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The dearth of quality programs on the Indian television, clearly calls for a creative renaissance. Yes, like now! #WomenOnTheMove
I rarely watch any Indian TV series nowadays; it is now a thing of the past. But this wasn’t the scenario always.
I still remember in the nineties, when Indian television industry wasn’t swamped by the cable TV network, there were many of us who used to rush home to watch ‘Shanti’, a series that revolved around an illegitimate girl child and her struggle to get justice for herself and her mother who was raped by two powerful businessmen. It was a series whose story was much ahead of its times and the credit goes to the makers for dealing with a sensitive subject with compassion and empathy. There was no high drama, the plot was mature and not stereotyped and the actors did a fantabulous job in enacting the characters down to perfection. Shanti played by Mandira Bedi was a strong, independent, working woman who knew her mind, knew what she wanted in life and of course knew how to get work done.
Fast forward today and a cursory glance at the television serials will give you an idea how Indian television has lost its mojo. The stories are jaded and stereotyped and the role of women are regressive. Women in the modern day Indian television mostly carry out the household chores festooned in blingy, ethnic outfits, and bedecked in heavy, ornamental jewellery. There are few working women and of course the overdose of conning and scheming vamps.
In our weekly #WomenOnTheMove chat over at Twitter, we discussed why despite a regressive story line these TV series are so popular among the Indian audience, what baffles us the most about these series, and the better TV series that we grew up watching and loved. This is what #WomenOnTheMove said. (If you’re not yet following Women’s Web on Twitter, do now, and you can come over for the chat too, every Wednesday 6-7 pm IST).
From Dekh Bhai Dekh to Surabhi, the nineties had many popular TV serials that were way ahead of their times. The jokes were genuinely funny, unlike the crass ones from Comedy Night With Kapil Sharma. Here are some of our loved shows in different category:
I loved Hum Paanch for the comic relief. Still any day better than the current filth. https://t.co/CjcfXHBYFV — Tina Sequeira (@tinajsequeira) August 23, 2017Never miss real stories from India's women.Register Now
I loved Hum Paanch for the comic relief. Still any day better than the current filth. https://t.co/CjcfXHBYFV
— Tina Sequeira (@tinajsequeira) August 23, 2017
Yeah, Hum Panch was fun.. I also liked Dekh bhai dekh and Sara bhai v/s sara bhai.. comic genres — WomanistanWeb.com (@womanistanweb) August 23, 2017
Yeah, Hum Panch was fun.. I also liked Dekh bhai dekh and Sara bhai v/s sara bhai.. comic genres
— WomanistanWeb.com (@womanistanweb) August 23, 2017
@womensweb Real saas bahu fun serial was Tu Tu Mein Mein I loved watching it, that was funny.#WomenOnTheMove — Dipika (@gleefulblogger) August 23, 2017
@womensweb Real saas bahu fun serial was Tu Tu Mein Mein I loved watching it, that was funny.#WomenOnTheMove
— Dipika (@gleefulblogger) August 23, 2017
Sarabhai vs Sarabhai is the only saas-bahu series I enjoyed watching. Fabulous humour with great performers. #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/kGIdt0EOpI — Vaishali Gandhi (@vaishali178) August 23, 2017
Sarabhai vs Sarabhai is the only saas-bahu series I enjoyed watching. Fabulous humour with great performers. #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/kGIdt0EOpI
— Vaishali Gandhi (@vaishali178) August 23, 2017
#Alpaviram story was on sexual assault of Pallavi Joshi in state of coma at hospital strong characters & fight bk approach #WomenOnTheMove — Dipika (@gleefulblogger) August 23, 2017
#Alpaviram story was on sexual assault of Pallavi Joshi in state of coma at hospital strong characters & fight bk approach #WomenOnTheMove
#Tara and Banegi Apni baat which had strong female characters,they showed flawed protagonists,illicit relationships,truth #WomenOnTheMove — Akshata (@Awestruck_Aks) August 23, 2017
#Tara and Banegi Apni baat which had strong female characters,they showed flawed protagonists,illicit relationships,truth #WomenOnTheMove
— Akshata (@Awestruck_Aks) August 23, 2017
A.2 Surprisingly, the 80s & 90s had much better content. I liked Neena Gupta´s Saans – realistic & from female perspective. #WomenOnTheMove — Tina Sequeira (@tinajsequeira) August 23, 2017
A.2 Surprisingly, the 80s & 90s had much better content. I liked Neena Gupta´s Saans – realistic & from female perspective. #WomenOnTheMove
I rembr watchn tis serial “Udaan” abt a little girl whose father is a farmer, & then becoms a Police officer . “#WomenOnTheMove pic.twitter.com/JOaBdL5qgq — ❥Skribbles (@myskribbles) August 23, 2017
I rembr watchn tis serial “Udaan” abt a little girl whose father is a farmer, & then becoms a Police officer . “#WomenOnTheMove pic.twitter.com/JOaBdL5qgq
— ❥Skribbles (@myskribbles) August 23, 2017
Totally agree! They had stories – short n crisp. I loved Aarohan (about women cadets joining Indian Navy). #WomenOnTheMove — Tarang Sinha (@TarangSinha) August 23, 2017
Totally agree! They had stories – short n crisp. I loved Aarohan (about women cadets joining Indian Navy). #WomenOnTheMove
— Tarang Sinha (@TarangSinha) August 23, 2017
A2. There was an Indo pak serial called Tanha on star plus with Sushma Seth in lead. Intense series with strong empowered women cast. — Gee (@GayatriiM) August 23, 2017
A2. There was an Indo pak serial called Tanha on star plus with Sushma Seth in lead. Intense series with strong empowered women cast.
— Gee (@GayatriiM) August 23, 2017
Savdhaan India! I can’t think of anything else! Another problem, I think, is that the good ones aren’t even promoted well. — Nikita Jhanglani (@NikitaJhanglani) August 23, 2017
Savdhaan India! I can’t think of anything else! Another problem, I think, is that the good ones aren’t even promoted well.
— Nikita Jhanglani (@NikitaJhanglani) August 23, 2017
After Indian television was revolutionized by the 24×7 cable TV and Dish TV networks, there has been a deluge of TV series for the Indian audience. But in the race for maximum TRPs, the quality of these daily soaps has massively degenerated. But despite the low quality of content, Indian audience continues to love these regressive shows. Why?
I met somebody who did not like that her DIL liked to read. Who will cook if she reads? The shows are not entirely an exaggeration. — Nikita Jhanglani (@NikitaJhanglani) August 23, 2017
I met somebody who did not like that her DIL liked to read. Who will cook if she reads? The shows are not entirely an exaggeration.
A4. Lack of good writers. In the past, there was a passion to tell good stories & bring change. Now, its lifted content & focus is on money — Tina Sequeira (@tinajsequeira) August 23, 2017
A4. Lack of good writers. In the past, there was a passion to tell good stories & bring change. Now, its lifted content & focus is on money
The problem is they also, eventually, come down to just that level. We need to stop mixing fantasy with kitchen politics! — Nikita Jhanglani (@NikitaJhanglani) August 23, 2017
The problem is they also, eventually, come down to just that level. We need to stop mixing fantasy with kitchen politics!
A4 The oppressed like to see other oppressed and feel less lonely I guess, seeking justification for sexism and the like. #WomenOnTheMOve — Pooja Sharma Rao (@SoulVersified) August 23, 2017
A4 The oppressed like to see other oppressed and feel less lonely I guess, seeking justification for sexism and the like. #WomenOnTheMOve
— Pooja Sharma Rao (@SoulVersified) August 23, 2017
A4. Sadly, I’ve heard people say it is “realistic” as in, they can identify with those. #WomenOnTheMove — Vidya Sury (@vidyasury) August 23, 2017
A4. Sadly, I’ve heard people say it is “realistic” as in, they can identify with those. #WomenOnTheMove
— Vidya Sury (@vidyasury) August 23, 2017
How a lady who has never stepped in office, enters directly from kitchen and takes over like a boss. — Varsha Kalelkar (@VarshaKalelkar) August 23, 2017
How a lady who has never stepped in office, enters directly from kitchen and takes over like a boss.
— Varsha Kalelkar (@VarshaKalelkar) August 23, 2017
I swear! She does better than people with degrees from Ivy League universities. Of course, that is questionable when you look at the hero! — Nikita Jhanglani (@NikitaJhanglani) August 23, 2017
I swear! She does better than people with degrees from Ivy League universities. Of course, that is questionable when you look at the hero!
Women are shown as superhumans or absolutely worthless! Why can’t we show one who has dreams,is not willing to sacrifice it,& is not a vamp? — Nikita Jhanglani (@NikitaJhanglani) August 23, 2017
Women are shown as superhumans or absolutely worthless! Why can’t we show one who has dreams,is not willing to sacrifice it,& is not a vamp?
A1. So many things. For now, How do women enjoy & derive pleasure watching these serials that pit women against each other? #WomenOnTheMove — Tina Sequeira (@tinajsequeira) August 23, 2017
A1. So many things. For now, How do women enjoy & derive pleasure watching these serials that pit women against each other? #WomenOnTheMove
The fancy dress, and their blood thirsty instincts. — parwatisingari (@parwatisingari) August 23, 2017
The fancy dress, and their blood thirsty instincts.
— parwatisingari (@parwatisingari) August 23, 2017
D story line that always portray women as domestic goddess or vamps..how about stories on women who are ambitious, working and strong. — WomanistanWeb.com (@womanistanweb) August 23, 2017
D story line that always portray women as domestic goddess or vamps..how about stories on women who are ambitious, working and strong.
Image: screengrab from here
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Neena was the sole caregiver of Amma and though one would think that Amma was dependent on her, Neena felt otherwise.
Neena inhaled the aroma that emanated from the pan and took a deep breath. The aroma of cumin interspersed with butter transported her back to the modest kitchen in her native village. She could picture her father standing in the kitchen wearing his white crisp kurta as he made delectable concoctions for his only daughter.
Neena grew up in a home where both her parents worked together in tandem to keep the house up and running. She had a blissful childhood in her modest two-room house. The house was small but every nook and cranny gave her memories of a lifetime. Neena’s young heart imagined that her life would follow the same cheerful course. But how wrong she was!
When she was sixteen, the catastrophic clutches of destiny snatched away her parents. They passed away in a road accident and Neena was devastated. Relatives thronged her now gloomy house and soon it was decided that she should be married off.
Women today don’t want to be in a partnership that complicates their lives further. They need an equal partner with whom they can figure out life as a team, playing by each other’s strengths.
We all are familiar with that one annoying aunty who is more interested in our marital status than in the dessert counter at a wedding. But these aunties have somehow become obsolete now. Now they are replaced by men we have in our lives. Friends, family, and even work colleagues. It’s the men who are worried about why we are not saying yes to one among their clans. What is wrong with us? Aren’t we scared of dying alone? Like them?
A recent interaction with a guy friend of mine turned sour when he lectured me about how I would regret not getting married at the right time. He lectured that every event in our lives needs to be completed within a certain timeframe set by society else we are doomed. I wasn’t angry. I was just disappointed to realize that annoying aunties are rapidly doubling in our society. And they don’t just appear at weddings or family functions anymore. They are everywhere. They are the real pandemic.
Let’s examine this a little closer.
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