Plot line problems with dominantly male creative & production team

The fact that the current narrative in Yrkkh is being spun by a male dominant team that fails to have any empathy or sensitivity is evident in the plot line. This post is not intended to trigger a binary debate between men vs women and who has a larger share of the poisoned pie. It is only an attempt to share some thoughts on how the narrative itself is poisoned for all creative individuals who are part of this process when you have a dominantly masculine vision. So here goes:

1. Most of the female characters are written in a two dimensional manner. They’re either extremely good and virtuous, neurotically obsessive or deviously evil, depending on the flavour of the season for that character. Male characters on the other hand atleast get to portray some layered characteristics and emotions- they are allowed to operate in the grey area. Precisely because only they get a chance at ‘redemption’. Female characters get a complete makeover from good to evil or vice-versa with zero POVs. This is the result of the male gaze in story narration
2. Then there is the age factor. The older characters (female or male) have very little to contribute, other than to heap misfortune on the all-suffering female protagonist. In some instances they get to mouth inane words of advice- more as fillers than to enable the narrative.
3. Interesting to see how the cameo and the ML are portrayed as very sensitive care givers when it comes to children. Now this would have been perfect, if the PH didn’t feel the need to run down the nurturing side of the female characters. The FL is shown to be oscillating between being distant and/or irritable or overly anxious around her child. She is not attuned to her kid’s health situation, and also shown to be careless in not electing to take him to the Doctor immediately even when the kid’s foster Dad suggested the idea. Ofcourse this is to justify the guilt they will later show her experiencing when the severity of the kid’s illness is revealed. Similarly Ruhi’s mother does not have very many scenes to show their bonding. Instead it is the ML again dominating that space and also handing out certificates declaring Ruhi’s mother is a ‘good mother’!
4. What is especially remarkable is the creative team’s fascination with the concept of instant divorce. No way would the divorce have been feasible with the narrative they showed with the main parties losing all communication with each other for the ensuing 6 years and making no appearance in court. While we may suspend our logic, the insight it offers is interesting. It does seem that the makers are inspired by medieval plot lines that dealt with the idea of instant divorce. I am reminded of the movie Nikaah. The current track seems to be loosely based on the same premise- husband pronounces ‘talaq’ in a fit of rage. Later repents. Then can only get back with the female lead as per religious dictates of that time if the FL has led a married life with another partner. There is obviously a fair amount of cringe factor associated with such concepts while it is presented in the garb of justice for the woman. And it is sure to draw in the audience in a big way. The Yrkkh PH is modelling their plot line on this idea. While they realize they cannot actually portray the idea in its entirety, they are certainly working on the premise.

This is not to say that inclusion of a few female creatives helps make the storyline sensitive or progressive. Many a times they too may be conditioned to harbour and portray regressive story lines as we saw happen especially in the post confession tracks- the plot lines then were juvenile and just plain lazy writing. Progressive story lines that allow the narrative and characters to evolve take effort, human insight and sensitive perspective among both creatives and PH heads.

Finally, it is amazing how clueless the PH is about the current times and public discourses about gender equality and positive portrayal of women in the media. How else does one explain how the current creative lead got to post such a politically incorrect message related to international women’s day on his SM account displaying utter lack of sensibility and sensitivities.

Having said this, hope that the cast and crew have an enriching professional journey (without having to obsequiously thank the PH where they’re working each time!- that’s a subject for another rant) that gives them a decent earning and a meaningfully engaging career.

Thanks for putting that into words.

I always feel that show should be balanced between both ml and fl. Why it's necessary for them to show lead fl is sacrificing lamb and ml as arrogant human being who can divorce his wife within snap of his fingers.

Why girls are shown too unrealistic in the show.

1. Like she needs some one support to survive.

2. She gets hurt and leaves everything for some one's mistake.

3. Girl's mayka is of no use when she faces all these troubles.

4. Girl prefers to stay with stranger irrespective of their loving mayka. I understand if akshu's mayka was some goonda's who will sell her away but they were sweet ppl. If she would have tried they would have understood. But inorder to bring leap they had to show akshu is helpless women.

5. Sweet cameo helps her in her life and stays with her for past 6 years without any expectation which is definitely not realistic.

6. They again make ml and fl reconcile even after showing all this non sense. Why can't ml he the sweet person like how he wa introduced from very beginning before showing all these trash.

7. Fl is shown as under confident girl and stays in her trauma for 6 years long. Like in current era every girl knows nothing is permanent so they should atleast tell the world is marriage is not everything and just sitting and thinking about it will do no good to you. You have to move on in your career. In your life. But here they show move on with another man. Chuck your career you are still abla bechari a guy has abandoned you. Nonsense.

This is the sole reason i like supernatural shows over itv drama. As fl will not cry every day. It will be hardly one day epi and she bounce back. That's modern day women should be instead of repenting over there past they should bounce back and show the world that they don't need any sympathy.

Yes it’s truly unfortunate what they’ve reduced the storyline to. The third season had a refreshing start. The FL knew her mind and was comfortable with whatever she was pursuing professionally. It’s almost like all the appreciation that the season got for Saba’s writing didn’t sit well with the creative team that then took over. The result was that post confession there were never ending and nauseating parallels of scenes (that touched the audience’s heart in the first round) and no coherent storyline.

With the current track the creative team and makers are swinging towards the other extreme. They seem to be keen on destructing the entire pre-confession narrative that held sway in the mind of the audience. And so there were interviews where the PH head was dismissive of the emotions portrayed in the early track using the trite reference:”being in love with the idea of love”. And once the early narrative is destroyed they will rebuild the storyline. The current creatives seem to be operating with the hubris that whatever they have envisioned for the couple is so spectacular that it will recapture the audience’s imagination. And whatever they have planned is a more evolved understanding of ‘love’ as they seem to be certain they know better than others- certainly in their mind they have a better grasp on it than seasoned writers like Saba perhaps. Well, Good luck to them.