Originally posted by: napstermonster
In practically all parameters-- audience numbers, frequency of viewing and overseas/online hits, there is no question that the Indian TV industry, specifically its serials, has a FAR bigger reach, than the Indian movie industry. The devaluation of a woman on a movie screen is an issue, sure. But its 2 hours of your life, that ends with a film's 14 week run, as pirated DVDs on dusty shelves.
Indian serials enter every bedroom, living room and den in India. EVERY 2nd household. And also enter lives in over 100 countries worldwide that have cable Indian channels, OR show indian shows dubbed in local languages. The characters are household names, are like friends, sisters, brothers, or crushes. You feel you know them as well--better than-- your neighbor. That is the nature of repeat TV, and serials make stars, not the other way around. So absolutely the writers have a bigger role here. And given their reach, given the nature of their audience--they DO have to account for their content. It is not a free for all. If I am giving you my TRP, you better give me content that I can appreciate, or at least not be offended by.
And while I appreciate your take - I am not a woman who needs a strong role model. I AM a strong role model. And no, I don't identify with Anika or Khushi Or Zoya or Chulbul or whatever, as versions of how I want modern Indian womanhood to be. I'm not naiive. But your daughter may not view this show. I can guarantee, however-- a million daughters of other strong, smart, independent women do.
And I don't have my own kid, but I teach your kids. I love and worry about them. I guess, by that matrix, I currently have 140 kids. And let me tell you-- your kids (maybe not your daughter, but SOMEONE's daughter) is being affected much more by the show she watches obsessively, the show she discusses with her friends, by what the heroes do to the heroines than you comprehend. And I'm not talking about kids. I am talking about all girls, all ages.
That girl watching is 14 and too shy to ask an adult what is a healthy interaction between men and women in love, and what is abuse. She is 17, and experiencing the sensation of being stalked or being forced into stuff she doesn't like. She is walking home at 21 and wondering if she's being stupid or whether she should trust her instincts, and run. She is 24 and doesn't know what is professional behavior with that senior colleague, and what is borderline harassment. And a lot of girls facing these questions, they ask themselves, what would ____ do? Because that ____ is a real person to them. Not to you and me. But unconsciously, or not, they do model themselves after their idols. And THESE serial fictional characters are it.
These girls DONT make choices with full information, nor do they all have mothers /sisters /aunts to tell them in non threatening, non judgmental ways--hey, its okay. Being confused is 0kay. Let me guide you. THIS is okay, this is not. They gather information from these shows. So these shows cannot get away with glorifying or reducing the impact of plain, straight up abuse in the name of entertainment.
And yeah. I think saying this is redundant to someone like you, because you are like me. You and I HAVE smart, beautiful, intelligent, worldly friends. You and I ARE realists who have lived those first 24 years already and made mistakes and learnt from them and come out ok, on the other side. Thank god. With the strength to know what to do if crap happens, even if we don't get to always stop bad things from happening.
We are women who would KICK a man like Shivaay where it hurts, and be at the bail hearing that let Daksh out with the best lawyer in town and a can of pepper spray.
But this post is not for you. I guess--its for those daughters. And my 140 kids.
Mahadev And Sons
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