You know, how YouTube very smartly and often accurately tries to recommend videos you might like? That is how I watched a lissome pretty young girl get pulled close by a smart earnest looking young man. She had the most beautiful black heels and her hair and dress both whirled as he twirled her into his arms. He appeared to be getting on her nerves while a lilting song played in the background. She finally confessed that his rudeness and niceness both unnerved her.

The mother of the man looked upon them, ignoring the growing attraction between them. I had not seen the hero and heroine before, but the mother I liked. Way back from her tu tu main main days when she had been the forthright bahu.

Kuch Rang Pyar Ke started out with a vivacious young feel to it. There was a lot of colour onscreen, in the pretty clothes that Dr Bose wore and also on the sets of Mr Obodhro’s (as she nicknamed the hero) house. The hero and heroine did not have much in common, but got a lot of scenes to interact with each other, specially in the kitchen (where somehow they often found themselves alone) and on long drives homes. Even the title song had a zing to it. Breezy lyrics and hummable notes.

The girl’s family is a middle-class Bengali family (as typical as a TV serial family can get). The parents are proud of all that their independent daughter had achieved. She is a nutritionist (not sure if nutritionists are doctors!). Sonakshi Bose is very close to them, sharing everything.

The boy’s family has seen tough times. They have risen above their destitute condition thanks to him. He attributes all his success to his hard-working mother (the father not being around.. and am not entirely sure what happened to him). Dev Dikshit never laughed, having no time for such frivolous activities when he has so many responsibilities to shoulder. He was not harsh, like some stern heroes out there. He was merely broken and is vulnerable, but holding himself and his family together because that is what he has been implicitly taught to do.

By Episode 76 navigating the minor perils of plot twists Dev reaches Sonakshi’s house past midnight and whisks her away. He declares his love for Sonakshi. I saw the scene (last 5 mins or so) multiple times. Smiling all the time. She loves him too. In a rare Hindi serial state the lead pair were happily in love without misunderstandings for a while.

Shaheer was charming and disarming as he professed his love. He spoke of promises, hopes and poetry. He smiled, marvelling at how beautiful his lady love was. Then gave himself a shake. His expression flawlessly segued to a raw intensity as he stated that he was straightforward by nature. He loved her. It was too good to be true. She wanted to be cautious; inquired if he meant love as in a friend. He rushed to clarify, “I love you like a man loves a woman.”

The mother was possessive and insecure about her son. I went along because it felt relatable. In our society sometimes we use past sadness and strife as our badge of honour. It is not uncommon when father’s cite examples of their hardships in youth to their children, so that the next generation works harder and earns more. Supriya Pilgaonkar as Ishwari was perfectly maintaining this balance of attempting to be good (which almost always on television means selfless), but she wanted her son for herself. Her prize.

We saw a man who had spoken out his heart and a mother who wanted her son to herself as a reminder of all that they had shared together because that is all she had. There was a connect with me and an element of entertainment. I liked the jokes as the leads fell in love. I liked their long drives and all the conversations. Their naive expectation that love is a certain way. And I liked how considerate Dev was of his mother. He knew she relied on him and how much she liked the fact that she was the most important to him.

They spoilt it all when Dev decided not to tell his mother that he had fallen in love. I overlooked it, making excuses. In such families where you are burdened with responsibilities of the past, you hardly ever share your personal happiness of the present. No one cares. You share success and money, but your heart is your own. That is how you survive.

Then, they made Dev leave Sonakshi and I could not be as forgiving. They made Sonakshi this capable self-sufficient woman who was hurt but able to make an effort of moving on. They made Dev a weakling with no convictions of his own. Drowning in the sorrow of his broken heart. His sisters didn’t care about his feelings which made me miserable. The story felt hollow (except for mamaji who held on to some sense and care).

Now, they got Dev and Sonakshi back after Dev has made a complete fool of himself. How can she and us respect him? And how can I trust a heroine who for her dignity walks away so easily from a hero? I would have liked her to try harder. And what do we do with a mawkish mother who can’t be a true parent to her child, but needs looking after herself? Why is there a dadi on top of the already irritating gareeb ki beti? Where is the fun, the love and the varying shades of colour in all of this? And even though Dev and Sonakshi are married now, how do I get back to watching this, knowing the story tellers may again forget the story they had started to tell?

 

What did you think of all the craziness around meat or no meat.. an offensive note in kuch rang pyaar ke aise bhi

AARWEN’S INDEX

 

Pic and video credit Sony Entertainment Television.