Arshi, you mind reader you! "Mujhe haq hai" was the exact song dancing in my head during the epi. Although having clear forgotten the lyrics, I had made up my err, own... So thank you for the beautiful reminder 😳 I totally get your overall rating today... It did feel a bit of a low compared to the majestic highs of recently... The altitude dipped a smidge, but the end seconds promises quite a lot come tomorrow... Fingers crossed for a SC style confrontation. Ideal scenario: K standing her ground and Saras not backing down from his stand either. Both should get themselves across - the hurt, the anger, the justifications, and the regret. Not particularly bothered current about where they move on from there, but it is a must that both should know where the other stands and esp what got them there. Even if it be a wholly damning and damaging indictment of "You!"... These mind-monologues, however resonant of each other (the apmaan allegation by K and its same realisation by S), are unproductive. Saras and Kumud, need to word it out. ASAP.
Star of the Episode: The episode. The brilliant, coherent way it was set out. The overall flow and the neatly tying up of the relevance of beginning with the end. Reminded me of Hgg's super-special abilities 😳 If this was a spoon-feed, it was a damn classy one at that, so no complaints. Team SC please take a bow, for the near-perfect execution, the on-par stellar performances, the deeper layers hidden in the mundane, the crisp dialogues and for still keeping things largely consistent 👏
Today was all about two things... "hadd" and "haq"... Hadd's set out by Kumud and Haq's exercised by her at the same time. Paradoxical, yes, but at the same v revealing.
First, love the way the flashbacks are allowed to play out, to breathe... And engulf us all in the mesmerizing fog of golden days past... Since they are flashbacks, they remind... But at the same time, they also underscore core elements of the Saras - Kumud equation, and depict that even in the phoenix taken re-birth, these innate essences still survive and thrive... Their purity and the purity of their connect is still intact. To take it a level further, it is now shown how their innate purity is being made to contend with circs appalling. And how that purity will still sustain, now that it has been re-fortified and rejuvenated by three trials through fire, no less (dah sanskaar, K's wedding, Kul Devi). Special mention: K wearing blue in the flashback, paralleled and contrasted by K wearing blue in the epi... But oh, to what stunning, impactful effect! 👏
Their love may have sustained, but that K, the one of Saras and our memories, is all but six feet under (something died in K after S' rejection and her marriage to another), she is Dhan Dharmadhikhari now and instead of folding her hands in mock annoyance inviting to be pacified, she lays out the boundaries (physical, moral, and in vain) by clear visceral gestures... (I'm sure Toni must have already raked K over hot coals for daring to behave as such to S 😆) but in fact, halting him with that very part of her, that is but the conduit to his imprint on her self and soul. As smrth observed, she lifted it up to the God's once, for divine bestowment and now she has lifted it to the man responsible, in the most shunning of ways. Something so Dukh baa about that. Utterly unnerving. Was half expecting a "Maa Ambe" dialogue to follow 😕
Special high-five to Superman Jnr 😎 Kid, you called it!... "Aaj main yahaan hoon toh unhi ki wajah se hoon"... Sucha simple line, hiding so many complex emotions, betraying so many wide-reaching significances and ramifications. Special mention to J for the emoting and voice modulation. The bubbling under the surface angst... Superb delivery! 👏
Loved that subtle powerplay happening between the sub-divisions of Gunnsundari in the Guniyal - Dukh baa convo. Guniyal seems to be the only one who does not operate on ego in that family (healthy or otherwise). Her modus operandi is instead pure instinct, thus she is ideally placed to pay heed to alarm bells and red flags galore... Alas, her instinct, is almost always overpowered by the things she forcefully chooses herself to believe... If her false hopes are wavering, then so are her legitimate convictions. And when it comes to K, she always defers to Dukh baa... Not realising that Dukh baa's life circumstances have already turned her into the stone Kumud is set on becoming (the parallels between the two were etched out in broad Sharpie marker strokes today. The huge irony being that their personal circumstances could not be different. Kumud ka pyaar assafal hokar bhi safal rahega, aur uski shaadi "safal" ho kar bhi assafal) Hence, entreaties need to delivered with the force of a battering ram for Dukh baa to even lend an ear. Nothing reaches her plain, and whenever doubts, fears fester inside her, she keeps sends 'em straight to the vault. Triple locked. Titanium bolts. Guniyal however, persists in throwing questions none want to hear. She might as well be throwing 'em at a brick wall. The irony of course is that the brick wall is a gigantic illusion, it is but a mirror inviting itself to be shattered so that cruel, hard-hitting reality gets reflected back to them. The same mirror that reflects K back to herself in her each day in and of hell, while in hell.
smrth and hgg bhai's, the convo also recalled our most impassioned 😉 debates... Felt like Guniyal touched indirectly on the renunciation aspect whilst questioning S and his motivations... After doing so much for them, the S who made a home in their hearts, and took away K's heart, how could he just up and leave without so much as a look back? Reminded me of my own query, "would renunciation sit as easily on SLB's Saras"... Or maybe I'm guilty of extreme correlating, here... But it came across to me as Saras having attachments and those attachments being mutual, no matter how damaged now. The default expectation is that he would look back and not that he would renounce, not in the purest, most absolute sense of the word, at least. Would love to know if you both noticed the clever little hark-back to source as well? 😳
Another observation... The Buddhi Dhan's... There is no unity, nothing holding them together really. Not even one core essence they all can claim... Each member is set on their own way and open disdain for one another, is but a way of life. They ignore each other and lead isolated existences for the most part, immersed in their individual pursuits. In the midst of all this, Saras and Kumud and the tie that binds them so strongly still, becomes even more prominent. Their charge is unmistakeable, and their interactions on another level now. It won't be long before it draws attention... My bet, of either Alak or Kalika. Reading Alak towards K: Appears she has already put K in a box, that of ghar ki bahu... K needs to show some spark, to assimilate herself with all. Otherwise she is in danger of being dismissed. On that score, since S is there, the spark of K must not be far behind. He will, even with his last breaths, blow life back into her, but what of him and what of them, in the bargain?
Genius sari scene... In addition to the flasback mutually remembered, the marriage motif was revisited again and yet another ritual completed with S and K with MIL and Alak aiding... Remember the "antarpat" (credit Srushti, for the term)... Today again, but here the bride and rightful groom stood at the same... And the antarpat was but green and gold... The original one was white so read it as saying, Saras is keeping his promise, he has come and is slowly coloring K's world again, even if it be the world, they both had never envisioned. The inescapable fact is that he is still a part of both the world of her shattered heart and her iron-clad obligations. Her world. Is his world too. As is her hell.
But he proposes, she disposes. In no uncertain terms (I'd be v dissapointed if Toni does not have a field day with this 😃) Remember the boxes... the "ladka" and their "bahu"? Kumud wants to operate from within those demarcations as well, but she negates to realise that hers is a free soul. She will die if constrained. And she seems resolved to kill herself by her own hands. But will Saras sit back and let her? The taunt of his new name, the steel in her voice, contrasted with the utter softness whenever she used to utter the former, the one imprint of her soul, Saras... But another purpose of Naveenchandra becomes clear... That name, K does not identify with, she can claim distance because but another is written upon her soul... It is thus better for Kumud's resolve that Saras remains as Navinchandra... Saraswatichandra... That name means almost as much to K as it does to S. Both have forfieted it in a sense tho. And Saras as Saras... to hear other people address him as such while she would long to do so would only add to her death by a thousand cuts. So "Navinchandra" is a mercy, albeit a small one.
Sunny 🤗... The revelation scene was effective, but not affective. Got the message through. Expected more from it. Guniyal was the best reaction wise. Expected a bit more... fire from VC, loved the emotion building in his eyes tho. Dukh baa was too stoic for comfort. Intriguing to note, that like K, for VC too Saras' betrayal has been nullified. Saras' position, as I see it, is thus, he is not guilty, but responsible, because all other actions came about as a direct result of his one. Dukh baa and Kumari inclusion in proceedings is fateful, they are both entirely unaware of how directly they are both guilty and responsible for the 360 degree turn of S and K's lives today. But at the least Dukh baa concedes and acknowledges the strong bond that S and K share, fearing that nullifying the betrayal would push K back to square... "Ussi pal uska mann Saras ke paas aa jayega" Remember how K joyfully uttered his name & rushed towards only to halt? She did not cross threshold then, but her heart certainly did. Right now a battle is happening within K and it is certainly painful to watch but intriguing at the same time. Dukh baa's fire only comes out when she harnesses all her misplaced beliefs. What's keeping her so strong, so indignant, will also be the v thing that will break her beyond limit. Sunny was square in the forcefield of her almighty wrath today and I'm surprised he did not visibly flinch. I did
Last, Kalika... Just like Pramad, she now bears ill-will to both Saras and Kumud too. Her costume today, the sound her adornments make when she walks, was that a twisted take on the Kumud of old, I wonder? 🤔 The best part was how the flashback of the beginning gained increased resonance and that core essence was highlighted again, in an undeniable hue. K still cannot abide a strong word against S and S still takes immense solace in the fact. It's like a safe harbour, in the midst of a churning, unforgiving sea. An offer of respite, however temporary, for both. The way she stood between Kalika and Saras, inserting herself into the equation, not re-claiming, but rather making evident that she will not ever renounce that claim on him, both the soul-claim and the sole-claim. Of course, this being K of the healthy ego, she will only show/exercise that, if need be... "Jiska khayaal rakh sakti ho, ussi ka khayaal rakho"... One "patni" showing another "patni" her rightful place and the way to the right husband. Plus, Saras looking vindicated, validated. Loved it! 😳
Another special mention, to both the leads: As soon as Kalika stormed out, the epi altitude threatened to break through the stratosphere again... The intensity of those mere last seconds was scorching, the pain, promising to re-define thresholds... Gautam and Jennifer, you create magic on your own, but with one another, playing off against one another, you re-define what magic really is! 👏
Last thoughts: Ending with a grouse this time. A major one. Kumud... Aap ke kapde. Aap ke baal. Aur aap ki chaal... Dukh baa 2.0. There, I decode you 😒
I know this look is in service of a greater design, to bring out contrasts etc but from a purely aesthetic aspect, K appears like a khamba. More tall than she actually is. And it is most unflattering. Make her more feminine please, instead of even more matronly. It is esp jarring when she and Saras are in the same frame. J can do wonders with something more nuanced, so why so in your face with it. Perhaps a variation in hair styles (read: get rid of the bun), and some sari's that actually complement... Saras' choice was hands down better. Having a hard time stomaching Dukh baa Junior... Listing my first impressions, till now:
1. July mein hi, Christmas tree!
2. Patli-wali-Candyfloss... (Simply looking at her necklace, my windpipe protested )
3. Hara bhara tree (only saving grace was the duppatta, it hid the hair in a bun)
4. Blue popsicle (Ice, Ice, baby 😛)
Disclaimer: This is not bashing Kumud or J. I appreciate them whole-heartedly so reserve the right to call out on whatever does not appeal to me either. Keyword: Subjective opinion. Mujhe bhi haq hai =)
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