Female empowerment is a pretty complex issue and to explore it in any depth you would need a medium that has a broader perspective than the Hindi serial format.
Plus, GK does like introducing female empowerment as a concept but literally is unable to execute it in a believable matter. Most notable example, when in QH, Zoya was harassed by Rajveer, all of a sudden women like Haseena Bi were supporting Zoya, when we know that is out of character. That whole storyline needed to be handled with more care. It would have been more effective with Haseena Bi saying something derogatory about how Zoya asked for it and Zoya defending herself.
Honestly, female empowerment as a concept has to be in the fabric of the show and not a throwaway track that is used to fill air time. It has to be constructed properly. More importantly, rather than shouting about it, it has to be shown through characterisation and nuances within relationship dynamics.
While I agree Priyanka wasn't forced into the marriage and she is being given a choice but the fact of the matter remains that none of the boys in the family are having arranged marriages. Shivay is conducting his own business deal but it is clear that he dated Tia (and obviously before that, Mallika). Om is in a relationship with Riddhima and Rudra is allowed to flirt and date to his heart's content. Arranged marriages don't even appear to be a thought that has crossed their minds.
I accept that the Indian audience might not be comfortable with seeing a girl who is proactive in her love life and is willing to date, but Priyanka doesn't appear to enjoy the seem freedom as the boys because of expectations of her as a girl rather than any explicit rules and that is what they need to address when it comes to female empowerment.
However, I will give credit to them for their consistency. Tej and Jhanvi had a love marriage and Shakti and Pinky had an arranged marriage. The Senior OBros were given a choice about the route they wanted to take, so it makes sense that the same is being done for the younger generation.
Edited by serialactivists - 9 years ago
