Random Musings - Nov 15 - 20, 2010 (Week 5) - Uptd - Page 13

Originally posted by: lovtv

Hey Jaya,

Watched the maha episode late last night. Here are my thoughts:

The show played out brilliantly as expected. I love the cinematography of the show and it was great as always. All the actors were wonderful as always. The plot, as expected, was all about revelation of Priya's story.

Here is where I was disappointed. Priya tells Aditya her past in a letter and that is all so soapy and cliche. The letter hasn't yet gotten into Adi's hands and as with letters they never quite make it the rightful recipient. There are misunderstandings until a dramatic reveal. With this show I wanted the truth to come out and for them to deal with it head on. As you can imagine I didn't like the story coming out in a flashback to the audience not Adi.

Another disappointment was Bramhanand being the real negative character in the show. I really liked his character of a strong handed patriarch of the family and enjoyed his relationship dynamics within the family from his father, to wife to the two sons and employees. Now regardless of what he does he can't redeem himself from his past and can't be forgiven. I feel a bit sad that everything he does will be tainted by that one heinous act.

I know that Priya's story and what happened to her is beyond anything but I am actually glad that she wasn't actually raped (at least I hope so) because if she was then she can't marry Adi and be forever related to her rapist. That would be beyond horrible.

Overall I feel the maha episode was not all that maha as it didn't propel the story any farther. It did nothing they couldn't have easily done on Monday.

@kvva Very good points. I was struggling with Brahmanand's characterization too. The writers in this story have painted various aspects to each character. So...I don't think that their intention is to make Brahmanand the villain of this story. I feel like they have just pealed back the onion a little bit with the Yashpal-bribing story. Given his power hungry personality type, I do not buy his being honest...does not jive with what we have seen so far. I think there will be a twist to that story...of course this could all be wishful thinking on my part but for now I am waiting and watching.

Jays and everybody...finally all caught up. Coming to Saturday's episode, I found it hard to connect with Priya's pain. Was it the acting or the script...maybe a bit of both. In contrast, every time I see Kamya emote as Uttara, I feel her character's pain...acutely. With Ridhi...I am simply unable to. Molestation is a big deal. The devastation associated with that is horrifying to watch...here...I felt very little. So...for a story peak, this was disappointing to me.

That said, the acting from everybody else here is top-notch. Got to say...I have a teeny tiny crush on Aditya's character...😳

@lovtv I agree with you about the letter. I did not like that. Now that letter still has to reach Aditya...who knows if it will.

@kvva The SSP is cold with everybody except Aditya...wonder why. He cannot even bear to be late and get Aditya angry...there has to be more to explore there.

Well this is my first time joining in the discussion. I caught with the episodes today. I agree with most that you have said Jaya and Shelly. I agree about the screenplay - really good. I am very impressed. I have a few points to make

1. Uttara - love the story line. Can't wait to see how that folds out. I'm assuming their daughter is dead and not at school. This is because noone asks about her and if she was just away somewhere they'd casually say 'how is she?' Silence on the subject makes me think she's dead. Also the fact that the many many pictures were of a baby - all of the same age.
Second part in that story - abusers usually hit their victim over the body and not the face, this way the victim can hide the wounds a little more easily.

2. Devyani - I find it hard to like her after her behaviour with Uttara. And harder yet to sympathize with her after she listened to Gaurav pour his heart out to her and she walk away.
Also kind of creepy watching her bathe Vidya so that Vidya can have sex with her son.

3. Gaurav - they are completely letting us think he's gay. Every statement is vague. ...but he won't be gay. Not in an Indian soap.

4. Priya - hmmm. Not the greatest of actors. That stands out because everyone else is good to really great. Her story - I find it kind of weak. Yes, she was sexually abused ( I don't get this "molested" business) but the acting especially when she's crying makes me cringe and not sypathetically.

5. SSP :Brahmanand - I had liked his character, now I'm not sure what's going on. I mean he could have remained a total a** and still be a strong character. It's hard to come back from sexual assault (though other soap characters have done it over many years, but mostly because the writers kind of rewrite history) and he can't claim it was a misunderstanding (she fell on me when the train moved and...) since he called her and threatened her later. O well.....look forward to discovering him.

6. Aditya - he's being portrayed as sweet and niave. However, I I don't agree. I didn't find the garland around Priya's neck gesture sweet and romantic but a form of controlling behaviour. He doesn't listen to her. By doing what he does, he didn't give her a chance to say no (sound familiar??), but forced his decision on her. Also, he most likely won't read her letter, again not listening to her.

Anyway, those are my random musings.
I am very impressed by darlunia's detailed updates and analysis. Very insightful.

Hey Jaya,
Just watched Saturday's epi. I can't find anything to add to whats been said already. But I truly appreciate the creative for the train scn in the flashback. It was excellent in showcasing the horror of the event. Yes, in other scns Ridhi's acting is not up to par. But she has the potential to be good. I've seen her in two other shows. First in LTL where she really didn't get much scope except to wear around one expression. Then i saw her Rishta.com where she was much much better and sort of fit right into the skin of her character. I am not sure if that was because Ridhi is similar to that character in real life so didn't have to 'act' much or not. But hopefully she improves as her characters is going to be the transformational force for the other women as well.

As for SSP's character.. i think his vice is that he is addicted to power. The way i see, his ego and pride is build around his occupation and status in society. He uses that power to get royal treatment for himself and his family. And thats why the "respect and honor" is so important to him and he stresses about it in front of Gaurav... i am not sure he knows about Gaurav being gay (if that is his issue) but I think whatever Gaurav's issue is, it would have dealt a major blow to Bhramanand's sense of honor in society and so he put pressure on Devyani and Devyani put pressure on Gaurav to force him into a marriage with Vidya. On the other hand Aditya gets all the pampering because Adi is proving to be the ideal son that Bhramanand wants. There was a photograph on the wall that the camera focused on briefly right after Yashpal left in anger and SSP was talking to Adi on the phone. The photo was of SSP sitting and Adi and Gaurav on this right and left. The camera only focused on Adi and Bhramanand. Even the details in the show can mean so much.
Like in the Gaurav Vidhya sequence.. after the phone incident when Gaurav came up to the temple and Vidhya joined him, they were not the focus of the scn but the tension between them was still evident on both their faces until Adi hugged Gaurav.

In Adi's case, i find Insom-mia's take interesting. The fact that Adi is not sweet and naiive but controlling. I don't have such a negative take on Adi's character. I tend to agree a little with Mr. Pradhan's judgment of Adi's character. On the face he seems "chanchal" and immature, the kind of person who has not seen the darker side of life. But instead of seeing him as immature, its better to see him as frank and clear-headed. He is selfish (to the extent that everyone else is) but is not afraid to make a display of it. He wants what he wants and won't hesitate to ask or to try and attain it. Lekin dil ka saaf hai. I feel that if he got the sense that Piya doesn't like him, then he wouldn't pursue her so much. But he always had the feeling that Piya needed him, and liked him too and that he could be her support. Why he got that feeling? When? After the first meeting? How? those are questions that are left unanswered. Maybe he is someone with strong instincts (lol..speaking from experience). Maybe the fact that he doesn't want to listen to her side of the story is because he already had made up his mind about her innocence. He cannot see her as the kind of person that people claim her to be and so he doesn't care to listen to the story. It doesn't matter.. he has faith in her goodness of character. Why? (again maybe instinct).

Feel for Piya tho..wish Adi would listen to her, understand her before he claims to know her.

Darlunia, .....and also the responders,👏👏

Originally posted by: kvva

First of all, does there exist a completely bad person? I personally dont agree to such existence, in normal circumstances. I mean, there can be few mentally inbalanced people. Most of the people are grey in nature. Have both black and white traits and their behaviour can change based on circumstances, the person associated and many more things. Earlier days, both the films as well as serials were potraying black and white characters. But nowdays grey characters are becomng more and more popular as they are more realistic. Especially in a serial like Maryada, which appears to be more realistic, do they want to show SSP as a complete black character.

In all what is Maryada doing ? Is it another typical serial with usual dramatic, unrealistic twists and turns ?

Exactly! The reason all of the indian serials turn me off is the way all characters are painted black or white. There is no realism.

I think they are trying to paint him as a grey character. But I also feel that they are going to lose their way as the serial goes on...

On the other hand, Maryada is part of a new strategy by star plus to show show of which the other serial is Kaali and the main villain in that soap is completely black. (i think)
And somehow there are too many similarities between Brahmanand and the villain of Kaali, to make me feel that Brahmanand will be all out black which will be very boring to see!

Originally posted by: Insom-mia

6. Aditya - he's being portrayed as sweet and niave. However, I I don't agree. I didn't find the garland around Priya's neck gesture sweet and romantic but a form of controlling behaviour. He doesn't listen to her. By doing what he does, he didn't give her a chance to say no (sound familiar??), but forced his decision on her. Also, he most likely won't read her letter, again not listening to her.

Anyway, those are my random musings.
I am very impressed by darlunia's detailed updates and analysis. Very insightful.

YES! I noticed those things too! But I like those controlling streaks of his because atleast it is, in my mind, a sort of flaw/fault in his character. Makes me hope better for a more balanced characterization for the "hero" of a story. Headstrong and has a very tilted POV. Jumps off the cliff regardless of the dangers.

Also, it is one trait that he has directly picked up from his dad.