A wake up call! - Page 6

Caught the rerun.

Even before I could rue missing it initally, I could see I wouldnt have missed much anyways. The SBB segment earlier on the day pretty much outlined what was worth looking forward to.

Yesterdays episode hinted at ' joote do paise lo ' sequence and Adi - Pinky naughty act hitting it off to a start was endearing.

Geet and Maan as always lit up the screen and our hearts with their air time. The two never had eyes for anyone but themselves but hey who's complaining.

Daar ji's bang on time for kanyadaan bit was leaked on SBB and the novelty had worn off. I had always hoped CV unite Geet and her family and they pull off the act to coincide with the wedding. Neat!

We all have come to be so fond of Geet that we are rooting for Maan to bring her every dream/wish/whims/fancies (also adding some of ours in the process) to materialise them.

Finally, Annie and Arjun.

Their whirlwind romance ( pre and post Arjun's character turning negative) defies logic. Not unexpected though. CV has a rich history of being on the erring side of logic and common sense.

The story was otherwise brewing to a boiling point and CV adds an undesirable concoction. As if picking a rookie wasn't bad enough they stoop to a new low- borrowing plot from 'K' series.

What started off as a family drama, meant to highlight social issues and a girl's fight for justice is slowly steadily sinking into a revenge saga.

Teens and adults alike reasoned that the wronged should claim her life back with dignity and self respect intact and the perpetrators of the crime be out behind bars.

That's a social responsibility with each of us and CV struck the right chords there. Maan's character was the perfect foil and despite a million rationality being tossed around carelessly, the character's righteousness ensured wecome to love the lead pair.

Today the two have come a long way on the show and the characters are etched on our minds forever. And then CV rocks the boat and is in for a free fall.

The dead rising from the ashes, marital disharmony, revenge-avenge plot,extra marital affairs, children outside of wedlock, way ward brothers and sisters, general lack of morality, betrayal, in law horror, evil daughter in law, pregnancies from all plausible reasons ranging from rape, consensual to raging hormones?

Sounds familiar? They are the chief elements in most or all of the shows that run daily across 100's of channel. Take a look at each in singularity and I demand to know why GHSP should be any different?

The answer probably lies in the treatment of these elements and blending it into the story without any of them sticking out like an eye sore. And then things change and it's been such a let down.

Annie making out with Arjun under the same roof as her brother's wedding is unacceptable. It's a new low for CV. We understand dramatics. Bringing in Brij and Nayantara right when the wedding bells toll was theatrical enough. A la Parineeta act was entirely expendable.

I recall the scene from one of the earliest episode when Geet sneaks out of her home to meet Maan and asks him for the agent's contact number who sold the plot to him. Maan was condescending to her and alludes to her presence in his house at that hour in a very bad light. Geet nearly slaps him but restrains herself and says , " you were right about not using force / strike a blow to the helpless.And something about?aapki soch bhi utni hi choti hai?."

For a man as principled as Maan, CV deemed fit that Arjun delivers the blow where it hurts the most. And so, they contrive the story to portray a man taking advantage of a woman to put his plan through.

Now those of you raising an eyebrow at the word ' advantage' can rest easy. CV actually has a social message in there. We need to read between the lines.

So if a girl like Annie can fall to charming deception, shed her inhibitions along with clothes, it could happen to be just about anyone in real world.

I do believe in love at first sight. And if we dint believe in love we wouldn't be following GHSP today. Yet, Annie-Arjun's romance is unacceptable to us

Why

Because it is running parallel to the all important wedding track?

Because we are deeply passionate about the impact of it on Maan-Geet track?

Because, it's beyond our sensibilities to see a man-woman fall in love in a matter of days?

Because, they compromise on social norms and indulge in promiscuous behavior?

Because, Annie's character is portrayed as one with 'easy' virtues?

Aforementioned are 2 set of reasoning. One from the story PoV and the other from a social PoV. Do put your thinking caps on and reconsider why GHSP appeals to you.

I don't want to sound like a saint or be preachy but I was sold to the concept that the show was addressing a social evil. It was being done in an immensely appealing fashion, targeted the youth, oozed innocence and simplicity, did not resort of shenanigans or exaggerations, kept the fun factor intact, had lead actors working their magic on us and we fell to these charms despite a wayward storyline.

It has increasingly, overwhelmingly and obsessively boiled down to Geet and Maan today.No offense to all Geet-Maan fans. They are the reason I am still watching the show. I am merely thinking aloud.

Why was Chak De India, Rang de basanti, Fashion such big hits? Only because they had good performances? I highly doubt that. All 3 were youth oriented movies and they held a message there in?

Even "Paheli" has stupenduous performances and even nominated in a category for the Oscars. It was a major dud despite the stars. Why? Because one din't connect to it?

Its time we look at the big picture and draw conclusions than to go with the flow of widespread emotions.

Long after the show wraps up on Star One I want to remember the story as a fairytale. Not as a show that had a sister getting cosy and comprising her own moral values as also putting the household honor at stake.

Now that's a double edged sword. 'Honor'. Define it.

Why is that when Geet's family ask her to abort the child and keep mum over the betrayal for the sake of family honor we find Geet's rebellion righteous.Because Geet believes it is right? She has been wronged and she wants to keep the baby and wage a lone battle against social prejudices governed by a male dominated society. Therefore, Geet is actually exercising her free will. Geet conceived as a result of a con job. She din't know she was part of a bigger plan.

Now let's consider Annie.

She is a spoilt, rich brat, used to getting things her way and like most teenagers with a very dismissive attitude to speak of. Along comes a man she feels is a perfect match to her. She doesn't wait to be asked and is the new age woman making the first move. She believes she is right in choosing her partner and exercise her will.

She isn't the first woman on planet to be duped by charms of a man.

She isn't the first woman to give into raging hormones.

She isn't the first woman to lie about her love escapades.

She isn't the first woman to prioritize love over family.

She isn't the first human being who is just plain stupid.

But she is branded stupid? Too forward? And to use words used in other threads on this forum?badtameez, naalayak, chaalooo , fast?so on and so forth.On the show it's a complete circle. Annie will pretty much land in same situationas Geet was at the beginning of the show.

Today we are tolerant of live in's, divorces, bigamy, consummating prior to tying the knot?and we label this as personal freedom and free will. I for one will respect a choice and can live with that. But there is no need for me to measure it up against my set of values and ethics. To each his own.

The reactions on the thread devoted to Annie and Arjun is vicious purely from the story PoV. I was hoping to see someone look at the issue in totality beyond just the story.

If I needed to preach I would have turned a social activist or worse still join hands with National Commission for Woman and actually do something than write posts on a forum dedicated to the entertainment industry.

Valid point. However, the motive here was to draw on the thought process of the common man. You and I. We are the audience. We are part of the society. The same mass that CV is trying to cater by way of entertainment. We are part of that society which unites to give Jessica Lal case a retrial. We united to express solidarity to an earthquake or a flash flood in the same breath as we were outraged over a powerful nation flattening another, for rhyme and reason best known to them, as if it owned the world.

Yes I watch the show to escape from the reality of it all. Commercial formula based movies are a run away hit and its poorer cousin from "art house" meet with debacles at the BO. A perfectly good show is taking on unwarranted burdens upon itself and ruining the essence of it. That's my grouse.

Yes, you can ask me to shut up with my lecture and take it elsewhere. Well. I would. For now. It's late. And if you are still reading this you know it's a long post. It's been a long day. I will try and leave my brain out of this in future and stick to cutesy posts.

A weekend that was anything but a breeze and a hectic start to work week!!!Sounds familiar??? That's the real world knocking me back to my sense ..way removed from reel life. If only I could stay on a little longer in my reveries.Sigh!!

Originally posted by: GodHelpUs

I am expecting CV to pack a punch with Annie's stand on the fiasco.

I am hoping it redefines the social standing for a woman who has been dealt with such a cruel hand. A thundering slap on the faces of all those who think women are mere pawns in their hand. After Arjun's revelation of his true intentions, there is no need for Annie to grieve endlessly. She is young to get over the heartbreak and the proximity that held a world of promises too shall be soon forgotten.

By shedding tears and mourning a loss that she never owned in the first place she needn't play right into Arjun's hands. May her choices, shatter into smithereens the notion that a victimized woman has to take cover of silence and live with the wrongs. May she take a leaf out of Geet's journals and live with the consequences of her choices and happily so, with or without a man by her side.

The most idiotic theory on the planet is that a woman needs to have a man by her side, that marriage is a be all end all and that motherhood completes her. Now, no one is arguing the sanctity of these institutions but certain notions are arguable.

Loosing virginity /making out with a wrong man is traumatic indeed but one needn't feel victimized over it. My opinion purely and I do wish GHSP makes a bold statement with the current storyline.