2. Aaliya
Let's be honest KKB isn't the most - layered, deep or profound program. It's a soap opera, a daily none the less which of course means we have insanely stretched out storyline and characters who border on nonsensical at the best of times.
However having said that each show, usually does have that one character that is pretty consistent -well as consistent as you can get on an Ekta show I suppose, and for KKB it's Aaliya.
Aaliya - The Brat - Mehra is the epitome of an Ekta villainess.
She's rich, adored by the oblivious hero and is the baby of the family.
She is also psychotic.
Yep. Cuckooo.
Nutty as Trail-mix.
She is also, quite an unpleasant psycho-bitch. You see, there are two kinds of psycho - the psycho you feel bad for, and the psycho you want to slap so hard their teeth fall out.
Aaliya is the later kind of Psycho. The reason, this particular brand of psychosis is SO aggravating is because, these particular individuals have the unique ability to not only be crazy, but they tend to also justify their crazy in their own little ways.
Aaliya's justification and really the root of her wonderfully pleasant behavior (Note the sarcasm) - starts and ends with one thing - Pride.
Now, since KKB is a Jane Austen adaptation let's go back to Austen for a character reference. Remember Lady Catherine De Bourgh? The crazy Aunt? Aaliya is a cross between Lady C and Mr.Rochester's(Jane Eyre) also delightfully insane wife. She is haughty and proud and expects everything to go her way simply because she decrees it. She is also the, set the house on fire kind of bonkers.
Now, if I had written this character analysis a few episodes ago, I would perhaps tone down my use of the word crazy' and it's synonyms, given recent events however, I feel the need to stress the word.
Aaliya is abso-fracking-lutely insane.
Let's take a detour however and go back to the beginning. Aaliya's very first episode, in fact her very first scene in the show, laid down the groundwork for Aaliya's role in Abhi's life and in the Family itself. In stopping Abhi, from giving Aakash a well deserved beating Aaliya establishes that for all her miniskirts and thigh-length dresses Aaliya Mehra is a typical my-beta-can-do-no-wrong Indian stereotype. Notice how the very first thing she does is not only defend Aakash, but she goes a step further and tries to absolve him of blame, a very traditional and very common s**t-shaming' technique, that is only a step removed from the women ask for rape mentality'. It isn't however this facet of Aaliya's character that is so important in this particular scene though - what is important is the effect it had on her Brother - Abhi.
For all her obvious bias, and for all her self-centered - Regina George attitude, Aaliya is also, as this episode clearly establishes, a key figure in the Mehra household - even if it is only because she is the darling baby sister. Fact of the matter is - her words carry weight.
Maybe not with everyone. But with Abhi. And for that reason alone, she is pandered to.
Now it is impossible to truly delve into this Brother-Sister bond without taking a peek into Abhi's soul as well.
Abhi in a word is starved. He is a Rockstar who is loved by millions and is not loved at all. He is adored by fans and yet he does not know what true adoration is. He is an icon, and yet at the end of the day he does not know what he stands for other than money. He has everything and yet he is moe alone than he has ever been before, because the truth is he is lost and confused. He is a scared little boy who doesn't know who to turn to for help. He is a man who is starved for constants for no matter how famous, and rich and bara' he becomes, Abhi's only constants, are his Daadi, Aaliya and Purab.
Daadi - the woman who raised him. Who took him in. Who took his family in.
Aaliya - His only family. The only bit of his parents he has left to hold on to.
And , Purab - His only confidant. His only friend.
Abhi's bond with Aaliya, goes beyond the simple brother -sister relationship. Aaliya is someone Abhi depends upon, she is quite probably the reason he fought tooth and nail to get where he is - at a place where he could give her everything. Aaliya is Abhi's person. Or at least he thinks she is.
While Abhi sees Aliya as quite possibly the axis of his world, Aaliya herself, either over time or from the beginning chooses ensure that the only axis, orbit and even planet in her little galaxy is her own self.
For you see Ladies and Gentlemen, Aaliya is unrepentantly selfish. Now, maybe her selfishness grew as a defense tactic, to survive the tough times Abhi says they went through, maybe it was always like that - but the fact remains, her single most defining feature is her ruthlessness to ensure she is always protected. And the reason I say she is so consistently written as a character, is because this is a fact that is highlighted very subtly over and over again, during the show - no one is exempt, not her brother, not her best friend, not her daadi. In Aaliya's world the only person who matters is Aaliya - it is what makes her so dangerous, she has no Achilles heel - even her Purab-issues center more around her not getting him, than they do around her actually having any feelings for him. Aaliya Mehra my dear - is the symbolic representation of all those people we know in real life who shamelessly put themselves first - always. They are the people who will make a grab for the biggest slice of cake and the only life-jacket on a sinking ship.
Now selfishness, while annoying is not really that bad a flaw to have, unless of course you pair it with a lack of a conscious, which Aaliya and Tanu both seem to share. Aaliya once a moderately passive nutbar, has recently begun to devolve into a pretty calm, occasionally emotional psychotic person with no fear of consequences. From murder, to acid, to burning people in fire Aaliya is indeed a quickly devolving character not unlike the many Un-Sub's of Criminal Minds. The only question the truly remains is how far she will be able to continue her farce before she is finally called out on current a la mode psychotic nature.
Apologies for the delay and the lack of in-depth discussion, tbh I've been put off of Aaliya quite a bit in recent days, her devolution has been more than slightly annoying. I mean, I was okay with her being psycho, but the acid throwing, murdering spree's have been a bit much, I wish they played around with that a bit making her disagree and then having her conclude it's the only option... anyhow, once again loves, this is Advena signing out from the universe of KKB. I hope you've enjoyed the read, I know for a fact I have adored reading you posts and thoughts which, as always, are very welcome.
I will hopefully see you guys soon with another Character Meta. Don't forget to mention who you want to see discussed' down below!
Love,
A
Edited by advena - 10 years ago
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