Kis Desh Mein Hai Mera Dil started off as an eternal love story. A predestined love. A story of a girl, Heer, who' has been waiting for her prince charming her entire life. A story of a boy, Prem, who has always dreamt of meeting and living with his soulmate. Someone he can visualise his entire life with. And when they finally met it was pure magic. The story capitvated us. Took us to a new world where love had no boundaries. Showed us how true love always prevails. The reason why everything mentioned above is in past tense is because right now I don't know what the story is. Since the past many days it has ceased to be an eternal love story. It is more of a mother's eternal love story/obsession with her son.
The show and the characters went through major changes when handled by different creatives. I don't know what exactly a creative does but I do know that a good or a bad creative can make or break a show. Case in point being how the characters of this show have changed under various creatives. This is my take on how the characters changed over the last 14 months. Since Gayatri (Gaya3) is the most imp character at the moment. I'll start with her. Here goes.
Gayatri Juneja (Gaya3): A typical Indian housewife, happy to stay in the background, managing her house and looking after her kids. A lady who agrees to marry a widower because she falls in love with his two kids. A wife who always supports her husband but doesn't hestitate to speak the truth when necessary. A mother who loves her children irrespective of whether they are her own or not. A mother who stands by her most beloved child, Prem, when he needs her the most. A mother who goes into deep shock at the death of her most favourite child Prem. And an ideal mother in law who every daughter in law would want to have. But sadly now she's no longer all this. Today she's a changed woman. A mother she continues to be but a very wronged and misguided one. Here is a look at Gaya3's transformation under the 3 creatives.
Vikas Gupta managed to show Gaya3 as the ideal mother and wife. Even though she respected her husband she never shied away from speaking against him when she thought he was wrong. A fiesty mother who fought for her son. Here are some of the important things that Gaya3 did during that time.
Gaya3 after knowing that Prem's love is Heer supports him completely. Infact she even commands him to elope with her. Though she's heartbroken at being away from her son she never makes an attempt to go against her husband's orders. Though she longs for him she never tries to meet behind her husband's back. Finally when the time comes to stand up for Prem and his love she does so even at the risk of fighting with her husband. She's the one person who pushes Prem to give his love the respect that it deserves. She's the one who pleads with Lalit to forgive Prem after the devastating cyclone that threatens to tear everything apart. No one is more happy than her at seeing Prem getting his love back. But this happiness was very short lived. Prem's death pushes her over the edge. She goes into complete denial. Nothing exists for her other than him. She waits for him to comeback because he had promised her that he would.
Ipsita Deb was instrumental in turning Gaya3 from an ideal mother to a misguided mother in law. Under her Gaya3's character took a 360 degree turn. Though initially Gaya3 was the ideal mother and mother in law she gradually started changing. Here are some of the important things that Gaya3 did during that time.
Gaya's wait for Prem finally ends when she accidently bumps into him and he gets her back home. Even though nobody believes her she is convinced that her son is back. Her belief is restored when he finally lands up at the house during Heer and Rishab's wedding. It is Gaya3 who finally pushes Prem to marry Heer by making him aware of his duties. Her recovery after Prem's return was gradual. She went back to becoming the loving mother and very loving mother in law. Till she was slowly poisoned by her own daughter Veera. In an attempt to protect her own flesh blood she, for the first time, differentiates between her children and her step children. She pushes Prem to prove his loyalty by asking him to choose between her and Heer. And when she realises that her action will break her family she plans a very elaborate scheme of getting back her kids.
Doris Dey took over from where Ipsita left off. If the previous creatives left us with a hope that Gaya3 may be doing it for a bigger purpose, Doris has managed to convince us it is not so. Gaya3 is now officially the mother in law from hell. She's on a war path and she claims to do this all for her children especially Prem. She thinks Heer has stolen her family and Prem from her and she wants to teach her a lesson. Here are some of the important things that Gaya3 did and continues to do.
Gaya3 brings back Heer and Meher home. She also gives Heer the sole ownership of her entire property and assets and also hands over the keys to the Juenja household. By doing this Gaya3 gains everybody's love and respect especially Prem's. She encourages Heer to go to work. In an attempt to create a rift between Prem and Heer she asks Heer to testify against her own brother. This is her first attempt at breaking up Prem and Heer. Her second attempt was when she convinces Heer to part with some money and then poisons Prem against her. According to Gaya3 she's doing it all to get back what is rightfully hers. She believes that Prem is hers and holds Heer responsible for taking him away.
Whether Gaya3 will be successful in getting Prem back only time will tell. The important questions that remain unanswered are what will Gaya3 do after her plan is successful? what next? Also if Prem ever comes to know the motive behind Gaya3's behaviour will he ever forgive her? Will she be able to live her life without him once again?
The actor: Shama Deshpande, the actor playing the role of Gayatri Juneja, is a well-know in TV industry. She's been a very competent and consitent performer and always managed to win our hearts as the loving mother and mother in law. Her sorrow and shock at loosing her son made us cry with her. Her happiness at her son and his love uniting made us happy. And now when she's become a scheming and conniving mother and mother in law we hate her with the same fervour that we loved her with. As an actor Shama Despande has managed to make us both love and hate her with equal passion. An outstanding and a beautiful actor Shama Despande rocks as Gayatri Juneja.
My favourite Gaya3 moments:
Under Vikas:
Gaya3 asking Prem to propose marriage to Heer. Gaya3 consoling Prem when he's devastated to know that Heer has lost her memory. Gaya3 gives him the strength and courage to move on and make new memories. Gaya3 wears the torn saree that Prem bought for from Delhi before his death.
Under Ipsita:
Gaya3 bumps into Prem at the temple and feeds him her food. Gaya3 asking Prem to marry Heer by giving him the sindoor.
Under Doris:
None. Because this is not the Gaya3 I know and love.
What I would like to see: Gaya3 realising that she has been misguided by Veera and undoing all the damage she has caused in Prem and Heer's life. Gaya3 realising that Prem may be her son and loves her dearly but Heer is his life. Gaya3 not differentiating between her children. Gaya3 teaching Veera a good lesson and Maya a even bigger lesson.
Next week: Prem Juneja
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
