Posted:
I dont think Indian shows and their characters are quite the right examples to take up in a discussion on ethics, values et el!
When the makers believe that their TRPS, the sole determinant of their survival, are dependent on such delicious ingredients as partner swapping, multiple partners, incest, harrassment of women and so on, what kind of moral standards/ social values can you expect their characters to adhere to?
Anyway, since fidelity has been much discussed on the forum over the last few days or so, I just thought to chip in with my two cents worth!
Just as much as marriage is a social contract, it is as much if not more a personal contract between two individuals. They alone have the right to determine the parameters around which to build the relationship and make the rules and regulations that govern it. In this context, if a couple determine that sexual fidelity is not a requirement in their marriage, then they may be breaking a social stereotype apropos marriage but their individual contract remains valid and unvilolated. Open marriages are a fairly common ocurence where husbands/wifes take on other partners outside of the marriage with the express/implied consent of their respective partners. They maybe staying together in a marriage for whatever reason and may still prefer to seek sexual pleasure outside of the marriage bed, again for whatever reasons. However, since their actions are not covert and not kept secret from their spouses and, even better, are done with their tacit consent, the marriage contract remains perfectly valid. The world and his wife may take offence to their values/ standards et al but, given that sexual fidelity is purely a matter between the concerned parties, who the hell cares? The contract was made with your spouse and society is only a witness at max! And if said spouse and you have agreed not to conform to a social norm, then society has no business poking their nose into what is purely your personal domain. You might be the object of salacious gossip but beyond that, who cares!
In the context of this show, which I believe has plummetted to the lowest of lows not necessarily in terms of values but in terms of credible story telling and characterization, I think that Ayaan and Zoya have accepted that their arrangement is nothing but a farce that is being enacted to save a certain situation aka Nikhat's impending marriage! They may have signed a piece of paper but clearly they have no respect for it. They do not consider themselves bound by it emotionally oe physically. They are merely living out a charade and hence do not feel that meeting their respective lovers is an offensive act. It is almost like the case of two actors who are contracted to perform in a show or a film. That is all the sanctity they attach to their arrangement. Once the curtains go down, they believe that the charade will come to an end and they can move on with their lives. So, there is no question of any emotional conflict given that both of them are united in their perception of this arrangement and also well aware of the fact that they have other people waiting for their return.
Yes, while you play a charade, it is best not to get caught out! But, you are hjuman at the end of the day! And caught in an emotional maelstorm, it is only too common place to slip out of character and seek the comforrt of that reality that you hope to return to!
If at all Asad, Zoya, Humeira and Ayaan have to be hanged for their crimes then, in my opinion, this so called infidelity is the least of them!
All this apart, I absolutely loathe Gul Khan's contrived story telling sans logic of any sort! But, while on the subject of morals etc, let us not even start looking at the bizarre and ludicrous actions of the characters of this show through that prism! They are far too contived for any kind of serious analysis!
Just my humble opinion. Not to prove anyone right or wrong!
When the makers believe that their TRPS, the sole determinant of their survival, are dependent on such delicious ingredients as partner swapping, multiple partners, incest, harrassment of women and so on, what kind of moral standards/ social values can you expect their characters to adhere to?
Anyway, since fidelity has been much discussed on the forum over the last few days or so, I just thought to chip in with my two cents worth!
Just as much as marriage is a social contract, it is as much if not more a personal contract between two individuals. They alone have the right to determine the parameters around which to build the relationship and make the rules and regulations that govern it. In this context, if a couple determine that sexual fidelity is not a requirement in their marriage, then they may be breaking a social stereotype apropos marriage but their individual contract remains valid and unvilolated. Open marriages are a fairly common ocurence where husbands/wifes take on other partners outside of the marriage with the express/implied consent of their respective partners. They maybe staying together in a marriage for whatever reason and may still prefer to seek sexual pleasure outside of the marriage bed, again for whatever reasons. However, since their actions are not covert and not kept secret from their spouses and, even better, are done with their tacit consent, the marriage contract remains perfectly valid. The world and his wife may take offence to their values/ standards et al but, given that sexual fidelity is purely a matter between the concerned parties, who the hell cares? The contract was made with your spouse and society is only a witness at max! And if said spouse and you have agreed not to conform to a social norm, then society has no business poking their nose into what is purely your personal domain. You might be the object of salacious gossip but beyond that, who cares!
In the context of this show, which I believe has plummetted to the lowest of lows not necessarily in terms of values but in terms of credible story telling and characterization, I think that Ayaan and Zoya have accepted that their arrangement is nothing but a farce that is being enacted to save a certain situation aka Nikhat's impending marriage! They may have signed a piece of paper but clearly they have no respect for it. They do not consider themselves bound by it emotionally oe physically. They are merely living out a charade and hence do not feel that meeting their respective lovers is an offensive act. It is almost like the case of two actors who are contracted to perform in a show or a film. That is all the sanctity they attach to their arrangement. Once the curtains go down, they believe that the charade will come to an end and they can move on with their lives. So, there is no question of any emotional conflict given that both of them are united in their perception of this arrangement and also well aware of the fact that they have other people waiting for their return.
Yes, while you play a charade, it is best not to get caught out! But, you are hjuman at the end of the day! And caught in an emotional maelstorm, it is only too common place to slip out of character and seek the comforrt of that reality that you hope to return to!
If at all Asad, Zoya, Humeira and Ayaan have to be hanged for their crimes then, in my opinion, this so called infidelity is the least of them!
All this apart, I absolutely loathe Gul Khan's contrived story telling sans logic of any sort! But, while on the subject of morals etc, let us not even start looking at the bizarre and ludicrous actions of the characters of this show through that prism! They are far too contived for any kind of serious analysis!
Just my humble opinion. Not to prove anyone right or wrong!
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