Indian Serials

[Lumière]

Anyone not following Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kucch Kaha? If so, I definitely recommend it, though I've been a bit behind myself. My Mum and I adore it; it's really good. At least, give it a go.

Edit: I'm really glad you started neverevil, when can we expect your delineations?   </back to lurkdom>

[never_evil]

They show Shiv telling Nandi that his foremost duty from then on will be to listen to the prayers of Shiv-bhakts around the world and he is to bring the ones said with sacche mann and with a truly sincere heart back to Mahadev. It was so lovely!! I loved it!!!

Awww

Yea, it's very cool. Virat-Maanvi scenes have really good banter too--in a different way than MJHT because the characters of Virat and Maanvi are always aggressively combative whereas on MJHT the convos are more low-key and friendly. But both very cool banter shows, each in its own style!!

You're right! I like that description!

Mayank and his mom are adorable there, and mosquito bit so cute and funny! "Itne over-possessive banne ki zarurat nahin hai" ---haha that is cute Hinglish too:p
And Lol at the part where he tells his mom that she's not even filmi, that she looks like a TV actor. [Anyone who has a cheezy cornball mom--or didi haha, whistling--can relate to that part quite a bit:D]

Hehe I love Mayank's mom. she also played Naina's mom in SSBN - but there she was more reserved and intimidating (but in an awesome way not a vamp way). I love that the writers thought of Mayank's mom as cool too - I once read the writer describe her as his favourite character cause she was coolest, maddest mom on tv and for a long time the only parent figure in MJHT.

I remember when Benji and Uday were watching Rannvijay trying to frame Samrat and he pulls out a gun and Uday got all nervous and was trying to leave and Benji was like "I don't think that gun looks too scary" and Uday was all "The bullets coming out of it will be scary though, I'm outta here" or something like that. Ahaha!!

Yeah the guys did their dialogue delivery well!

^ Just clicked that link, thanks, cute Mayank pics!! I'm a fan of Mayank's personality on this show, he's so serious and sincere, I really like that.

I know, uski isi ada pe tou I got fida and all

Wooo Hooo please let me be ridiculous as usual (haha) and roll out the red carpet to welcome Bollywhat to Soaps Division!!
Parul and Anjali are Co-Presidents and I am Vice-President but we could always use a third Co-President to make a proper triumvirate of awesome Hindi serial expert-ess (okay that wording and grammar makes no sense but the position comes with an emblazoned sash and engraved name-plate hehe:p)

LOL awesome, I didn't realise our jobs had these perks. I must go search for where I misplaced these...

Edit: That reminds me guys, in April we're going to be coming up on our three year anniversary of soaps madness! It was April '09 I think, when the craziness began I remember being too bashful and diffident to even say which shows I was watching when it all first started!! Well, no such qualms now, how times have changed Lol!
These days I discuss everything very openly and write huge gigantic enormous essays on every detail from hair gel to romance-scene analysis and everything in between woooooo

Heh change for the better I say. Wow it's been 3 years of madness (in a good way!)

How pathetic by the way, this is how I get my old-lady kicks, by noticing bad stand-ins on horrible serials *adjusts monocle and drinks more prune juice* hahaha:p []

Oh don't talk about being pathetic dee, I sometimes rewatch my favourite scenes over and over for days on end. Or go and start watching a show that's finished from the start all over again.

Re your second post Parul, I've seen a few eps of Na Bole Tum, and it looks cute, but I think I have too many shows to add another one though I'm trying to check my timers to see if I can fit in a few more, maybe I can.

It's very low key but that's why I love it so <3


ETA: um I spotted this in someone's sig on IF:

When did that happen :O

[never_evil]

Anyone not following Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kucch Kaha? If so, I definitely recommend it, though I've been a bit behind myself. My Mum and I adore it; it's really good. At least, give it a go.

Edit: I'm really glad you started neverevil, when can we expect your delineations?   </back to lurkdom>

omg what can I say Lumière? I spent all Sunday watching the Jan eps and after I came back from work today I'm *almost* done with the Feb eps. I wish I hadn't caught up so soon. Now I'll have to intezaar karo of each ep daily - and that's gonna be really hard!

This show is just LOVELINESS personified.

I'm too in love to talk about it right now lol so...

links!

http://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/nirav-soni-my-brother-jay-is-my-favourite-actor/
No wonder I kept thinking Tanmay looks oddly familiar!!! He is the brother of Jay Soni from Sasural Genda Phool!

http://www.rangmunch.tv/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=305:mohan-and-guru-on-rangmunch-tv-video&Itemid=543
Guru and Mohan's relationship is just... I can't even <3

My OTP heeee

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-24/news-interviews/30659055_1_actor-karan-johar-entire-cast-and-crew
Actually I'm a total fan of Guru in general

http://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/kunal-karan-kapoor-i-am-going-through-a-mohan-phase-and-im-loving-it/
Did I mention that I feel oddly proud of Kunal? That he got such an awesome lead role and he's doing it so well. From Yudi to Mohan - wow. Actually so many of the LRLians ended up awesome.
Harshad, Arjun Bijlani, Sanaya, Rajeev Khandelwal etc - sounds like a uncommonly good batch of over-achieving kids at school

Rati Pandey is currently creating waves with her spirited performance in Zee TV's Hitler Didi. But as we all know, she stormed in the popularity zone by her stint in Sudhir-Seema Sharma's popular show, Miley Jab Hum Tum on Star One.

Currently, they are producing a show on Colors Na Bole Tum'Na Maine Kuch Kaha, and if things would have fallen into place, Rati would have played the role of Megha (which is currently being enacted by newbie Akanksha Singh).

"We wanted Rati to be in the show. But somehow things did not work out and she signed Hitler Didi. We have a great rapport with her and she is very close to us," informed Sudhir.

He further continued, "If Rati would have been a part of Na Bole'its approach would have been different. Every actor brings his or her own personality to a serial. But Akanksha is also performing amazingly in Na Bole'She has emerged as the soul of the show,".

We absolutely agree, Sudhir. We called up Rati but she was busy shooting.

Rati as Megha, hmm'wonder how it would have been like. For now, keep watching the show and enjoy it!!!
Source: http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2794054

Awww this show is made by Sunshine Productions who also did Miley Jab Hum Tum (with Endemol) - so it was nice to hear this. Bit I am very glad Rati did Hitler Didi because Akanksha is acing this. Rati is great but Akanksha just brought a certain softness to the character. I like Rati on HD anyway - she's doing quite well with the strong minded and closed off character of Indira.

And while, the plodding speed at which I write posts plus not enough time means it may take some weeks before I get to squee my heart out, in the meantime let's hear someone else squee:

The other serial that I have been trying to catch these days is Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha (Colors). This show is about Medha Vyas, a young widow and mother of two sweet kids. Brave, upright and lonely, she has come to live with her in-laws in Indore after her engineer husband, Amar Vyas, committed suicide. He was accused of criminal negligence in the collapse of a bridge that killed 25 people.

Medha firmly believes in his innocence and bit by bit, with each moving outburst, reporter Manoj is falling in love. The serial has some silly sidetracks, but I like the chemistry between the plain, restrained Medha and untamed Manoj.

Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/tv-guide/meet-real-indian-nari-176

Ok so she got some things wrong. It's Megha not Medha and her husband died in the accident himself, he didn't commit suicide. But that summarises it. Not that I think it's ANYWHERE near love or even crush yet but that's a good thing. A very good thing. They better keep it this way for a while. I just liked the phrasing.

What's good about it?

has just been almost a month that Na Bole Tum…Na Maine Kuch Kaha replaced the popular BIG BOSS at the 10:30 PM slot on Colors. But even less than a month the show has brought a refreshing change to viewers and some really memorable moments to make it a hit amongst the audiences especially kids.

The show premiered on the 9th of January 2012 and ever since the promos have been on air, the show has been awaited with eager eye. Now that it is doing fantastically well, COLORS seem to have strike the chords right again.

However the show’s leading pair Akanksha Singh playing Megha Vyas and Kunal Kapoor playing Mohan Bhatnagar have been responsible to take the show to a new peak with the crackling chemistry and characterisation they share on screen.

Kunal especially has had a great camaraderie with kids on and off screen. From playing Spiderman to playing pranks, Mohan a.k.a Kunal does it all.

Leaving no far behind is Akanksha Singh who with her strong character of Megha brings poignancy to the screen. Her theatre background makes her delivery on screen strong and puts forth a strong emotional connect the audiences. Also the expressions and dialogues make her victimized character stronger than similar characters of other shows.

The drama also has an interesting plot and is a refreshing change in the age of same old couple oriented love stories. A protagonist who is a widow and a young lad’s story and a new cast and an engaging plot goes all with the serial.

The treatment that the show has, is different from other shows and thus emerges as a strong winner in eyes of audiences. It fills the slot left by BIG BOSS aptly and it is no way an easy task to replace a successful show with a new one. But Na Bole Tum…has proved that a good story could achieve


Source: http://www.bollygraph.com/featured/na-bole-tum-na-maine-kuch-kaha-a-refreshing-change/14385/

The show is close to reality and characters are believable in both looks and performances. An attempt is being made to downplay what would be the high drama points. The characters have been established in the very first episode. However, they lack nuances and are quite linear. The story is paced well, keeping the audience interested.

The show also seems to want to offer every possible mode of entertainment, right from a social message to the vampish bhabhi who hopes to be rich one day and thus considers Megha and her kids a financial burden.

Source: http://m.screenindia.com/story_mobile.php?storyid=907020

Hmmm I don't fully agree there. I have seen many vampish Bhabhis and though Renuka has the marks of some I don't think she's some heartless vamp, or hope she doesn't end up one. This show wouldn't suit all that. So far the emotions portrayed have been very real - even though Renuka isn't right you can see where she's coming from for certain things. And some people by nature have the tendency to jataao ehsaans.


ETA: all caught up now. A million thanks to Sudhir and Seema for this show! I can't imagine missing a single ep now. One only hopes kisi ki buri nazar na lag jaaye, and it doesn't get ruined.

[anju_21]

Guys, I am seriously considering just quitting college so I can concentrate on watching TV full-time.

Nah, don’t worry. I’ll stay in school. But I want to get back into the whole serial thing, and seeing as I’m currently underachieving at everything else in life this is as good a time as any. So here I am, with a jumbled-up post about  things I want to watch, and things I have watched because I’m a bad student, and random replies to all the posts I haven’t replied to because I haven’t been posting in this thread for over a month. Not in depth, though, so I’m sorry if I miss replying to something…

Is Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
Watched all the Arnav-Khushi scenes so I’m pretty much caught up to the story and didn’t have to suffer through Shyam being Shyam. Man this show is just so good! I love how in some ways it’s your typical Hindi serial with the angsty hero and bubbly heroine and cute family scenes and misunderstandings and evil husband trying to kill his wife with a scorpion (um how exactly is a tiny thing with legs possibly the best choice for murder weapon?) but it somehow stops just short of overdoing it. Not to mention that despite all the clichéd twists and scenes it never comes off as just more of the same. I think the writers have stuck somewhat to the old serial formula but managed to make it quality TV anyway and I just love it. Not that I don’t fastforward some bits but overall the show is very well-made without losing the sweetness and drama that you expect from a Hindi serial. (Which of course is not to say that there’s a problem with the more slice-of-life, toned-down shows, but I like how IPKKND manages be really good while still belonging more to the K-serial style of serialmaking.)
Special mention to the set designer/costume designer/choreographer/heck everyone, because the show is just so pretty. I’ve noticed that they do a lot of stuff with light, dark, and color, especially warm colors—a lot of intense scenes are set at night, and Arnav’s usually wearing something black or grey, and then there are loads of small lights because of shaadi or Diwali decorations, and then Khushi is always wearing something bright and shiny and it all works together so well. OK I’m not articulating this nearly well enough but I think this is the first time I’ve actually noticed the background and the framing really enhancing the tone of a serial, not just in certain special scenes but in almost every shot.
Also, the scene where Arnav breaks down? Amazing. Barun is a really good actor, and the editing in that scene was brilliant: the slow buildup as he thinks about his sister and Shyam, the faster pace as he flashes back to his moments with Khushi, and then remembering Shyam and Khushi’s betrayal and his sister’s love for Shyam… it really brought out a sense of just how hurt and conflicted he is.

By the way, I loved Khushi’s Didi Tera Jethji Deewana dance—just LOL. And the fact that Arnav laughed was a bonus. That scene totally made my day. I agree that the Arnav-Khushi dance was a bit ridiculous. It would have looked a lot better if Arnav wasn’t lip-synching, too.

He cut the line with the brake fluid, I think - brakes failed, of course she survived with minor scratches, now she discovers she's knocked up right after Arnav has seen Shyam embracing Khushi and overheard her yelling at him (to paraphrase), "If your marriage to Anjali means so little to you, then why don't you just leave her?" --Which, you know, is a pretty odd thing for Khushi to say, so I'm not blaming Arnav at all for being mad as hell at both of them.

The spoilers for IPKKND suggest they're about to go even more OTT... which means I'm SO there.

Yeah Khushi was almost asking to be misunderstood with a line like that. Though honestly it’s a lot better than a lot of other misunderstandings I’ve seen in shows because at least it’s a valid question (I’ve kinda been wondering the same—is he after Anjali’s money or what? I think so but has it been explicitly said?) and, more importantly, anyone listening to it would assume what Arnav did—not to mention Shyam even confirmed it to him soon after. So while normally when things like this happen in shows I roll my eyes because it seems like they’re just being irrational, but I actually understand Arnav here.

Haven't seen this week's episodes yet but I'll try to catch up next week.

Life OK

Gauri di: I’m glad you like Devon Ke Dev so much! I haven't watched it at all but it does sound good. The actress who plays Sati was on Kyunki years ago… she’s so pretty! yes random trivia.

So has anyone been keeping an eye on any of the Life OK shows other than DKDM and Main Lakshmi...? I watched an episode or so of almost all of them over winter break and... I don't know. I don't feel right making a judgment based on one episode, but I couldn't get myself to sit through another episode of any of them other than Main Lakshmi... and Sapnon Ke Bhanwar Mein, and even those never quite hooked me. In fact, my interest in Sapnon Ke Bhanwar Mein has less to do with characters or writing and more to do with the fact that I just couldn't figure out what the show was about. Something with politics. The others, well, maybe I'm just watching all the wrong episodes? There was nothing specifically wrong with any of them, they were just kinda... boring. I don't know. Like I said, though, I didn't see nearly enough of any of them to reach a proper conclusion.

MJHT
Gauri di, I totally agree with everything you’ve said about Gunjan’s character. I know I’ve gone on about this before so I won’t this time lol especially cause you’ve said it so well.

BTW guys, you know the havaldar who befriends Samrat after the drunk-driving incident? Who kinda helps him realize his feelings for Gunjan? His name is Kamdev! Totally didn’t notice it the first time around because AFAIK it’s never mentioned in connection with the fact that he’s playing cupid for Sajan, but when I watched the rerun over winter break I caught it and thought it was just unbearably awesome. (I’m weird like that—significant names for characters makes me very happy.)

Dastaan

Awesome Anjali I didn't know you had made a start on Dastaan!!! How did you find it? I know the second half is pretty brutal, I felt physically ill watching it but the first half was so gorgeous. And there were still amazing moments in the second half.

Yep I started it before winter break, but I was watching it on megavideo and that may have been what gave my computer the virus so I was a bit hesitant to go back and finish. Only got to episode 5 or so but I loved it. The quality is just so much higher than your average Hindi serial… not that I don’t love Hindi serials, of course, and a lot of the time I think I kind of prefer them because I actually have to concentrate on shows like Dastaan, you know? Anyway, I definitely do want to finish it.

Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha
I ran into this in an IF article a few weeks ago and thought it sounded really good, but the first episode was uploaded in seven sections on youtube and they just wouldn’t load. But youtube was being generally obnoxious around then and it’s better now, so I’ll try again.

Sajda Tere Pyar Mein
YAY I found a new show and for once it’s actually a good one. (‘Cause by the way? Don’t try watching Yeh Tera Ghar Yeh Mera Ghar. It turns out that “Well, no one else is watching it” is not a good reason to spend time on a show. There’s probably a good reason no one is watching it.)
Aaanyway. It’s a new show on Star Plus that started on Feb 14th (a Tuesday? Did they just want to start onV-Day or what?). It’s about a Muslim girl, Aliya… they’re being very vague about the storyline, beyond the line that it’s a “love triangle between a girl, a boy, and the nation.” From the promos, I thought it sounded a bit Fanaa-ish, where the girl is in love with someone who turns out to be a terrorist, but the hero guy (Shaleen Bhanot aka the husband of Daljeet who plays Anjali on IPKKND) is apparently a RAW agent  who takes his fashion cues from Rockstar so I’m confused now.





Promos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW6YxYp7tV8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TxKl70GNbY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIMdZjj7ST8

Title song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y55hXZzvP8&ob=av3e

I like the show a lot so far. It kind of takes after Navya in style, in that it’s trying to be youth-oriented while still being a bit more dramatic. The lead actress spent the whole first episode jumping and squealing like she was on a permanent sugar high, but she’s new to TV (though she was in a National Award-winning Bengali film) so I’ll cut her some slack. She does well in the scenes where she’s arguing with her sister or something like that, it’s just the ones with her friends where she sorta overdoes the carefree young girl act. I love all the scenes with Aliya and her family, which consists of her older sister, Nafisa, who’s a police officer; Nafisa’s husband, Rahib; and Daijaan, who is Hindu is and is played by Shehnaz Bi from DMG. Nafisa and Aliya argue a lot, since Nafisa is a bit strict with her (justifiably so, imo) but they clearly love each other a lot: whenever Aliya, upset after an argument, stubbornly refuses to eat, Nafisa also refuses to eat. I also love how Rahib tries to mediate and tells Nafisa not to worry so much because Aliya has been raised with good values and will turn out just fine. (Also, Rahib and Nafisa are adorable.) There’s also Aliya’s best friend, Rishi, who is getting high on things far more dangerous than sugar, and stealing from his mom and stepdad to finance it, and another friend, Nargis, who is engaged to an armyman. Even though the show does try too hard to be cool and youthful in the scenes between Aliya and her friends, I definitely think they handle the more serious stuff—Rishi’s addiction, references to Nafisa and Aliya’s brother, Aalif, who disappeared a few years back, scenes between Aliya and Nafisa—well, so it should be pretty good.
Sorry--I know I always post little things like this and never get around to typing up full accounts of the shows I watch (My Khottey Sikke post is still waiting in Word) but I really wanted to get this post up soon.

Random Other Stuff

Edit: That reminds me guys, in April we're going to be coming up on our three year anniversary of soaps madness!  It was April '09 I think, when the craziness began  I remember being too bashful and diffident to even say which shows I was watching when it all first started!!  Well, no such qualms now, how times have changed Lol!
These days I discuss everything very openly and write huge gigantic enormous essays on every detail from hair gel to romance-scene analysis and everything in between woooooo

Yep, end of April/beginning of May if I remember correctly. I feel like we should have some sort of celebration… like we pick a date to call our anniversary and everyone who posts in this thread should go get cake and have it that day.

…Anjali, isn't the lady on the right the same person who was opposite Monish in DMG?

Totally meant to reply to this weeks ago but never did. Yep, that’s Second Padma, and, more importantly and relevantly, Mohnish’s real-life wife Ekta. The lady who played Padma at the beginning (Shilpa Tulaskar—she shows up here and there in movies, including as one of the people Vishal and Preeti interview in MFK) quit after Padma and Shashank got married because there really wasn’t a role for her anymore, and by the time they needed Padma back for AR’s engagement track, she was busy with other stuff. So Mohnish convinced his wife to play Padma. Sorry, way more info than you needed but I thought it was cute.

[los angeles]

Guys, I am seriously considering just quitting college so I can concentrate on watching TV full-time.

Nah, don’t worry. I’ll stay in school.

I'm with you...my real life work is so inconvenient as it cuts into my Hindi soaps time hehe []

But I want to get back into the whole serial thing, and seeing as I’m currently underachieving at everything else in life this is as good a time as any. So here I am, with a jumbled-up post about  things I want to watch, and things I have watched

^ Woot Woot!!
[Jumbled up posts with random replies are totally our style here at Soaps Division, right? [haha:p]

Is Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
Watched all the Arnav-Khushi scenes so I’m pretty much caught up to the story and didn’t have to suffer through Shyam being Shyam. Man this show is just so good!

I quite agree, even though I still forward everything with Shyam because I find him despicable and detestable

I love how in some ways it’s your typical Hindi serial with the angsty hero and bubbly heroine and cute family scenes and misunderstandings and evil husband trying to kill his wife

Yea, exactly, in some ways so cliche but with modern actors and sort of a modern take on things...I like it.

with a scorpion (um how exactly is a tiny thing with legs possibly the best choice for murder weapon?)

Yea I know Lol!:p

And it was so obviously plastic but I always want all the TV and movie people to leave animals alone so I'm very happy when they use fake or animatronic devices to show animals so that the real ones can be free and happy and roaming around in the wild instead of being forced to perform and stuck in a cage [Nooooooooo to cages and all that ]

In Mahadev forum, some person started a thread saying that the rubber/plastic snake on Mahadev actor was clearly fake and looked bad. A bunch of people posted in that thread about how in older serials they used real snakes and it looked better for the audiences at home. Which made me really sad Snakes should be in the wild, having fun and living their lives in nature. They should NOT be de-fanged and tranquilized and miserable and sitting wrapped around some guy's neck under hot lights on a TV set for hours every day. That's very UNCOOL and there's NO need for that. PLus the tech/props people are getting more and more sophisticated with their fake animals for shows, they will come up with something that looks like a real snake eventually. In the meantime, let's let the real snakes be free and awesome and azaad in the wild.

Okay shucks where was I and what show were we discussing here...Iss Pyaar, right, so yea I was glad to see the plastic scorpion and Anjali, I agree that was a ludicrous choice of a murder weapon haha:p

but it somehow stops just short of overdoing it. Not to mention that despite all the clichéd twists and scenes it never comes off as just more of the same. I think the writers have stuck somewhat to the old serial formula but managed to make it quality TV anyway and I just love it.

^ Fully agree with this. Formulas happen because they work, so it's almost like a foundation from which to begin. So then you make an awesome show by starting with that and then doing cool stuff with your actors, your story and your scenes. Which I think they have done here and on many of my other favourite serials, actually.

Not that I don’t fastforward some bits but overall the show is very well-made without losing the sweetness and drama that you expect from a Hindi serial. (Which of course is not to say that there’s a problem with the more slice-of-life, toned-down shows, but I like how IPKKND manages be really good while still belonging more to the K-serial style of serialmaking.)

Yea exactly. I forward lots of stuff too (I don't have time or inclination to watch Shyam chronicles these days) but I still really enjoy the parts I do watch.
 

Special mention to the set designer/costume designer/choreographer/heck everyone, because the show is just so pretty.

I know right? Gorgeous!!:-)

I’ve noticed that they do a lot of stuff with light, dark, and color, especially warm colors—a lot of intense scenes are set at night, and Arnav’s usually wearing something black or grey, and then there are loads of small lights because of shaadi or Diwali decorations, and then Khushi is always wearing something bright and shiny and it all works together so well.

It really does. It's a pleasure to see.

OK I’m not articulating this nearly well enough but I think this is the first time I’ve actually noticed the background and the framing really enhancing the tone of a serial, not just in certain special scenes but in almost every shot.

^ Totally agree with this Anjali (and you articulated it perfectly.)
I think the pretty colors and inviting sets and the nice lighting all make for a very lovely setting situation and it makes you want to watch certain scenes over and over because they're so gorgeous in addition to being well acted or well written.
All my favourite serials have this sort of cool set and costume design.

I hate watching shows and movies with drab/dreary locations and back-drops. I mean, I just want something really lovely to rest my eyes on when I take a break from work and settle in to watch my shows.

Also, the scene where Arnav breaks down? Amazing. Barun is a really good actor, and the editing in that scene was brilliant: the slow buildup as he thinks about his sister and Shyam, the faster pace as he flashes back to his moments with Khushi, and then remembering Shyam and Khushi’s betrayal and his sister’s love for Shyam… it really brought out a sense of just how hurt and conflicted he is.

I am really hating the fact that he thinks Khushi wants to be with Shyam. How horrid:(
I can't wait till he finds out that she was never involved with Shyam and that she never liked him. But it's going to be a while before that happens I guess.

By the way, I loved Khushi’s Didi Tera Jethji Deewana dance—just LOL. And the fact that Arnav laughed was a bonus. That scene totally made my day. I agree that the Arnav-Khushi dance was a bit ridiculous. It would have looked a lot better if Arnav wasn’t lip-synching, too.

Yea I agree.

Yeah Khushi was almost asking to be misunderstood with a line like that. Though honestly it’s a lot better than a lot of other misunderstandings I’ve seen in shows because at least it’s a valid question (I’ve kinda been wondering the same—is he after Anjali’s money or what? I think so but has it been explicitly said?) and, more importantly, anyone listening to it would assume what Arnav did—not to mention Shyam even confirmed it to him soon after. So while normally when things like this happen in shows I roll my eyes because it seems like they’re just being irrational, but I actually understand Arnav here.

I think Khushi said that just because she hates the fact that someone as cool as Anjali is with a lowlife cretin like Shyam. As in "Why don't you leave her you scumbag, because she doesn't deserve to have a rotten disgusting person like you in her life."
Kind of like that. But of course Arnav only heard the actual words and misinterpreted them.

Haven't seen this week's episodes yet but I'll try to catch up next week.

I have sort of forwarded through everything and Arnav is treating Khushi like garbage due to his galat faami and it's kind of dreadful so he needs to find out the truth soon please omg!

Okay, hopefully in the next couple weeks he'll find out what's going on. I can't wait for him to realize Khushi is awesome and then come apologize to her because she doesn't deserve the kind of stuff he is doling out right now. The wedding night was awful, just so bad.

Life OK
Gauri di: I’m glad you like Devon Ke Dev so much! I haven't watched it at all but it does sound good. The actress who plays Sati was on Kyunki years ago… she’s so pretty! yes random trivia.

^ I've had to forward there a lot too unfortunately, more because of time constraints rather than anything else, but yea Sati is gorgeous and Mahadev is the hawtness and I like this show a lot haha

So has anyone been keeping an eye on any of the Life OK shows other than DKDM and Main Lakshmi...? I watched an episode or so of almost all of them over winter break and... I don't know. I don't feel right making a judgment based on one episode, but I couldn't get myself to sit through another episode of any of them other than Main Lakshmi... and Sapnon Ke Bhanwar Mein, and even those never quite hooked me. In fact, my interest in Sapnon Ke Bhanwar Mein has less to do with characters or writing and more to do with the fact that I just couldn't figure out what the show was about. Something with politics. The others, well, maybe I'm just watching all the wrong episodes? There was nothing specifically wrong with any of them, they were just kinda... boring. I don't know. Like I said, though, I didn't see nearly enough of any of them to reach a proper conclusion.

I'm not watching other shows on there right now aside from Devon Ke Dev: Mahadev.
(I had to trim down my timers again, too many programs and too little time.)

MJHT
Gauri di, I totally agree with everything you’ve said about Gunjan’s character. I know I’ve gone on about this before so I won’t this time lol especially cause you’ve said it so well.

Yea I adore Gunjan...she is my favourite. Samrat is a cool guy too and I like Mayank. Nupur is fun as well, just a little bit bossy and loud, but that's okay. She has a good heart under all the loudness also.

BTW guys, you know the havaldar who befriends Samrat after the drunk-driving incident? Who kinda helps him realize his feelings for Gunjan? His name is Kamdev! Totally didn’t notice it the first time around because AFAIK it’s never mentioned in connection with the fact that he’s playing cupid for Sajan, but when I watched the rerun over winter break I caught it and thought it was just unbearably awesome. (I’m weird like that—significant names for characters makes me very happy.)

Oh how cool!!

YAY I found a new show and for once it’s actually a good one. (‘Cause by the way? Don’t try watching Yeh Tera Ghar Yeh Mera Ghar. It turns out that “Well, no one else is watching it” is not a good reason to spend time on a show. There’s probably a good reason no one is watching it.)

^ Ahaha!!:-)
Yea that happens sometimes.
The new show looks good! I will go on IF and check it out, thanks so much for all the links!!:-)

I put RMJ back on the timers because I want to see the Aalekh-Sadhana I mean Aditya-Mona romance. And here and there I catch EHMMBH because I adore the Virat and Maanvi. But I had to take off the other shows I had on due to lack of time, though maybe I can add them on again later.

Random Other StuffYep, end of April/beginning of May if I remember correctly.

^ Yesss! Three year anniversary of soaps craziness and glory Sooooo cool!!

You and Parul have NO idea how many times you two have pulled me through a bad phase. So many instances where I've been having a bad day or a horrid week, just work stress or real life little troubles or I argue horribly with my mom (we argue so much sometimes over the stupidest things omg.) But then I'll log in here and read some long new post about soaps and then I feel so much better!! And I check all the links and pics carefully and watch promos and set new shows to tape and things are just cool again.

I feel like we should have some sort of celebration… like we pick a date to call our anniversary and everyone who posts in this thread should go get cake and have it that day.

^ Any excuse to have a slice of vegan cake sounds excellent and superb and fantastic to me hahaha:p

TTYS

[never_evil]

Guys, I am seriously considering just quitting college so I can concentrate on watching TV full-time.

Nah, don’t worry. I’ll stay in school.

XD

But I want to get back into the whole serial thing, and seeing as I’m currently underachieving at everything else in life this is as good a time as any. So here I am, with a jumbled-up post about  things I want to watch, and things I have watched because I’m a bad student, and random replies to all the posts I haven’t replied to because I haven’t been posting in this thread for over a month. Not in depth, though, so I’m sorry if I miss replying to something…

y'know even when you do have time there are just so many serials that are worth catching up to ...it's basically hopeless.

Is Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
Watched all the Arnav-Khushi scenes so I’m pretty much caught up to the story and didn’t have to suffer through Shyam being Shyam. Man this show is just so good! I love how in some ways it’s your typical Hindi serial with the angsty hero and bubbly heroine and cute family scenes and misunderstandings and evil husband trying to kill his wife with a scorpion (um how exactly is a tiny thing with legs possibly the best choice for murder weapon?) but it somehow stops just short of overdoing it. Not to mention that despite all the clichéd twists and scenes it never comes off as just more of the same. I think the writers have stuck somewhat to the old serial formula but managed to make it quality TV anyway and I just love it. Not that I don’t fastforward some bits but overall the show is very well-made without losing the sweetness and drama that you expect from a Hindi serial. (Which of course is not to say that there’s a problem with the more slice-of-life, toned-down shows, but I like how IPKKND manages be really good while still belonging more to the K-serial style of serialmaking.)

Yep I think all sorts of serials work. ISPKKND belongs totally in that heightened reality sort of category and it is good at what it does just like Geet used to be good at it, except where it then just FAILED. (Yeah forget that it was meant to be a social serial and all that because basically Maan's office onwards it was in the same vein as the ISPKKNDs of serialdom)

Also, the scene where Arnav breaks down? Amazing. Barun is a really good actor, and the editing in that scene was brilliant: the slow buildup as he thinks about his sister and Shyam, the faster pace as he flashes back to his moments with Khushi, and then remembering Shyam and Khushi’s betrayal and his sister’s love for Shyam… it really brought out a sense of just how hurt and conflicted he is.

Didn't see this but I'm glad it was executed well.

By the way, I loved Khushi’s Didi Tera Jethji Deewana dance—just LOL. And the fact that Arnav laughed was a bonus. That scene totally made my day. I agree that the Arnav-Khushi dance was a bit ridiculous. It would have looked a lot better if Arnav wasn’t lip-synching, too.

I was telling Gauri dee that I loved how it made even Arnav laugh but the laughing was toooooo awkward! I cringed though I hearted the sentiment. And yeah we all basically went facepalm at his lip synching at home and on this thread.

Life OK

Gauri di: I’m glad you like Devon Ke Dev so much! I haven't watched it at all but it does sound good. The actress who plays Sati was on Kyunki years ago… she’s so pretty! yes random trivia.

So has anyone been keeping an eye on any of the Life OK shows other than DKDM and Main Lakshmi...? I watched an episode or so of almost all of them over winter break and... I don't know. I don't feel right making a judgment based on one episode, but I couldn't get myself to sit through another episode of any of them other than Main Lakshmi... and Sapnon Ke Bhanwar Mein, and even those never quite hooked me. In fact, my interest in Sapnon Ke Bhanwar Mein has less to do with characters or writing and more to do with the fact that I just couldn't figure out what the show was about. Something with politics. The others, well, maybe I'm just watching all the wrong episodes? There was nothing specifically wrong with any of them, they were just kinda... boring. I don't know. Like I said, though, I didn't see nearly enough of any of them to reach a proper conclusion.

Well as you know I've definitely enjoyed the bits of Mahadev, MLTAK I've seen (the latter more regularly and wow has it been moving fast!). I also like the occasional Tum Dena Saath Mera ep I've seen because the leads are dorky gorgeous and Mumbai looks amazing and it's just such an aam zindagi type show - nothing ott, simply everyday problems and a very sweet married couple. Meri Maa is not my type. Zindagi Kahe Smile Please I tried for Aditi but gave up after an ep because it looked like a bad SAB TV comedy. Dil Se Di Dua everyone raves about (seriously it's the next show everyone says in interviews they watch after the BALH phase) but I don't get it. Isn't it basically voyeuristic torture sequences or something. Just the promos creeped me out. Hum Ne Li Hai Shapath I want to try but haven't gotten around to and Sapnon Ke Bhanwar Mein was the most interesting promo for me (and I liked the song) but when I saw an ep I didn't really get it so I didn't continue.

MJHT

BTW guys, you know the havaldar who befriends Samrat after the drunk-driving incident? Who kinda helps him realize his feelings for Gunjan? His name is Kamdev! Totally didn’t notice it the first time around because AFAIK it’s never mentioned in connection with the fact that he’s playing cupid for Sajan, but when I watched the rerun over winter break I caught it and thought it was just unbearably awesome. (I’m weird like that—significant names for characters makes me very happy.)

I thought you had told us that! Or maybe I read it somewhere but yeah loved it!

DastaanYep I started it before winter break, but I was watching it on megavideo and that may have been what gave my computer the virus so I was a bit hesitant to go back and finish. Only got to episode 5 or so but I loved it. The quality is just so much higher than your average Hindi serial… not that I don’t love Hindi serials, of course, and a lot of the time I think I kind of prefer them because I actually have to concentrate on shows like Dastaan, you know? Anyway, I definitely do want to finish it.

Oh you saw some of the loveliest ones. I thought it was in HQ in youtube as well actually.

Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha
I ran into this in an IF article a few weeks ago and thought it sounded really good, but the first episode was uploaded in seven sections on youtube and they just wouldn’t load. But youtube was being generally obnoxious around then and it’s better now, so I’ll try again.

Anjali, it's LOVELY.
...
Just gah! I watch it everyday now, that and Lakshmi.
The Maha shivratri episodes were so funny! Except the last one - the saving sequence was a tad ill executed unfortunately and paralleling Shiv-Parvati against Mohan-Megha didn't quite work either but everything else was LOLfestworthy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAls_Ji8BLc

Sajda Tere Pyar Mein

Thanks for the summary cause honestly though I liked the song and the concept I couldn't find myself getting into the actual show (despite not having seen an ep ). I feel like I should similarly enjoy Ruk Jaana Nahin - youth, strong female character, politics, etc. but since I am no longer at home and it doesn't just play on tv I can't be bothered making an effort for it either.
But I like that Sajda's lead characters are muslim - it has been a while!
Anyway another review that said much the same as you: http://www.screenindia.com/news/sajda-tere-pyaar-mein/915792/

Random Other StuffYep, end of April/beginning of May if I remember correctly. I feel like we should have some sort of celebration… like we pick a date to call our anniversary and everyone who posts in this thread should go get cake and have it that day.

Like Gauri dee said, any excuse for cake!

Totally meant to reply to this weeks ago but never did. Yep, that’s Second Padma, and, more importantly and relevantly, Mohnish’s real-life wife Ekta. The lady who played Padma at the beginning (Shilpa Tulaskar—she shows up here and there in movies, including as one of the people Vishal and Preeti interview in MFK) quit after Padma and Shashank got married because there really wasn’t a role for her anymore, and by the time they needed Padma back for AR’s engagement track, she was busy with other stuff. So Mohnish convinced his wife to play Padma. Sorry, way more info than you needed but I thought it was cute.

Heh I realised when I saw pics of them together on Mohnish's facebook.

You and Parul have NO idea how many times you two have pulled me through a bad phase. So many instances where I've been having a bad day or a horrid week, just work stress or real life little troubles or I argue horribly with my mom (we argue so much sometimes over the stupidest things omg.) But then I'll log in here and read some long new post about soaps and then I feel so much better!! And I check all the links and pics carefully and watch promos and set new shows to tape and things are just cool again.

Awww Gauri dee, I totally love this thread and you guys as well <3

[los angeles]

y'know even when you do have time there are just so many serials that are worth catching up to ...it's basically hopeless.

Seriously! The number is growing astronomically, I can't even view one tenth of what's out there these days

Yep I think all sorts of serials work. ISPKKND belongs totally in that heightened reality sort of category and it is good at what it does just like Geet used to be good at it, except where it then just FAILED. (Yeah forget that it was meant to be a social serial and all that because basically Maan's office onwards it was in the same vein as the ISPKKNDs of serialdom)

I think I came in with this one shortly before the fail period hence I couldn't be pulled into watching it

I was telling Gauri dee that I loved how it made even Arnav laugh but the laughing was toooooo awkward! I cringed though I hearted the sentiment. And yeah we all basically went facepalm at his lip synching at home and on this thread.

Yea, fully agree Parul. I did not like that lip-synching business one bit. I was like nooooooooo
 

Well as you know I've definitely enjoyed the bits of Mahadev, MLTAK I've seen (the latter more regularly and wow has it been moving fast!). I also like the occasional Tum Dena Saath Mera ep I've seen because the leads are dorky gorgeous and Mumbai looks amazing and it's just such an aam zindagi type show - nothing ott, simply everyday problems and a very sweet married couple. Meri Maa is not my type. Zindagi Kahe Smile Please I tried for Aditi but gave up after an ep because it looked like a bad SAB TV comedy. Dil Se Di Dua everyone raves about (seriously it's the next show everyone says in interviews they watch after the BALH phase) but I don't get it. Isn't it basically voyeuristic torture sequences or something. Just the promos creeped me out. Hum Ne Li Hai Shapath I want to try but haven't gotten around to and Sapnon Ke Bhanwar Mein was the most interesting promo for me (and I liked the song) but when I saw an ep I didn't really get it so I didn't continue.

^ Yea I'm only seeing Mahadev on this channel still, though I see new promos all the time.

I saw one the other day with two sisters who are enemies or something, and one of the sisters is from the show Behenein (which had Arjun from Lakshmi on it married to another one of the sisters.)

Parul, re the Smile Please show, yea I tried too and couldn't last through one ep Too bad Heer isn't on something cool! She's so gorgeous and I loved so much of the romance on Kis Desh (though I forwarded a lot of the family in-fighting type of scenes even back then.)

The Maha shivratri episodes were so funny! Except the last one - the saving sequence was a tad ill executed unfortunately and paralleling Shiv-Parvati against Mohan-Megha didn't quite work either but everything else was LOLfestworthy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAls_Ji8BLc

Ahaha!!:-)
That look ludicrous []

Like Gauri dee said, any excuse for cake!

Yea totally...a slice of cake for a good cause like SOaps Division Anniversary sounds totally cool to me haha:p []

Heh I realised when I saw pics of them together on Mohnish's facebook.

Speaking of Mohnish my mom likes him but always points out that he is a pear-shaped guy with large hips and that he has that shoe-polish jet-black hair-dye look going on.
She always notices the weirdest stuff! She's the one who pointed out to me that Arnav's coats are WAY too short and don't cover enough of the lower portion of his business suits. And now I always see that in scenes where he's wearing a suit haha:p

Which reminds me you guys, I think they are still putting too much hair gel on Arnav in Iss Pyaar...it looks so weird!
I guess they are not going to quit with that

I am having to forward SO much of that show right now, I can't handle Khsuhi being mistreated left and right for something she never did. When is Arnav going to find out she was never into Shyam and that the engagement was forced? Payal and Khushi's Naani know that SHyam is dreadful and despicable so I wish they'd tell Arnav already so he'd stop hating Khushi and treating her like garbage. [Though of course they don't know what kind of horrid games Shyam is playing with Arnav and Khushi so they've no reason to step in and explain anything just yet.]
But I'm dying for Arnav to find out everything already, I hate this major galat faami business going on right now.

Anyway, speaking of Khushi, it's only been a few eps that she's been married but it's cool to see her wardrobe change!! I am hoping to see more cute saris on her and Payal in the coming months. I already quite like so many of the ones Anjali wears They look so pretty!!

Awww Gauri dee, I totally love this thread and you guys as well <3

Yea same here *mwuah* and hugs and kisses from Los Angeles...now where's my delicious vegan cake slice to celebrate SD (Soaps Division) Anniversary a couple months early hehehe:p

[los angeles]

Hey guys, I have missed a bunch of Devon Ke Dev: Mahadev episodes (timer malfunction, long story haha) but I think I fixed it now so I shouldn't miss any more.

But latest promo looks so weird, with very bad CGI and Sati being attacked by some King Kong type gorilla, and Mahadev will save her I think. I wish these shows didn't resort to such strange looking computer graphics stuffs, but they often do when depicting demons/villains/etc
Looks like the guy who played the Evil King Kans (on Jai Shri Krishna) is playing some kind of villainous role here on Mahadev these days also.

I am still forwarding Iss Pyaar because Khushi is still being treated so badly and I hate seeing that
Arnav is awful to her because he bought into Shyam's lies. Anjali and Naani are not kind to her either, and now Garima, Madhumati and Payal are giving her the cold shoulder as well. Gawd!!:(
I can't wait till the story changes and Arnav finds out the truth. I think I will be forwarding copiously till then because this is kind of dreadful.

I am forwarding lots of EHMMBH too because it looks like Maanvi has some kind of terminal illness and I don't want to watch her being very very ill:(
Though maybe the whole thing will make Virat realize he how much he likes her, I dunno.

And they are still putting twelve vats per day of hair gel onto Arnav--it's so absurd! Instead of the successful businessman his character is supposed to be, he looks like a dapper, fey little male model Nooooooooo

I can't handle this hair gel situation
[Though I wouldn't mind it so much if he'd just stop being horrible to Khushi.]

I'm trying to tape a few more shows but have been having timer issues with those as well...we'll see if I can remedy this Lol:p

Okay so that's my latest greatest update haha:D

TTYS

[never_evil]

very bad CGI and Sati being attacked by some King Kong type gorilla, and Mahadev will save her I think. I wish these shows didn't resort to such strange looking computer graphics stuffs, but they often do when depicting demons/villains/etc

o_O;

I am still forwarding Iss Pyaar because Khushi is still being treated so badly and I hate seeing that
Arnav is awful to her because he bought into Shyam's lies. Anjali and Naani are not kind to her either, and now Garima, Madhumati and Payal are giving her the cold shoulder as well. Gawd!!:(
I can't wait till the story changes and Arnav finds out the truth. I think I will be forwarding copiously till then because this is kind of dreadful.

*sigh*

I am forwarding lots of EHMMBH too because it looks like Maanvi has some kind of terminal illness and I don't want to watch her being very very ill:(
Though maybe the whole thing will make Virat realize he how much he likes her, I dunno.

Yeah, I'm wondering when he'll realise? These days Maanvi is trying to get him back with Maya.

Guys, Aamir Ali and Sanjeeda got married! I'm way more excited about this than the Ritesh-Genelia wedding lol. (As it should be I guess)
So weird, I had NO idea that Salman and his family knew Aamir's family well! Salman sent his good wishes and Sohail attended the wedding.
Vids here: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=videos&search_query=aamir+sanjeeda&search_sort=video_date_uploaded&uni=3

Some news links:
Why soaps are deserting the saas
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Television/Why-soaps-are-deserting-the-saas/Article1-820461.aspx

What is worth mentioning is that such characters (widows/divorcees) are now playing lead roles. Shows are no longer centred around the kitchen, or on the usual saas-bahu politics.

True, actually these days we have a wide spectrum of protagonists: teenagers (D3, Humse Hai Life, Ruk Jaana Nahin, Sajda Tere Pyar Mein), divorcees (Maryada, Punar Vivah), widows (NBTNMKK), lawyers (Adaalat), law enforcement (Hum Ne Li Hai Shapath), psychotics (Dil Se Di Dua), rural (Diya Aur Baati), urban (Jamuna Paar) etc.

Wanted: Readymade ideas from the south
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Television/Wanted-Readymade-ideas-from-the-south/Article1-820002.aspx

Now the small screen has entered the picture and begun mining south Indian TV serials for ideas. The latest is Shubh Vivah (Sony), the remake of a Tamil show, Metti Oli. The latter - a full-blown family melodrama, from the sound of it - apparently enjoyed great success on Sun TV. It is the sentimental story of a father and his five daughters. All the daughters dream of marrying wonderful men (why don't they ever dream of making successes of their lives in non-domestic spheres as well - no, I don't seriously expect an answer), but of course that doesn't happen. Most of the girls end up in unsuitable/unhappy marriages (one supposedly gets saddled with an evil mother-in-law, an evil sister-in-law and an evil husband; why didn't they just throw in an evil father-in-law and an evil brother-in-law for free?). Maybe some of the over-the-top melodrama will be toned down, because Sony is not usually associated with unbearable rona-dhona; but I guess we'll find out in due course.

I saw the first couple of episodes, where we were introduced to the father (Rakesh Bedi), his five daughters and one of the male leads (Eijaz Khan). There was nothing to particularly like/dislike about the episodes, but for me, the story itself is so much been-there-done-that-wept-buckets that I'm not very hopeful.

Yeah you know what? I was really surprised that Sony decided to work on Shubh Vivah. I thought the whole 5 sisters phase was over - it was quite big in the 00s up to Behnein which only ended last year or the year before. Aren't we done? I don't mind though - maybe they are trying to maximise their market. They have some low key serials in Parvarish & Kya Hua Tera Vaada, some pure love stories in KTLK, Dekha Ek Khwaab, BALH so yeah I guess one typical huge family saga was missing.

Forbes' top 50 Asian businesswomen
Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Yuwadee-on-Forbes-50-power-Asian-businesswomen-lis-30177042.html

..
According to Forbes magazine, women on the list are chosen for their hands-on management of profit-seeking companies, and many of the honourees have overcome significant barriers to get where they are today.

The new list is a targeted survey of powerful women in Asian business. It reflects Asia's remarkable economic rise and the diverse and dynamic ways in which women are wielding power and influence in a region that has become a hotbed for entrepreneurship, investment, corporate expansion and economic opportunity.
...
The youngest person on the list is Ekta Kapoor, aged 36, known as India's queen of soap operas. She is Joint Managing Director of Balaji Telefilms, a top producer of popular TV serials and blockbuster Bollywood movies.

Ekta w00t!
On a related note: India TV diva's remarkable turnaround
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-16754260

Ek, do, teen: How Madhuri Dixit gave us Hindustani sexy
http://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/ek-do-teen-how-madhuri-dixit-gave-us-hindustani-sexy-225390.html

The Family Happiness Inc., formally inaugurated by Hum Aapke Hain Kaun as a school of cinematic exploration, didn’t just influence directors like Aditya Chopra and Karan Johar. It became inspiration in the life of the Indian television soaps. Till today, TV serials are reworked subsets of Hum Aapke Hain Kaun. Blingy saris and lehngas, kind uncles, bitchy aunts, men in kurtas with tassels hanging from their stoles, boondi laddoos, marigold flowers and rangolis, festivals celebrated with joy and ghee— that’s still the sum and substance of fictional TV. All held together by the bahu as the glue, goodness incarnate. That is a Madhuri construct of the perfect woman, a noble, beautiful, daughter-in-law. Unlike movies which have moved on to the ‘glocal’ streetsmartness and come-hither womanhood of Priyanka Chopra, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif and Kareena Kapoor, TV soaps are still playing house-house in Madhuri’s memory.

Ha! You know what? We totally said that pages and pages and pages ago!

TV regulator tells channels to dilute content
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/TV-regulator-tells-channels-to-dilute-content/Article1-813081.aspx

The Broadcast Content Complaints Council (BCCC) has asked television channels to dilute scenes portraying assault, abuse, and commodification of women and children in their programmes.


"We have marked a 'lakshman rekha' (line of tolerance) for TV channels that have been airing serials portraying atrocities against and mistreatment of women and children. They have been asked to dilute such objectionable scenes," said justice AP Shah, chairman, BCCC, who has already issued an advisory to the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) to this effect.

..

..

The regulatory body's chief has also said the BCCC has been holding regular meetings with members of the creative fraternity and has conveyed to them that it is not denying the fact that women are still suffering and that there is no effort to impinge on artistic freedom. "But such portrayals demeaning women encourage negative stereotypes," he said.

Set up on June 1 last year, the BCCC's mandate is to weed out objectionable, sensitive and vulgar TV content.

Finally. Sometimes I kinda wonder at the voyeurism on offer.


Tara's back on Hitler Didi
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/tv-guide/taras-back-hitler-didi-094

As the modern, urban woman of the New-Age, Navneet Nishan was the most popular face of satellite television in the early 90’s in her debut show Tara. After being part of the longest running bi-weekly, Navneet made a comeback in serials with Balaji shows like Kasauti, Kavyanjali and Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka but found it difficult to rebuild her career after disappearing from TV for six years because of a failed marriage. Now, after another four-year hiatus, she is making a comeback on TV in Hitler Didi. She will enter the show as a hilarious upmarket north Indian woman.

Is Small the New Big in Bollywood?
The idiot screen overwhelms the idiot box, once the spot for cute, sweet, homely, intimate fare.
http://www.littleindia.com/life/12016-is-small-the-new-big-in-bollywood.html

Spoiler (hover to show)

Once upon a time there was a clean and clear divide between the Idiot Box and the Idiot Screen.

The Box was for cute, sweet, homely, intimate fare relating to everyday life with its attendant trials and tribulations, conflicts, family and value clashes, jealousies, intrigues etc., which made for riveting viewing. From the earliest Humlog to the sensational Saas Bahu numbers like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, the box spelt absorbing entertainment (especially for homemaking women) and although one section of the sophisticated and snooty upper class found it déclassé, the monster popularity of these serials demonstrated one simple fact — that eyeballs and television rating points mattered more than their silly hoity-toity views.

Along with the massive following of these soaps, the stars too shone bright. Smriti Irani, Ronit Roy, Amarr Upadhyaya (remember the sensation and deathly mourning his screen death in Saas Bhi caused in the early 1990s?) Shweta Tiwari, Sangeeta Ghosh, Saakshi Tanwar, Ram Kapoor (and earlier) Alok Nath, Rakesh Bedi, Shafi Inamdar, Swarup Sampat, Neena Gupta and Jayant Kripalani, to name just a few, were all loved and adored by the nightly audiences and held a special place in the heart of their TV fans.

The Idiot Screen was entirely different. Here everything was larger than life; exaggerated, loud, melodramatic stories narrated with hi-decibel emotion, passion and feeling, in dazzling 70 mm color on large screens in hushed, dark movie theaters, played out by gorgeous, glamorous and sexy heroines and macho, dashing brave and romantic heroes.

There was nothing homely or domestic about this brand of entertainment. It was blinding star-value in high gear. Dharam and Amitabh, Jeetu and Vinod, Zeenat and Hema, Rekha and Baabi, Mithun, Rishi and Neetu, Shashi and Sharmila, Rajesh and Mumtaz … this was Jannat!

If that was the loved, secure and comforting family zone, this was the seductive, alluring and exciting “exit route,” that eternally fantasized, never-never land of happy ever after. The great escape from all gharelu stuff!

This divide was both uncomplicated and clear. There was no confusion. TV stars were TV stars and movie stars were movie stars. There was no desire, initiative, plan or move to ever switch places. Their respective core competencies were recognized and appreciated by their respective constituencies for their worth and the value they brought to the table. There was mutual self-respect among movie and TV stars who by now had attracted a massive fan-base. TV production houses and big movie banners too wore happy, benevolent smiles indicating pure and unadulterated bliss. The general public enjoyed this fabulous double-whammy and lived a superbly, rich, schizophrenic life, having a blast in both spaces.

Just as TV as an industry, spawning its own stars and audiences, was beginning to take shape in the late nineties, arrived the Big B-anchored Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2000, which marked the beginning of the end. The TV stars confronted the onslaught of their glamorous big screen compatriots with style and confidence, holding their own, but now with the towering inferno exploding on the small screen in a whole new, novel persona all set to connect with the aam junta in a game show promising mega-bucks … this proved a bit too hot to handle.

Unfortunately for the small screen — and fortunately for Star, Sid Basu and Big B — KBC took off big time, opening the floodgates of a whole new world for both wannabe stars and has-been-stars, which Amitabh Bachchan was threatening to become with his disastrous flop films, ABCL company debacle and political failures. Suddenly, overnight (thanks to KBC), small became the new big and the man solely responsible and central to this ground-breaking phenomenon was ironically the Big B himself.

Anupam Kher, Govinda, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra, Preity Zinta, Sanjay Dutt, Dharmendra, Kiron Kher, Sonali Bendre, they’ve all done time on the box, with different degrees of separation — or bonding — with the masses. However, along the way, one thing became clear: Bollywood’s star-power is matchless, all-pervasive and dangerously destructive for competitors. Anything it touches turns to gold.

Remember the rise of pop in the 1980s and 1990s, with the likes of Daler Mehndi, Alisha Chenoy, Baba Sehgal and gang hotting up the scene? What about the ghazal boom with Talat Aziz, Pankaj Udhas, Penaz Masani, Chandan Das and others mesmerizing their fans? However, it took a resurgent Bollywood music-walas to do their seductive number and demolish the entire movement with remarkable speed. Today, with the exception of the late ghazal king Jagjit Singh, not one of the music sensations has survived. And as for the 1980s superstar Bhajan King Anup Jalota, no one knows where he has vanished … and no one really cares!

Dedicated TV watchers tracking this movement believe that as TV went big, the channel heads realized that big bucks or juicy sponsorship deals could only happen if B-town biggies were seduced into this space. Danish Khan, vice president & marketing head of Sony Entertainment television, agrees: “Film stars come with brand value. The Big B, for example, has matchless brand-pull (as demonstrated once again in his recent TV rating-topping KBC-5) and therefore any channel that signs him on can expect big ticket deals, in advance.”

Adds the creator and producer of KBC and head of Big Synergy, Sid Basu: “Launching a TV show today is an expensive affair and celebrities ensure viewership and eyeballs.” Basu should know. His company has the largest number of reality shows, featuring stars on Indian television.

So, today there is a blitz of star driven TV programs — chat shows, reality shows, interviews, the works: Upclose & Personal (Preity Zinta), Big Boss (Sanjay Dutt & Salman Khan), KBC (Big B), Just Dance (Hrithik Roshan), India’s Got Talent (Dharmendra, Sonali Bendre, Kiron Kher). Coming up, the shy and low profile Sunny Deol debuting with Jaanbaaz, an Indian adaptation of Survivor. Joining the list are Raveena Tandon, Ajay Devgan, Arjun Rampal… also, the biggest — Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan with program content matching there brand profiles.

Critics argue that TV stars (despite their mass appeal) have an insurmountable problem. “They are dynamite only as long as their shows play on TV and the world loves them. Once it is over, two things happen. They are forgotten and replaced by the next, new flavor of the day. Two, they are often trapped in an image from which they may find a problem breaking free and cutting loose.”

Also, unlike the west, where TV stars like Jennifer Anniston, Courtney Cox, Eva Longoria or Rowan Atkinson demand and receive paychecks at par with Hollywood stars, here TV remains a platform for recognition before B-town beckons. And then later return to TV to write your own check, huh?

The sad fact is that Bollywood is a Frankestein that destroys every other cultural or artistic activity through sheer hi-voltage star-power. Dangerously seductive, fatal attraction, opium for the masses, call it what you will, Bollywood remains such an invincible and powerful entity that even today’s most popular TV programs — Uttaran, Bade Achche Lagte Hain, Pavitra Rishta or Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hain, Balika Vadhu, Kuch To Log Kahenge — don’t stand a chance when, a SRK comes calling as a guest on the KBC show. It’s a blowout! Everything stops. Any wonder that most TV stars secretly want to migrate to the big screen.

Popular Pakistani television drama Humsafar reaches Toronto fans via web
http://www.thestar.com/living/article/1132592--popular-pakistani-television-drama-humsafar-reaches-toronto-fans-in-via-web

The popularity of the drama Humsafar, which translates in English to life partner, has been the source of much debate, discussion and consternation since it began on Hum TV, a cable channel in Pakistan last September. Based on a novel by author Farhat Ishtiaq, the 20-something part serial in Urdu tells a traditional love story between a poor girl and rich boy who are forced to marry but eventually fall in love, until their relationship is maliciously destroyed by the conniving mother-in-law. It is the question of whether or not they reunite over caring for their sick daughter that has audiences hooked.

There is debate over if the show will end this weekend or next.

Despite the singular and rather simple storyline, the serial has topped ratings in Pakistan week after week, beating out dozens of competing drama serials. And in Toronto, it has managed unprecedented interest among people of all backgrounds — many who have never watched a Pakistani drama before or haven’t done so for decades.

“It’s a very simple story,” said Nuzhat Kamal, a mother of three in Mississauga, who says she hasn’t watched a Pakistani drama in over 20 years. “It’s not complicated. But it has a storyline or a character or something that everyone can relate to. I think that’s why it has become so popular,” she said.

Some say the show’s appeal is that it has been packaged beautifully: Fawad Khan who plays Ashar, the Yale-educated only son in a rich family and Mahira Khan, who plays Khirad, his wife, are both good-looking. The scenes have been produced artistically, and fans have likened the dialogue to poetry.

“Of course it helps that it is beautiful and well done. But it also helps that the main characters have fabulous chemistry together,” said Rimpi Thakar, who is Indian, but started watching the drama last week after hearing about the hype. She’s never watched a Pakistani drama before, but caught up to all 20 episodes in one week.

But Ahmed, a regular drama watcher says social media has played a huge part in the popularity of Humsafar.

On YouTube, tens of thousands of people outside of Pakistan view the show minutes after it is uploaded. Fans in Pakistan and abroad tweet the show in real time. Hundreds of thousands of fans dissect every phrase and scene on one of five Facebook fan sites within minutes. But perhaps the most telling indicator of its popularity among an international crowd is that the first half of the drama so far has been uploaded with English subtitles.

Spoiler (hover to show)

“I have friends who are from totally different cultures, who are watching it now,” said Ahmed, who has written about it on her own blog. “But that’s the lure of a love story, everyone loves a love story,” said Ahmed, who wants to hold a Humsafar finale party to get all her friends and family together to watch the last episode.

But with the hype, comes criticism. There are spoofs on YouTube, and comic strips that make fun of the characters and the obsessed fans. There are also concerns that the drama reinforces class and gender stereotypes, and portrays the ideal Pakistani woman to be one who either dotes after her husband or her child.

Kamal disagrees. She says all the women in the drama — both evil and good — are strong. And it is empowering to see Khirad, initially depicted as weak, mature over time.

“She is becoming a woman of substance. I love the fact that she stands up to what she believes in,” said Kamal. “The show really brings out the woman in you.”

Actually I've wondered myself at the popularity of Humsafar. Why this one, why now? I think it is a combo of Fawad Khan and the other actors and as they say a very glossy look than normal. Though Dastaan also had good production values I might add.

Hindi GECs witness 6.5 per cent fall in viewership in 2011: TAM
http://www.afaqs.com/media/story.html?sid=33115_Hindi+GECs+witness+6.5+per+cent+fall+in+viewership+in+2011:+TAM

Courtesy the growing viewership fragmentation across the Indian television space, TAM's latest annual study reports that the Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) genre has witnessed 6.5 per cent fall in viewership in 2011 over the previous year.

Titled 'Impatient Generation', the study notes that the viewership of Hindi GECs saw a major upswing in 2010, and then returned to 2009 levels in 2011. The genre's relative share stood at 38 per cent during the year (38 per cent share in 2009), a fall from the 41 per cent share that it had grabbed in 2010.

Furthermore, the average weekly reach of the genre fell to 85 per cent in 2011, as against the stable 87 per cent that the genre had registered in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Meanwhile, the average weekly time spent fell to 383 minutes in 2011, as against 413 minutes in 2010.

Commenting on the cause of rising consumer fragmentation, L V Krishnan, CEO, TAM India, says, "This new phenomenon has emerged because of the rise of the assertive, impatient and highly articulate generation of today in most Indian families, thanks to newer media and broadcast technologies, increasing diversities of content, and of course, advancement of new age media that are able to cater to the differing tastes and preferences simultaneously."

Overall, in 2011, the Hindi GEC genre showed a consistent growth in the one-hour special fiction episodes during prime time on weekends. After witnessing a drop in the number of new launches in 2010 as compared to 2009, 2011 once again saw an upswing in the number of new launches, with daily soaps topping the count, followed by comedy series and reality shows. The total number of shows launched in 2011, 2010 and 2009 were 82, 76 and 92, respectively.

According to the report, Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat have been the top performing markets for the Hindi GEC genre across years, and the viewership returns from metros have seen a slight drop.

I always find following numbers like this interesting though I wish it were coupled with some qualitative studies to give more context

TRPs influence television content
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/4723
This seems a really old article (2008) but just some good info on TAM/TRP stuff.

When art doesn’t imitate life
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/224290/when-art-doesnt-imitate-life.html

Spoiler (hover to show)

IMAGE QUOTIENT : Bollywood actresses and TV’s leading ladies continue to wow the crowds with exaggerated character sketches. Is it a fair portrayal? Isn’t it far from the ground reality, asks Vimla Patil .

UNREALISTIC PORTRAYAL : Stories of real women never make it to TV serials or Bollywood movies. PIC USED FOR REPRESENTATIVE PURPOSE ONLY.If there are two Indian women icons lingering in our minds from the early months of last year, they would certainly be Munni aka Malaika Aurora-Khan and Sheila aka Katrina Kaif. As if these two endorsements of the ‘Indian woman’ were not enough for a salivating India, more recently we had Jalebi Bai, aka Mallika Sherawat and Chamak Challo aka Kareena Kapoor gyrating in Ra-one!

There is more: The sure-to-sizzle Chikni Chameli, aka Katrina Kaif, is poised to outdo her own Sheila in Tees Maar Khan!  Sooner than later, millions of fans (and producers who stand to benefit) will challenge them to go one step further to compete and create a persona of scantily-clad women who twist and wriggle to titillate men – and women – almost to the point of swooning!

‘Item songs’ have become such an integral rage in  Bollywood today, that every film’s promo or pre-release video clips/personal performances feature only such dances and songs. Many films are sold on the basis of how much skin-show they offer. Even when heroines like Anushka Sharma, Katrina Kaif, Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra are not dancing to item songs, they dress like item girls. And it looks like there is a contest among them — who can get skimpier in designer wear! In truth, the past year and the coming months do not seem to offer any films where heroines look like real life Indian women —  women who work, have families, fall in love, party some nights and are busy focusing on their careers or building homes for their kids. Bollywood films are just a showcase for heroines competing with each other in looking sexy and hot. Instead of asserting the Indian media’s right to be ‘different’, it follows the universal mantra of ‘sex sells best’!

Let’s cross over into Tellywood and the story is the same. There are no ‘normal’ female characters in any of the popular Hindi serials too. It is amazing what kind of meek mice and screaming banshees pass off as examples of women from various parts of India.

Take some of the high TRP serials made by reputed production houses. This year, Balika Vadhu, aired every night by Colors, won innumerable awards. The heroine Anandi is never shown to have a peaceful, normal day. She has to cope with a mean Dadisa, a cheating husband and villagers who kidnap or harass her all the time. Dressed like a bride, she lectures anyone within hearing distance about how to live a life of forgiveness and kindness and takes all the injustice done to her without so much as a whimper.

Her popularity is based wholly on how she accepts the blows of fate with willingness and continues to propitiate those  who try to destroy her.

Next comes the ever-silent-sufferer Ichcha from Utaran, also on Colors. Insulted as the ‘mouse’, she forgives crimes that would be punishable under any criminal code of law. Tapasya, the spoilt bad-girl, nearly gets her murdered; marries Ichcha’s bridegroom by deceit and is helped by a aunt and cousin Pushkar who engage in criminal activities like child kidnapping and stealing. Tapasya even helps Ichcha’s first husband Vansh commit suicide! Yet, the goody-two-shoes Ichcha does not utter a word or speak up, let alone seek revenge. Again, is this a real portrayal of the Indian woman?

Sandhya from Diya Aur Bati Hum (Star Plus), who has achieved admirable success in a state-level exam, keeps mum about her success, as her family in the US wants to hide the fact that she is an educated girl to be married into an illiterate family in a hurry. As a result, the young heroine is thrown out of the house because she is educated. The hour-long cruel diatribe that her mother-in-law unleashes is truly mind-boggling.

Same goes for Akshara in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Ha. She lives in perpetual fear of the patriarch Daddaji who can topple her happiness or dreams in one lethal remark. He is opposed to the idea of her working to save the family’s fortunes, ‘disciplines’ everyone around him and is the head of the family.

Take Pratigya on Star Plus, and it is the same story all over again. An educated girl is married into an illiterate family and suffers under the petty-mindedness of the in-laws and the drunkard, lecherous brother-in-law.

Ichcha, Pratigya, Akshara, Anandi, and many others are presented as relics from a bygone era. The story lines make it evident that the entertainment industry is in no way clued in to the lives in towns such as Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Bihar where these stories happen. 

One wonders which of these women holds a mirror to the real Indian woman of the 21st century. The Bollywood babe is a mockery of the Indian woman though she leaves the youth of the nation — a huge section — screaming for more as explicit sex and sensuality become the selling point. The more they  can grind their hips to thumkas and jhatkas and heave their bosoms in front of the camera, the louder get the whistle-blowing, from front-benchers who crowd multiplexes and cinema halls. No one seems to mind that heroines of movies no longer reflect the ground reality and Tellywood bahus continue to stay mute and bend over backwards for dominant male characters.

The real Indian woman

Here are some of the other and more real Indian women. Chhavi Rajawat, the new-age sarpanch of Soda village in Rajasthan is usually dressed in a simple kurta and jeans and drives to the Panchayat Bhawan building every day. Baisa, as Chhavi is referred to, takes a keen interest in all aspects of development in the village and works hard to achieve her objectives. She takes pride in executing NREGA (which guarantees 100 days of wage-employment in a financial year to a rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled work) and other upliftment programmes in her village.

She is truly the sensitive link between the government and the people. Her work is inspirational and symbolic of a clear development agenda. Chavi’s most wonderful quality, according to the villagers, is her total transparency and efficiency. “Baisa makes us aware of our rights,” they say proudly.

A little southward from Rajasthan, in Gujarat, a similar ‘miracle’ is happening with young women taking over village administration under Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s Samras scheme. Last month, Hinal Patel, 25, held her first meeting for an all women panchayat for the village of Siswa in Borsad town of Anand district.

Last month, elections were held in 10,405 villages in the state and 2,147 members opted for an all women’s panchayat under the Samras scheme. The elected women have shown great results as they work really hard to  improve the quality of life for a large number of villagers by bringing water, power, education, food and infrastructure for better health.

Some of the women hold degree in engineering, management and computer technology. The Siswa team even wants to build a website for their village.

The Samras scheme looked out for women who were educated, single and belonged to the village they wished to serve. The government has also offered an incentive of Rs 5 lakh for an all-women Samras panchayat which controls a population of 5,000 to 15,000. In Siswa, which is home to a model of the scheme, 12 young women meet regularly to improve conditions in the village and pursue their education or career dreams side-by-side.

It could be that film or TV programme makers have never heard of such women or that they find such women not interesting enough to be the subjects of films or TV serials. Till then, they will continue to feature under the daily news bulletin.

Ok so I am irked that they chose only those examples that fit the angle they were going for but it was cool to read about the real women they talk about.

A man of words
From writing love letters for his friends to penning award-winning lyrics for Bollywood hits, Irshad Kamil has come a long way
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/a-manwords/463649/

“Those were the days when I was searching for myself, looking for direction and meaning,” says Kamil. During this period, Lekh Tandon, who has directed several films including Jhuk Gaya Aasman (1968), Amrapali (1966) and Professor (1962) as well as television serials, came to Chandigarh. He was looking for someone who would write a script for a TV serial and zeroed in on Kamil. Among the serials that followed were Kartavya, Chhoti Ma and Sanjeevani. A meeting with musician-composer Sandesh Shandilya took him to Bollywood and Kamil’s first film as a lyricist was released in 2004 — the Kareena Kapoor-Rahul Bose starrer Chameli. Counted as one of the most promising lyricist of present times, he has since doled out hits for popular films such as Jab We Met, Love Aaj Kal, Neal n Nikki, A Wednesday, Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai and Rockstar.

I didn't know/remember Irshad Kamil used to be a tv writer!!!

`New directors, social media creating fresh Pakistani cinema`
http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/movies/new-directors-social-media-creating-fresh-pakistani-cinema_105055.htm

Although Ali hasn`t done any films in Pakistan, he worked as a model for several commercials. He has also acted in Pakistani TV serials like ‘Lunda-Bazar’ and ‘Kanch Ke Par’ and teenage sitcom ‘Kollege Jeans’. He is delighted to see the quality of shows being produced in the country.

"I did TV shows to make pocket money so that I can create music. But television is doing great. We have some really good shows being made, so quality work is being produced. There was a time when the quality went off-track, but now it is doing really good," said Ali, known for giving hit songs like ‘Rangeen’, ‘Sajaniya’ and most recently ‘Madhubala’ from ‘Mere Brother Ki Dulhan’.

Ali Zafar used to do serials!


ok the rest of the articles some other time I think.

[LinKarish]

Can I just say I love the production values of the shows certain shows on Life OK, and I like that they are playing around with different concepts and ideas.  

Edited cause one I haven't watched all, and I hear one is  --as Parul mentioned above.

I'll be back with a few links of what impressed me.

[los angeles]

Guys, Aamir Ali and Sanjeeda got married! I'm way more excited about this than the Ritesh-Genelia wedding lol. (As it should be I guess)
So weird, I had NO idea that Salman and his family knew Aamir's family well! Salman sent his good wishes and Sohail attended the wedding.
Vids here: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=videos&search_query=aamir+sanjeeda&search_sort=video_date_uploaded&uni=3

I've no idea who these people are but congrats to them woot woot

Some news links:
Why soaps are deserting the saas
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Television/Why-soaps-are-deserting-the-saas/Article1-820461.aspxTrue, actually these days we have a wide spectrum of protagonists: teenagers (D3, Humse Hai Life, Ruk Jaana Nahin, Sajda Tere Pyar Mein), divorcees (Maryada, Punar Vivah), widows (NBTNMKK), lawyers (Adaalat), law enforcement (Hum Ne Li Hai Shapath), psychotics (Dil Se Di Dua), rural (Diya Aur Baati), urban (Jamuna Paar) etc.

^ Yea there are so many different kinds of protagonists now, people who pay attention know that it's definitely not as saas-bahu-esque as it was even a few years ago (yay progress haha)

In the link for that Hindustan Times article, they mention how many FB "likes" the page for a newer soap has, as an indication that people are watching/interested. That makes me think I should go on FB and "like" my favourite serials so they don't get canceled Lol:p

Wanted: Readymade ideas from the south
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Television/Wanted-Readymade-ideas-from-the-south/Article1-820002.aspxYeah you know what? I was really surprised that Sony decided to work on Shubh Vivah. I thought the whole 5 sisters phase was over - it was quite big in the 00s up to Behnein which only ended last year or the year before. Aren't we done? I don't mind though - maybe they are trying to maximise their market. They have some low key serials in Parvarish & Kya Hua Tera Vaada, some pure love stories in KTLK, Dekha Ek Khwaab, BALH so yeah I guess one typical huge family saga was missing.

Yea, I think I've now heard of a few different serials which were remakes of SI serials (hopefully credited gosh!)
BW and NI television both really look to the SI entertainment fields for inspiration and templates [understatement of the day]

Re this bit:

Yeah you know what? I was really surprised that Sony decided to work on Shubh Vivah. I thought the whole 5 sisters phase was over - it was quite big in the 00s up to Behnein which only ended last year or the year before. Aren't we done? I don't mind though - maybe they are trying to maximise their market.

^ You know, I think things like that come and go in cycles, they go in and out of style as ideas...a few years from now there might be new serials all over again with sets of sisters, who knows Lol

Forbes' top 50 Asian businesswomen
Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Yuwadee-on-Forbes-50-power-Asian-businesswomen-lis-30177042.htmlEkta w00t!
On a related note: India TV diva's remarkable turnaround
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-16754260

Interesting! And cool for her, nice to see the ladies making their way on the production side of things
She did really well with Dirty Picture and Vidya (who started with Hum Paanch.)

Ek, do, teen: How Madhuri Dixit gave us Hindustani sexy
http://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/ek-do-teen-how-madhuri-dixit-gave-us-hindustani-sexy-225390.htmlHa! You know what? We totally said that pages and pages and pages ago!

Ha! You know what? We totally said that pages and pages and pages ago!

Haha I agree, you guys did totally say that pages ago!!

Finally. Sometimes I kinda wonder at the voyeurism on offer.

^ I always forward that stuff...I just can't handle it

Tara's back on Hitler Didi
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/tv-guide/taras-back-hitler-didi-094
Is Small the New Big in Bollywood?
The idiot screen overwhelms the idiot box, once the spot for cute, sweet, homely, intimate fare.
http://www.littleindia.com/life/12016-is-small-the-new-big-in-bollywood.html

Not familiar with this lady but I think I've seen her around in supporting character roles on TV. (I'm not taping Hitler Didi or "General Didi" as it's called on my Program Guide on TV in Los ANgeles.)

Popular Pakistani television drama Humsafar reaches Toronto fans via web
http://www.thestar.com/living/article/1132592--popular-pakistani-television-drama-humsafar-reaches-toronto-fans-in-via-webActually I've wondered myself at the popularity of Humsafar. Why this one, why now? I think it is a combo of Fawad Khan and the other actors and as they say a very glossy look than normal. Though Dastaan also had good production values I might add.

^ That's cool they are having popular shows with nice production values woot woot

I know the "high gloss" look is often derided and made fun of, but I prefer it when I watch TV. I want something really lovely to watch at the end of the day, as we've discussed before.]

Hindi GECs witness 6.5 per cent fall in viewership in 2011: TAM
http://www.afaqs.com/media/story.html?sid=33115_Hindi+GECs+witness+6.5+per+cent+fall+in+viewership+in+2011:+TAMI always find following numbers like this interesting though I wish it were coupled with some qualitative studies to give more context

Maybe this is because people are watching things online more than ever before?
Just an idea...there must be many other factors in the equation as well.

TRPs influence television content
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/4723
This seems a really old article (2008) but just some good info on TAM/TRP stuff.

^ Can't get this one to load on my laptop, I will try the link again later though

When art doesn’t imitate life
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/224290/when-art-doesnt-imitate-life.htmlOk so I am irked that they chose only those examples that fit the angle they were going for but it was cool to read about the real women they talk about.

I know what they're saying, but things are changing, there are shows which depict educated females and newer heroines are not all in the category described. Change takes time, it will happen eventually.

You know what I am more bothered by? WHy haven't they had a vegan character on a Hindi serial yet?!!!!

I'm so mad about this. I am going to SUE someone. How dare they not include us vegans in their casts?!!

Who does these people think they are?!!

I will protest. And march. And write long letters of complaint.

Plz stop ignoring vegans in Hindi serials and BW movies.

Hahaha just kidding (but not really, I want a vegan character on a show one day soon or I'm going to be not anyone's favourite person as I barge into production office with demands for CHANGE and JUSTICE on my Hindi serials. Thankyouvery much] []

A man of words
From writing love letters for his friends to penning award-winning lyrics for Bollywood hits, Irshad Kamil has come a long way
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/a-manwords/463649/I didn't know/remember Irshad Kamil used to be a tv writer!!!

That's so cool!
And wow, a PhD in Hindi, that's awesome!!:-)

`New directors, social media creating fresh Pakistani cinema`
http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/movies/new-directors-social-media-creating-fresh-pakistani-cinema_105055.htmAli Zafar used to do serials!

^ I didn't know that about Ali Zafar! How interesting.

ok the rest of the articles some other time I think.

^ Parul, thanks so much for these ones!! Has been very interesting reading!1:D

[never_evil]

 
Envy is not an emotion I am normally given to but I am positively heartbroken I didn't even realise this was on:

Fans across the ocean
Source: http://www.dailypioneer.com/vivacity/48903-fans-across-the-ocean.html

Indian tv stars are more popular with NRIs than at home. A besotted group from Holland, SA, UK and US, invited by Star Plus to Mumbai, spoke to D Kaushik about why they bond with certain characters

Anyone who saw Vasanti, an NRI from South Africa, roaming at Haaji Ali in Mumbai, arm in arm with their friends, would not have believed, that ten days before, she was struggling in a hospital bed.

She considers her recovery, “miraculous” and says, “It was the love for Gopi, Ahem, Khushi and Arnav that gave me faith. Even doctors, back home in South Africa were surprised by my speedy recovery. It is my fourth time to India. I never enjoyed myself this much before.”

All those crazy about coy, wailing bahus and shrewd saas on tv would definitely know Khushi, Arnav, Gopi and Ahem.

They might even share some of Vasanti’s sentiments.

For the rest, in case you weren’t clued in, Gopi and Ahem and Khushi and Arnav are popular characters from serials like Saathiya and Iss Pyaar Ko Kyaa Naam Doon on Star Plus.

This might tell you something about  the reach of popular Indian soaps and their global appeal. It appears NRI’s around the globe are more interested in Indian serials than Western ones. And they are ready to pay any price.

Star Plus seems to rule, with popular shows like Sasural Genda Phool, Pratigya, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and Ek Hazaron me Meri Behena Hai.

Vasanti, a passionate fan, said, “For me, Gopi is the ardent perfectionist. She has the drive to learn new things.

Ahem is the ideal son. He wants to acquire what his father could not. He is also very respectful towards his mother,”

The characters from such daily soaps are part of many families, globally.

Not only do they seem to love talking about them.

They also dress like them.

As part of global promotional plans, Star Plus ran a contest and selected people from across the world to visit Mumbai and meet their popular actors.

Vasanti was part of a group.

The rest were from Holland, US and UK.

They had made big plans for meeting their favourite actors.

“When I learnt I was the lucky one,” shared, Ragini, who belongs to Holland, “I began crying. I spent many evenings with these serials and characters. As an Indian, it is good too see these close-knit families and participate in issues the shows deal with.

:One example is, Diya Aur Baati Hum, which is the story of a supportive husband, Suraj. His qualification is ninth grade pass. Against his family’s wishes, Suraj encourages his wife to study and make a place for herself in society.”

Deepa, another fan, was in love with romantic tales that are increasingly part of Indian tv. To her, some resembled fairy tales.

They also relayed message of family bonding. Star Plus is particularly strong on family ties. Take Ek Hazaron Me Meri Behena Hai.

“There is a love story and something about family life,” said Deepa, who loves Akshara from Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai.

“She is my every woman. The ideal wife and daughter. I am sure she will be a great mum.”

Gonnie from South Africa said the contest helps, “draw us closer to our motherland.”

Adding, “In the West, there are just nuclear families. These shows present ideal Indian families.”

The fans shot a show with favourite Star Plus characters.

It will air on March 24 before the Star Parivaar Awards. A 3D stage was created for the event.

I mean the chances of any one of us winning would have been about as much as winning lotto but still, if I had known at least we could have tried? *le sigh*

BRB, crying into imaginary teacup

[never_evil]

Can I just say I love the production values of the shows certain shows on Life OK, and I like that they are playing around with different concepts and ideas. 

Edited cause one I haven't watched all, and I hear one is  --as Parul mentioned above.

I'll be back with a few links of what impressed me.

Yeah I think some Life OK shows look pretty - I like shows that have lots of on location shots and not just sets.

Ohh no worries sweets!!!!!!!!!!

We'll totally go some other time, Special Soaps Division Expedition (hahaha that rhymed) and it will be even cooler. You just wait.

Once I become wealthy and powerful, a Hindi serials trip will be TOP priority so we'll go for sure *cross fingers and close eyes* []

LOL dee thanks for agreeing to fund a trip to visit our favourite stars when you become wealthy. I will hold you to it

I am never able to take Arnav seriously in scenes with hair gel ever since you brought out that cockatoo pic XD

I think Sanaya's dress is overtly cutsey yet I like it. I think I could have done without that weird necklace type stick on thing on her top...

I loved her in this look on the gr8 awards actually:



Here are the performances btw:

? dancing to Saira Banu songs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLtxAYyxudg
Sanjeeda (Aamir Ali's wife), Priyal Gor (ex-Mona), Drashti (Muskaan, Geet): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XRrNprRMOA
Aamir Ali & Sanaya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXevrflRMw4
Gurmeet on Man Mohini: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=859Ct059B9A
Giaa (Gopi): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=859Ct059B9A
Rati on Rekha: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x8e6VZCwM4
Hothon Mein Aisi Baat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysquwKPe9OQ (lol I remember during this one there was a guy singing along in the audience - who is he? I just found it hilarious that he was so into it)

btw I haven't checked to see whether these vids are complete on youtube, I saw the show elsewhere. So let me know if the links are bad/didn't work.

Overall, I LOVED the costumes for GR8 Women Awards 2012 and I thought the stage and props were particularly gorgeous too. Not sure why but these award performances looked a lot more polished in terms of clothes, set pieces etc. The dancing itself ranged from bleh to wonderful but that's to be expected. I mean these actors not only have to work daily for their eps but then also practice for dances, that's a bit much to handle. The songs used, and the way a mixture of them were combined was also good. In particular I am thinking of Sanaya and Aamir's performance. Udi, Hawa Hawa, Darrrling and Senorita all together was a great idea! Esp their costume seemed to match all 4 of those songs well.

[LinKarish]

I'll still link to the Life Ok vids. 

This is kind of ironic because I laughed at the Punar Vivah promos and rolled my eyes - lol- but I think I'm going to check out Punar Vivaah.  They're available HQ with subs, and from what I've seen, it's well done.  I love the location shots.  Of course Gurmeet Choudhary needs to work on his acting, but other than that I think I'm going to catch up and just watch.  I hope they keep up with this, and not go off track as so many shows do in chasing TRPs and such.

I also caught a bit of IPKKND scenes.  I can see why Hindustan Times gave it the Mills & Boon Award.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Brunch/Brunch-Stories/The-Sari-Sindoor-amp-Glycerine-Awards/Article1-820228.aspx

[los angeles]

LOL dee thanks for agreeing to fund a trip to visit our favourite stars when you become wealthy.

^ Yea I've got it covered, just give me a year or two to sort things out and improve finances and take care of things

Soaps Division Vice Prezident position is a serious stuffs (I've been VP for almost three years now)
And you know, such a trip will be educational and informative and so important, therefore I think we simply must go haha

I will hold you to it

Totally!!
Plus we have it in writing in this thread, can't go back on my zubaan now, so we're all set

I am never able to take Arnav seriously in scenes with hair gel ever since you brought out that cockatoo pic XD

I can't even help it, those birds come into mah brainz when I see the hair gel situation he has going on hehe:p

I think Sanaya's dress is overtly cutsey yet I like it.

You know, I used to be fond of voluminous billowing outfits but I seem to be less enamored of them now. These days I prefer something a little more streamlined and less like a large pinata hahaha

I think I could have done without that weird necklace type stick on thing on her top...

Yea, that silver Christmas tree edging looks kind of weird there, it's right around her chesticles (which I think are stuffed with a padded bra by the way but all the actresses do that to increase the size of their bust...even I am considering doing it these days because it might make my waist look smaller in comparison which if it works would be superb and excellent...anything to not looks like a hippopotamus in the waist area yesss:D

Here are the performances btw:

? dancing to Saira Banu songs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLtxAYyxudg
Sanjeeda (Aamir Ali's wife), Priyal Gor (ex-Mona), Drashti (Muskaan, Geet): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XRrNprRMOA
Aamir Ali & Sanaya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXevrflRMw4
Gurmeet on Man Mohini: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=859Ct059B9A
Giaa (Gopi): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=859Ct059B9A
Rati on Rekha: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x8e6VZCwM4
Hothon Mein Aisi Baat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysquwKPe9OQ (lol I remember during this one there was a guy singing along in the audience - who is he? I just found it hilarious that he was so into it)

^ Watched all these, they were so fun, and as I said in PM, I so appreciate you posting the links sweets!!

And oddly enough I'd never even heard of this awards show and no idea when it aired?

I will Google and see which channel it came on.

btw I haven't checked to see whether these vids are complete on youtube, I saw the show elsewhere. So let me know if the links are bad/didn't work.

^ They worked for me (I think one re-directed and was still good.)

Overall, I LOVED the costumes for GR8 Women Awards 2012 and I thought the stage and props were particularly gorgeous too. Not sure why but these award performances looked a lot more polished in terms of clothes, set pieces etc. The dancing itself ranged from bleh to wonderful but that's to be expected. I mean these actors not only have to work daily for their eps but then also practice for dances, that's a bit much to handle. The songs used, and the way a mixture of them were combined was also good. In particular I am thinking of Sanaya and Aamir's performance. Udi, Hawa Hawa, Darrrling and Senorita all together was a great idea! Esp their costume seemed to match all 4 of those songs well.

Yea, the only thing I can't seem to look past is the lip-synching, other stuff was cool (I'm beginning to hate lip-synching you guys...I don't know if it's the Hollywood effect or what but I can't handle it too much anymore...I prefer dance without lip-synch business whenever possible ]

I also caught a bit of IPKKND scenes.  I can see why Hindustan Times gave it the Mills & Boon Award.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Brunch/Brunch-Stories/The-Sari-Sindoor-amp-Glycerine-Awards/Article1-820228.aspx

^ Hehe:p

They had some very cute jodi scenes in today and yesterday's episodes with the whole Holi celebrations segments. Though I wish they wouldn't hold the gazing-at-each-other poses quite so long, I start noticing these random details like the size of Khushi's nose pierce jewelries and and how they've arranged her bangs and things like that.

And it was problematic for me that Arnav was wearing white golf shoes with his outfit as he was romancing Khushi 
But there's something wrong with me because I always get hung up on unseemly shoes or weird clothes or bad hair-styling or such stuffs. When really I should just be paying attention to the emotions or whatever in scene. I dunno what is my problem. But why did they have to put white golf shoes on their lead actor...? Who in the wardrobe dept signed off on that and went home thinking they did a great job that day?! Peanut gallery says noooooo:p

Anyway I think this show has its coolest parts when they aren't so glaringly blindingly obvious with the love story and driving home the romance with a sledgehammer. Sometimes they do have smaller, much-less-OTT romantic moments and those are always my favourite.

Here are some pics of Arnav's safaed golf-waale joothe:





I don't like them ONE BIT I must say, but as you can see from the pics, they are not so bad, therefore I don't know what my problem is with getting all mad about them, but oh well, I am a crazy loser with no life hahaha:p

[Maybe I was stylist in past reincarnation and that's why I have such pronounced opinions on all this nonsense...but if I was a stylist then why do my saris look so horrid when I drape them like I'm wearing a windblown sheet that's been thrown on in a storm...maybe I was an American stylist, yea, that must be it, because if that's so then I have no experience with saris to draw on from pichle janam in that case (Lol) and also all my ridiculous criticisms are from a very US POV (and I recognize that.)]

I am forwarding EHMMBH completely because the Maanvi-terminal-illness track seems to be the main plot-line (and like I said before, I don't want to see that, it seems much too sad)

Anyway, by the way, I have been looking at pics from Star Parivar Award and both Maanvi and Anjali (I mean Arnav's Dee Anjali) look amazing, like some kind of supermodels of gorgeousness omg! Maanvi is in a lengha-choli in the pics I saw, and Anjali is in a pink and silver sari. [I will have to diet and eat low-carb and lowfat dinners for 200 years before I can look like them in those kind of clothes shucks!! Oh well, I am actually trying to cook low-carb and lowfat healthy vegan stuffs for myself these days, we'll see how it goes hehe woot woot]

P.S. This entry could easily win a prize for the most self-absorbed post EVER hahaha omg pathetic

TTYS

[LinKarish]

This is kind of ironic because I laughed at the Punar Vivah promos and rolled my eyes - lol- but I think I'm going to check out Punar Vivaah.  They're available HQ with subs, and from what I've seen, it's well done.  I love the location shots.  Of course Gurmeet Choudhary needs to work on his acting, but other than that I think I'm going to catch up and just watch.  I hope they keep up with this, and not go off track as so many shows do in chasing TRPs and such.

Yup, as I'm watching I getting more and more into it.  I haven't caught up fully yet. But it's a good show. I just hope the channel keeps its hands off it and doesn't try to interfere.

I mentioned GC's acting, Kratika Sengar has a few twitches and mannerisms that annoy me as well. But still, I'm overlooking them and enjoying the show.

[never_evil]

Hey all, quick post:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezntcxxpPFM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpKceCqz_hE

I think this looks fantastic!

Apurva Agnihotri (Gauri dee, it's your guy from that serial!) is so going to rock Aasman Se Aage.

Anjali: one day our fantasy serial may end up getting made by people who are not us LOL. I think we actually had a reality dance show planned for within our serial at one point.

LK, I haven't seen much of Punar Vivaah but I thought these were pretty:

Exhibit A:


Exhibit B:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=19Fpd-eAYLU&t=5m47s
(looked better in HQ but I can't find a link now)

Also lol at a scene in some recent ep where Gurmeet is only in a towel and Kratika walks in and misunderstands when he goes to take his shirt. Actually that's standard serial fare but what you usually don't get is the guy rolling his eyes and shaking his head - cracked me up. Also the part where he was scouting every location in the room for a shirt.

Gauri dee, your tirade about white golf shoes in ISPKKND was so hilarious and awesome. I don't know about past incarnations but you are the stylist for whenever we get around to making our serial anyway!

[los angeles]

Apurva Agnihotri (Gauri dee, it's your guy from that serial!) is so going to rock Aasman Se Aage.

Looks interesting, thanks for the promo links, and yea, I thought AA was the hawt on Kaajjal (which I wish they'd rerun for a third time haha)

Anjali: one day our fantasy serial may end up getting made by people who are not us LOL. I think we actually had a reality dance show planned for within our serial at one point.

^ No worries, you two will come up with even better ideas eventually I bet

Gauri dee, your tirade about white golf shoes in ISPKKND was so hilarious and awesome. I don't know about past incarnations but you are the stylist for whenever we get around to making our serial anyway!

Haha thanks sweets, and I think I am probably way too critical! I get all obsessed over tiny (probably insignificant) details and then I get all mad when they get things "wrong" in my opinion.

It will be challenging to juggle my duties as a dancer in real life along with being Vice Prezident of Soaps Division as well as being a stylist-and-choreographer on the Parul-Anjali serial but I assure you I will fit it ALL in with a bit of caffeine And plus like they say, you can sleep when you're dead, right? Hahaha:p

Speaking of Iss Pyaar by the way, I always tape it but I am fast-forwarding soooo much right now!
I can't stand the saas-bahu stuff with Manorama and Payal and I can't stand Shyam's horrid schemes so I always fast forward all of that. And the last few eps I've been forwarding lots of Arnav-Khushi scenes too because they're making her character act all annoying and ridiculous for some reason, pulling like five-year old antics to irritate Arnav (if I was him I'd have gunned her down by now and be in jail for murder of one's wife omg)
Taping MJHT and IPKKND simultaneously allows a viewer to clearly contrast Gunjan with Khushi and as we've discussed before, for me Gunjan wins by a landslide in terms of character appeal.

I also have a stupid pet peeve to complain about, which is that I hate when Arnav and Khushi say each other's full names when they're supposed to be angry. It sounds so absurd and it makes me cringe! It takes a lot of effort to say a person's complete name (first, middle, last) and in a normal conversation it just seems so unnatural. But here I are being so critical again, IDK why can't I stop criticizing and just enjoy things without mercilessly tearing them apart for flaws? My own dance stuff and my own fashion attempts are both FULL of flaws and mistakes and extremely horrible embarrassing stuffs! Which would make you think I'd be more understanding and accepting/forgiving of things like cockatoo hair gels and white golf shoes and a myriad of other choices. And yet I often seem so intent on being a critical witch, I don't get it haha:D

By the way Parul I thought of you today because Khushi puts a Salman Khan poster up on the wall and tells Arnav he's her favourite and then she imitates Salman's funny-on-purpose dance moves hehe:p

TTYS

Next Day Edit~~

Parul you know how I said above that I thought of you because Khushi put up a Salman Khan poster? I thought of you again today because I bought an enormous basket of kiwi fruit and I am having a little bit of it each day, this fruit are so delicious!!:D

Okay you guys, so I was forwarding through today's ep of Iss Pyaar and then there were two parts that had me going "Awww!!"

One was when Khushi sees Arnav eating the food she made and she feels so nice seeing him eat. I don't know why, maybe it's because food is such a huge thing in Punjabi culture and feeding someone is how affection is shown and I totally grew up with that--but this part on the show just totally made me melt!! So freakin' adorable!!!!!

And the other part was a bit later when Khushi is ordering some sort of supplies over the phone and the supplier person isn't taking her seriously and she says something like "You're going to explain quality to me? I'm halvai ki beti and businessman ki patni." And they show Arnav sort of listening to her and watching her and smiling. It was sooooo cute!!!!!!!

Moments like these are why I keep watching this show!
But okay even here I have a tiny criticism which I can't stop myself from saying--the part where Khushi was watching Arnav eat the food she made, he was like gobbling down his food and licking his fingers. That didn't looks very good
I mean, you can be quite hungry and still not gobbling things down like that you know? And licking fingers is not the most stellar table manners, it's fine if you kind of just lick one finger, but going for ALL of them starts to look a little bad.
Okay minor complaint though, overall the moment was really cute and sweet and lovely so I should STFU with my nit-picking (as you all know my nit-picking is going to abominably high levels lately ]
This reminds me there is a late night talk show here and one time they showed a lady on candid camera who was very hungrily wolfing down her lunch at a stadium while viewing a soccer game or tennis match or something. And of course it didn't look very nice but they showed it on TV to make fun of her (rather unkind of them, I don't much like that sort of thing in comedy when they make fun of people like that, seems unnecessary)
Anyways yea so things like that happen or whatnot, however that candid camera lady didn't know she was being taped but on a show like Iss Pyaar, everything is taped and directed and edited lots of times before broadcast so why not make it a bit more elegant is all I'm saying
What a long and pointless tangent Lol
[And am I driving you guys crazy with all my endless criticizing, omg I hope not ]

Okay anyway and so Star Parivaar Awards are this weekend and knowing me I'll forget to tape it or my timer won't work and will tape the wrong thing or something haha:p

I have been prodigiously forwarding EHMMBH too these days due to the Maanvi illness track (I hope I'm not missing too much cool Virat-Maanvi banter actually ) but anyway, I think these two are so adorable and Maanvi and Jeevikam are both sooooo pretty

Maanvi looked GORGEOUS at Parivaar Awards in her lengha-choli and I also saw a cute pic of Khushi and Jeeviks dancing with some little kids onstage, so I hope that will be nice to see on Tivo. Khsuhi had on a sari and Jeeviks had on an anarkali suit.

A couple cute Virat and Maanvi candids, Virat has quite the bouffant, but doesn't look too bad on him, kind of suits his personality haha:p





TTYS Little Kadus!!!!

[never_evil]

Aasman Ke Aage

Looks interesting, thanks for the promo links, and yea, I thought AA was the hawt on Kaajjal (which I wish they'd rerun for a third time haha)

I'm hoping he does well on this show - we don't have many anti-heroes that are not villains and I'm hoping that's what his character is. Ruthless and ambitious but not heartless. And I want a story where the anti-hero doesn't undergo a romantic redemption track. But anyway I'm just making assumptions here...

It will be challenging to juggle my duties as a dancer in real life along with being Vice Prezident of Soaps Division as well as being a stylist-and-choreographer on the Parul-Anjali serial but I assure you I will fit it ALL in with a bit of caffeine And plus like they say, you can sleep when you're dead, right? Hahaha:p

And there will be incentives dee - bribery via vegan goodies shall be undertaken when you are feeling overworked.

I can't stand the saas-bahu stuff with Manorama and Payal and I can't stand Shyam's horrid schemes so I always fast forward all of that. And the last few eps I've been forwarding lots of Arnav-Khushi scenes too because they're making her character act all annoying and ridiculous for some reason, pulling like five-year old antics to irritate Arnav (if I was him I'd have gunned her down by now and be in jail for murder of one's wife omg)
Taping MJHT and IPKKND simultaneously allows a viewer to clearly contrast Gunjan with Khushi and as we've discussed before, for me Gunjan wins by a landslide in terms of character appeal.

Yeah it annoys me when they make heroines into these really childish girls sometimes.

I also have a stupid pet peeve to complain about, which is that I hate when Arnav and Khushi say each other's full names when they're supposed to be angry. It sounds so absurd and it makes me cringe! It takes a lot of effort to say a person's complete name (first, middle, last) and in a normal conversation it just seems so unnatural. But here I are being so critical again, IDK why can't I stop criticizing and just enjoy things without mercilessly tearing them apart for flaws? My own dance stuff and my own fashion attempts are both FULL of flaws and mistakes and extremely horrible embarrassing stuffs! Which would make you think I'd be more understanding and accepting/forgiving of things like cockatoo hair gels and white golf shoes and a myriad of other choices. And yet I often seem so intent on being a critical witch, I don't get it haha:D

Ah about this one, I think sometimes it works for me. Or at least I suppose in my Heyers/historical romances I get it when they are only using each others last names so maybe I've gotten used to it. I even don't seem to mind when for example in Hitler Didi, Rishi will call Indira "makaan malikin ji" or she'll call him "Mr. Kiraayedaar" even though by now they've already had izhaars etc.

By the way Parul I thought of you today because Khushi puts a Salman Khan poster up on the wall and tells Arnav he's her favourite and then she imitates Salman's funny-on-purpose dance moves hehe:p

#win

Parul you know how in my last post I said I thought of you because Khushi put up a Salman Khan poster? I thought of you again today because I bought an enormous basket of kiwi fruit and I am having a little bit of it each day, this fruit are so delicious!!:D

Kiwi fruits really are lovely. Actually that reminds me I have some at home I need to finish too.

Okay you guys, so I was forwarding through today's ep of Iss Pyaar and then there were two parts that had me going "Awww!!" Cool

One was when Khushi sees Arnav eating the food she made and she feels so nice seeing him eat. I don't know why, maybe it's because food is such a huge thing in Punjabi culture and feeding someone is how affection is shown and I totally grew up with that--but this part on the show just totally made me melt!! So freakin' adorable!!!!! Smiley

That really is an awww moment. I remember when I was a kid and you know how sometimes you get into stupid fights with your parents. And then its dinner and ofcourse you have to eat and by then you're not mad but feeling a bit apologetic but you can't just say sorry. I used to indicate that I was over my tantrum by telling my mom "aaj khaana swad tha" XD

And the other part was a bit later when Khushi is ordering some sort of supplies over the phone and the supplier person isn't taking her seriously and she says something like "You're going to explain quality to me? I'm halvai ki beti and businessman ki patni." And they show Arnav sort of listening to her and watching her and smiling. It was sooooo cute!!!!!!! Smiley

I can totally picture the scene too!

But okay even here I have a tiny criticism which I can't stop myself from saying--the part where Khushi was watching Arnav eat the food she made, he was like gobbling down his food and licking his fingers. That didn't looks very good
I mean, you can be quite hungry and still not gobbling things down like that you know? And licking fingers is not the most stellar table manners, it's fine if you kind of just lick one finger, but going for ALL of them starts to look a little bad.
Okay minor complaint though, overall the moment was really cute and sweet and lovely so I should STFU with my nit-picking (as you all know my nit-picking is going to abominably high levels lately

... doesn't seem very Arnav-ish  to be licking fingers anyway.

And am I driving you guys crazy with all my endless criticizing, omg I hope not

Heh nope just means you will be well practised to ensure we don't make any such blunders on our show.

Okay anyway and so Star Parivaar Awards are this weekend and knowing me I'll forget to tape it or my timer won't work and will tape the wrong thing or something haha:p

Idk why this year's song isn't as nice as previous years. Hopefully the show is better though.

I have been prodigiously forwarding EHMMBH too these days due to the Maanvi illness track (I hope I'm not missing too much cool Virat-Maanvi banter actually Undecided ) but anyway, I think these two are so adorable and Maanvi and Jeevikam are both sooooo pretty

I haven't had much chance to find out where the story has got to either.

Maanvi looked GORGEOUS at Parivaar Awards in her lengha-choli and I also saw a cute pic of Khushi and Jeeviks dancing with some little kids onstage, so I hope that will be nice to see on Tivo. Khsuhi had on a sari and Jeeviks had on an anarkali suit.

I'll keep an eye out for her during the Awards then! Thanks for the pics dee


Kritika Kamra - Meena Bazaar photoshoot


These are my favourites. Rest of the shoot here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.341903815844695.70309.141460255889053&type=1

[los angeles]

Aasman Ke AageI'm hoping he does well on this show - we don't have many anti-heroes that are not villains and I'm hoping that's what his character is.

Yea for sure, I grew up in LA watching HW anti-hero movies (right alongside BW fare) and I think that would be fun to see on a Hindi serial

Ruthless and ambitious but not heartless.

Yea totally, there's a huge difference between those two.

And I want a story where the anti-hero doesn't undergo a romantic redemption track.

^ Or maybe in a relationship with someone as wicked as he is, well slightly wicked, not out and out awful haha
I've always had a weakness for those well-heeled villainess types, the ones dripping with sophistication, so maybe a girl sort of like that (but not in your stereotypical and cliche "villainess" role obviously)

But anyway I'm just making assumptions here...

^ Haha assume away and I do that too, I watch promos I like obsessively and then start making the story in my head well in advance Lol:p

And there will be incentives dee - bribery via vegan goodies shall be undertaken when you are feeling overworked.

^ Thanks so much and this sounds AWESOME

[Basically I'll work long hours for vegan ice-cream sundaes, I'm giving like that hehe:p]

Yeah it annoys me when they make heroines into these really childish girls sometimes.

Parul I know right? You have these actresses in their twenties and thirties (who are mostly quite talented) and then they have them acting like four year olds and it's like what...it looks so cringe-worthy and you even feel second-hand embarrassment that they are having to act like that onscreen due to the script, direction, writers etc
 

Ah about this one, I think sometimes it works for me. Or at least I suppose in my Heyers/historical romances I get it when they are only using each others last names so maybe I've gotten used to it. I even don't seem to mind when for example in Hitler Didi, Rishi will call Indira "makaan malikin ji" or she'll call him "Mr. Kiraayedaar" even though by now they've already had izhaars etc.

^ That's cool it's not an issue when you're watching stuff, different strokes for different folks and all.
Somehow it's never worked for me on Khushi show, I always find myself closing my eyes momentarily and/or reaching for the remote to forward [Maybe I have an especially low tolerance for full-name dropping on serials haha ]

#win

^ Yea...that part was kind of cute actually

Kiwi fruits really are lovely. Actually that reminds me I have some at home I need to finish too.

^ Yea they are quite pretty to look at too, very photogenic fruit

That really is an awww moment. I remember when I was a kid and you know how sometimes you get into stupid fights with your parents. And then its dinner and ofcourse you have to eat and by then you're not mad but feeling a bit apologetic but you can't just say sorry. I used to indicate that I was over my tantrum by telling my mom "aaj khaana swad tha" XD

^ That's adorable!! I can totally imagine you doing that:D
And I completely agree with the underlines bit, sometimes you can't just say sorry, there's too much pride, you have to do something else to show you're not mad anymore hehe
And yea, it was a really nice moment on the show too

... doesn't seem very Arnav-ish  to be licking fingers anyway.

I feel gross even discussing it haha (later I was like "why did I need to talk about that in serials thread gawd:p]
But yea, you know, it kind of didn't fit with his character the same way the flower pruning doesn't totally fit (for me as a viewer anyway.)
It seemed out of place...it seemed more like the type of thing Arnav would see Khushi do while maro-ing taane that she's gawaar and doesn't know any better or something

Heh nope just means you will be well practised to ensure we don't make any such blunders on our show.

^ Ahaha!!:-) Thanks for seeing it that way, I'll try and look at my constant criticizing as preliminary practice for the show you two are going to make

Idk why this year's song isn't as nice as previous years. Hopefully the show is better though.

^ Okay need to remember to set my Tivo for this...
 

I haven't had much chance to find out where the story has got to either.

^ I am forwarding entire eps so I've no idea either, maybe here and there I should start watching a bit of it, or maybe I can just at least catch the Virat-Maanvi scenes from time to time.

I'll keep an eye out for her during the Awards then! Thanks for the pics dee

Yea no problem!!

Kritika Kamra - Meena Bazaar photoshoot[/quote]

These are my favourites. Rest of the shoot here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.341903815844695.70309.141460255889053&type=1

^ Thanks for those pretty pics!!:-)

I like the first sari the best, the pink one with the green blouse.

Lately I seem to have moved on from churidar and anarkali suits and now I'm obsessed with saris and lenghas anew, I can't believe how gorgeous they look!

I'm always on the watch for cute designs on my shows, so far Payal, Khushi and Anjali have all worn some saris that I like, and Khushi wore one lengha that I thought was so cute too. Actually so did Payal, at one of her wedding functions. I am very particular about the blouse design and sleeves and borders and things so I pause and peer at the embroidery and stone-work quite a lot during sagai and shaadi episodes.

Okay so have a good weekend and stay out of trouble you little seal pups hehe

[BollyWHAT?]

wow careful BW? lest you become a serial addict, or is too late already

Ha. It's WAY too late, Never_Evil. I am a full-fledged addict now... Though the emotional intensity of IPKKND seems to have lessened this week. (Thank goodness! It was too distracting! )

[Parallel_Worlds]

So i stumbled upon this serial devon ka devta: suppsedly its a bhakti serial, but this is just a full out bubble gum romance!
Its a guilty pleasure and ive been watching episode after episode on youtube, and i never thought id ever say this in my life, but shiv bhagwan is sooooooooo sexy.
While its a pleasure to watch, at the back of my mind i dont like how they delegated Sati into this whimpering weak woman role. So now they want to push these ideas through religous serials...its quite disturbing.
Wait, why am i thinking too much about this, shiva's smile...omg...

[los angeles]

Ha. It's WAY too late, Never_Evil. I am a full-fledged addict now...

^ I actually don't understand how more people aren't hooked on Hindi serials. Some of these shows are so cool

Though the emotional intensity of IPKKND seems to have lessened this week. (Thank goodness! It was too distracting! )

I'm not sure about the whole Khushi tiffin business and selling-lunches thing that happened this past week, her "KKGSR" venture, it's a bit unseemly

Evening Edit:

Omg Parul, I was quietly having my broccoli tofu stir-fry dish for dinner this evening and I log into Twitter and find tweets from you saying Indian actors I've never heard of have commented on your blog, how cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(I was vaguely familiar with one of them by face but not by naam.)
Anyways how awesome!!!!!
And OMG I have to stop leaving those brainless idiotic comments in your comments section?!! I didn't know important Hindi serials folks are reading your blog. I mean there are your blog posts, all well thought out and very clever and full of proper critical analysis. And then I have these like chirpy, way-stupid annoying demented-cheerleader remarks underneath Dammit haha:p
Ok. Shucks. I will behave myself from now on. I don't wanna be an embarrassment to Soaps Division Lol:p
But how cool that those actors are reading your blog--that's so lovely!!!!!!!!!:D And exciting!!!!!!!!!
Okay I will attempt to calm myself down now hehe:p

[never_evil]

On anti-heroes

Yea for sure, I grew up in LA watching HW anti-hero movies (right alongside BW fare) and I think that would be fun to see on a Hindi serial

Yeah the thing that always attracts me to a western book/movie/tv show is the presence of morally ambiguous characters - I find them fascinating and even more so if their story's resolution is not about undergoing a character transformation because they find their OTP. In terms of Indian serials, rare is the chance that we'll get an anti-hero and he WON'T be redeemed by love, but we do have anti-heroes (Gautam - KSBKBT, Suja - Kahin To Hoga, Yuvi - DMG etc.) Kinda ironic that the anti-hero (and another anti-heroine) in our fantasy serial are also mellowed by love. Maybe I should practice what I preach before whining.

Ha. It's WAY too late, Never_Evil. I am a full-fledged addict now... Though the emotional intensity of IPKKND seems to have lessened this week. (Thank goodness! It was too distracting! )

It's what we like to hear BollyWHAT?  On your ISPKKND note, you may find this an interesting read:

From serious to slapstick, suddenly
While Hindi TV serials are usually predictable, sometimes they can spring surprises, or rather, shocks. Just last week, I had blithely stated that Star Plus’s Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon was one of the channel’s most watchable shows. But starting this Monday, the serial, which is an intense love story, has suddenly turned into a comedy show. (I’m still recovering).
[...]
Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Television/From-serious-to-slapstick-suddenly/Article1-830005.aspx

Well, I haven't been following ISPKKND ep-by-ep though I keep up with how the storyline is progressing... but what is this writer talking about? Gauri dee, hasn't ISPKKND always had comic elements? I know you've said often you don't like the comedy bits between Arnav and Khushi. And we've always had people like Buaji and Nandi Kishore and Mamiji being "funny".

So i stumbled upon this serial devon ka devta: suppsedly its a bhakti serial, but this is just a full out bubble gum romance!
Its a guilty pleasure and ive been watching episode after episode on youtube, and i never thought id ever say this in my life, but shiv bhagwan is sooooooooo sexy.
While its a pleasure to watch, at the back of my mind i dont like how they delegated Sati into this whimpering weak woman role. So now they want to push these ideas through religous serials...its quite disturbing.
Wait, why am i thinking too much about this, shiva's smile...omg...

Parallel_Worlds, the above article mentions Devon Ke Dev: Mahadev as well which our very own Gauri dee enjoys as well and I def'ly liked the first few weeks I saw of it.

[...]
The other show that has been consistently decent is the Life OK mythological Devon Ke Dev Mahadev (I hope it suddenly doesn’t change into a horror show) and that’s because the makers have given it an interesting spin. It has been shot as Shiva and Sati’s love story rather than just Shiva’s story. The two lead actors are competent, and the serial has a nice feel. The colours are soft and the whole look is non-tinselly. Fingers crossed for the future.
[...]
Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Television/From-serious-to-slapstick-suddenly/Article1-830005.aspx

The reception to Mahadev has been very positive from everyone - it's always being mentioned in various television sites. In the parts I saw Sati was definitely a strong girl who loves her father but also does what she thinks is right when she has misgivings about his decisions.

And I'm sorry but I have to take umbrage at this

So now they want to push these ideas through religous serials...its quite disturbing.

It's my pet peeve when people generalise their perceptions about what all Indian serials (at least that's how I'm interpreting the "they") depict based on one or two examples. I recommend checking out shows like Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha and Maryada for examples of strong women living life on their own terms (though I'm sure I can talk at length about examples of female agency and empowerment in Indian serials).

Evening Edit:
Omg Parul, I was quietly having my broccoli tofu stir-fry dish for dinner this evening and I log into Twitter and find tweets from you saying Indian actors I've never heard of have commented on your blog, how cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(I was vaguely familiar with one of them by face but not by naam.)
Anyways how awesome!!!!!
And OMG I have to stop leaving those brainless idiotic comments in your comments section?!! I didn't know important Hindi serials folks are reading your blog. I mean there are your blog posts, all well thought out and very clever and full of proper critical analysis. And then I have these like chirpy, way-stupid annoying demented-cheerleader remarks underneath Dammit haha:p
Ok. Shucks. I will behave myself from now on. I don't wanna be an embarrassment to Soaps Division Lol:p
But how cool that those actors are reading your blog--that's so lovely!!!!!!!!!:D And exciting!!!!!!!!!
Okay I will attempt to calm myself down now hehe:p

Awww Gauri dee, you are such a sweetheart! Thanks for being excited for my sake <3
They didn't comment on my blog but they wrote tweets sharing my blogposts, which was very sweet of them.
One of them was Sehban Azim aka Yuvi from DMG. The other was Kunal Karan Kapoor aka Yudi from Left Right Left and Mohan from Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha. I had just mentioned that I missed watching Sehban in a tweet of mine (not expecting him to read it, let alone share the blog post which wasn't really about him, as he hadn't been active on twitter for months) while Kunal I didn't even know was on Twitter and have no idea how he ran across the blog but he shared my NBTNMKK review on his FB and Twitter accounts.



Entirely unexpected! But I'm not complaining

I did laugh though at how my blog's "TRPs" shot up because of them; March 25 has now been the 'busiest day' views-wise for the blog.

[los angeles]

On anti-heroesYeah the thing that always attracts me to a western book/movie/tv show is the presence of morally ambiguous characters - I find them fascinating and even more so if their story's resolution is not about undergoing a character transformation because they find their OTP. In terms of Indian serials, rare is the chance that we'll get an anti-hero and he WON'T be redeemed by love, but we do have anti-heroes (Gautam - KSBKBT, Suja - Kahin To Hoga, Yuvi - DMG etc.) Kinda ironic that the anti-hero (and another anti-heroine) in our fantasy serial are also mellowed by love. Maybe I should practice what I preach before whining.

Hehe good points and re the whining, it's cool, a good mix of anti-heroes (along with something in between heroes and anti-heroes) keeps the soaps duniya running (because the anti guys won't fit everywhere)

It's what we like to hear BollyWHAT?  

Yea for sure

Gauri dee, hasn't ISPKKND always had comic elements? I know you've said often you don't like the comedy bits between Arnav and Khushi.

The show goes for comedy quite a lot, and I dislike it completely, I think it only works about 25% of the time if that.
You can tell when they're trying to make an Arnav-Khushi interaction intentionally comedic because they resort to accompanying their convos with those Three Stooges sort of sound effects, I always hate when they do that
I think the Arnav-Khushi scenes are strongest when they're dramatic/romantic/sincere, not when they're trying (so hard) to be funny.

And we've always had people like Buaji and Nandi Kishore and Mamiji being "funny".

Yea, that's true, and I forward their scenes most of the time, though I think Nand Kishore's comedic bits worked better than any of the others. (But maybe I just feel that way because his whole NRI-humor with mispronouncing Hindi words is something I can relate to Because here in LA I am the dumb mispronouncing NRI girl in many situation myself haha:p]

Thanks for being excited for my sake <3

It's totally exciting! I think it's awesome

They didn't comment on my blog but they wrote tweets sharing my blogposts, which was very sweet of them.

Yea sweets I said it incorrectly, that's what I meant, not that they commented but that they had referred to your blog posts in their tweets and such. So cool!!:D

One of them was Sehban Azim aka Yuvi from DMG. The other was Kunal Karan Kapoor aka Yudi from Left Right Left and Mohan from Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha. I had just mentioned that I missed watching Sehban in a tweet of mine (not expecting him to read it, let alone share the blog post which wasn't really about him, as he hadn't been active on twitter for months) while Kunal I didn't even know was on Twitter and have no idea how he ran across the blog but he shared my NBTNMKK review on his FB and Twitter accounts.

^ Kunal is the one I've seen around serial land before, I think he had a supporting role on a couple things I've watched in the past...there was a show I saw that took a time leap and he was the love interest of the lead character's daughter and I recall he was quite good. Can't freakin' remember which show it was though, gawd my memory is so horrible these days

I did laugh though at how my blog's "TRPs" shot up because of them; March 25 has now been the 'busiest day' views-wise for the blog.

I think that's terrific