Women abused on TV

Can't blame people for falling out of love with our daily soaps. Irrespective of what Ekta Kapoor says, it sure looks like the scriptwriters need to desperately go on a holiday, as they seem to be churning out clichd, melodramatic lines day after day.

In Kasamh Se, the Walias have lost all their wealth, moved to a chawl and are back in their mansion even as monetary problems plague them. Now the Walias are supposedly the television equivalent of a prominent industrialist family — can you imagine the Ambanis or Birlas going through such inconceivable highs and lows within a span of a few months?

But that's what our desi soaps are about. in order to be able to digest some of the ridiculously humiliating moments that the so-called powerful lead characters are subject to, one has to completely suspend all logical thoughts. And seriously, how can such powerful tycoons who have built their massive business empire over several years fall prey to the conniving tactics of their rivals? And of course, the root cause of all problems in these soaps are always women who are reduced to pathetic caricatures.

Considering the magnificent strides that Indian women are making in every field, this negative portrayal is a serious insult to womanhood.

If the women are not creating havoc in people's lives, they are constantly meddling in family affairs, even when their opinion is not sorted. Saloni of Saath Phere is one such irritating character who has not yet learnt to mind her own business. These are just two examples — most of the serials are filled with such extreme characters who are constantly plotting and planning various moves.

And that's not all, in order to give the falling TRPs a boost; these serials are resorting to rape scenes of their prime characters. If Mukti was raped in Kasauti, Nandini and Krishna Tulsi are raped in Kyun Ki and Mythili faces the brunt in Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki — doesn't this tantamount to glorification of rape? how can TV channels allow such scenes to be included in the script considering that most soaps are family affairs? And how can the female actors, no matter how desperate their need to make money or earn fame, agree to be a part of such disgusting portrayals?

If Ekta has no respect for her own tribe, how can you blame the men who resort to such acts?