I am surprised that several people on the forum can "relate to Savita" and think she is a good person as against Sulochana – not perfect - but still a good person.
Savita is tragically married to an alcoholic and has managed to raise three kids (no where in the show was it implied that she worked outside the home as a maid, cook or anything else). Her life's desires and needs must have not been completely fulfilled due to her husband's addiction – but that is certainly not a valid reason to gouge other people's money and riches. Savita has been kind of hardened by her circumstances but her character has not even in the current financially flush times displayed any real grace and culture. She would rather hire a secretary, keep a pet named after her husband in the chawl she calls home, join a Mahila Mandal to get on par with Rasika's "stature" than enjoy her grandkids (especially Sachin Jr. who was separated from his mother but has done great injustice to him by allowing him to be raised either by neighbours or Archana), or maybe even save that money and help Vandu. She is adept as fleecing beta Manav because he feels responsible towards her in a skewed sort of way.
Sulochana on the other hand is almost a typical mom – we've seen her cooking and rallying around the kitchen and fussing primarily over Archana's marriage. She realized that due to circumstances, Archana had almost everything in her except education. However, I fail to understand why she did not send her to complete her education when all of Archana's siblings had grown up and were capable of taking care of themselves. It really wasn't necessary for the family to have Archana cook their breakfast and pack dabbas earlier in the show. Sulochana has kind of been really nice to her nasty daughter-in-law Manju too. She understands her son is married to her, hasn't interfered in his marriage and has tried support to his family.
Overall it seems that she has tried to pass on good values to her kids – but has ended up with a loser of son (heck if Rasika can manipulate "good old Savita" then Sulochana ka beta Vinod kya cheez hain?); a super good at heart daughter Archana – who can love Sachin Jr like her own son – even if his unmarried pregnant mother tried to steal Archana's husband and caused her to suffer intense humiliation and agony; Varsha – what can I say about her but that she really doesn't deserve the gem Satish and I am anti -******** ; and wishy- washy Vaishali who forgets who supported her in times of distress and that her son would have been a b****** if not for Madhuri. I wish for an episode where Sulochana would call her children together and tell Vinod that he needs to get rid of Manju and start a new life or stay put with her and never complain if he lacks the guts, to tell Archana that she should stand up for herself and for her to think that if Soham were a daughter would she be comfortable for her daughter's life to take the same course as Archana's life has taken due to lack of self assertion?, to tell Varsha that she is arrogant, does not deserve Satish and is facing the consequences of her actions, and to tell Vaishali that she is an airhead, was actually Dharmesh's mistress at some point and needs to leave the cheater and scum bag and start life afresh like Vinod.
Anupamaa
