Television girls step out of the kitchen(Article)

Post the five year leap in Bade Acche Lagte Hai, Priya (Sakshi Tanwar), a single mother ismanaging a book store, Indira Sharma (Rati Pandey) in Hitler Didi runs a travel agency, Kritika Kamra is a doctor in Kuch Toh Log Kahenge, Krishna in Afsar Bitiya is a Block Development Officer, Pratigya (Pooja Gor), though married to an illiterate guy, is being encouraged to become a lawyer in Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya, Mrs Vyas (Akanksha Singh), a mother of two in Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha has just turned a journalist, Kavita Kaushik is popular for her cop act in FIR and young Sia (Abigail Jain) in Hum Se Hai Liife is aspiring to be a boxer! Clearly, female protagonists on TV are moving beyond kitchen politics, striving to carve an identity of their own — juggling between home and career, they mirror the life of a contemporary Indian woman.

Sakshi, who as the iconic Parvati was in the forefront of the saas bahu sagas in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii attributes it to serials and characters becoming real and progressive. "Parvati and Priya are as different as chalk and cheese. If the two come face-to-face they will completely disapprove of each other," laughs Sakshi.

Ila Bedi, who is scripting Hitler Didi, feels that the transformation was inevitable. "Even in small towns, women are handling homes and careers and it's about time TV reflected that change," she says.

Though producer Rajan Shahi agrees that women are no longer steeped in kitchen politics, he argues that it's the stereotypes that still garner more eyeballs. "It was a huge gamble to base Kuch Toh Log Kahege in the medical profession with the protagonists as doctors. Though several women are working, serials depicting it are not favoured. Viewers prefer the home space," he maintains. But Kritika herself is glad that a woman is no longer just a 'Mrs so and so' and has an identity of her own. "It's fun to be able to play the role of a working woman, wife, daughter, intern — all in one character! And the identity is so strong that when I meet fans they call me Dr Nidhi," smiles Kritika.

Pratigya's Pooja Gor is happy that she is able to play a role which doesn't show her wearing glittering jewellery and heavy saris. "My character, aspiring to be a lawyer,shows that today's women are as competitive as men," she avers.

With TV getting real, it shouldn't be long before working women take centre-stage in serials.