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After reading Nikki, Crusty and Komlika's posts in the topic Love & Priorities I have realised one thing. Naagin 3 is indeed expect the unexpected, at least so far. Not in terms of plot-line but in terms of characterization.
Bella's character has indeed been shown as a different one from the others. Initially she was shown as a bubbly innocent girl who had aspirations for a career in the teaching profession. A nice soft spoken girl who managed to look past her fiance's philandering ways. But as the story progressed, she transformed into a ferocious Naagrani who was out to avenge her lover's death. With no rhyme or reason, death seemed like the only fitting punishment for the guy who shot the love of her life. We all saw well that went. She failed miserably time and again.
And then she had to deal with multiple villains. First came Jamini. Although not a powerful villian, she tested her relationship with Mahir. Bella got to see her husband's possessive side because of Jamini. Then Anu threw the next curveball. The pregnancy scare. There she got to see Mahir's reasonable side when he decided to accept the child as his own. But then she also saw his unreasonable side when he refused to listen to her and even refused to believe that she was not pregnant.
Then came the Naagmani track where she had the golden opportunity to kill Mahir, but she faltered when the Naag Guru told her to touch him and kill him and at the same time gain the Naagmani's location. But then she accidentally poisoned him. That was the first time we saw her true spirit. Although it killed her to leave Mahir apparently dead on the floor and go, she went and fought the unknown enemy and fought with dedication and bloody won the battle. Brought the Naagmani back. She then came back home and mourned her husband's death.
Her joy at finding him alive was laced with confusion. If Mahir was her true soul-mate then who was Vikrant? But she did not get much time to dwell on it. Mahir had already begun to demand attention from her. He was already begun to expect her to fulfill her duties towards him. He had begun to question her about why she shrank back at his touch while she had begun to like being in his arms. She was fighting an internal battle about which Mahir had no idea.
Then in the Shaan's track she got to see Mahir's mad love for her that made him fight Shaan. That made her realise that she indeed loved that man who was her husband. But when she decided to confess her love to Mahir, a face from her past came to haunt her. Her old lover Vikrant came back with a story about his miraculous survival. Although confused as to whom to choose and believe, she trusted her gut feeling that Mahir was innocent.
She did not dumb herself down for her lover. In fact she pushed herself up for him. She did not take Vikrant's story at its face value. She questioned him. And when she found out about his betrayal, she did not waste time in showing him his place.
She is woman, who knows how to handle her professional as well as personal duties well. Bella is someone who is the perfect example of a modern woman balancing her career and home duties. Being a Naagrani is her career and being Mahir's wife is her home duty.
The makers have reversed, whether intentionally or unintentionally I don't know, the traditional roles of a man and woman here. There are two parallel universes here. The supernatural one and a normal. She is the queen of the supernatural universe of which Mahir knows and understands nothing. Mahir silently supports her no matter what.
Traditionally that is what women were seen doing in our daily soaps. The men would go out fight villians while the women fought the kitchen politics. The men had multiple partners who came to attract them while the women showed unwavering faith in their men. The men fought for the bread and then told women they don't understand a thing about the world where men fight.
Here Mahir doesn't understand a thing about Bella's world. She has multiple people claiming to be her lovers and Mahir supports her and trusts her silently. Wasn't that expected from women most of the times? Unconditional support to their men, whether they get an explanation for it or no. Despite Bella having multiple suitors, Mahir remains faithful towards her. Not even once has he shown any inclination towards any other girl, not even to make Bella jealous.
Most of the time men initiate physical relationships and women have no say in it. They are just expected to go with the flow. That day Bella was ready to share a bed with Mahir but not ready to let him kiss her. We appreciated how Mahir took that rejection sportingly. Here Bella is the one calling the shots in this relationship.
Looking at it from a traditional POV Bella is the man in this relationship and that makes Mahir the woman. Not in a degrading way but in the traditional gender roles sense of way. The one who needs to be protected because he doesn't chance against the forces that his wife is battling. Because he supports her unconditionally.
But in reality they both are equals. They both balance out the relationship. Neither is Mahir weak nor is Bella stronger than him. They both have different advantages from each other. And those advantages combined makes for a beautiful relationship, just like in normal human man and wife relationship.
Since the story doesn't conform to the traditional gender roles Mahir's reactions will not be traditionally masculine. If Bella is the epitome of a modern woman, the Mahir is the epitome of how the modern man should be. The women have reached the stage where they perfectly balance their duties, the men are yet to catch up. His understanding and supporting nature is what makes Mahir desirable, not his wealth and good looks.
PS: Guys this really a long one. Hope I have not offended anyone. Do let me know what you all think. 😃😃😃
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