Agree with you all when I say I am disappointed. I am not someone who invests emotionally or financially on Indian Television because frankly, it's just not worth it for me. I didn't know this was a Gul/4Lions show either when I first saw the promos on YouTube and when I found out, I still kept watching it (despite certain reservations I have about the PH) because by then I had realized how different it was not only from other shows by Gul/4Lions but also from its contemporaries. The fact that it was being aired on Sony gave me more to look forward to since I know Sony has always been a platform for innovative and experimental concepts. A couple of reasons I (and many of us I believe) liked the show:
1. The concept wasn't absolutely unique but the show managed to focus on its themes and convey its message very subtly and as a natural part of the plot progression, without making it look preachy or holier-than-thou.
2. The script and the dialogues felt fresh and relatable. I cannot begin to tell how completely bored I am listening to the same old dialogues repeated by a hundred different characters on a thousand different ITV shows. At the initial stages of IPZN, I used to predict what a character might say in a certain situation and more often than not, I was wrong, and I was happy as an audience that I was wrong. Majority of the ITV shows lack the surprise element because they just don't bother but this show paid attention, and it was evident in the dialogues that were given to each character no matter who it was--Ishqi, Ahaan, Daadi, Karthik, Sonu, Raj, Chacha, Chachi, Maasi, Mayank, Sarla etc.
3. Most ITV shows don't know how to be naturally funny. Humor is a tricky art: not everyone can pull it off without making it look absolutely pointless and a pathetic attempt at forcing someone to laugh. Ishk Par managed to pull off humor really well because it just knew the psychology of its audience. The humor of this show was universal: no matter what age, gender, cultural or linguistic bracket we belong to, we found it naturally hilarious. That's a feat in itself considering how way below average ITV humor in general is.
4. The characters didn't have the typical ITV feel to them. As a normal, real human being, I don't look like Aishwarya Rai everyday, nor do I have absolutely gorgeous hair and my makeup game on point 24x7. I do not connect to characters who look gorgeous all the time, even when they're kidnapped and being held underground without food or water.
Ishqi, with her ordinary wardrobe, no visible makeup and her short hair, felt relatable.
Ishqi, dealing with body shaming/fat shaming and both her and Sonu's struggle/desire to fit in to a dress vis-à-vis the society's labels of 'beauty' felt relatable.
Ahaan knowing what is right in many scenarios and still letting the elders have the final word (because family relationships are delicate and important) felt relatable.
Karthik and Sonu, who respect their older brother and still manage to have light-hearted fun and leg-pulling, unlike most of ITV shows that depict a Suraj Barjatya (no offense) like picture of siblings, felt relatable.
Ishqi's dreams felt relatable.
Ahaan's overprotectiveness and worries felt relatable.
Karthik asking questions about society's norms felt relatable.
Sonu's constant struggle to be the 'ideal' and seek validation felt relatable.
Daadi and Sarla's taunts over trivial things and backhanded comments on anything progressive felt relatable.
I could go on and on but I wouldn't because somehow Sony doesn't see ANY of it, and I am not sure why. When other leading ITV channels are constantly competing over content that gives them exposure and popularity, so much so that some of them even turn to their regional peers for content to be remade in Hindi to target a greater number of audience base and keep them hooked, Sony chooses to turn a blind eye to its original content. I've witnessed this going on for decades and it never mattered to me as much because no other show was able to strike a chord with me the way this one did.
This show deserves a proper closure: no matter how well they wrap it up by mid-August, many of us will know in our hearts that this is not how they wanted to tell the story, and it's upsetting to think that they'll have to leave the stage before they finish the act in a manner that would be fair to the show and its loyal audience.
Saying 'no' straight-out is one thing but leading ALL these people on: the cast, the crew and not to mention the audience who's been doing YOUR work (promoting the show, reporting piracy, encouraging all to support the channel etc.) all this while is NOT DONE.
It's utterly unprofessional, reckless and counterproductive for the channel in the long run. As an overseas viewer, this is the first and last time I will pay for a SonyLIV subscription, and so will several of my friends who bought it ONLY for this show. All because we wanted to support the channel and the show. All because we didn't want to resort to illegal means to watch it without paying. All of that for nothing.
Sony folks, I wish you could see the number of lifelong customers (and their businesses) you'd be losing with this one decision but it probably does not matter since you never cared about your fictional shows (which, at any given time, is generally far better than what other channels offer) anyway.
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To Gul and Four Lions: All my past cribbing aside, I really really hope you can revive this show/bring something similar on a different platform that appreciates unique and good content. If that happens, you'll find me cheering in that crowd with millions of others who love your shows.
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