Contents of the Scrap Book -The Prem Bible edited

Prem Drunken Scene

"Dil jude bina hi tut gaye, hath mile bina hi chhut gaye, Ki likhe ne lekh kismet ne…" That summed up Prem's disbelief, shock and grief that Heer's acceptance of culpability for the disgraceful crime. His journey with Heer had only begun; how could it end right now and in such a way? Heer's seeming betrayal had devastated Prem's life; the one woman he had ever put on a pedestal had staged her own fall and that was something Prem could not bear. Initially infuriated at the lies Heer was voicing out in front of the police, Prem could not help but shout out his frustration and perplexity at Heer. Heer's words were mincing up the depths of his heart and his eyes aptly portrayed the anguish that Prem was experiencing, helplessly watching Heer being taken by the police. Harshad's eyes delivered one of the most effective, piercing looks that literally pricked on the observer with so many questions locked inside. Prem was raging inside, conveying intense, knowing looks to Heer. His eyes revealed a painful confusion between trusting her words or believing in her eyes that spoke of a different truth.

The Heer that he had been looking for all his life in the glowing reflections of the moon and the resounding echoes of his music had left him astounded today. She had put forth an image of herself that Prem was just not ready to believe. But, circumstances created their own path and left Prem baffled and helpless. Time did not give Prem any chance to evaluate the situation, nor did it let him get to the bottom of the convoluted lies Heer was voicing out. Instead, Prem was left furious and appalled all alone. We were taken aback initially seeing the ideal Prem take to drinking to drown out his sorrow. But, in retrospect, Prem's intoxication simply showed his humane side; constantly expecting a person to be ideal is like putting him up on a pedestal just waiting for him to fall. Prem was human, after all, so it was not that surprising to see him drinking away his grief. Even this seemingly self-centered behavior showed glimpses of his supreme character. We couldn't help but think that Prem's intoxication was a function of his nature to inflict himself with pain rather than lashing out on someone else. Prem could have easily went and engaged in petty fights with people, but that wouldn't have been our Prem anymore.

Instead, Harshad Chopda excelled in this solo performance of a man who is haunted by the past moments he spent with Heer and her betrayal that was being hurled on his face. With each gulp of alcohol, which was really intended to forget the duplicity of Heer, Prem's heart could only recall his time with Heer more and more. With each tipping of intoxication, Prem could only remember the honesty, naivete, and integrity that Heer's eyes had exuded in front of him. The simple, innocent look of a child that Harshad portrayed when he saw Heer's illusion in the water and looked up to see no one by him, was heart-rendering. It seemed like a little child was hoping again hope for someone to tell him that it was all a nightmare and nothing bad had happened. Harshad captured this innocence beautifully that it left me speechless. How could Prem's eyes have misjudged someone so greatly? How could his Heer ever think of being double-faced in front of him? Why did his heart still believe in a different take on the situation? The questions were endless; Prem's anguish was mounting. The fury took over impeccably in Harshad's eyes as all that was humanly left for him to do was to hurt himself even more. Perhaps, the pain of pricking glass would engulf his trauma of disbelief. Prem breaks the bottle and clasps the glass in his fist, thrusting the glass in his fist with all his might. The last cry towards the heavens said it all:

Why did she do it?! A simple "why!" For all the questions in his heart that could not be put into words, he cried out "Why?!", almost demanding the heavens to answer him. Prem could not believe his Heer could be wrong, and he almost harbored hope that the heavens would provide some reassurance. In the midst of his anger and sorrow, Heer's words had resounded in his ears. Something that had before evaded his attention now sounded quite significant: the infamous right drawer that supposedly stored the red diary. A tipsy Prem had to find out what Heer was talking about; with all his might, Prem somehow managed to reach his office, only to find no drawers there. Heer's lie had been caught. Heer's taking upon the blame on herself had been duly recognized. Prem's uncertain faith in Heer's integrity had turned into full-fledged conviction. Sure, Prem had wavered in his belief in Heer, but he was human after all. But, the Prem was now hell-bent on getting his Heer out of jail and for that, he was prepared to move heaven and earth together. Heer had, after all, challenged his own junoon for her, by placing his well-being above hers. The Prem could not falter now. He was ready now, at the very least, to get his love out of harm's way.

Premeer Jail Scene:

After exclaiming to the police that Heer could never have been involved in a prostitution ring, Prem was left feeling betrayed by someone he trusted more than himself. Baffled and furious, Prem could never think of lashing out his frustration on anyone but himself. He did just that. The intoxication was supposed to drown out the agony of betrayal but his heart didn't let it. The seed of disbelief at Heer having deceived him finally bloomed into a positive conviction that she had lied. His Heer, had in fact, showed the same loyalty and passion he harbored for her. He had a much more beautiful name for it: "junoon." Heer had challenged Prem's junoon to match hers and he did not falter. He could move heaven and earth to protect Heer and he intended to go to the greatest lengths to do just that. But, Prem had to go see her once, more so to make known his faith in her than to question her faade of betrayal.

As Prem enters the jailhouse, a dejected Heer is stunned to see Prem there and manages to mouth out a subtle "Prem". Harshad Chopda's intense portrayal of his fiery love and faith complemented Additi Gupta's restrained, poignant performance remarkably. Separated by the bars of prison, yet connected by a strange bond, Prem and Heer expressed their vulnerability for each other immaculately. Placing her hand on the bars, Heer had subconsciously reached out towards Prem, masking her hope that Prem would recognize her truth. Prem returned the advance, and his hands reached hers, clasping them tightly as a sign on his unwavering support. Harshad and Additi's hands have always been a treat to watch, more so because they speak a language of their own. The grace, passion, and silent solidarity they portray together are truly unmatched. Their intertwined hands are such that it is difficult to distinguish whose are placed where; amusingly, even the hands on screen are depicting the "we are one" belief the characters of Prem and Heer are known for. The jail scene was one of the first where the effect of the hands was captured so well. Consistent with the feel and aura of the scene, Prem's hands reaching and clasping Heer's hands across bars was exhilarating. The unity of hands, coupled with the intense, knowing looks that were exchanged only enhanced the pain-staking performance.

Prem had understood that his heart was not wrong in believing in Heer and he intended to show her just that. More than anything, Prem's words exuded bewilderment at Heer for having underestimated his trust in her. Did Heer truly think that Prem would not give his all to save Heer, especially after she had tried to be his savior? Prem and Heer were born to be one; so it was no surprise that the short time that he had actually known her was enough to understand her deepest emotions. Hailing from a small town, Heer had silently endured the torments life had inflicted on her, weeping only in front of the divine being, she considered her lonesome own. Prem had understood Heer as a captive of grief from the first time he had saw her and was inexplicably drawn towards her. He had learned to trust the honesty in her eyes more than the hesitant falsities she sometimes spoke. His logic was sound. How could a girl, so drowned in her own tribulations, even think of waging people for money? Harshad had echoed these sentiments of Prem in such a heartbreaking manner, that the excruciating pain and longing that his face conveyed surpassed his words. Likewise, Additi had delivered the somber, innocent portrayal of a girl whose pretense had just been unveiled, endearingly.

Each of Prem's accusatory questions demanding why Heer had taken upon defamation on herself was a blow to her heart. She couldn't look into his eyes but she silently hoped he would understand her faade. The Prem, of course, did understand her more than words could explain. Additi had excelled in expressing the unique blend of hope, sincerity, and puzzlement in Heer's eyes. How could Prem know that behind her eyes, a sad girl cried? How could he know that she hurt so much inside? How could a man who didn't get affected by girls swooning around him merely see the eyes of a stranger and know that she was carrying the weight of the world? Simply because this was truly the essence of Prem's love for Heer. He hadn't voiced out his love yet, he may not even have acknowledged it himself, but somewhere in his heart, he just knew. He understood her silence more than her words, perhaps because it was only her silence that epitomized her whole truth. For now, the nameless bond he shared with her could not allow his heart to see her eyes cry. For Prem, Heer's tears were far more precious than his own, belonging to him, to keep as a sign to restore only bliss to her life. Harshad's candid portrayal of the value that rightfully needs to be placed on even tears of people we love was strikingly respectable. It did matter that it was his Heer, whose sorrow he was driven to take away by all means; but, somewhere in the darkness of the jail, Harshad Chopda illuminated and elevated the character of Prem, who understood a stranger's unspoken proclamations of integrity and silently vowed to detach her bond with tears.

The Prem confession scene (May 27-28) was undoubtedly one of the finest ever crafted on screen. In our opinion, while the script and direction requires applaud, the real champion that ignited the screen was the delivery of the actors' emotive expressions and both silent and outspoken passion. Whether Harshad knows it or not, his performances, especially in passionate scenes, are inimitable and unsurpassed to any. We are not sure how he actually does it, but there almost seems to be a natural drive in him that just takes over his acting in these scenes. The result leaves us speechless. At the end of the day, we as an audience, are shooting in the dark with our interpretations of a scene. But, it's a huge feat for any actor that the audience is urged to analyze such intricate expressions by him and we admit that we are one of those. He literally compel us not only to elevate the strength and sincerity of Prem that he portrays, but leave us spellbound as to how a mere actor could evoke us to believe the "lasting love" that he effortlessly portrays.

There's certainly nothing uncommon about love stories on Indian television and there's nothing uncommon about actors portraying those love stories. Yet, the audience finds this love story exceptional. It may be because of the honesty and modesty with which HC delivers his performances or it may be because he is just especially skilled at his craft. Whatever may be the reason, it is the impact of certain emotions, expressions or dialogue delivery that enhances the aura and conviction of the scene; he manages to amaze us by simply excelling in them. The start of the confession saw concerned Prem stubbornly trying to tell Heer about the supposed dubious nature of Manmeet. While Prem's so stubborn about sticking up for something with all conviction, how can his Heer be any less stubborn for acting in a way that she presumes right? No wonder they're a match made in heaven. Their stubbornness surely makes them so. The mobility of his expressions going from being concerned to giving Heer explanations to literally forcing Heer to listen to him back and forth was amazing.

HC has a knack for shifting between emotions so quickly, frequently and gracefully that they just flow. This scene shed light on a completely different part of Prem and Heer. The usually mellow Prem who lets few people close to him and is known to keep his emotions to him, whether bliss or woe, is seen pouring out passion, concern, and frustration in front of Heer, someone who the world would consider slightly more than a stranger to him. But his eyes see different; his heart sees different. "Naadan hai woh kehte hai jo mere liye tum ho gair"- that sums up the connection that Prem and Heer have always shared. The world doesn't know it, they didn't admit it, but they just knew. She was who Prem had been searching for all his life and he was what she had been searching for. Prem tries hard to cloak his love under his words, all throughout telling Heer that all he wants is her happiness. It's a strange feeling to be talking to the love of your life and convince her as well as yourself that you'll be happy seeing her with someone else. It's another thing that he fails miserably to convince her or himself. His seething eyes when he let it spill that he can't see his love with someone else and that it won't give you any happiness, were so captivating that we have never seen anything like this on screen before. His eyes are magical; they were made for passionate performances; they dictate all the audience's heartbeats.

Prem's rage at his own helplessness to not be able to unveil his love in front of Heer was commendable. Prem tried hard to keep truth under wraps but love gave in; it had to, when has Prem's heart not bowed down in front of Heer? There was nothing different this time. Heer's urges for explanations- explanations for why he gifted her the dress, explanations for why he was intruding in her life, explanations for her own dilemma of not understanding the bond she shared with him- they were all hounding on Prem with Heer's each tug on his suit.

The audience was thrilled Prem had the guts to exclaim his love; little did we know we were just going to get blown away even more. The most amazing thing about his acting that he has showed till now in our eyes are the shifts in emotions. Prem's piercing rage and frustration were in stark contrast to his soft, warm revelations of the depths of his love and you coupled them flawlessly. With an effortless conviction, HC shifted back and forth his emotions, taking the audience on a swinging ride with him every step of the way. Heartbeats rose, heartbeats fell as he voiced out as much as he could possibly put into words about Prem's love.

His voice modulation should get its own commendation. We are complete novices at voice modulation but we can imagine it's difficult to achieve the perfection with which he delivered his dialogues. The highs and lows of your voice matching so perfectly to each and every emotion at exactly the right time is unparalleled. Inches away from the love of your life, helpless at not being able to stop her from marrying someone else, but confident that he could never let her ruin her life, his monologue was marked by the famous "main bhagwaan nahi hoon" assertion. In retrospect, there was nothing extraordinary about that line except for the perfection that he instilled in it. His ever-so-graceful-yet-manly hands in her hands, eyes filled with a love never seen before, he lit the screen up with each subsequent exclamation about Prem's painstaking awareness about all that he feels for Heer and all that he is likely going to lose. Admissions about seeing his love happy are given by many people, but Prem made the audience believe in it all- the love, the pain, the tragedy of knowing you're not going to get the bliss of someone you hold most dear to your heart. The childlike innocence with which HC/Prem defined true love was refreshing.
The way he continually kept referencing to Heer's happiness that he holds above anything in the world were poignant. "Agar tumhari aankhon se ek aansoon nikhla, ek bhi aansoon, to mein is duniya ko aag laga dunga"- We distinctly remember this dialogue for the simple reason that Prem's well known for his many references to fire- We think Prem's the only pyromaniac actor who's used so many fire references, from "aag laga dunga" to the later "mandap jala dunga" and "jala ke raakh kar dunga sab kuch" in the later wedding episodes. We personally find these references cute and amusing. Putting aside your words, the silent language that you and Additi share is always refreshing to watch. Even as Heer withdrew away from Prem, it was Prem's immediate knowing look that Heer saw his ring that was really endearing.

These might all seem like trivial things that we notice, but these trivial things add luminosity and reality to a character and we hope we always get to see them. HC showed misery very convincingly- perhaps, that's why Prem and Heer turning away from each other was so much more heartbreaking to watch. It's always a mystery how he manages to show misery so perfectly, how he face manages to turn cherry red when he cries a lot, or how he left us wondering at what exactly enables him to bring out tragic emotions without effort

The characters of Prem and Heer have epitomized the most undemanding, pure love that few are capable of perfecting on screen. It was the simplest, primitive affection that was portrayed, with two people just nudging each other's faces, but that in itself said it all. Nothing else was necessary. That was true honesty and warmth that the audience fell in love with. We can't help but think that the dialogues might have sounded cheesy or fake if it was any other actor; but Harshad instilled the credence needed in that performance. The impact of Prem's "mein bhagwaan nahi hoon" attitude, while he still attempts to be nothing less than divine for his love, has literally led to a large audience rechristening you with the name "The Prem." A large facet of the Indian global community most likely wishes for a similar ideal Prem in their lives too; He has enthralled them so much. People will long remember that Harshad Chopda instilled life in the inimitable character of Prem and made it reach the highest pedestal. Women adore you and men most likely will spite you for raising the bar so high for love and passion. Jokes aside, Congratulations Mr. Chopda! We hopy/pray that he Never loses the spark and the certainty and finesse with which he makes every scene convincing for the audience.

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THE 18^TH JUNE EPISODE.

the scene of Prem standing up for Heer saw yet another one of HC's breathtaking performances. If there was any doubt about his performance execution skills, he silenced it all. The audience saw a fiery, passionate lover standing up for his other half in front of the world without any hesitation. Prem was in denial mode till now, thinking everything would work out if he sacrificed his own happiness to marry someone else as long as Heer would face no wrong. But all those (un)reasonable and (il)logical thoughts were left far behind in the turn of events that put Prem's love to test. His Heer was getting defamed in front of his eyes and the world's, and his choice of action would ultimately determine his character. He was victorious. In front of the whole world, Prem vowed to protect his Heer and challenged anyone to come defy him. Evil (Daljeet) made a huge mistake in thinking love would quietly suffer her treachery. After all, how could the ideal Prem do anything less than what he did to stand up for his love? Yes, it was drama at the core. But, Harshad, made it memorable. It's again a mystery how Heer managed to fall so evenly in his arms or how he so effortlessly managed to catch at a surprisingly realistic position, that it seemed neither cheesy (which would be straight on your chest) nor fake (which would be "the Prem" let her fall and didn't catch her)?

Anyway, that was a strange comment but we always wanted to know how many retakes that took. His rage and fury truly were the cherry on top of the cake in that scene. Prem was scorned and HC voiced out all his disdain against evil beautifully. It was actually thrilling to see Prem holding on to Heer, with audacious threats to any and everyone to go against Heer.

His pyromania resurfaced again as his threats were culminated into references to fire, from his burning the world to destroying everything. He is very aggressive in his anger, and that does indeed add tenacity and strength to his performance, but it was admirable as to how Prem managed to be that threatening and aggressive, while still keeping Heer intact in your arms with the subtle vulnerability towards her. The charm of Prem in that scene came from your ability to complement your anger with your warmth towards Heer, to complement your threats to the world to words of love to Heer. The surprise for the audience in this scene came from the transformation of silent brooding Prem to physically threatening to destroy anything that comes in his Heer's way.

It's true, passion and anger bring out the best in Prem and only Heer manages to bring about this sort of intensity in Prem that HC so flawlessly depicts. Towards the end, it was especially cute to see that Prem might have been protecting Heer in the face of adversity, but never did he turn into an overpowering man, too conceited to console his love. The scene may have been totally filmy, but the audience loved it, essentially in part because it kept the essence of the character of Prem alive. After all, this is what Prem had promised to do. This passion was, in fact, what he had voiced out as his "wafa" a long time ago to Heer. He had said in all simplicity that life for him is loyalty. "Mere dil mein jo wafa hai woh kuch aisi hai jiske liye mein koi bhi rishta tod ke nikal sakta hoon." That was an enchanting declaration of love he made, and today his words were put to test. It was tragic that he had to choose between his father and his love but the character of Prem is such that all his assurances and convictions about his love for Heer would have seemed empty if he had not stood by her, even if it meant going against the one man he considered divine. We've said it before, HC shows misery exceptionally well; torn between the portrayal of a child dreading the thought of going away from his father and the realization of a man that his heart would never allow him to leave Heer alone, his expressions were truly praiseworthy.

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HC'S Performance-Heer Dies (Dream sequence)

Of our most favourite, most memorable Prem scenes, the one that we were treated with, on the 23rd July holds its own coin in our Prem bank. It was yet another acer by Harshad as he demonstrated the trauma a man-in-love takes on, as he comes face to face with the dead body of the only girl he has loved all his life. His performance left Prem followers speechless, so much so that they even forgot that this was supposed to be a death scene but relished it for the beauty of the performance that came their way. Thus, we present a fans take on not just his performance in this scene but also on how we traced Prem's character after this scene.

Upon first seeing Prem just sitting there starring at a pic of Heer, we were appalled that he wasn't still frantically looking for her. How can he just sit like that when his Heer is missing?!?! That's not Prem at all...not one bit! The Prem would be on his feet fighting against all odds to get to her....so what is he doing just sitting there talking to her picture?!?! He looked mad though...royally pissed off at her for leaving him.

When the doc told him he looked everywhere for Heer, but to no avail, this non-The-Prem looked as though he'd given up...he looked defeated...and very very confused. We didn't like it one bit.

But then, he looks at the picture one more time and then looks up at the heavens, asking God why he was doing this, and where he had hid his Heer.

Loved the scene of Prem before the wire dhagah trying structure...he walked up to it slowly, pain written across his face, and kneeled down in front of it. He looked at the dhagah they had tied...the small piece of yarn that encompassed their hopes, wishes, dreams...promises, that he and his Heer had made to one another. He looks at the dhagah with pain and confusion...and then again, looks up at the heavens as if to ask "What about these mannats? What about our promises?"
And then, he remembers Heer's words..."tumhara chehra apni aankhon mein utaar rahi hoon, hamesha ke liye"...and he realizes, that she told him she was leaving him...and then it hits him...she was deliberately trying to leave him...

...and just like that, The Prem was back! He shot up and ran...ran to go find her....he had to find her...he wouldn't let her just walk away from him like that....how dare she try?

The rest of HC's performance today was too good to be true...he was BRILLIANT!

The cop comes and tells him he's found the girl from the picture....immediately, Prem's face is glowing again...he's relieved, smiling...and then, the cop says: she's over there...the third one from the left, with the white sheet over her.

Prem responds with an adamant, no, you're wrong, that can't be her...it may look like her, but that cannot be her. We just loved it. Instantaneously, the gleam in his eyes fades, and he gets mad...mad at the doctor thats trying to pronounce his Heer dead. How dare he say that as if this was some kind of a joke. "No - you're very wrong. Thats not her."

And then, he's faced with the possibility that maybe it is her. This is the same possibility that Gayatri mom was faced with...and it was written all over Prem's face, that it was a possibility that he refused to beleive to be true.

Non-the-less, he slowly walks up to the stretcher with a somber look of confusion, denial and disbelief playing across his face. Once at the foot of the stretcher, he attempts to pull himself together...calm the intense fear that is slowly increasing within him causing a knot in his stomach and a lump in his throat. As he kneels, it occurs to him..."what if?"....

Those two words intensified his fears two-fold....as he slowly reached for the sheet, his entire body was literally shaking...his heart refusing to accept...his mind nagging at him of the possibility....an array of emotions flashing across his face, all at the same time....

HC is incomparable. Prem's emotions were portrayed so brilliantly....fear, disbelief, denial, confusion, pain, anger.

Finally, Prem is able to work up the courage and he grabs the sheet in his hand, shaking worse than before, not able to calm his worst fears....not ready to face it the possibility, not ready to even accept the small chance that this could be his Heer, he averts his eyes, tries to compose himself, and then again, looks up at the heavens, and says a silent prayer...
Even as he's pulling the sheet back, he can't bring himself to look....he peeks out of the corner of his eye as he pulls the sheet completely off of her head, before looking down completely.

He stares in bewilderment...disbelief....confusion...takes her face in his hands...and as the reality of it all registers, lets out a desperate, agonizing plea..."nahi…no...please no". The different entonations in Prem's voice during the scene were perfect…HC changed his voice along with the emotions…the agony of the plea, the forceful anger, and even the child-like reassurance that Lallu had forgiven them…HC's voice gave a performance of its own today…

The perfection with which he delivered the "prem learnes of heer's death" scene was unbelievable.

A mixture of excruciating pain and anger...the pain of having lost her...and anger towards her for having left him. It was heartwrenching to see...needless to say I was weeping with him. He talked to her calmly, trying to understand why...and then yelled at her with roaring anger for leaving him..."mera haq kaise cheen liya tumne?" This is our relationship...I have a say in it too...how could you just take it upon yourself to leave me like this? How can you just break your promise?

We were upset at Lallu for coming and disturbing his moment with Heer...very upset...and what is this? He's saying "Prem?" so nonchalantly...again, so passively.

And with Lallu's appearance, Prem's pain and anger subsides...as he goes full on to stage # 2 of "after the death of a loved one"....shock and denial. He refuses to believe Heer is dead. Demands her to get up and take bauji's aashirwaad....when she still doesn't get up, he promises her that bauji's not mad anymore, he's forgiven her...he's come to get her. "Nothing's happen to her...she's afraid of you, thats why she's not getting up. Heer get up! Why aren't you listening to me?!? Get up!" It was heartbreaking to see Prem like this....so very painful to watch. After all his coaxing, when she still doesn't get up, he goes to Lallu and pleads for him to go, go and tell Heer you forgive her so she'll get up....it was almost childlike...as if his favorite toy had broken....it was so hurtful to watch...

When his Heer still doesn't get up, he lifts the sheet off of her, picks her up, and goes and places her at Ullu's feet so that she can take aashirwaad (We were irritated that he would just lay her down on the dirty pebble covered ground like that - but thats neither here nor there)....as he carried her, it occurred to me - how appropriate that he's wearing white...to mourn her death....

He places Heer at Lallu's feet and askes her to take aashirwaad over and over...and when she still doesn't obide by him, he plays the guilt card...maybe if I make her feel guilty for making me leave my family, she'll get up and do as I say....not only that, but he's angry...angry with her for leaving him...I left everything near and dear to me for you...how can you leave me?

And then, his anger turns from Heer, to the Almighty...to his Kismat. "I'm being punished. I'm being punished for my sins." For those of you who were confused with Prem's words here, let me remind you that he is in shock...he doesn't know what he's saying, he's not thinking before he speaks. Of course he doesn't really think he's made a mistake in leaving everything behind for Heer...its the pain and anger talking.


Prem's expression throughout was perfect...confusion upon learning the truth...hurt at the realization that somewhere, somehow, injustice was done towards his Heer...and their love....and then the pain that came rushing back with the realization that she was gone...

He kneels down and looks at her face, as if seeing it for the first time in a new light. This was her...this was the girl he was destined to be with all along...this was the girl his father had chosen for him. Finally it hits him...this means, he wasn't wrong...his love wasn't wrong.

And then, for the first time,we heard Lallu say something that wasn't self-centered. "meri ye ek galati ki wajay se teri poori zindagi galat ho gayi...." WOW. Breakthrough. Finally....its about time!

With Lallu's confession, and realization of his mistake to Prem, things become clear for Prem in what he must do. He was never wrong in loving and "being" with Heer. He was always supposed to "be" with her. And that's just what he intended to do. His actions now, would serve two purposes...he would be with his Heer...and his father would be punished for his actions (though Prem wasn't thinking along the lines of the latter at all...how do we know? oh come on...its Perfect Prem...need we say more?)

He stands up, Heer in his arms...and oh my god, did we see a look of defiance in his face? He looked at Lallu with complete defiance....almost as if saying "You brought this upon yourself...don't try to stop me...I know what I have to do." And without a word, he turns away from Lallu, and walks away, his Heer in his arms...

.

We LOVED THAT SCENE! It put us at ease. We felt at peace. It was as if he was no longer in pain over her death...he knew what he had to do, and he intended to do just that....he had to fulfill his promise to Heer....his promise that they would always "be". Now Prem could be with his Heer without worrying about having gone against Lallu's wishes. Now, they could be together, guilt free. Now, they could simply "be"...without the weight of his families unhappiness and disapproval on their shoulders.

Now, he could fulfill his promise to Heer without worrying about anything or anyone else.

As he walked away and to a cliff (that came out of no where?) we couldn't figure out if he was just talking to the air or if Lallu was really there, listening. It seemed us though, that Lallu didn't get there til a bit later, with the family in tow...hmm...

"You said yourself, bauji...that Heer was made for me...we were destined to be together always...so, I have to go with her. How can I just let her go alone? She couldn't live without me...how can she die without me? We lived together...so we'll die together too..."

It was a beautiful monologue...I...Prem had a beautiful, serene look on his face...as if he no longer had a care in the world...he was going to be with his Heer...finally, they could love, and be, happily.

"Varna Heer uss duniya mein jaa kar uss duniya ki nahi ho paayegi...aur main, iss duniya mein reh kar, iss duniya ka nahi ho paaounga"...because Premeer are one...two bodies, one soul...so how could her soul go and his stay here? No...they had to go together....otherwise, they would always be incomplete.

When Lallu and the family did show up, as Lallu tried and tried to stop him, we had to smile at the speculative look on Prem's face...almost as if he was enjoying Lallu ask him to stop. Perhaps he was savoring the words..."Prem, ruk ja"....words he would have liked to hear the day he left the house with Heer/Meher in tow...as if he was thinking "you didn't stop me then bauji..when you easily could have....now when you want to stop me, there's no way you can...I"m not turning back...not turning my back on Heer....she didn't turn her back on me then...I won't turn my back on her now."

It was beautiful..."zindagi ne sahi imtehaan liya...magar maut haar jaayegi"....

"Alvida bauji"....alvida....this time, with a smile on his face...this time, without the pain of parting from his "bhagwan"....and alas the screen freezes.

The episode was beautiful....especially The Prem's brilliant monologue at the end....need we mention how beautiful HC looked while delivering that dialogue? Loved the look of happy serenity on his face...love the fact that at last, he looked content...

HC's performance that day was incomparable….par excellence. Its hard to believe he is still somewhat a novice as he delivers performances with the finesse of a veteran. The way he displayed a wide aray of emotions one after another within a matter of seconds was mind-boggling…it makes me wonder where he finds the connection within himself to emote the way he does.
highlight of the episode: the mobility and shift of expressions on prem's face when laluchacha finally tells prem who heer is. in the space of a set of heartbeats, prem had gone through
intense disbelief ("that is heer lying dead on the ground??!") to
intense betrayal ("you are the one who said we make our relationship. and yet you didn't even ask me once before you decided to leave? you stole my right from me???") to
intense anger ("kyun kiya tumne aisa!!!" bringing back memories when heer had confused him about using prostitution to make money) to
intense hope ("look! bauji is here to take us home. he is not angry - he has forgiven us!" because of course that will matter to heer as much as it mattered to him) to
intense prayer to his father as if his "god" can help bring heer back ("she is scared that's why she is just lying there" ) laying his precious heer at laluchacha's feet, back to
intense self-hatred ("i betrayed my parents for this stranger. this is my punishment. this (harsh fingers stabbing towards heer's prone body) is my fitting punishment!")

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Maa. Kehte hai bhagwan har jaga nahi ho sakta iss liye usne maa ko banaya; maa ki charano mein swarg hota hai; maa ke aanchal tale har dard mit jaata hai. Duniya mein sab se pavitra rishta hota hai ek maa ka, apne bete ke saath.

These are all clich's and so we tend to brush them aside without a second thought. However, if we take a moment to ponder them, we realize the gravity of the truth in them. We realize that this relationship, one between a mother and her child, is indeed, the purest of all, a bond, that surpasses all others, an unconditional love, that knows no bounds. It is the one relationship that we all share the same sentiment on…the one relationship that we can all agree on, in the fact that it encompasses the entire world.

It is this same, pure, relationship that Prem shares with his mother, Gayatri. It was evident from the first time we saw Gayatri's pain as she watched her son endure an injury during the football match. It was evident in the first time we saw the two interact on March 13^th when Gayatri told Prem that he couldn't tell a lie. That first scene was enough to lay the groundwork for their relationship. Gayatri's pain and understanding, and Prem's silent humility coupled with his respect for his mother, was enough to instantly strike a cord with the viewers.

Prem-Gayatri: Scene One: "Prem…tere dil ki pehchaan hai…"

This initial scene, as we've already mentioned, touched my heart instantly. Gayatri's love was evident, and wonderfully portrayed, but what really made this scene was Prem's emotions. When he first realized his mother was standing behind him and had seen him flinch in pain, he panicked for a moment. Prem is the kind of selfless person who endures his own pain and doesn't let anyone know he's hurting. So when he saw that Gayatri caught his flinch, he immediately regretted it - regretted the pain in her eyes at seeing his hurt…and looked everywhere he could to avoid her questioning eyes as he attempted to find it in him to lie to her. The mere fact that he couldn't look her in the eye as he fibbed goes to show how much he respects her. He will lie to her only if it is to protect her from pain…but even then, he can't do it convincingly. During his mothers monologue of praises to him, he averted his eyes in humility.

He knows that he can't argue with his mother - afterall, she knows him better than anyone else. But by the same token, his humility is so great that he can't accept praise…its simply not in him. The scene makes me smile because its evident that so much of HC as himself comes out here. He has captured the essence of Prem so brilliantly (effortlessly?) in this first scene. It is not only the first time we are seeing the foundation of Prem/Gayatri's relationship, but also the first time the viewers get a full, honest, credible account of who Prem is…what makes him tick. If it weren't for HC's brilliant portrayal, we would have missed the essence of Prem from the get go. As Gayatri spelled out Prem's attributes, he stood their, embodying them. His humility, sincerity, the respect he has for his parents, the love that his mother said he embodies…were all evident in Prem then…not only in the variety of emotions that flashed across his face, but also in his body language. It was a brilliant first account of The Prem…and a wonderful first impression for the viewers. If HC had failed to deliver in this scene, the essence of The Prem would have been lost on the viewers for the remainder of the serial. His impeccable performance as Prem, started, with the first encounter.

May 5^th: "Aap Meri Maa Hai…"

The emotions were portrayed flawlessly…and the impact, was everlasting.

It's the scene where Daljeet accuses Gayatri of not loving Prem because, she was, afterall, his sauteli maa. When the camera focus finally turned to Prem, the look on his face was heart wrenching. He just stood there in disbeleif as the tears welled up in his eyes. He looked so hurt…so broken. That one shot was enough to shake me to the core. HC's true account of a son's pain here was stabbing. The perfection with which he portrayed Prem's agony was baffling…We can't help but wonder what the connection is.

As Prem stood there then, it seemed as if his entire world had just been turned upside down. Not because he thought his mother didn't love him - he knew that to be nonsense…but because his mother stood there, quietly, and let someone point a finger to their relationship…question its authenticity.

He walks up to his mother slowly, and stands before her. In that moment, his love for her was radiating his entire being. No front, no covers, there was a boy, standing in front of his mother, silently telling her that she meant the world to him. Its no surprise that HC did this brilliantly. His eyes speak volumes and have always emoted to perfection in scenes where words are not needed. This was one of those moments.

When Gayatri finally looks up at him with teary eyes, he pushes his own pain aside and slightly nods his head in the negative, asking her not to cry...not to look at him like that. Instead, he was silently asking her to say something, anything, that would prove to the world that he was her son. He was begging her to call him "beta" then. And when she couldn't...when she simply averted her eyes to the ground in her own self-loathe and guilt, he walked away, more hurt than he was before.

The words of the song "maa" playing the background said it all at the moment…"bheed mein, youn na chodo mujhe, ghar laut ke bhi aa naa paun maa…bejna itna door mujhko tu, yaad bhi tujko aa naa paun maa…"

The mother/son scene that followed was spectacular - one of the best accounts of this beautiful relationship we have ever witnessed. The effect of it, obviously would have been impossible if the actors had missed a beat in the performances.

As he turned and looked at her when she asked if he too believed everyone else, the look on his face was piercing. HC portrayed the gravity of the ache in Prem's heart so convincingly …the tears, looked real and were enough to send a pang of pain through the viewers hearts. His tears had a similar effect on Gayatri mom as she simply collapsed to the ground. How could she cause him so much pain…bring tears to his eyes? As Gayatri collapsed before him, Prem couldn't help but look at her not only painfully, but with accusation.

Harsh/Prem was brilliant in the next scene...

Without going into every detail of the scene, lets just say that HC's performance here was incredibly powerful. The respect that comes across when Prem picks his kneeling mother up off the floor…the explode of emotions as he accuses her again, this time for misunderstanding him and thinking that he could believe that she didn't love him…the change in emotion as he goes from extreme anger to the inevitable breakdown as he tells her he's mad at her…the hurtful plea as he asks her to just once, tell him who he was to her

…the relief and satisfaction that passes over him as he finally hears her utter the word "beta"….and then, again, the immediate accusation that follows when he asks her why she couldn't just say the same in front of everyone… HC nailed each emotion with perfection - whether it be the anguished scream, or the battle he was fighting with his own inner turmoil, HC took the scene to a different level all-together. The way he swayed back and forth between his anger, his respect for his mother, and his own distress was unbelievable. He even managed to hit on Prem's confusion with the situation, and his own mother's inaction against it. HC's performance was par-excellence, impeccable, exquisite. The best thing about it was that it was powerful, without being over-done. This performance alone deserves a Grammy. The pain in that scene was unbearable...it further outlined the beauty of Prem/Gayatri's relationship. Its hard to digest, when seeing these two interact, that Gayatri is indeed, Prem's stepmother. Unbelievable.

Prem Confesses to Gayatri: "Mujhe khud nahi pata aisa kaise ho gaya…"

After seeing this scene again, Prem's hapiness in the scene stuck me as odd for a moment, and we couldn't figure out why HC decided to emote the way he did in this scene…something didn't seem to fit properly. Though Prem wasn't all smiles, there was a small, blink-and-miss smile playing on his lips throughout the scene - you really have to look closely to notice it…and though he tried to hide his smile, his apparent happiness came across via his eyes in this scene. As Gayatri was telling Prem he was being unfair to the girl he was about to marry, Prem was having a hard time containing his smile…

Suddenly, it hit me….(keep reading, we'll get to it…)

Gayatri asks Prem why he's smiling and he again, averts his eyes as he attempts to lie. When he realizes he failed in his attempt, he doesn't fight it. Again, she knows him better than anyone - and he can't, simply can not, lie to her. So why bother?

He simply tells her the truth…"I can't tell you why I'm happy"…my happiness may cause you to worry. Prem loved Heer…and had found her…but couldn't tell anyone as he was already promised to Ash…he would never go around flaunting his love, for that would only cause his loved ones pain. But when she finally asks if he's in love, he can't contain himself any longer. His emotions explode, and he pours his heart out to the one person that will understand him without judging him. The sincerity and simplicity with which HC conveys the new, anjaana ehsaas that's growing within Prem was brilliant. Prem was almost childlike here…he was confused yet so incredibly happy - the happiest he's ever been…and why not? He's finally found the one…the one he'd waited for his entire life.

So…that's why it suddenly hit us. Why wouldn't a smile play across his lips the whole time? Why wouldn't his happiness come across in his eyes? They say your eyes are a mirror to your soul, and at that moment, Prem's soul had found its counterpart…its only natural that he would be unable to contain his happiness. So even as Gayatri questioned his "zyatti" - injustice- towards Ash, in that moment, nothing was more important to him than his love for Heer. Odd, yes, because The Prem would never intentionally hurt anyone; but, when it comes to his love for Heer, The Prem, as he himself said in the unforgettable "wafa" scene, has always fore-gone all else.

Prem so simply, effortlessly tells Gayatri that he's lost…"aapka beta kahi kho gaya hai maa"…a son ever so non-chalantly tells his mother that he is, at last, in love. We love that Prem can talk to his mom so freely and openly like that - knowing that if no one else, he can at least count on her to understand him fully…and maybe even show him the light of way…

His happiness comes to a momentary pause when he realizes the situation he's in and he looks at his mother with confusion and hope as he tells his mother he doesn't know what to do.

A mother's khushi at her son's happiness was so touching. Without a second thought, she promised him that she would help him out of his turmoil - because his happiness meant the world to her. And with that, his happiness comes back too fold…ah, yes…hope…maa ka saath hai, toh sab kuch teekh ho jaayega. The understanding between the two really came out here…it highlighted yet another beautiful aspect of their relationship.

Elope: "Tujhe Sab Hai Pata, Hai Na Ma?"

Just before the wedding, Prem stands in his room, fiercly fighting to keep his tears at bay, to numb the pain in his heart. Gayatri mom enters, as he again tries to make an excuse…she simply retorts with a fact: "Bachpan se teri aankhon mein kahin sapne dekhti aa rahi hoon main…voh sapne jo dusron ka sukh ban gaye, aur tumhara dukh. Aur kitna dukh utayega tu?"….It was a mother's natural reaction at not being able to see her son in such pain. She knows he'll endure colossal amounts of pain and suffer without uttering a word to anyone, as long as it means his loved ones are content. She's been watching him to it for years, but this, was the last straw, as she begs him to elope with Heer. Loved this scene for multiple reasons:

Again, Gayatri's unwavering understanding of Prem; The Prem's perfection - he is too good to be true; The entonation in HC's voice as he determinedly told Gayatri she need but utter the words, and her bidding would be his command; The look of confusion and the slight tilt of the head as Gayatri mom said "teri jaan chahiye mujhe"; The blink-and-miss helpless pain that washed across HC's face as Prem realized his mother was asking for something he couldn't give her; Prem's (HC's) pain to junoon shift as he begins to tell his mother that he cannot elope, but he will continue to love his Heer; and at last, Gayatri's collapse as her son tells her that his very own essence, has died. The beauty of their relationship is the ease with which they share every emotion with one another. Gayatri openly tells Prem that despite her husbands wishes, she stands firm in solely wanting his happiness…and Prem unreservedly tells her of the honesty and purity of his love, that will never waiver. Still wondering how the tears look so real…

Mann Mandir Ko Chod Kar Jaana: "Maa, bauji ko zaroorat hai aapki.."

A broken, beaten, shattered Prem leaves the house…as he leaves, he says goodbye to his mother. Prem was shattered, no doubt, but Gayatri broke with him. A mother's worst fear was coming true…her son was leaving her…she was being forced to chose between the two most important people in her life. Prem sees his torn mom and attempts to comfort her…but in vain…because he knows that the hurt in her heart equates his own…he knows that in that moment, nothing he can do or say can make the situation better for either one of them…so, he simply places his arms around her, stands as her pillar, and lets her cry with him, as he takes in the essence of his maa, for the "last" time. Its futile to even attempt to map out HC's performance in this scene. It was simple…and simply truthful…HC portrayed a broken Prem with utmost sincerity. From every realistic looking tear to the deep sigh as he at last takes his maa's aashirwaad…It was a heart- wrenching scene that was difficult to bare…

Maa to the Rescue: "Iss Rishte Ko Naam De, Beta"

July 8^th…the Longest day in Prem's life! Gayatri came to Prem as an angel in disguise in this scene. Literally, as the miracle he was hoping for. The scene was, needless to say - heart wrenching. Before Gayatri mom walked in, Prem stood there silently as the rage built up inside him. When he finally saw her, it was as if he could finally sigh in relief. Did anyone else hear the word "maa" escape his lips when he saw her? Did anyone else hear it? The look on Prem's/Hcs face was brilliant…it instantly went from agonizing pain and anger to somewhat hopeful…his face actually lit up a little at seeing his maa. It was as if this child was so very happy to see his mother come to his rescue...as if God had sent her then, just to save him from the pain and misery...

And all the sudden, when she started talking, it truly looked as if his world was crashing down around him. The same mother that had always supported him was at last, leaving him alone...She too was accusing his relationship with Heer...she too, was just like his father. The look on Prem's face was too much to take...especially when she said she was going to give him one "kasam" that he had to adhere to...he looked as though he couldn't beleive it...his mother was going to ask him once and for all to leave Heer forever...and just when he thought he could take no more, she did something he never expected...told him...no, ordered him, to accept Heer's hand in marriage...because She was the one that taught her son how to laugh...and She was the one that stood by him when his own mother was so unfortunate not to be able to. Just loved how Gayatri pointed to Lallu when she said "Jab saari duniya ne tera saath chod diya tha"...because after all, for Prem, wasn't his "Saari duniya" his father?

And of course, the song...the song that is so perfect for the relationship this mother and son share...the song that makes me weep for them..weep with them..."youn toh main, batlata nahin...par andhere se darta hoon main ma...youn toh main, dikhlaata nahin...teri parvah karta hoon main maa.."

Highlights of the scene: The emotions on HC's face, undoubtedly - the way his eyes gleamed when he saw Gayatri, the way that gleam quickly turned into more tears when he thought Gayatri too would question his and Heer's relationship…the disbelief when he heard Gayatri ask him to ask Heer to marry him. It inexplicable…We simply can't understand where those emotions come from…they look too genuine, the tears look real every time. The pain Prem is enduring is radiating his entire being…he's silently screeming at the top of his lungs because he feels suffocated in his disposition. But when maa finally comes and gives him an ultimatum, though shattered, he's relieved to have the support. HC's brilliance in this scene came simply from his perfect portrayal of Prem's exhaustion - mental, physical, and emotional.

Gayatri mom's never ending support from Prem was touching…and it was heartwarming to see how next to his mother, he always turns into a helpless boy, who needs her to support him, guide him, and shower him with blessings.

Maa Ki God Mein Rona: Silent Emotion…

HC is an Ace when it comes to silent emotion. This scene was right after Heer's near-death sequence…When Prem thought she had lost her memory. He's sitting at his window sill in the moonlit night, furiously strumming away at his mandarin, cursing his fate when Gayatri comes to him to lend a shoulder. How is it that maa always knows exactly what to say to ease our pain and fears? How is it that no matter how much they are hurting inside, they will force a smile so that they might see you smile? How is it, that a mother's touch…or simply burrying your head in her lap and crying your heart out, can be the most comforting thing in the world?

Gayatri bravely gave Prem the advice and strength he needed to move on, all the while she was hurting at seeing her broken son. Prem simply took in her words, trying to decide on the truth in them, though somewhere, he knew that his mother's words would never be false. He doesn't turn to look at her, until he realizes that yes…she was right all along - "dukh tab hota hai, jab such ki baatein yaad ati hai"…she had just vocalized his emotions. So when she says that he should cry, that tears will wash away his pain, he does just that. Slowly stands up, walks to his mother, collapses in front of her, and finally, breaks.

HC as Prem didn't utter a word in this scene, yet said so much. The anger as he initially strummed away on the mandarin, the apparent aloofness as he pondered his fate when Gayatri tried to console him, the final break - which we are yet to figure out…still wondering what the connection is, where the emotion comes from, how he manages to cry so believably so that his entire face goes red with emotion. We needn't say anything else here…it was sheer perfection, and we are still mesmerized by the flawlessness of it. Needless to say, watching Prem break down like that was heart wrenching. Its also one of the few times he's broken down to that extent…he did it once with Heer, and again in this epi with G Mom. The Prem, that never lets anyone in on his emotions, finally let his guard down, and let his mother, the only one that could possibly console him then, hold him in her arms, as he wept. The agonizing cry was perfectly portrayed - a scene that 'til date has left us absolutely mesmerized and baffled. We can't say it enough…when he cries for Prem, the tears look real…genuine. What IS The Connection?

No doubt the beauty and intensity of these scenes would not come across so splendidly if not for the creatives, the writers, and Harshad's co-actor, Prem's G'Mom. Its obvious that these two share a brilliant off screen bond that then translates itself to the screen as they become maa-beta. Having said that, We can't help but add that HC simply takes command of ones attention when he's on screen. The other characters, wonderful actors in their own right, become mere props that enhance his own emotional output. The dignity, sincerity, honesty and simplicity with which he has portrayed Prem is unbelievable - whether it be his heart wrenching, touching scenes with Gayatri mom, his passionate scenes with Heer, or his playful scenes with his brothers, he's embodied the essence of Prem and captured every nuance with utmost perfection. Just when you think he can't get any better, he takes his performance to the next level, leaving the viewers spellbound. Needless to say, HC's portrayal of Prem is as perfect as The Prem himself. His scenes with Gayatri mom are merely a testiment to his brilliance and adeptness as an actor.