Saas-bahu saga through a western eye

While many of us wonder what draws us seemingly sane, educated, urban women to shows with regressive ideas, many in the western world have been trying to understand the social dynamics of Indian society through these shows. I read a very interesting article in The Economist a couple of months ago that delved into the myriad of societal issues surrounding girls and women in India vis-a-vis marriage, in particular. The article tried to understand how the desi shows portrayal of bahus is not far from reality and writers/producers of these shows justified their reasons for sticking to these regressive ideas for story plots. Some parts of it are funny, so it makes for easy reading.

Will surely have a read when time permits

Thanks for posting it. I remember the article - It's a very well-researched piece with trademark Economist analysis. My father pointed it out to me, hoping to wean me away from these regressive serials. 😃

Originally posted by: meera30

While the article itself is full of stereotypes, I cannot but agree that it is bloody bang on

And this part, really really made me guffaw.

Truth they say is stranger than fiction. Indeed.

Relations are good in their joint family, not like the "exaggerations" on TV, the older woman says. "We love to watch them, but know they are not like reality," she explains. "Am I like a wicked TV mother-in-law?" she asks her plump, pretty daughter-in-law. The younger woman smiles, lowers her eyes, and says "No."

Originally posted by: tvbug2011

Thanks for posting it. I remember the article - It's a very well-researched piece with trademark Economist analysis. My father pointed it out to me, hoping to wean me away from these regressive serials. 😃

Thanks so much!

Originally posted by: Exprimere

Thanks so much!

And with that, I hope people will be better informed about this show, and many others. I wanted this article to be shared, not because I wanted to spoil viewership, but I thought that those criticising the need for such saas-bahu dramas see why they persist and thrive on Indian TV.

Long time Long time 🤗
putting a res for now
will read and get back

Originally posted by: Exprimere

Thanks so much!

And with that, I hope people will be better informed about this show, and many others. I wanted this article to be shared, not because I wanted to spoil viewership, but I thought that those criticising the need for such saas-bahu dramas see why they persist and thrive on Indian TV.

It may work, it may not. A show could just click, or be brushed off as cliched/regressive. But not incorporating this could be a huge risk factor for the makers.

At the end of the day, everyone should think over this: evil saas aren't really real. Not dramatically anyway. But then hair-flying, wind blowing, musical, sacrificing romances, where the Hero inflicts heaven knows what injustice on the Heroine, should not be real, either, Watch for your entertainment, do not try to fit/expect that in your real life.

P.S this was posted in response to Napster's thread.