TOI:Women rule the small screen

It's accepted that men get the fattest paycheques in cinema, and that filmmakers don't sell their films in the name of their leading lady. But if there's one territory where men have been clearly dethroned – and women run the kingdom solely – it is the small screen.

So, switch on the idiot box, keep channel-surfing and you step into the world of baa, bahu, beti, behen, baby, babe, bitch, bindaas kudi... and their lives. The protagonist is always female, traditionally clad (don't forget the flying dupatta), often with a scrubbed clean, no make-up look, with a dash of kohl and tears in her eyes. But don't think she's super submissive – as a daughter, she fights the world, runs her family with a decent income, and when she's married, she faces her in-laws' atyachaar, her husband's extra-marital affairs, the family's happy and sad phases, supports her sister-in-laws' ambitions, while taking care of her own family, besides cooking, doing the morning prayers and managing to look good all the time, with not a hair out of place.

Recently, the backdrop of TV switched from urban, lavish bungalows to huts of the hinterland, but the subject remained the same – the life of a woman. So, welcome the balika vadhus, the laados, and the Gulaals, and all that's changed is their attire (as it had to be more rural). Clad in lehengas, they are there, again, ready to engage us in their stories – their fight for education, liberty, freedom, while being the caregiver and manager of harmony among feuding family members.

Since they have to fall in love, men do come in the frame, but are always left out of the title and the poster. Where was Armaan in "Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin" (only Mona Singh in her umbrella)? While there were three Mihirs in "Kyunki Saas Bhi...", none got to be next to Tulsi in the trailers! Be it Nivedita in "Chaand Chupa Baadal Mein", Sia in "Na Aana Iss Des Laado" or Pratigya in "Mann Ki Awaaz, Pratigya", the trailer begins and ends with the face of the heroine. It's not the saas-bahu saga always – serials like " Love You Zindagi" and " Sasural Genda Phool" too focus on the ladies in their rushes.

Women even end up stealing the limelight in most reality shows ( "Bigg Boss", "Roadies", "Splitsvilla", "Jhalak Dikhla Jaa"). Looks like TV's one place where there's a glass ceiling for men!