manhandled a woman, threatened to rape her?

Originally posted by: twerping

The thing is even if they do show a redemption track at some point, that does not take away from the fact that he actually used physical force on a woman. This guy keeps prattling on about lineage, family and upbringing, but he doesn't have the basic understanding that it is not cool to physically bully a woman. Domestic violence is a fact and comes from this very mentality that it is somehow okay to raise your hand on your wife. It is not okay.