Posted:
I apologize in advance if this gets super long. I've been a silent reader for a few weeks - ever since I started watching this show one month ago; I literally watched 500+ episodes in the span of three weeks! And now I'm completely hooked. These are my thoughts, especially with regards to what I think is the beauty of YRKKH, in the form of a letter to the producers/creatives of YRKKH. I haven't really sent this letter obviously; just thought it would be cool to do it in a different format.
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Dear Producers/Creatives of "Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai",
There have been recent complaints that YRKKH is getting boring and there hasn't been anything fresh and different in the storyline to keep viewers excited. While I agree the story has lacked depth in the past two weeks, it's definitely not "dying" (as someone recently said). What I think your Creative team needs to do is revisit the core of YRKKH, which is the relationship between Naitik and Akshara. From the beginning of the serial the story has been about Akshara's journey from a young, naive girl to a married, responsible woman. The other main concept of the show has been that of "love after marriage" and the way Naitik and Akshara grow together as a couple and as individuals. If your team starts focusing on their relationship again in relation to everyone else's problems, then YRKKH will continue to succeed. Naitik and Akshara are the driving force of the serial - the serial cannot succeed without their relationship as the foundation.
What makes this show so amazing though and keeps us fans hooked is the way we can all relate to Akshara's story - or at least, I know I can! Maybe I'm too much of a conservative and hopeless romantic, but when I first started watching YRRKH, Akshara's story immediately clicked with me. I never in a million years thought I would watch a Hindi serial - I've always thought they were overly dramatic and completely unrealistic; but somehow, YRRKH just made sense to me. I felt like I was seeing my life story displayed before my eyes. I'm in my early 20s, not married yet, and as much of an idealist and hopeless romantic as Akshara was before marriage. The simplicity and innocence with which her story and her relationship with Naitik has been portrayed is unlike any other Hindi serial I've attempted to watch. I don't think any other Hindi serial has a story so clean like YRRKH where the characters all dress so modestly, there are no excessive short dresses/cleavage/etc., no over-the-top and unnecessary songs/dances, no outward negative/evil character that's out to ruin someone's life - it is pure and simple and very realistic. Yes, sometimes Akshara's character gets annoying because she always tries to suck up to her mother-in-law and Nandini, for example, but then when I really think about it... I probably would do the same. I know that sounds really weird, but I can relate to Akshara's lack of self-esteem, because essentially, that's what her problem is - she lacks self-esteem. She's worried about others not liking her - yes, that puts her marriage at risk because she spends way too much time thinking about everyone around her except Naitik - but, I feel like if I were in her position, I'd probably do the same (which isn't a good thing obviously!). Though, in light of the concept of "girl to womanhood" that's probably one of the things the serial should show - how Akshara learns to get over this lack of self-confidence and stand up for herself. This will not only improve her sense of individualism, but also bring her closer to her husband.
But what really is the best part about YRRKH? Hands down, the romance between Naitik and Akshara. I've looked at some of the other lead couples on other serials, and I don't think I've seen a love so innocent, pure, and genuine as with Akshara and Naitik. The love after marriage concept (which I'm a huge fan of!) has been portrayed so beautifully between the two characters - it's romantic without being raunchy, and sensual without being sexual - that is how a good television serial should be. However, like many other YRKKH fans, I do wish there was some progression in their relationship. The love is there, but where is the romance? Marriage is built on the actions of being in love - something we haven't seen between the couple in a long time. I find myself every so often watching the video mixes made by very talented fans that display the beautiful relationship between Naitik and Akshara, and I realize how much I miss the little things - Akshara's kiss on Naitik's forehead in the morning, Naitik hugging Akshara from behind while she's doing something, Naitik trying to get Akshara's attention - simple things like that that make the relationship so beautiful! We as fans don't want too much, but if we could get one sweet scene between Naitik and Akshara at least every two days, it would make our life! Sometimes I want Naitik and Akshara to get angry at each other for the pure reason that I know they will at least be thinking of each other, and the moment they reunite, at least that will be a beautiful scene to look forward to. When they're always happy with each other, we get less cute scenes than when they're angry at each other! Why?! What the story needs to now do is re-focus on their relationship - find a story track that will build their commitment and trust towards one another, but still keep the romance alive!
All in all, I think I've found my perfect guilty pleasure in the form of YRKKH. I just hope the Producers and Creatives re-focus their energies to the driving force of this show - Akshara and Naitik's relationship. Once they do that, everything will come together smoothly, and YRKKH will once again go back to the top of the TRP charts, and sweep all the awards at the award shows. There are many dedicated, genuine fans out there who love and appreciate YRKKH and if you continue to make fresh, exciting tracks, then you will have many new fans of the show!
Love,
A genuine (but desperately waiting for some sweet Naitik-Akshara moments!) fan.
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Well, those are my thoughts. I'm sure I have a lot more things floating around in my head, but I really wanted to get all of this out. I don't think I've ever been as obsessed with a show as I am with YRKKH, and as obsessed with a love story as I am with Naitik and Akshara. The show speaks for itself - people realize its simplicity and beauty, and that's why there's so much love for it. Yes, the TRP ratings haven't been great, and other shows like "Pratigya" and "Sasuraal Gendha Phool" might be doing better in terms of TRP ratings, but that doesn't matter. So, let's all get our voting caps on hehe, and make sure we vote for YRKKH in all the categories they're nominated for in the "Star Parivaar Awards". And let's continue to hope that the story will only keep improving and we get those cute Naitik-Akshara moments we desperately want...
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