KUMKUM BHAGYA - EPISODE 113 - SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 - Bring on the Drama Quotient

A new day begins in KKB world which was equal to 11 episodes over a fortnight/ Pragya and everyone have changed clothes. Even Bulbul and Purab went to a store to change into new clothes.

The previous day had started with meltdown post Purab absconding from his own wedding and had ended with Sarla's stroke, hospitalization, surgery and discharge on the same day too. And the doctors say the woman cannot survive another stroke, it would prove fatalistic. I would have imagined Sarla would have been in ICU or in recovery post surgery within hospital premises.  But then drama has to go on.

So be it. Bring on the Drama Quotient !!

It was frigging irritating to see Pragya and her "Touch Me Not With Your Troubles" extremely sensitized "Fragile -Handle with Care" Mom who is thoroughly insensitive to let a married couple squabble or whatever they do about their private affairs; in an OTHERWISE Entertaining Episode.  God! she is like an authoritarian expecting everyone to be well behaved else I will die of stroke. 

Poor Bulbul! Watching her today, I felt so sad for her. If not for Pragya's prompting which was almost an order to be obliged, Bulbul would not have been in this trouble today. She would not have left Pune to see Purab and instead would have travelled back home. And that stupid "Touch me Not with your Troubles" callous mom has the gall to proclaim disallow or disown her daughter Bulbul.

I enjoyed the entire episode today except the part where P & S are on Arora Set...irritating. The only saving grace was the man saying, I am fed up of acting for your Mom and Daadi. I want to end it.  I could only start ranting at the guy, why did he then act and take care of Sarla in hospital.  But then I was like, let him be irritated. Atleast he is pushing Pragya to stop making him ACT unnecessarily.

I cannot hope that we will be relieved of the indignant torture from the "sensitized Fragile -Handle with Care Mom" business, so soon, but have to say the drama was back into KKB through all other supporting characters.

Watching Tanu...calling herself..nah asking herself an Outsider was funny. Hilarious.

There were many other hilarious aspects, most funny being abhi, Aliya, Daasi, other Daadi, Taiji and Mitali. On the receiving end, Tanu and Pragya were giving entertainment when Daasi and Aliya give a reality check to Tanu and then take care too and Pragya being royally ignored by Abhi was funny.

Some progress I would say for the Top Rated Drama of Indian TV. You see, everyone's expectations start rising. Bring on the drama quotient ROFL

Dressing for Is Din ki Agli Subah Nahin

September 3rd to September 17th  2014.

God! the same dresses continue even today!!

A fortnight and 11 episodes and people continue to be their resident apparels.

• The Red top for Bulbul (she donned the top from Wedding time like Purab donned his kurta)
• The Orange Dress for Pragya
• The White top for Abhi
• The sea green one for Daadi
• The Pink one for Beeji

So Abhi is out of his white top, Beeji and Purvi out of their dresses. Daadi and Pragya have slept in same dresses. And Bulbul is again on road in her red top.

So question to PH and Production Coordination between Costumes and Direction Dept...

How many sets of same clothes does the Costume Dept keep for such long sequences spanning weeks of shooting? Question  I believe they may have minimum two sets of costumes each. Right?!![Geek]

Else the stink...LOL, ROFL for Is Din ki Agli Subah Nahin !!!!!

KUMKUM BHAGYA - EPISODE 112 - SEPTEMBER 17, 2014 - It has become a horrible way to live!

17th September 2014 - EP 112 thoughts

"Zindagi se rishta nibhana mushkil ho gaya hai"

Pragya is worst case of badly written female character. Even the 18th Century Pamela Andrews the Maid Servant  in Richardson's Epistolatory Novel (the earliest Novel in Restoration times of literature) had more spine in the name of Virtue Upholding than the Modern 21st Century Pragya the Professor.

Do I not have Indian examples of exemplary ordinary female characters that refuse to be played unless they are getting their part of the bargain? Well, we have...but when discussing creative elements that called ridicule and mockery, I have only Richardson's characters coming to my mind. [Me: LOL]

So I was saying even Pamela was better in her "Virtue Rewarded" paradigm than Pragya's conflict of "Zindagi se rishta nibhana mushkil ho gaya hai". She is one big hypocrite complaining to God saying like that while sleeping in the balcony. Didn't she come back to the hell hole after she had her "Mother Rewarded" Act all pulled up nicely. So why the tears?! Why not have some self-respect and stop shedding those tears. 

Advice to Pragya:

Be Bindaas, even if you have to choose a silly life. Please don't show your sorry and teary face ever again. You chose that life for yourself and you better live it with a smile.  Showing that sorry face of yours, you spoil the comedy that we can enjoy from watching the lampoon character of your husbands.[Me: Stern Smile]

We are not Pragya to understand what she is undergoing especially when she behaves in most ridiculous manner and irrational manner removed from any human understanding. Even when sleeping in Balcony without any bedsheet the first time, she was able to get and give water to Abhi taking care of his sneezing. She had no antagonism towards the man who was making her sleep in Balcony denying all conjugal rights by marrying her with intention to ruin her happiness.  Hence seeing her that way, Pragya is Pragya. She is capable of living a lie everyday. If she can handle that stress, why should we bother. And sympathy to Pragya's situation...No way.

If Pragya accepted what she wanted, got what she wanted, her dilemma is no dilemma to me. her conflict is pointless to me. In my opinion and wishful thinking there are n number of ways in which what she did and underwent could have been done much better, keeping her self respect and pride in tact. She need not beg and hug and shed tears. But Pragya chose to do a "Main kahan jaaongi" Act before husband and slapping Tanu saying I am still the legal wife. So what more she wants ? She wants to be a doormat before husband and lioness before Tanu and Loving Daughter, Sister before mother and World. She is getting all that she wants !!! So stop the tears will you.  You happily slept in Balcony instead of going and telling Dadi how duped you are in this marriage before. Now you repeat the scene again. What are you expecting...not to see a deja vu of that scene before.

And lastly if I am watching Pragya's tortuous face amidst lot of other potential entertaining comedy, I need her to stop crying and end that melodrama. There is a reason, you came back to Abhi's life even after being thrown out, so you better get a grip and live happy being there else, just go to some Women Help Cell. You are after all the legal wife, you have all rights to fire anyone. Just spare us your drama of "Zindagi se Rishta Nibhaana Mushkil ho gaya". At the present Vantage point, almost every other character than Pragya is acceptable and more deserving to watch their farce from Indian TV World's Top rated show. Haque hai mera entertainment ke liye.  For ex: the lampoon act of Pragya's husband was hilarious. Hell! See how happy you have made him by going to the Balcony. There you go, you win another feather in your crown for being Savitri of your husband !!! [Me: LOL]



Footnote: I wrote this originally in India Forums. 

Sarla Arora from KumKum Bhagya

I do not hate Sarla. Never had any issues with her in the story and dramatic results she gets. Infact I enjoy her scenes. They are some relief... I hate Pragya in this regard, because it is Pragya who makes us see her mother's flaws. If only Pragya knew how to live her life while managing her mommy.

Sarla, truly speaking, is not a mother to Pragya. Pragya is actually mothering Sarla and Bulbul. Pragya has more maternal instincts and she becomes sacrificial to take care of Sarla and Bulbul. Daughters can be understanding, but as children they have right to be selfish with parents and mothers. But Pragya never got this chance. She has been used too much by her mother which has made Pragya self-effacing and making decisions that always help her family. 

I agree with Daadi Arora saying...Tune betiyon ko sambhaala hai, ya teri betiyon ne tujhe.

Sarla basically is protected by her BJi and Pragya. Pragya does not let Bulbul trouble Sarla. 

Sarla does not make any intelligent decisions. That is why Pragya manages the Marriage Hall along with her mother and also gets other income through teaching. In the first episode, she was ready to write the marriage hall to Pragya's in-laws when pressured. How can this SINGLE WOMAN then take care of ANOTHER DAUGHTER Bulbul.  Her brother saved her and that commotion made Pragya get up and break her own wedding.

Even the matter of taking medicines, it irks me to know that Sarla depends on Pragya for her medicines. She tells to Bulbul, tune yaad dilaayi thi, par Pragya ki tarah Haaton mein nahin rakhi thee.  Now thats way too much.  Even we have life style diseases and disorders. Is someone getting us medicines. We take our own tablets. My mother takes her own tablets. What is this IMMENSE DISPLAY OF LOVE by putting medicines in hands. (ofcourse same way I abhor all those scenes where women take care of the man in bed, giving him sponge bath and feeding him...CRAP)

So I from a story point of view, I have a problem with character Sarla, as she is one reason why Pragya is so closed about her life wrapped in responsibilities. Now this relationship is directly taken from Sense and Sensibility as Eleanor has to manage her mother along with her sister. 

Nothing wrong in calling a spade a spade, even if the Spade is a Sacred Cow Called Mother Sarla.

Inspite of all this, I can see Sarla as wanting the best for Pragya as P is self-effacing. That's where I like Sarla's pushiness. But like others said before, wish Sarla had pushed Pragya to enjoy life, smile more, laugh more and not pushed for a marriages that have permanently scarred her regardless of how much Pragya downplays the detriment on her psyche due to three unsuccessful marriage trials for her.


17th September 2014 - Episode 112
How horrible Sarla looks with her make-up. Ugh!
And what's wrong with her, why does she act so pouting and childish when she knows she has to take medicines ! Ugh! Ugh!!

Tanu - How far she go? And how much Dramatic Action is being driven by her?

While Purab has been the Plot Driver for undoing or Abhi and Aliya's applecart, Tanu is the Plot Driver for undoing of Pragya's apple cart. After all Abhigya marriage had only two selfish motives from Abhi and Pragya:

1. Aliya's marriage with Purab for Abhi. He would not forgive anyone who hampered this result.
2. Sarla's Happiness in keeping Abhigya marriage in tact for Pragya. She would not forgive anyone who revealed the truth about her faking marriage.

Purab started the meltdown with him running away from Aliya's wedding. It could not have necessarily led to bursting the balloon of happiness for Sarla. Ofcourse Jolt to Sarla's health had to be as severe as Jolt to Aliya has been. Aliya, the safe and sound girl has now come off as unhinged person bordering on becoming a psychopath. Such is the detriment caused to her mental state. Now Sarla has to be sent on the same path of pain. Some kind of detriment.

While Abhi's desire had been punctured by Pragya's trusted person Purab, it has made Abhi target Pragya as cause of his fall. Abhi has hit Purab and taking his vengeance on Pragya. [Lot of drama to unfold and I cannot speculate beyond this.]

Likewise, it naturally follows that Pragya's desire has to be punctured by Abhi's trusted person so that Pragya can target Abhi for her downfall. [Per the spoilers, Tanu will be slapped by Pragya and beyond that we do not know what's gonna happen.]

A lot has already been discussed about Purab's actions, because his action was a trumpeting heralding action. He falls on the good side for Misunderstanding revelation that is needed as Relief for everyone, who are in dire need of it. However, Tanu has not been discussed, as her actions starting earlier than to Purab's have been overlooked with us thinking of her only as a pest that can be ignored or taken in due course. However, she has now become a pest that has completely ravaged the crop. It is because of her that Purab has ran away. If Purab had not been keeping an eye on Aliya and Tanu was always not there instigating Aliya with her insecurities, Aliya would not have been plotting right in the middle of marriage celebrations for her. To cut short, Purab listened to Aliya and Tanu discussing throwing out Pragya, then he decided to run. So the starter of the action is actually Tanu. She was never quiet and infact like Sarla and her incessant stressing, Tanu too is responsible for the whole Faking Fiasco to fall apart with her insecurities. 

I had written in my EP 102 review about Tanu as the New Medusa.

Tatter 2 Tanu - She is the new Medusa, Suddenly she has grown snakes in her head and is plotting heavily for her own benefit, she just wants to have Pragya kicked out of Abhi's life so that she gets married to Abhi. 

Beginning of Episode 93, August 21st Episode, Tanu has turned into Plotter, actually becoming successful in seeing the expected results

First she wanted Abhi back post the Accident Case short estrangement between them. She plotted against Arora family and used Puneet. Puneet got beaten up. But there was plenty much for Sarla to see stressing signs. The drama actually became unbearable for viewers from that point onwards, as it was gross injustice being spewed with Abhigya losing their charm as their characters go down the drain with each holding the selfish motive to keep the faking marriage intact while Puneet gets beaten up badly for a plotting for which Tanu and Aliya were responsible to start with, but Tanu changing it to her advantage (to get closer to Abhi) and thus jeopardizing Aliya, Abhi and Pragya's motives. All three scramble to hide what they have to.

Then we have wedding cheering with Aliya about how Pragya would be thrown out and we have Purab bolting from there. And here comes the most interesting plotting twist by the brainless Tanu but growing snakes over her head. Without any empathy, she thinks about her advantage and decides to hide the letter, let Pragya take the blame, and further creates ammunition for Abhi to leave Pragya, by manipulating Abhi to believe that Purab and Pragya planned the running away. This was until Sep 5th drama.

For some inexplicable reason, Abhi has brought Pragya home. I was confused myself like Aliya and Tanu, why would Abhi bring Pragya back to Mehra Mansion. So Tanu has to continue plotting so that Pragya not only is thrown out of the house, Abhigya marriage is ended. That is Tanu's gameplan now.

So, I guess, it is time to watch Tanu now.

KUMKUM BHAGYA - EPISODE 103&104 - SEPTEMBER 4 & 5, 2014 - The Original Sin

Drama Drama Drama ...The Apple Cart is Toppled

Like I said in my EP 102 review....

Tatter 3 Purab - He is clearheaded but tad too late. Marriage is not what you should have on your mind right now. Yet, he is the one, who is most clearheaded now. He is the one who wants to get married to Bulbul and end the farce right now. How beautiful !  And yet, he is the one who is going to get brickbats for speaking sanity. And dramatic farce of pain and misunderstanding would be dragged in self-centered emotions of rest of the people by refusing to do what he thinks should be done. In the end game, Purab is clearheaded but tad too bold and clear and unfit for the universe he is residing in. He tends to lose big, now that there is a queue of antagonists rallying behind him in the form of Aliya, Sarla and Daadi.

Purab in EP 103 & 104 shines the most. Everyone is expectedly against him. Bulbul, Pragya and Abhi

Bulbul thinking about her sister, Pragya thinking of her mother; lecturing and asking Purab to marry Aliya. While Purab makes his point lucidly, including him saying he has thought in a selfish manner, he makes it clear that he doesn't see anything to gain by marrying Aliya; when the very purpose of his marriage with Aliya is defeated. He was liberated of the ridiculous predicament he was being forced into by Bulbul in the name of love. But then Bulbul and Pragya who still imprisoned in their selfish reasoning behind the sticking on to the farcical clinging on to marriage with Abhi, keep pricking him that he has toppled their Apple Cart.

Abhi does not listen to him either and expectedly Abhi beats up Purab for having jilted his sister.

The Apple Cart Toppling Confrontation Drama goes on and we get small respites with Aliya placating down on Purab jilting her. One of her fixation is gone. Abhi and Aliya knowing the truth that Purab loves Bulbul and not Pragya. And Purab knowing that Abhi in anger is not going to listen to any logic, once again runs away from the Temple -LoversPoint place and this time, he forces Bulbul to come away with him.

New Drama develops causing confusion to us. Abhi's purpose to remain married to Pragya has ended regardless of Aliya being married to Purab or not. Yet he brought her home. I cannot understand why he brought her home. [Confused]

Things I enjoyed most

EP 103

Pragya to Purab [loudly]: Uska Haat Chod do !!! [RFOL] I started laughing hilariously.

EP 104

Abhi runs after Purab to catch him, but fails because Purab has driven away. [RFOL] Hilarious and so satisfying. Finally things happening to Abhi where he gets only defeat in his hands. Defeated Abhi. No matter how much he tries to prove himself as self-righteous, he ends only looking more ridiculous and criminal.

Pragya taunting all three accomplices; if the three plotters cannot be called cheaters for deceptively marrying someone to teach a lesson and trying to attain love forcefully by making forceful marriage. [So Satisfied] 

Alas! The Self-Righteous Abhi declares to Pragya that it was wrong of an Engaged Purab to fall in love with Bulbul, that it was wrong of Bulbul to love a man who was supposed to marry his sister. He is stuck on the Original Sin and he thinks he has every right to punish the three who sinned. 

Jahaan se chale, wahin pe aake Sui Ruk Gayi.

Kumkum Bhagya : A Eulogy of Dumbness with Increasing Popularity

4th September 2014 (Day of Episode 103) 

We are aware that the show is running solidly over a flimsy misunderstanding and illogical excuse of keeping Sarla Arora and Daadi Mehra in dark because of their heath factor. It provokes us through extreme state of Dumbness and Absence of Logic imbibed by the main characters of the story.

Allowing people to be beaten up black and blue by Abhi.

Allowing people to swallow their pride.

Allowing people to abuse you

Allowing people to scheme against you

And Coercing the Well-Wishers to Accept the Dumbest of proposals ever suggested.

The Mahaan Arora Sisters have everything wrong to find fault with Suresh.

(Pragya even makes Suresh declare himself as stupid to have gone after Abhi and registering a false complaint before the Police.)

The Mahaan sisters betrayed Puneet and allowed him to get beaten

Now the Mahaan Sisters will allow Purab to get beaten, after lacerating him with their icy lectures on why he has to marry Aliya at any cost, even if he does not love her and has already rejected her twice.

All for their Dear Fatty Mommy with bucketful of tears ready to shed anytime. And swooning too. Why doesn't she keep smelling salts with her all the time. Less burden on her daughters that way. She cant even take her medicines. Oh Yeah! She has been a single mommy raising her kids in such difficulties. 

Such a Mahaan Mother and her Mahaan Daughters !!

The only sorry part for a female soap watcher like me is that in present times of TV Trends, somehow or the other reason, the males redeem their actions; and, it is always the good hearted prudent females, in whom we vest ourselves so much; disappoint us so hard. Abhi, even after the beating and all this MU generating acts of his, he is gonna be another Purab, lucid in his mind once reality comes before him. Feel so sorry that even female leads like Pragya can disappoint us so much. 

Kahan gaye woh din, jab we could have faith in our female leads for being sparky and brilliant on Indian TV. 

The problem with Pragya character. When did she ever explain to Purab why she is asking him not to marry Aliya. Almost everyone shuts her up...she gives orders that one no wants to listen to, because she does not care to give the reason. All she does is "Mein..", "Magar..", "Lekin .." Never does she have the steam or the honour to defend her argument or the compassion to put the other out of his delusional understanding, while she stands there "all knowing but doing nothing" presentation. How many times, Sarla, Bulbul have bull dozed her. And now Abhi, Aliya and Tanu to the list added. All she does is a monologue in her mind with the audience to listen. Who is stopping her from raising her voice and clearing up things. This is how she teaches? Nope. We have seen her opening her mouth loud and clear. Since when these lekins, Magars, mein, Suniye etc etc monothets !!!

[Sigh]

To be honest, we cannot even speculate what Pragya had in her mind about giving the breaking news to her mother. She never had any plan like she confessed in the car drive. She is just closing eyes to reality, because she opens her eyes, she sees only one reality, "Maa". 

There are only five things that I like about Pragya:

1. Suresh, Forgive me, but I have to ask you to go against your principles and take the case back. Its not for Abhi, but for Maa.
2. To Abhi - I did not do it for you. I did it for Maa and ur Daadi.
3. To Puneet in her heart - Sad that I am letting you get beaten up. Lekin Maa...
4. To Bulbul over Phone - Sorry Bulbul, I am making you call Purab, but you have to understand, Maa ka sawaal hai
5. To herself - Its inevitable, maa will get to know reality - oh what I am supposed to do...and then she drifts into thinking just about her marriage moments with Abhi.

[Shaking my head] 

Crazy that she is going to slowly and steadily fall in love with Abhi just because he took care of her mother. This is why this crest and trough of nonsensical weave from Pragya itself holds my curiosity to watch the show. The audacity to call the shots by starting off with "Sorry, its wrong of me and stupid of you; to be unjustly used by me, but I have gotta do it for Mom"...I am just so dying to see what would be Abhi's reaction to Pragya for holding off truth from him when he had been so open with her. And that is why I am watching it for now.

In the end, seems Suresh is the one who is going to be proven true. He had said, Kahin na Kahin Abhi ke liye bhi kar rahi ho. And definitely; Pragya will end up loving Abhi just because he spared her from the shit planning of having to lie for her mommy. She is just so tired that she does not even acknowledge how much she hates all that and instead drifts into happiness that Abhi provides when he so easily takes care of her mom. The problem is she got pampered with Abhi's habits. It was him, day one on marriage morning, where she would have broken truth to her mom, and Abhi snatched the phone from her and gave a good talk to Sarla.

So bad, it has become soap trend these days that Son-in-laws take care of Wife's parents while mistreating the wife at home and blackmailing her to submission about playing the marriage game. Disgusting formula. Every soap has it these days.

When it comes to TRPs, I can watch crap. But, when at home, I have family members screaming at me for watching crap. Everyone from Father, Mother, Brother, Sister and Husband. So I have to watch shows like these, hiding from them, otherwise I will be teased to no end. And another reason why aging people like me or my parents or sibs cannot watch TV is, when between the breaks, the advertisements put us to sleep. LOL. So end up missing the show if the drama is not loud and emotionally engaging.

The TRPs happen just because of Promos and Habits.  But more importantly the TRP is rising for KKB, because DABH is failing. DABH is the competitor show and for few months now, has lost its focus. The Surya magic is gone post IPS becoming and unbecoming. Since the novelty is gone there, the only strong contender for that timeslot is Zee's KKB. Colors BI wont attract TRP crowd, coz u cannot watch BI kind of love at 9:00 PM. Its too soft for that time slot. One needs something loud like Bhabho, Meena entertainment to go along with few soft moments between the leads. Coz u can still be going about household chores and not miss much. Likewise, the KKB MU can also drag, because, its okay as long as it is steadily making a 10 minutes progression everyday.

Ekta Kapoor and her Prod House is far more powerful to even allow any influencing on the daily business of generating crap. The Cast and Crew equally fear her. And its anyone's luck to work in her shows for two reasons:

1) Crew finds a lot of learning opportunity with her PH. For ex using ARRI cameras, how many other Indian Soap churning PH's use them? The Crew joins her PH just to learn.

2) Cast  - one way or the other, EK makes it a rewarding experience to have worked with complying to her. And if they go against her, they are finished too.  So before joining EK soap, better understand what they are getting into.

And her logic behind churning the episodes is very business oriented. She will not add anything new until she has sucked out the last penny from her previous ideas and likewise, new idea is tested in cautioned manner. 

Those who do not like her, try opening their PHs. But they dont do well too...coz, those Channel Producers become the true bitches. Between this game of getting sucked and sapped by Channer or PH, Ekta as a producer has found herself as a successful juggler between giving in to what Channel wants, what her creatives can churn our, what her cast can do. EK has been successful with SP, Zee and Sony. The only one where she kind of failed (statistically) is Colors. Pretty difficult to survive that channels whims in the name of colorful diaspora of entertainment, perhaps the most bullying or a little lesser than Sony.

Against all the prevailing dumbness, Cast member Sriti Jha playing the role of Pragya has posted this over her Instagram account . 

Its a cartoon chat.

A: Give me two pronouns

B: Who Me ?

[LOL]  brilliant. That was so so far from dumbness.

Posts like these from the Cast also make the show more interesting making us see what kind of contrast they act. Its just fun therefore to dissect the show more and more. Tells us how much fertile we are and not into vegetative states of our senility. I love my ability to feel even for a soap drama. Because that makes me a Zohra Sehgal. And I love that feeling. [Wink]

There was this another post from her few days ago - 

"drapetomania" 

(n.) an overwhelming urge to run away

I like these posts. It makes so much sense and gives us the peace, that such psychological states exist and we either can accept or explode at them. And yet, if looked at objectively, it is new knowledge and something like reading a newspaper and throwing the newspaper in garbage. and Yet..Yet...some part of it made sense.

Parallel worlds of Dumbness and Brilliance.

I just realized that "Extremity of Dumbness" is being shown for Pragya, perhaps to make Abhi realize how dumb can be his gold-digging scheming wife.

ROFL ROFL ROFL

That's me doing a EUREKA Rofl'ing