Originally posted by: -Tia-
First of all, it's not real life. No rockstar has an arranged marriage with a girl he came to know of in just two days and no professor agrees to marry a rockstar whom she does not even like. So let's look at it in a fictional soap context and talk within those parameters.
No, I don't want a husband like that, and nor would I be a wife like Pragya. Fortunately, I do not have a mother who forces me to do stuff and may collapse if I don't. I would have walked out of the marriage the day one. But here both characters have some misconceptions and majbooris. They are not even husband-wife in real sense- two people stuck together in a mishap. I am only trying to see through their eyes.
It's up to you if you don't want to watch the show. I am fine watching it and I write what I think about these characters. I don't know why you want to question me personally! Can't I have my opinions like everyone else here?
I just have to throw in my hat regarding the reel vs. real debate. I understand that this is reel and not real life, but I think we also have to understand that this is reel showing things in the context of real life and we also have to recognize that there are numerous studies (especially around tobacco use) that indicate that many people are influenced by what they see in reel life (movies, tv and print media) -- this is exactly why smoking is banned in Indian movies, and if and when it does occur, a disclaimer appears at the bottom of the screen. So, obviously, there are many people who can discriminate between reel and real life, but many others that cannot. Many of these shows come on at times when young people are watching, and I too used to watch this show with my 9 year old daughter, which I don't anymore, because I don't want her to think it is ok for a man to speak to his wife in this way. Yes, yes, I could use this as a teaching moment, but neither do I have the time, nor the ability to respond to the next logical question from her -- why do you watch if it's so bad? After all, she turned the tv off when Dora came on even at the age of three because she couldn't stand the fact that Dora let everyone save her (I digress, but am trying to make a point here -- raising strong women starts early, and is predicated on what you choose to expose them to, peer pressure and MEDIA).
As for no rockstar/professor marrying each other within two days, it actually does happen in India (context matters -- you could not show this on a US soap, unless of course, some sort of major blackmail was going on or something crazy like aliens forcing your hand), which is why it is half way believable. My good MD friend married her engineer husband when he made a visit from the US and the deed was done in 4 days, a really good younger friend (computer engineer) did not even see her husband and was married to him in literally two days, and my husband's family expected him to meet and marry a dentist on a two week visit to India. It does happen because we have a culture and a tradition around it; it's changing, but slowly.
Another thing we have to realize is that we have a problem around how women are treated in everyday situations in the country. The awful rapes that have been occurring are an illogical and disgusting extension of the lack of respect shown to women in the country. You have only to think of the eve-teasing, underhanded comments and other demeaning and humiliating things that happen to women every day. I am not alone in feeling this way -- even the Prime Minister brought it up in his Republic Day speech. That a show, funded by a woman, who has made her money by the media would not understand how the treatment of women on screen actually degrades all of us, is beyond me. Yes, it happens, and to depict it in the proper context is great, so we can all understand what happens and how it feels, is one thing, but to have a husband say, I wish I could kill you etc. and make it seem funny is completely another. Neither is it funny, neither is it excusable and neither is it appropriate. We would never allow Abhi to say that to a child, why is it ok to say it to anybody, especially one who is vulnerable at the moment? He is so unbearably petty.
Sorry for the long post, just could not resist.
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
Tum Se Tum Tak
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Vasudha
