Almost all stories on the Death of Tulsi mention how the character portrayed by actress Smriti Irani was far removed from "what happens in real India" and is a stereotype of the 'typical, Indian housewife'. But erm, aren't these soaps meant for the housewives? And really, what DOES happen in real India?
Agreed that maybe you and I don't wear zari-laden saris or walk around with entire shaadi-ka-jewellery or sleep with our makeup on... But hey, I don't think whoever is watching these serials is watching them for the 'good' that is shown in them. People are hooked for the 'bad' or tough situations that are shown... that, strangely, are REAL. Let's see: mothers-in-law (MIL) who harass daughters-in-law (DIL), family politics, parents forcing kids to marry according to their wishes, men marrying women for 'family' reasons, business marriages, giving away own child to childless relatives, unwed mothers, conniving sisters-in-law, marital rape, dowry demands, parents harrowed over the wedding of their daughter, the situation worsens if there are three daughters...
People watch soaps for the nasty and not the nice: Strangely the stereotypes are prevalent mostly as far as the main leads are concerned. The Good Girl/ Bahu/ Beti has remained the same over the various stages of soap on television: from Buniyad to Hum Log, the initial soaps like Tara and Shanti or be it the 24/7 barrage on various channels by Soap Opera Inc. She might have changed the tight jooda for a blunt cut and red-border saris for trendier clothes or a pair of jeans; but her basic 'values' remain the same.
However, and this is where it gets interesting, the supporting characters around the Hero-Heroine are changing and so are the situations and events. There's not much depth to most characters in the serials but at least some fledgling steps are being taken. Ten years back perhaps, an old matriarch supporting the new DIL (Ba in Kyunki... and this despite her being the longest living granny on Indian TV!) would not have been possible. Nor a scene where a MIL demands her son's marriage be annulled so that the DIL can marry another man.
Before you all send feedback saying "How can you support sad, soppy, soaps"... I am NOT supportive of those. If perhaps they are banned, we will perhaps be forced to watch good serials or make them. Wish we would go back to the 13-episode method of serials. Like we had that Sudesh Berry-Malvika Tiwari starrer (Kashish, DD), or Tanha (Star Plus) or even the short-story format serial, Rishtey (renamed Love Stories and what not, Zee, I think) or Katha Sagar... (Sigh) Till then, let's just hope SOMEONE makes a good serial. Because given the fact that allegedly Tulsi will die in a crash - truck falls off cliff and all - and I am sure her body will not be found... and she will miraculously survive (which she has done before) and Tulsi might just come back. And then Ekta Kapoor will REALLY take over TV. (Shudder)
PS: Don't forget to try out the How Much Of Tulsi Are You quiz...it's fun. About the AuthorJhoomur Bose Jhoomur Bose is a media student and blogger. She writes on life, style, entertainment and everything else that can be entertaining!...Read Morefirst published:June 07, 2007, 13:19 ISTlast updated:June 07, 2007, 13:19 IST
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We are all such hypocrites that we deserve another Tulsi to happen to us. First, we crib about the fact that Indian soap operas - particularly the ones dished out by Queen of Sob, Ekta Kapoor - are sad, promote stereotypes and are regressive. And yet, if the TRPs are anything to go by, someone is definitely watching these serials. If you and me have declared that what these serials portray is trash and not how 'real India' is... why are people watching them?
Almost all stories on the Death of Tulsi mention how the character portrayed by actress Smriti Irani was far removed from "what happens in real India" and is a stereotype of the 'typical, Indian housewife'. But erm, aren't these soaps meant for the housewives? And really, what DOES happen in real India?
Agreed that maybe you and I don't wear zari-laden saris or walk around with entire shaadi-ka-jewellery or sleep with our makeup on... But hey, I don't think whoever is watching these serials is watching them for the 'good' that is shown in them. People are hooked for the 'bad' or tough situations that are shown... that, strangely, are REAL. Let's see: mothers-in-law (MIL) who harass daughters-in-law (DIL), family politics, parents forcing kids to marry according to their wishes, men marrying women for 'family' reasons, business marriages, giving away own child to childless relatives, unwed mothers, conniving sisters-in-law, marital rape, dowry demands, parents harrowed over the wedding of their daughter, the situation worsens if there are three daughters...
People watch soaps for the nasty and not the nice: Strangely the stereotypes are prevalent mostly as far as the main leads are concerned. The Good Girl/ Bahu/ Beti has remained the same over the various stages of soap on television: from Buniyad to Hum Log, the initial soaps like Tara and Shanti or be it the 24/7 barrage on various channels by Soap Opera Inc. She might have changed the tight jooda for a blunt cut and red-border saris for trendier clothes or a pair of jeans; but her basic 'values' remain the same.
However, and this is where it gets interesting, the supporting characters around the Hero-Heroine are changing and so are the situations and events. There's not much depth to most characters in the serials but at least some fledgling steps are being taken. Ten years back perhaps, an old matriarch supporting the new DIL (Ba in Kyunki... and this despite her being the longest living granny on Indian TV!) would not have been possible. Nor a scene where a MIL demands her son's marriage be annulled so that the DIL can marry another man.
Before you all send feedback saying "How can you support sad, soppy, soaps"... I am NOT supportive of those. If perhaps they are banned, we will perhaps be forced to watch good serials or make them. Wish we would go back to the 13-episode method of serials. Like we had that Sudesh Berry-Malvika Tiwari starrer (Kashish, DD), or Tanha (Star Plus) or even the short-story format serial, Rishtey (renamed Love Stories and what not, Zee, I think) or Katha Sagar... (Sigh) Till then, let's just hope SOMEONE makes a good serial. Because given the fact that allegedly Tulsi will die in a crash - truck falls off cliff and all - and I am sure her body will not be found... and she will miraculously survive (which she has done before) and Tulsi might just come back. And then Ekta Kapoor will REALLY take over TV. (Shudder)
PS: Don't forget to try out the How Much Of Tulsi Are You quiz...it's fun.
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