crisp Bytes SC 1st November 13 - Page 6

Originally posted by: -Ivy-

Arshi... Finally got around to sharing something I wanted to since last Sunday, but to no avail with CB padlocked and other distractions... Specifically saved it for weekend CB because this is the sort of extra-curricular exposition that does not align with either the current content or grammar of SC but is rather overarching over the entire fabric. But first, a...

Disclaimer: This is pure mind food. However, if it offends on any level or registers disfavorably on any reader's sensitivity meter than please before pressing 'Report' PM me or Arshi ji. I am amenable to discussions. And Arshi ji, as all are aware, is more than eminently fair. Getting CB padlocked is not and never will be the answer. So please don't resort to that, again.

I mentioned about my dinner at the immediate superior's last Sunday... Now Sir is a Gujrati hailing from Ahmedabad. He started his career in radio, moved up to newspapers, television and then heard a calling in law, working and living all around the world in the process. What sets him apart especially is that even though at fifty-seven he is an 'old-school' traditional lawyer, he is perhaps the only 'boss' who treats us who do more than dabble in the field of 'new media' with genuine consideration, rather than merely a fascinating and at times exasperating curiosity. He was also a part of the panel who initially recruited us for internships while we were doing our post-graduate because the company wanted to to explore and navigate the mindfields of a hitherto untapped demographic... The social media generation. So we're a necessary evil in an otherwise blue-chip firmly orthodox conglomerate, who have still difficulty gulping down the simple fact that we'd rather go attend 'cutting-edge' lectures as part of 'office-work' and turn in film festival ticket stubs to account for legitimate work expenses. It's always fun to explain that to the Finance department... 😆 But of course, every alternate week or so, they manage to trap us into attending a deposition, mediating and resolutions etc and thus we become proper 'lawyers' in their eyes, at least till we hand in the next expense file, or confess to our latest misdemeanors... Case in point, a few superiors almost blew a gasket, Monday, when I discussed the highlight of my recent work trip, which was a friendly meeting and talk with a wanted fugitive and a somewhat cult hero/villan in the intellectual copyright scene. The fact that they were 'tainted by however distant association' 😉

So, the point of the elaboration above was to firmly signify that in this corporate culture, this man is respected and regarded both sides of the line... Previously in homeland, he was my superior a few ranks removed but for the last month, was directly overseeing my work product and he was a pretty awesome boss with a wryly positive disposition. His way of welcoming me into the 'cousin-branch' was to walk into my office the very first morning and drop a handful of university lecture brochures, and film festival/theatre programs he knew someone with my 'anti-establishment leanings' will be keen on pursuing =)

And since I knew his family since the intership days, they extended an invitation to dinner on my last day and therein I got to know his Mother who had recently moved in permanently with them. I was quite intrigued to be honest, to meet the Lady whom Sir described as his 'backbone and motivating figure in life'... Imagine my shock thus when I was ushered in to meet a dignified lady of about seventy-five plus, thoroughly relishing an episode of SNS (aka Gopi Vahu show)... Out of deference and more likely stupefaction after being jolted by electric ice, I sat through an amazingly exruciating twenty-plus minutes of what close-captioning was so considerate to inform me, was realised only through the marvellous pen of SC's current co-scribe... Let me just say as a currently irregular viewer of SC, never since 3idiots has 'dhokla' sounded so dangerous. In the hands, ermm pen of Mr. H, the delectable food item's terrifying other possibilities has been scarily realised. There's a trend noticeable of starting Sherlock-like investigations into the inadequacies of edibles... Dood mein paani zyaada hai, so calling all pados ladies and thus commences a brutal court-martial of the dood-wala reducing him to tears... And the co-female lead (the actual dood-mein-paani culprit) instead of draining milk into the sink, disposes of it in the wastebasket instead, ripe for being confronted with the incontrovertible evidence of her crime by Gopi Vahu. Khoon se nahin, dood se rang-e huye thhe Rashi ke haath 😛...

You know, I can just see Kumudsundari's future if Gumaan really comes back. Wars can be won and lost even in the kitchen with the mirch, masala and jeera that goes into the dhokla

Anyways, the above summary was of an epi Sir later made me watch terming it 'one of his favourites' with a decidedly wicked glint in his eye... The epi that I watched with his 'Ba' barely registered because I was too stunned at witnessing a 'TRP aunty' in action first-hand... In academic terms, a demographic wondered about, a theoretical subject had come to life most unexpectedly and I could only sit and stare. And commit all details to memory filed for later use as building blocks for an in-progress identikit. By the time the epi ended, I had firmly and presumptuously slotted 'Ba' as a primordial breed of 'TRP-aunty' and when SC was announced as airing next, I was starting to get my bearings and was curiously anxious to see how much glee SC will be recieved with. As a one-time ardent SC viewer, out of an unexplainable sense of loyalty, a tiny part of me wanted her to enjoy SC more. Hamara show SNS se kam thodi hai 😉 To my genuine surprise however, Ba determinedly turned the television off and directed her full attention on me... I thought she was being hospitable and gestured that she could continue seeing. And with her response she shattered all my identikits and left me feeling quite stupid, chastising myself.

As Sir, Masi and Ba took turns patiently explaining to me (I suspect Sir had made them aware of my perennial student approach to life, beforehand)... Ba being a gujrati, and a high-school teacher of english and hindi literature in her prime years, has read SC the novel (which is mandatory in school curriculum) too many times to count. She has taught it and set exams for students on it. She can even today recite passages verbatim in pure Sanskrit... Listening to her do so is an undescribable experience... Took me back to the CB's where smrth Bhai used to quote passages from the source. And allow me a boast, friends, she generously let me hold and thumb through her personal copy of the source (all volumes)... One of the first editions, printed... That has been in her family ever since she was a girl. And for someone whose heartstrings were tugged solely on the force of an 'affective' narration, to be confronted with the 'tangible' manifestation of that' force', I was reminded very effectively once again what Saraswatichandra is, what it stands for... The reverence it commands and the magic it still holds for a certain generation.

So it goes to reason that Ba is entirely and justifiably displeased with SC. In her words, the source was a khaan that could be mined for values, and wisdom-gems, but what, if anything, will the current generation take-away from the show? What damage would it do to the legacy of the source and most especially to the character of Kumudsundari. This was interesting, I thought, if the source had put readers at odds with the character of Saras, the show in turn was reconciling audiences to Saras and putting Kumud in the firing line, a character that was much beloved of connoisseurs of source such as Ba who are now proffer the harshest of critiques. Almost as though the wheel is turning and character Saras is finally getting 'his due', Sir offered. Of course I wisely did not divulge that I have been writing 'essays' on SC but instead attributed my interest to my gentleman's moving narration only... And curiosity as to how our Indian counterparts have been faring, adapting with the source.

BUT, there was still the troubling question of SNS, how could Ba watch that with so much enjoyment, without judgement and discrimination, whilst SC goes through the third-degree and is not bestowed with even a 'watch'... To this the exceptionally alert and erudite septuagenarian replied:

Because SNS is meant to be watched that way, only. There's no expectation, save entertainment. But SC comes with history, with emotions and with a legacy. From the very first airing, it had to live up to, a very formidable and established canon. SC cannot be watched for entertainment, because to do so kills little by little the essence and the hold of it. Very soon, the original impact will be obliterated and all people will remember SC by is another 'SNS with a barely distinctive twist'... The channel has so many shows on their roster that caters for all palates, they have so many shows the same... Couldn't they have left this 'different' one, as is. As a 'guru' it pains me most when I think of current generation deprived of what all the source has to offer, and what the show is showing them in the name of SC... What they are callous and calculative enough to call 'Saraswatichandra' is not Saraswatichandra... I don't even know what it is... But it is very hurtful to the memory of Tripathi ji and the entire Gujrat community - local or international.

Driving home and during my flight back that night... I kept going back to the astute statements she had made. It still boggles my mind that someone would opt for SNS over SC... But the undeniable logic of Ba's reasoning makes clear sense. SC always stood apart, and now it is being brutally conformed to fit into the pre-established SP canon. Also, I was pleasantly shocked and a bit self-mortified to encounter a discerning viewer in some one I had firmly discounted as a 'TRP aunty'... And I wonder how many 'viewers' are out there who match the profile of 'Ba'... Who are TRP aunty's in one prime-slot and discerning viewers in the next... Refusing to take the drivel SP dishes out, and using the remote as a 'tool' of their better judgement and established 'standards'... And it also left me resolved not to dismiss 'TRP aunty's' anymore... One size does not fit all, as for me, Ba has proved. What makes them TRP aunty's and what shakes them from that 'passive stupor'... The distinct self-motivations, and the 'triggers' and 'tipping points'... They are worthy of further study and this whole 'stereotype', for me, has been shaken up quite a bit post this encounter. The dominant 'pool' most likely is still made up of the 'subjects' that validate the stereotype's existence, but the niche and off-shoot breeds of 'TRP aunty's'... I would humbly submit, are rather fascinating and merit further investigation/dialogue with anecdotes such as the above a most helpful tool in this line of study into audience choice and reception.

Originally posted by: Arshics

Ivy, absolutely stupendous. I agree with Ba, and I am the same, we all are I think.

Arshi after hearing her sound arguments and reasons, my first thought was Ba would make a great addition to CB team 😳

Watching some shows, or movies for timepass, and while from others we have completely different expectations.

Agreed. What pushed the envelope for me was that my first impression of her was as thoroughly immersed in SNS... Talking aloud to the screen etc, pre-empting correct character moves before it happened. That is what I will call a 'secure viewer'... Confident and flexible enough to watch for pure entertainment but refuses to compromise her viewing standards for SC. Because, watching SNS is not really a discredit to her intelligence, but rather her 'active choice'... However, watching SC, even though the content still boasts of more substance, is a pure discredit and one she chooses not to entertain/tolerate, not even for the sake of entertainment.

The same applies to books, friends - some are fun to hangout with, while others deeper.

The problem arises when it starts out as one, and turns out to be another. That's what happened with SC, had it started out as another SNS, thats what we would have opted for.

But it didnt, it was an adaptation of a great masterpiece, a legend that has been a part of our literary history.

Such a story deserves,nay demands a certain respect and deference in treatment and that has been the biggest failing of SC.

Bold: It is a black mark, not only on the show, but one that shrouds the legacy of the source in 'black' as well. People's memories are too short... Will they remember something written in early late 1800's or opt for a visual demonstration aired 2013? Who would make the effort to go back to a source, that is not exactly 'accessible'? The sense of responsibilty thus, was even greater and now... The sense of 'loss' is almost too great to comprehend.

If the Star Plus vision is to provide chewing gum entertainment, then that's fine but there is no need to claim otherwise, build viewer expectations to something higher, only to let them down.

Call what you will Sathiya, bhabhi, behna, damaad, stick to the tried and tested formula and make your fortune.

Dont dupe the viewers by picking up classics and then simply butchering them, its unfair to viewers, unfair to our great literary legacy and its unethical.

Ba had read the story, she knew what the original was, I know so many non gujratis who on watching this show, are under the assumption that this is what the great story was. This drivel is being mistaken for GMT's work, that is absolutely criminal.

Ba's sentiments exactly. Honestly Arshi, after such a heartfelt and learning conversation, I really don't have the heart to watch SC anymore. The spoilers tell me, my decision is likely 'right'...

Originally posted by: pasumarthisa

Ivy ji,

SC will always be viewed from under the prism of the original. Especially by a generation of viewers. This cant be another soap for them. That whole generation and many more suddenly become 'discerning viewers' while watching it. Rightly so.

But, even then it did carry some high standards. Some consistency. It did acquire a flavour so different from original. But still appealing to a discerning viewer. And most of us were aware of it.

It is of late that a lot of things have been added suddenly to the plot to make it a khichdi. Well khichdi is usually tasty and nourishing. But, this one lost its sheen quite a bit. There were too many inconsistencies of late.

I understand that daily soap needs daily drama. My friends told me(from another show that I watched). But, to compromise on standard of the show for that is sad.

Originally posted by: pasumarthisa

TRP model still pretty much remains the same. If the show is not an adaptation. People either watch it for the storyline or traditions shown or just timepass.

The problem comes when its an adaptation. Like a novel or an epic like Ramayana or Mahabharat. Switching off TV becomes much easier decision to make.