Posted:
Yes. Of course the answer is the powerhouse this production house was lucky enough to cast when they got their hands on Ms. Ananya Khare. I think, without question she is probably the most talented character actress on TV today--on any channel. She has literally absorbed and recreated a generic vamp role that could have been played with eye rolls, curled lips, and overdrawn eyebrows into the most nuanced villainess I have ever seen.
But lets talk, not of Ananya's brilliance, but rather, of Mohini herself. The character has been written with a subtlety that the CVs (interestingly) chose not to grant that other, younger vamp, Laila. And this forum has been incredibly ...okay... with the non stop week of the Mala-Mohini show we have had to see to get this story moving forward. And its only because we, the audience, just don't KNOW Mohini yet. Six months in, a thousand barbs, a hundred plots. And still, we debate--her.
Everyone on the forum is divided into two camps right now. Not the usual Ashish-Vs-Sanaya stuff (toxic, that). But the Mohini divide. Do you believe her? Why? Why not? Can a 28 year old slight, a blow to the pride--can this result in THIS woman? No--says some. Yes, insists others. Interestingly, no one disputes Mohini's evil. As we debate how much to feel for her, no one forgets the woman is an attempted murderess, twice over. She is not hiding her taint. She admitted she is evil to us, to the Ranawats, to the entire world today.
Her very appearance onscreen raises our blood pressure, as if a snake has just slithered casually across our living room floor. But no one knows, because of the nuances of Kakisa--to what EXTENT her words on screen were true, and what parts were exaggerated for maximum damage. Her acting was fantastic--but her dialogue was heartfelt, too. The torment of never having had a husband who put her ahead of anyone else--no married woman who watched this scene today could help a small wince in sympathy. The fact her sister committed the immoral crime, while she maintained her morality, (at least until Rudra returned)--that cannot be denied.
Her description of the business-money being the one thing she has been truly honest over-- the description of how she set up the entire business, took huge loans, gave her blood sweat and tears to the development of the business, to earn the profits--that has to earn her at least respect, if nothing else. But no. She was never admired for her talents, she was hated for her tongue. Even if she manipulated Mala years ago--Mala is a grown woman,and 15 years ago she made a choice. No one forced an adult into adultery. So where do we land on Mohini?
I have been reading posts eagerly, trying to make up my mind too. And do you realize how fantastic a character she is, that we are facing this dilemma at all? That we are thinking, of a EVIL woman...poor thing what exactly happened to her? That post after post has tried to understand her tears, deciding which tears we should feel for, to what extent they should be discarded? Its bloody brilliant and only possible because--
Mohini pleases us. Say it. Admit it. From the moment she came onscreen, her character has been the only true foil for the thunder that is Rudra. As if she is the shadow-Rudra, the darker version of his talent, his slyness, brains and guts. She has his cutting tongue, the sharp cruelty he displayed at the beginning of the series. She is like him in her single minded focus on her plans. A perverted version of his blood. Rudra claims he is filled with poison, but we all know that to be untrue--because apparently, it is Mohini who has been fed drop after drop of poison, since her childhood, who has truly become a Jallad. And she has become this evil-- because her closest relationships have actually betrayed her.
Because what she had wanted--was denied to her, and given to someone else. She is feral, ready to sacrifice her own son for her ends. Ready for any action, without needing to justify it to anyone. She is the Jallad in the Ranawat Haveli. Like an animal in pan, she hurts. But like an unnatural animal, she eats her young, she hurts where she should love. She is unhappy, bitter, frustrated, and has no one worthy of her in her own home. (Just imagine if you will, a plot-line with Rudra and her working together, for a change--a danger that threatens them both, for example. I think the screen would explode with the sheer brilliance of their combined "evil.")
I don't know whether we should accept 10 % of her spin, or all 100% of it.
But lets talk, not of Ananya's brilliance, but rather, of Mohini herself. The character has been written with a subtlety that the CVs (interestingly) chose not to grant that other, younger vamp, Laila. And this forum has been incredibly ...okay... with the non stop week of the Mala-Mohini show we have had to see to get this story moving forward. And its only because we, the audience, just don't KNOW Mohini yet. Six months in, a thousand barbs, a hundred plots. And still, we debate--her.
Everyone on the forum is divided into two camps right now. Not the usual Ashish-Vs-Sanaya stuff (toxic, that). But the Mohini divide. Do you believe her? Why? Why not? Can a 28 year old slight, a blow to the pride--can this result in THIS woman? No--says some. Yes, insists others. Interestingly, no one disputes Mohini's evil. As we debate how much to feel for her, no one forgets the woman is an attempted murderess, twice over. She is not hiding her taint. She admitted she is evil to us, to the Ranawats, to the entire world today.
Her very appearance onscreen raises our blood pressure, as if a snake has just slithered casually across our living room floor. But no one knows, because of the nuances of Kakisa--to what EXTENT her words on screen were true, and what parts were exaggerated for maximum damage. Her acting was fantastic--but her dialogue was heartfelt, too. The torment of never having had a husband who put her ahead of anyone else--no married woman who watched this scene today could help a small wince in sympathy. The fact her sister committed the immoral crime, while she maintained her morality, (at least until Rudra returned)--that cannot be denied.
Her description of the business-money being the one thing she has been truly honest over-- the description of how she set up the entire business, took huge loans, gave her blood sweat and tears to the development of the business, to earn the profits--that has to earn her at least respect, if nothing else. But no. She was never admired for her talents, she was hated for her tongue. Even if she manipulated Mala years ago--Mala is a grown woman,and 15 years ago she made a choice. No one forced an adult into adultery. So where do we land on Mohini?
I have been reading posts eagerly, trying to make up my mind too. And do you realize how fantastic a character she is, that we are facing this dilemma at all? That we are thinking, of a EVIL woman...poor thing what exactly happened to her? That post after post has tried to understand her tears, deciding which tears we should feel for, to what extent they should be discarded? Its bloody brilliant and only possible because--
Mohini pleases us. Say it. Admit it. From the moment she came onscreen, her character has been the only true foil for the thunder that is Rudra. As if she is the shadow-Rudra, the darker version of his talent, his slyness, brains and guts. She has his cutting tongue, the sharp cruelty he displayed at the beginning of the series. She is like him in her single minded focus on her plans. A perverted version of his blood. Rudra claims he is filled with poison, but we all know that to be untrue--because apparently, it is Mohini who has been fed drop after drop of poison, since her childhood, who has truly become a Jallad. And she has become this evil-- because her closest relationships have actually betrayed her.
Because what she had wanted--was denied to her, and given to someone else. She is feral, ready to sacrifice her own son for her ends. Ready for any action, without needing to justify it to anyone. She is the Jallad in the Ranawat Haveli. Like an animal in pan, she hurts. But like an unnatural animal, she eats her young, she hurts where she should love. She is unhappy, bitter, frustrated, and has no one worthy of her in her own home. (Just imagine if you will, a plot-line with Rudra and her working together, for a change--a danger that threatens them both, for example. I think the screen would explode with the sheer brilliance of their combined "evil.")
I don't know whether we should accept 10 % of her spin, or all 100% of it.
We secretly feel for her. Because though Mohini is an evil woman, who has no redemption, she is evil openly, blatantly, with no shame or fear. When she said she was honest-- well, she kind of is. No one who lives with her trusts her, and she makes no bones about her hatred. You have to respect a player like this. But here is the kicker--why we sympathize. Mohini IS sympathetic, because whether she made her own fate by being bitter, or became bitter due to her fate--she is honestly, deeply unhappy. And she has been made unhappy by those she should have been able to rely on ---her husband, her children, her sister.
Mohini is brilliant, too. She makes sure to use just enough of the truth, just enough reality to blur the outlines of her deeds. How much of that is motivated by her true pain? I don't think it matters--because a true villain makes you understand her villainy, makes you like her when she is onscreen, makes you blame someone ELSE for her actions. She is evil, and uses her circumstances around her as motivation for her evil,as her excuse for it. That is evil. To make evil seem understandable, to make it palatable to the horror-struck audience. To still make us hope to get an answer ...why? We all know better, and still we ask. And that is why Mohini fascinates.
Long live the vamp!
Mohini is brilliant, too. She makes sure to use just enough of the truth, just enough reality to blur the outlines of her deeds. How much of that is motivated by her true pain? I don't think it matters--because a true villain makes you understand her villainy, makes you like her when she is onscreen, makes you blame someone ELSE for her actions. She is evil, and uses her circumstances around her as motivation for her evil,as her excuse for it. That is evil. To make evil seem understandable, to make it palatable to the horror-struck audience. To still make us hope to get an answer ...why? We all know better, and still we ask. And that is why Mohini fascinates.
Long live the vamp!
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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