Posted:
One thing at a time Ghulam!
I'm not sure if it was the fast-track "love story" which surprised me more or the chat mangni, pat byaah.
Now, I think the fans will have the answer to their question: Shivan's characterisation, that is.
When was the last time we saw a sniveling, whimpering, crying-at-the-drop-of-a-hat FL? I think it was during the Akshara-Saadhana-Balika Vadhu era. And that was ages ago!
Indian Television writers have since then "experimented" with the FLs, it's a different thing that they've, more or less, gone down the same drain, i.e become sniveling, whimpering, crying doormats. 🥱
And that is the main reason Shivani is hurting the eyes of the neutral viewers (I'm not counting those who just hate the FL for the heck of it). She's someone who has grown up with primitive morals that wouldn't find favour in today's world. Even her friends are more advanced than her.
Point is, we are not used to watching FLs like her. Someone so primitively naive.
And there was a reason behind her being this way: the writers wanted to put someone as naive, guileless but seemingly innocent person right into a snake pit!
They wanted her to face and go through cruelty of the worst kind possible. They wanted to shatter her beliefs, her dreams of getting married to that one man whom her guardians will choose, only to realize that it was noting more than an elaborate plot!
Now, coming to Rangeela. I won't say I was surprised or disappointed in him and his actions. Yeh toh hona hi tha.
Of course he's bound to put his master's wishes leagues ahead of his own. That is the reason he immediately thought of Shivani when he heard of the description and the time-crunch.
Was I angry at Rangeela for deciding the fate of a girl he had just met just to give in to his master's wishes? Yes, definitely.
But he's an Anti-Hero, remember? He's not supposed to do things that'd appease everyone.
I also a felt a twinge of sympathy for him. Maybe, in a different world, he'd have married Shivani because they both wanted to...not because he's substituting for a tree or animal.
So you see, the Rs 2 Lakh treat one day and ordering to substitute for a tree or animal the next...ought to say a lot about the way he's brought up.
The marriage thing was surprising, though. I never thought he'd be ordered to marry her. But it also makes sense.
How else, do you think he'll change after the incident? Simply bringing a girl to his master who he'd started to like wouldn't be good enough to be a game-changer...something major had to happen. And what better way to show a stepping stone of change on Indian Telly than getting the leads married (regardless of how it ends)?
It is the subconscious sense of belonging which later sparks a light and then ignites a fire.
Let's see how long this fire takes to burn.
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
