Rang De man writes SATI

Sahara One cannot be blamed for not trying! It has experimented with novel subjects in the past and although they haven't raked in high TRPs, their shows have always stood out in the clutter. Be it Saath Rahega Always, Dial One aur Jeeto or Kituu; the channel has dealt with formats and concepts that have been hitherto unexplored on television.

Sati is the latest to join this bandwagon. It has a very refreshing concept - a rape victim fights back, later becomes a lawyer and then takes up cudgels for women. What the show probably lacks is proper presentation. The jump cuts in dramatic situations come once too many; the white flashes and close ups are just too predictable and the dialogues...well, they need to be a little more 'real'. Also, in question is Sati's drab attire. I fail to understand why a girl has to be in black...always! Life is all about looking at the brighter side of things! If she's trying to make a statement with her attire... then I didn't get it!

Despite flaws, Sati has great potential, but largely the success or failure of the show depends mainly on the lead, played by Mansi Salvi. Must say, Mansi pulls of the character with elan. The pain of being isolated by her family, the trauma of being a rape victim and the anguish of trying hard to correct a wrong that was done to her. Her readiness to help women to get justice is, in a way, her path to attain salvation - Mansi ably personifies the woman who strives to put her life in order.

Again, the show also makes references to many cases that have been under media scrutiny for long - the Jessica Lal case is one in question. There are many instances in the show where it sounds regressive, specially when Sati's father reproaches her for maligning the family name as a rape victim. We agree that this is not an unrealistic situation as many victims are treated in a similar fashion in the country, but here was a chance for the male member of the family to stand by his first born - agreed that the track then would've taken a different direction then, but it's time that shows like these take a stance and show 'how it should be' rather than 'how it is.'

Sometimes, however, the show manages to surprise even its worst critics when the to be husband of Sati's scorned sister (his family called off the wedding when they realised that she was Sati's sister) comes back to her and offers her his support, there is a moment of 'how it should be' and this holds the show in good stead.

There's nothing much to write about the male characters in the show. Sandeep Rajora and Karan Mehra are wasted...although given that the show is just two weeks old, there's sure to be more scope for them later on. The other characters like Dimple Inamdar and the other lawyers in Sati's company look confident enough to be in the profession they are shown to be in...but their work clothes are too jazzy for a courthouse. These are small things...but they make an impression and need to be taken care of.

All in all, this is a promising show but will do well only if it manages to repair the cracks in its canvas.Though, it doesn't t have a repertoire of big names, but has able actors and the channel will do well to keep the tracks tightly knit.....

And finally, can the show refrain from gimmicks like using the word pranam (uncanny resemblance to Sahara Parivaar's Sahara Pranam), at the end of PTCs in its episodes.

Pics by Satej Shinde