Posted:
Namita Nivas
Posted online: Friday, February 17, 2006 at 0000 hours IST
The sun is at its peak as I reach Magnum Studios at MIDC, Andheri, braving the noon traffic and the February heat. Climbing two floors of the building, I reach the sets of Zee's most popular ongoing teleserial Saat Phere - Saloni Ka Safar, which is based on the life and tribulations of a girl who has a dark complexion but is immensely talented.
There is a lot of activity happening on the sets as the shot is being readied. The place is in utter mess with things scattered everywhere and people talking loudly, but within minutes, everything is organised and cameraman Vijay Varude takes position as Nandita, the proxy director of the day howls for silence. The spot boys gather to have a peak at the scene that is to be canned. The artistes Mohan Bhandari, Rajshri Thakur, Sharad Kelkar, Pratichee Mishra, Poonam Gulati, Aanchal Dwivedi and Mazhar Sayed who were freaking around disperse and take their positions.
While Rajshri Thakur is new to acting on small screen, Pratichee Mishra, Poonam Gulati and Aanchal Dwivedi have been seen in a couple of serials. Mohan Bhandari is still remembered for his performance in Parampara and Mazhar Sayed played Sudha Chandran's second son Anish in Balaji Telefilms' Kaahin Kissi Roz. Sharad Kelkar, who is playing the lead in Saat Phere is also currently acting as Rudr in Sinndoor - Tere Naam Ka on Zee. It is a negative role.
The set is the house of Narpat Singh played by Mohan Bhandari. Since it is a Rajasthani household, the ambience is desgined accordingly. There are Rajasthani motifs everywhere. Puppets and paintings are hanging on one side of the hall while on the other side there is a small temple with a diya burning. On the wall is a painting of Lord Krishna and Radha dancing. The dining table is adjacent to the hall and the kitchen is at the far end. The wall facing the dining table has a painting depicting the Rajasthani culture. The furniture too is very ethnic and there are beautiful lampshades everywhere. On the teapoy, there is a display of candle stands.
The scene gets rolling. Narpat Singh is having a heated conversation with a creditor to whom he owes money he'd borrowed for his daughter Saloni's (Rajshri Thakur) marriage to Nahar Singh (Sharad Kelkar). His wife Ambika (Pratichee Mishra), younger daughter Shubra (Poonam Gulati) and daughter-in-law Kaveri (Aanchal Dwivedi) are with him. Just then Saloni walks in with her husband and everybody is shocked to see them as they don't want the couple to hear the conversation between Narpat and the creditor. As Narpat tries to convince the lender, the others welcome the newly weds and pretend that all is well. But Saloni suspects something amiss. After the greetings and blessings, Ambika says to Nahar, "Jamaisaa, baithiye. Main aapke liye garma garam chai banati hoon."
As she walks towards the kitchen, Narpat adds, "Biscuit bhi lana." Saloni follows her mother. The shot is okayed and everyone breaks into laughter as the line about getting biscuits was added impromptu by Mohan Bhandari who grins and says, "Abhi to biscuit laana hi hoga. Par kaunsa?" To which, Aanchal winks, "Anti-Marie." And again there is a roar of laughter as Mohan Bhandari says, "Please see that the chai is adrakwali." Pratichee comes out shouting, "Arrey koi AC shuru karo." A lot of banter later, the shot is okayed after three takes by Nandita who has taken charge in the absence of director Vijay Pande who had shot till late the previous night.
Rashmi Sharma, the creative head, briefs us about the goings-on. Narpat Singh is unable to pay back the money he has borrowed as he has lost his job and his son Samar is unable to find one. All this happens immediately after the arrest of Saloni, who is suspected to have killed Somesh on her wedding day. The family is being humiliated by one and all and no one wants to be associated with them.
Initially though, Rashmi admits, there was a lot of apprehension amongst the viewers as well as the makers as the protagonist was dusky and so was being treated badly even by her own mother. Nobody was willing to marry her. Saloni had to bear a lot of mental trauma before she was spotted and selected by Tara for her brother-in-law Nahar. The guy falls in love with Saloni for her simplicity and now he has pledged to take care of her, come what may. Rashmi adds that the serial has picked up after the marriage of Saloni with the TRPs reaching 3.5, a big thing on Zee.
Vijay Pande endorses the same. During a telephonic conversation, the director says that he joined the team midway but since he has taken over, the serial has undergone a lot of changes, for the better. Though there are demands from the channel, the serial has clicked very well, he adds. Saat Phere is produced by Comall and Sunjoy Waddhwa.
Meanwhile, as the shot is being readied for the next scene, the women sit on the sofa and Rajshri begins to hum, 'Tera mujhse hai pehle ka naata koi ...' and Pratichee continues, 'Yunhi nahin dil lubhata koi ..." The mood is playful. On the other side, Nandita and cameraman can the closeup shots with Rajshri and Sharad. That over, the two nudge each other and laugh at a private joke. Mohan, Poonam and Mazhar are chatting at the dining table when a spot boy breaks a glass of tea and he comes in for some ragging.
For the first shot, Rajshri is wearing a green coloured half-saree over a pink ghaghra and brocade blouse. She is wearing a long mangalsutra and heavy jewellery with sindoor adorning her hair. Sharad is in a three-piece suit. Mazhar who was wearing a mango-coloured pullover, is asked to change into a green cotton shirt required for the continuity shot. Aanchal, in a brocade backless blouse, see-through saree in dark maroon and heavy jewellery, is very impressive. Hers is a negative character in the serial but the lady is very charming and liked by all on the sets. When she is not required for a shot, she makes herself comfortable on the sofa and reads a magazine.
According to Rajshri, her costumes may undergo a change soon and she is hopeful of getting a better look as a new bride. The costumes for the serial are by Ritu Deora and Shahid Amir is the costume director.
It is past break hour and Rajshri's lunch has not yet arrived. Her concerned fiance calls to enquire if she has eaten. Just then she gets a call from the delivery boy who tells her he cannot locate the studio and has reached Marol instead. Rajshri gives him the directions again and when he says he can be at the studio only after 3 pm, she is aghast. Her growling stomach brings out the worse in her and as she fires the boy. Mazhar and Poonam chide her. Rajshri winks at them playfully. Finally her veg biryani arrives at 4 pm but the famished lady is not allowed to relish her meal as she is wanted for the next shot. Reluctantly putting away the plate, Rajshri goes to give her shot, in the next room. It is the set of a police station where Nahar comes to visit Saloni. They are seated on a bench and Saloni, in tears, is apologetic and tells Nahar that she is the reason everyone is ridiculing him for. But he lovingly convinces her not to worry about him. For this scene, Saloni has changed to a beige-coloured ghaghra and a bandhani half-saree in dark maroon and green while Nahar is in a black coloured suit.
As the lovey-dovey scene is being shot, I decide its time to leave the couple and the lovely sets
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