I thought about why Vivaah has not performed particularly well. Do the storylines suck? Are they limited to the same people? No new news, except Rajdeep's past? Or is it that other shows like ghar ki lakshmi betiyaan have already tacked the daughters thing, making Vivaah a take-off on that? Are the characters too hard to empathize with and understand?
Who knows the real reasons why?
I'm taking a stab at answering my own question. Here is a top 10 list of why Vivaah is not doing well. It would be great to read some of your thoughts on why it is not doing well.
1. Kul is so dislikable, never understanding what her daughters tell her. Her intentions are certainly good. It's just that her preoccupation with money overrides everything else. I think this turns people off. People are also turned off by the lack of "evil characters" or matriarch. Now we have Nupur though.
2. The rape storyline took place fairly early in the show's run. I tend to think viewers like to have closure on these things and then move on. The rape is still a central part of the story today and will be in the near future because of Kanaiya's return. God, I hate that he has such a pure name.
3. Sharing things, a hallmark of Indian family values, is good. Sharing people is not. Marrying the sister of your love is a bit much, too out-of-the-boxish. I've seen rape storylines before (Saath Phere) and they've chosen a less absurd way of dealing. While Yuv/Tanya pairing is cute, it's horrific to think of that happening in a family. I honestly believe many viewers think this is preposterous. Do you know anyone who has followed Yuv's example?
4. No new fresh characters. The girls' male cousin who stay with them?
5. Sujata's wedding/non-wedding. This storyline is really stupid because it keeps going on and on. Are the viewers really going to have to wait years for her marriage? What about the family's honor? I'm sure Kul would be more than happy to fill the void with another wealthy guy.
6. Middle-class, upper-class. Watching the Kohli family be verbally abused by "upper-class" people is credible, I could see these things happen. But their meekness, submissiveness and lack of personal pride are not.
7. Noone knows their a*s from their head when watching this show. The characters, the viewers, and probably even the creatives. What's the point of the storylines? Who belongs with who? Resolution hints. For me, sitting on my comfortable, destroyed by children sofa, watching a show that has strong storylines...good. Watching a show that is somewhat aspirational, a tad sensational, and positive...better. Watching a serial that (somewhat) makes sense and makes me smile--priceless. I think Vivaah has failed in this regard.
8. Count your blessings Kul is not your mother. While well-intentioned, she angers viewers with her obsessions. Nothing stands in her way--not daughters' tears, not insults to her face, not Mr. Kohli's interjections. I think she turns viewers off because she "acts" in a way that we all
9. Daughters turn out like mothers. So which daughter has the best chance of being Kul 2? Also, all four daughters are good, which I love. But when will the tensions begin? Trishna being understanding about the horrible rape and Yuv's selflessness. But no offense, do people really need to marry to provide support and honor? This storyline has been a debacle. How to end now?
10. No real love story in the show, no defining couple. Some of you may disagree, but I think it is 100% true. Whenever I think of Yuv/Tanya, I always think of the rape and that he was Trish's fiance. Their falling into a romantic situation is akin to watching platonic best friends fall in love almost by force--there's nothing else for them to do.
Sujata and Raghav clearly are not this couple. There is love there but no passion, no excitement. And I'm afraid to say, with Yuv and Tanya, though both are nice, I just find it INCREDIBLE that Yuv and Trishna's jodi was broken in the way it was and when it is apparent they still have feelings towards each other. Yuv/Trishna do have some power--Trishna is strong and fiesty, a bit funny; Yuv is a little of the opposite, calm and generous to a fault. I think this makes for a better pairing. I just don't get the same feeling with Tanya as most of you do. I just don't "see" or "feel" her personality except she's nice, loving, and caring of others.