Dear Starplus,
I left India in early 1990's so the connection to homeland broke a long time ago. Tried Desi channels but the content was not up to the expectations. My generation craved for our own Desi show, something to connect with our roots.
Then came #Ishqbaaaz and though I was warned about the reputation of this production house but who can resist the charm of SSO & Annika. Pinki, Tej, Dadi and Omru made it a joy to watch. Audiences in large numbers used to engage in discussions for hours analyzing Nakuul & Surbhi's performance. Shivika were at par with on-screen couples of BBC dramas. We were one proud family of audience.
Who made this Family?
It was NakuulMehta & SurbhiChandna. The two amazing, sensible, mature people who handled criticism and praise with so much grace are an inspiration not only for the other artists but for all of us. It's not Shivika alone that the audience connected to but it was #NaRbhi.
The creative independence has to be valued & the creative team should be trusted. This is where the audience of Ishqbaaaz Disagree with you. Let me explain.
1)Writing in Ishqbaaaz was a sheer mess just after first forced marriage. Treatment of Annika's character at that time was a major disappointment for many. TRPs did well because audiences were glued to Shivaay & Annika. We still had hope that the writer will do justice to Annika's character.
2)The characters flipped in the show every other day. Pls check with Mahesh Thakur how many times the plot surrounding Senior Oberois changed overnight. It was only Mr. Thakur & Ms. Anand who carried these flips gracefully.
3)How many times Annika's character made no sense at all and was used for plot convenience and we were given a gazillion excuses. It was only Surbhi who made it so endearing and Annika connected with audience like no other female lead before. Surbhi was criticized like crazy for the loop holes in writing, for character flips and not once did she blame the lousy writing or any other team member.
4) Nakuul and Surbhi consistently worked on their characters and whatever be the plot, the screenplay they added their own charm, a unique flavor. The plot made no sense during vanvaas but still the synchronization between the two created magic and we had good TRPs.
5)Mohit track brought writing loop holes out in open and Surbhi was totally sidelined. We still accepted it because Nakuul outdid himself in every single shot. These two have always given space to each other to shine so we waited patiently and the last straw in the hat was PTSD track where Nakuul's performance was superb but the story touched rock bottom because the writer totally and completely failed to address the role of a caregiver. She broke that one single unit, Shivika thinking that audience will accept Shivaay without Annika. The writer has some misguided grudge against Annika's character. Imagine a love story where you systematically cut down a partner, oh the story made no sense. But we were quiet just out of love and respect for Nakuul & Surbhi. Many of us stopped watching by the end of PTSD track for the story was useless, the track was stretched.
6)Since Mohit track, Annika was systematically scrapped by the writer and still the blame for low TRP's at this time was put on Shivika and particularly Annika. What a crying shame!!! How can a writer & production house be so vicious? How can a creative team use pen against the artist & then blame her? How can a channel allow this kind of dirty game?
7) Gul Khan: When audience rejected her idea of leap, Ms. Khan went berserk. She chose the most disrespectful comments and started mocking, abusing and bashing audience. But what about hundreds and hundreds of comments which questioned her judgement in a civil language. This happens only when one doesn't have answers to those hundred questions. Ms. Khan was making up lies & her arguments were invalid based on bogus facts.
8)Harneet: The lady scrapped Annika's character and glorified SSO's character and all this under the guise of creative independence. One after other blunders were committed all for the love of one character, SSO and all other characters were put on a hold for him. HS you are way ahead of all fangirls & your obsession for SSO is at another level. LOL
9) Starplus: Mahesh Thakur, Surbhi Chandna and Shrenu Parikh told the world how unprofessional is production house and how they lack long term vision. Shrenu said that we are mere artists and have no power, it tells a lot yet channel ignored Mr. Thakur, Surbhi and Shrenu. The voice of employees doesn't matter as long as one of the partners (Gul) is on your side.
I am very disappointed with the channel. Viewers are requesting the channel to respect the legacy, respect the artist, protect the female artist, stop power abuse but it's falling on deaf ears.
I am very offended by the way the channel & PH treated audience here. We have young audiences who get very emotional & at times are not as civil as one would like them to be but Ms. Khan addressed only the impolite ones and labeled the entire audience as hormonal and what not. It makes one wonder if creativity is synonymous to arrogance or power abuse. The audience all across globe trended so that their grievances can be heard and not once did channel acknowledge them and this demonstrates lack of professionalism and accountability.
We as audience feel let down & for many of us that one desi show that we liked, that connected us to fellow audiences& artists in India with whom we share our roots, is all broken.
Will I trust Starplus, again after this ordeal?
I doubt it.
Rachna Goswami
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
