Posted:
I was not planning to comment on today's episode, but after reading a few of the comments, I am tempted to offer my (for the most part) determinedly contrary views. At the very least, they will add some spice to our deliberations!
I felt that today's PR was enough to
(a) give one diabetes, and
(b) make one double up with laughter.
(a) I thought the whole scene between Arjun and Archana was highly stilted and artificial,to say the least.
I am not saying this because Archana looked terminally dyspeptic and refused to give Arjun any aashirwaad. That was only to be expected; she would have been dismayed at the prospect of having to fulfil her end of the bargain, and what would she say then to Manav and her darling Ovi? After all, that is all she could think of after slapping the living daylights out of Purvi.
I say this because the way in which Arjun behaved towards Archana today was totally unlike him, going by his character graph so far. It was completely out of character. He respects his elders, but he is not the kind of young man given to falling at their feet and asking for their blessings. He has never touched Manav's feet or DK's , so why would he now do something so alien to his temperament and upbringing?
This apart, the scene was also soaked in enough mithaas (sweetness), from Arjun's side, to give the average healthy viewer a serious case of diabetes. All the saccharine stuff he was made to spout -about not having his mother and thus turning to Archana to bring him luck; seeking her aashirwaad, and then, when she refuses to bless him, saying that at least she did not prevent him from touching her feet - .. ugh.., it made me feel downright queasy.
That too after the way she treated him like dirt the day before. It is the kind of behaviour that one would expect from an obedient doormat of a bahu, ghunghat properly in place, towards her saas, not from Arjun (Kirloskar or not) towards Archana Deshmukh. Does the chap have no self-respect?
It was all so stagey and so obviously aimed at pleasing conventional lady viewers by making them feel that 'Arre, yeh ladka to khoob sanskaari nikala!' (This boy turns out to be very traditional, after all!). It was a ridiculous script, and it dumbed Arjun down several notches. I devoutly hope that this process is not going to be taken further, or the Arjun we have got to know and love will soon disappear, to be replaced by a standard issue male character in any TV soap.
(b) The idea of Arjun suddenly becoming an ace auto repairman is unintentionally hilarious. The same Arjun who, as has been pointed out above, regards a breakdown of his car with impatient non-involvement, is transformed, without even the benefit of a genie, into a super-Manav I. He does not even ask what is wrong with the 6 cylinder car, but merely pulls out a wire and wipes it, attempts a false start, then blows into another part - and then bingo! The engine is purring smoothly!
The sole believable part of this unplanned comedy turn is that Arjun has no real intention of working in a garage, but merely stumbles into the job by accident. When Jyoti reported that he was going to work in a garage, I could not imagine him how he would end up actually choosing such a job, but that has now been neatly sorted out.
The only part I liked today was the low key, sensible conversation between Arjun and Purvi. There was no romance; that would have been out of place. Instead, there was an unprecedented level of mutual understanding shown by both of them, which was all the more remarkable for being very natural, almost matter of fact.
It was refreshing to see that Arjun does not indulge in the time honoured lie of claiming that all is well, so as to spare Purvi any worry (something that invariably makes the problem worse, and never fails to get my goat). Instead, he is candid about the difficulties he has faced, and in return Purvi is quietly, but convincingly reassuring. This kind of unhesitating openness on his side, and calm supportiveness on hers, is as novel in soaps as it is refreshing, and it augurs well for their future relationship.
She is not able to turn him from the path he has chosen, but then she would have known that already, and while she worries about him, she must also be secretly proud of his determination and never say die attitude.
In conclusion, a few minor points. Arjun needs a quick lesson is how to hang clothes (in this case a towel) out for drying. Then again, does he HAVE to carry his papers around in a crumpled plastic bag? Surely one does not have to be Arjun Kirloskar to have a simple briefcase!
I also noted that while the mauve shirt, a staple in his wardrobe, was once again on display, there was, for the first time, a tie as well. This, as also the 'Sir's lavishly scattered all over his speech, even to the garage owner, make it clear that Arjun (now not Kirloskar) has well and truly joined the ranks of the workers of the world, no matter whether the collars are white or blue!
Shyamala B.Cowsik
I felt that today's PR was enough to
(a) give one diabetes, and
(b) make one double up with laughter.
(a) I thought the whole scene between Arjun and Archana was highly stilted and artificial,to say the least.
I am not saying this because Archana looked terminally dyspeptic and refused to give Arjun any aashirwaad. That was only to be expected; she would have been dismayed at the prospect of having to fulfil her end of the bargain, and what would she say then to Manav and her darling Ovi? After all, that is all she could think of after slapping the living daylights out of Purvi.
I say this because the way in which Arjun behaved towards Archana today was totally unlike him, going by his character graph so far. It was completely out of character. He respects his elders, but he is not the kind of young man given to falling at their feet and asking for their blessings. He has never touched Manav's feet or DK's , so why would he now do something so alien to his temperament and upbringing?
This apart, the scene was also soaked in enough mithaas (sweetness), from Arjun's side, to give the average healthy viewer a serious case of diabetes. All the saccharine stuff he was made to spout -about not having his mother and thus turning to Archana to bring him luck; seeking her aashirwaad, and then, when she refuses to bless him, saying that at least she did not prevent him from touching her feet - .. ugh.., it made me feel downright queasy.
That too after the way she treated him like dirt the day before. It is the kind of behaviour that one would expect from an obedient doormat of a bahu, ghunghat properly in place, towards her saas, not from Arjun (Kirloskar or not) towards Archana Deshmukh. Does the chap have no self-respect?
It was all so stagey and so obviously aimed at pleasing conventional lady viewers by making them feel that 'Arre, yeh ladka to khoob sanskaari nikala!' (This boy turns out to be very traditional, after all!). It was a ridiculous script, and it dumbed Arjun down several notches. I devoutly hope that this process is not going to be taken further, or the Arjun we have got to know and love will soon disappear, to be replaced by a standard issue male character in any TV soap.
(b) The idea of Arjun suddenly becoming an ace auto repairman is unintentionally hilarious. The same Arjun who, as has been pointed out above, regards a breakdown of his car with impatient non-involvement, is transformed, without even the benefit of a genie, into a super-Manav I. He does not even ask what is wrong with the 6 cylinder car, but merely pulls out a wire and wipes it, attempts a false start, then blows into another part - and then bingo! The engine is purring smoothly!
The sole believable part of this unplanned comedy turn is that Arjun has no real intention of working in a garage, but merely stumbles into the job by accident. When Jyoti reported that he was going to work in a garage, I could not imagine him how he would end up actually choosing such a job, but that has now been neatly sorted out.
The only part I liked today was the low key, sensible conversation between Arjun and Purvi. There was no romance; that would have been out of place. Instead, there was an unprecedented level of mutual understanding shown by both of them, which was all the more remarkable for being very natural, almost matter of fact.
It was refreshing to see that Arjun does not indulge in the time honoured lie of claiming that all is well, so as to spare Purvi any worry (something that invariably makes the problem worse, and never fails to get my goat). Instead, he is candid about the difficulties he has faced, and in return Purvi is quietly, but convincingly reassuring. This kind of unhesitating openness on his side, and calm supportiveness on hers, is as novel in soaps as it is refreshing, and it augurs well for their future relationship.
She is not able to turn him from the path he has chosen, but then she would have known that already, and while she worries about him, she must also be secretly proud of his determination and never say die attitude.
In conclusion, a few minor points. Arjun needs a quick lesson is how to hang clothes (in this case a towel) out for drying. Then again, does he HAVE to carry his papers around in a crumpled plastic bag? Surely one does not have to be Arjun Kirloskar to have a simple briefcase!
I also noted that while the mauve shirt, a staple in his wardrobe, was once again on display, there was, for the first time, a tie as well. This, as also the 'Sir's lavishly scattered all over his speech, even to the garage owner, make it clear that Arjun (now not Kirloskar) has well and truly joined the ranks of the workers of the world, no matter whether the collars are white or blue!
Shyamala B.Cowsik
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