Posted:
Hi everyone,
I've been a silent reader here since a long while, but this's my first post.
First, I'd like to say that I'm not Indian, and Shakti is like my third Indian serial ever to watch, so, I haven't been very familiar with a lot of aspects of the Indian culture.
And let me tell u that this serial had been an eye opener for me.
I mean, yes, we all know that people with sexual identity issues are not easily accepted in most societies, but in India, the situation is just too complicated; the discrimination, the isolation, the hatred... it's all just too extreme and too deep, and... too unique!
What drew me to watching this serial, is that I read online that Vivian (who I saw in Madhubala) was doing a new show where he marries a "transgender"(not an appropriate term BTW). I was intrigued, and decided to give it a shot; and of course, being a foreigner myself, and having no idea about the problem, I had to do a lot of online researching and reading to just understand what the big deal is!
Shakti, introduced the issue very well, the way Soumya was brought up, the way her father and dadi hated her, and the beautiful relations she shared with her mother and sister, the way she married was a bit convoluted, but the love story developed well and beautifully. The kinnars Track was very important and very integral to the story, it showcased a lot of important points.
I know a lot of people here didn't like that track or found it boring, but IMHO, it was the most important, the most enlightening, and the most integral to the story so far.
It showed the kinnars community, tried to throw light on some of their problems in life and in society. This track showed (beautifully) how having a family positively affected Soumya's personality, while being abandoned by their families, negatively affected the others' personalities! How society was actually creating an enemy by isolating these people and mistreating them! And how including them into society and families, and letting them grow up normally, could actually be beneficial to the general society.
The serial, until Harman brought Soumya home, and up until Preeto started manipulating Soumya, was going well (even though I missed Nimmi a lot, but the story was still intact, so that was okay).
After that, the story just started deteriorating, losing focus, and now it even lost its main character who became a meaningless tool in meaningless games for irrelevant characters!
Now, most people hate the current Harman-Surbhi track, cause it separates Haya, and they actually hate Surbhi for it!
But for me, I dislike it for deeper reasons. I actually like Surbhi character a lot, I love the beautiful relationship the sisters share.
One of the worst problems that kinnars face, is being abandoned by their families, and the effect that have on them. Having Nimmi and Surbhi, is what made Soumya different, it showed how having familial love, and normal familial relations (even minus fatherly love) made her a normal beautiful human being. Nimmi+Surbhi are very important and integral factors in Soumya's "shakti", they are her primary support system!
Now; they already made her lose Nimmi, then how can they make her lose Surbhi too? How could they sour the beautiful relationship they share? Just...How could they?
And not just that, for the last couple of weeks, this show stopped being about a kinnar's journey and struggles, it became all about Preeto, and Preeto's dreams and Preeto's plans and Preeto's cruelty and oppressiveness!!! Just another convoluted useless & senseless Saas-Bahu drama!!!
And let me tell you; I feel cheated! This is not what I entered into! This is not why I watched Shakti! I was promised a self-discovery journey, a journey where knowing, understanding and accepting one's inner "human" "astitva" and identity, becomes one's "shakti" and strength! Where's that now? How could all this useless drama contribute to such a journey?
And even if Harman-Surbhi marriage doesn't happen in the end, then what is the use of all this nonsense? What possible gain could the current idiotic Varun-track give to the story?! Nothing but irrelevant senseless dragging!
Even if they don't marry Harman & Surbhi, they would have lots of damage-control to do, to bring this show back on track and convince me of their seriousness towards this very serious issue!
And if they actually get married... then it's a totally lost case!
It's a pity really, this serial could have gone places, could have actually gained international recognition if they would have continued to deliver the message they promised, such a deep humane issue, discussed in the wonderful touching method they started with, could have attracted real international recognition, could have helped -somewhat- those poor lost souls... But, alas!
Sorry for the long post, just needed to get this off my chest!
I've been a silent reader here since a long while, but this's my first post.
First, I'd like to say that I'm not Indian, and Shakti is like my third Indian serial ever to watch, so, I haven't been very familiar with a lot of aspects of the Indian culture.
And let me tell u that this serial had been an eye opener for me.
I mean, yes, we all know that people with sexual identity issues are not easily accepted in most societies, but in India, the situation is just too complicated; the discrimination, the isolation, the hatred... it's all just too extreme and too deep, and... too unique!
What drew me to watching this serial, is that I read online that Vivian (who I saw in Madhubala) was doing a new show where he marries a "transgender"(not an appropriate term BTW). I was intrigued, and decided to give it a shot; and of course, being a foreigner myself, and having no idea about the problem, I had to do a lot of online researching and reading to just understand what the big deal is!
Shakti, introduced the issue very well, the way Soumya was brought up, the way her father and dadi hated her, and the beautiful relations she shared with her mother and sister, the way she married was a bit convoluted, but the love story developed well and beautifully. The kinnars Track was very important and very integral to the story, it showcased a lot of important points.
I know a lot of people here didn't like that track or found it boring, but IMHO, it was the most important, the most enlightening, and the most integral to the story so far.
It showed the kinnars community, tried to throw light on some of their problems in life and in society. This track showed (beautifully) how having a family positively affected Soumya's personality, while being abandoned by their families, negatively affected the others' personalities! How society was actually creating an enemy by isolating these people and mistreating them! And how including them into society and families, and letting them grow up normally, could actually be beneficial to the general society.
The serial, until Harman brought Soumya home, and up until Preeto started manipulating Soumya, was going well (even though I missed Nimmi a lot, but the story was still intact, so that was okay).
After that, the story just started deteriorating, losing focus, and now it even lost its main character who became a meaningless tool in meaningless games for irrelevant characters!
Now, most people hate the current Harman-Surbhi track, cause it separates Haya, and they actually hate Surbhi for it!
But for me, I dislike it for deeper reasons. I actually like Surbhi character a lot, I love the beautiful relationship the sisters share.
One of the worst problems that kinnars face, is being abandoned by their families, and the effect that have on them. Having Nimmi and Surbhi, is what made Soumya different, it showed how having familial love, and normal familial relations (even minus fatherly love) made her a normal beautiful human being. Nimmi+Surbhi are very important and integral factors in Soumya's "shakti", they are her primary support system!
Now; they already made her lose Nimmi, then how can they make her lose Surbhi too? How could they sour the beautiful relationship they share? Just...How could they?
And not just that, for the last couple of weeks, this show stopped being about a kinnar's journey and struggles, it became all about Preeto, and Preeto's dreams and Preeto's plans and Preeto's cruelty and oppressiveness!!! Just another convoluted useless & senseless Saas-Bahu drama!!!
And let me tell you; I feel cheated! This is not what I entered into! This is not why I watched Shakti! I was promised a self-discovery journey, a journey where knowing, understanding and accepting one's inner "human" "astitva" and identity, becomes one's "shakti" and strength! Where's that now? How could all this useless drama contribute to such a journey?
And even if Harman-Surbhi marriage doesn't happen in the end, then what is the use of all this nonsense? What possible gain could the current idiotic Varun-track give to the story?! Nothing but irrelevant senseless dragging!
Even if they don't marry Harman & Surbhi, they would have lots of damage-control to do, to bring this show back on track and convince me of their seriousness towards this very serious issue!
And if they actually get married... then it's a totally lost case!
It's a pity really, this serial could have gone places, could have actually gained international recognition if they would have continued to deliver the message they promised, such a deep humane issue, discussed in the wonderful touching method they started with, could have attracted real international recognition, could have helped -somewhat- those poor lost souls... But, alas!
Sorry for the long post, just needed to get this off my chest!
