29/6 - Epi 18 ... Liked the song :-)

I really wonder if it's such a good idea to give away plotlines on SBS and SBB - because I knew what was going to happen with the male models, the scenes didn't hold so much charm, and of course, no surprise whatsoever! So it's good that we don't know how Khushi is going to get out of the minidress problem!

But I liked the song ... :))) I love the sufi style and the visuals of Arnav and Khushi were good ... Khushi was dreamy ... felt that Akaash Payal were superfluous, arey ek din nahin hua ek doosre ko dekhe and love story shuru ho gayi?! Would have been happier if they had kept it on ArShi completely, with Arnav doing a little bit more than just staring into space at different angles.

The first nani mami Anjali scenes was tolerable ... mami had two good oneliners ... phir color lagayi leo, and the one about Ms kashyap - ye to secondhand types lag rahi thi ... Mami and Anjali clear up confusion about Nimmi Kashyap and Lavanya Kashyap ... arey bhai, does Arnav employ only Kashyaps in his office? And has Anjali met both the women in question, that she could identify them from mami's rather sketchy description? And does Lame ONLY wear miniskirts and Nimmi ONLY pants?
*Sigh* ... note to self ... switch OFF brain before watching any scenes involving mami and nani ...

Khushi off to work ... doesn't notice Shyam, but he sees her all right ... hmm, shape of things to come?

Office scene - stupid again ... everyone waiting for K's challenge with ASR to start?! Just hope they don't take it upon themselves to interfere, that's all ... or maybe, halfway through, someone, esp the bimbo duo, might ... and be told by Arnav to back off, cos this is between him and Khushi only ... *hoping, hoping ... I DO so want the bimbo duo and Lame to get their comeuppance, and preferably, the whole office too ... wimps that they all are, for not even coming to check if K was okay after her fall*
K gets her first challenge ... and the first smirk from Arnav, the first glare back from Khushi ... refreshing change from eyelocks, I must say *lol*

The rest of the episode was slow motion, to ensure that Khushi's first task gets done only by the end of the episode, not before ... Shyam moves in ... am surprised Buaji gave a room to 'jawan ladka' with two young girls in the house ... not very believable, any traditional woman would think twice ... let's see how this goes. Maybe that's why they had Shyam mention this ... but is Buaji really so gullible?

Khushi's first task - measure five mushtandas ... and this is where the PH has to rise from SO level ... scene was okay to excite giggly schoolgirls, but really??!!! And the whole office staring again ... :(((
Arnav's one liner was good, though - tumhara chehra ghadi se aage chal raha hai ... uspe barah baje hain ... Wish they would keep these confrontations between Khushi and Arnav only, the two of them manage to keep some dignity intact, but the rest of the office scenes just degenerate into foolishness.

Arnav challenges her again ... Khushi pushes his buttons unknowingly, but he seems to know just HOW to push hers ... enough to make her rise to the challenge, but just short of pushing her over the edge to give up. And he's enjoying the game, and no, he doesn't want her to leave ... not yet. Not till he's rubbed her nose into the dust. Arnav is coming across as really hateful ... guess that's why watching Khushi overcome his challenges will be even more satisfying. And watching his attitude towards her change even more so. He's already spending far more time thinking about her than he should be doing!

Payal belatedly remembering her broken shaadi ... filler scene, although Buaji was actually sweet here, and even landed up praising Khushi for her spirit. But again, in this show, it's nice the way they are showing the girl not sitting and moping for that one guy who demanded dowry, and are pushing her to move on and find another match. Unfortunately they don't do this very loudly, so the message gets lost in the louder Nani Mami bakri scenes :(((
Anjali teasing Akash ... again, really?! One look and that's all? Never believed in such 'love' stories and I still can't. And I thought Akash went to Chandni Chowk, how did he land up in Lajpat Nagar? But Anjali teasing either of her brothers is cute!
Why the sudden gift of bag for Lame? :((( Arnav's personal choice is quite revolting. Or maybe brainless bimbos make him feel smart.

And finally reaching the point of the episode ... how Khushi deals with the challenge ... by making one brawn-but-no-brain guy her bhaiyya, and getting him to do her work for her. While she sits and writes the measurements, and eats ber.
While Arnav continues to think about how he will defeat her.

Links (HD)
Part 1
Part 2

By the way, P, watch MB if you can.

28/6 - Epi 17 ... Calm after the storm ... and before the next one

Somehow I enjoyed today's episode. The first scene was tense, when Khushi out of sheer stubbornness, and probably against her better judgement (if she had one!) goes ahead and signs the bloody minded contract. And somehow the way Arnav was challenging her was as though he knew that was the way to get her to sign the contract. He had already seen that she doesn't walk away from a fight ... and so far he has won every one. So he's confident he will win this one as well. But he wants the fight - wants the challenge, welcomes it, even relishes the thought.

But after that, the scenes were more like a recovery after the tension of the previous day.
Akash Payal scene - filler, sweet gentle bland ... kk, next please :-) they will never make the best jodi awards, but they're pleasant enough, and useful to relieve the tension of the KA scenes!
And Arnav not ready or willing to talk about Khushi to Lavanya ... or indeed anyone else, including Anjali. But thinking about her ... ah, that has started for sure.

Enjoyed the sisters' scenes, both when Khushi returns home and her tension shows on her face as she realises what exactly she has let herself in for ... another scene of foodie Khushi chomping away her fears and worries (besides which the poor girl hadn't eaten anything the whole day!) and Payal giving her comfort both for body and soul. Loved the way Khushi tried to hide her fears, but the hug between the sisters was so sweet, when Khushi clutched onto Payal, even while claiming that everything was okay.
Payal is a really sweet older sister ... don't know if she will ever have the courage to speak up for Khushi in public against anyone, but in private, she is always there for Khushi. And Khushi is the one who can be bold and outspoken in front of others, and she refuels her strength in private from Payal.
So Khushi shows Payal the contract, and Payal is shocked at the huge mess Khushi has got herself into.

Arnav's house, naani doing jasoosi, some random Kashyap lady in her 40's, and misunderstandings ... again filler. And Akaash already fallen for Payal ... love story taken off at supersonic speed!

Second sisters scene ... Payal worried sick about Khushi, Khushi says this will pass, we'll go back to Lucknow and you'll get married ...
Anjali tells Arnav he doesn't want to marry Lavanya ... he doesn't deny it. So Anjali knows that Lavanya might be his girlfriend for the moment, but she's not THE one for him. And sweet romantic Anjali starts telling him about what will happen when he really meets the girl of his dreams, the on who is THE one ... Arnav listens tolerantly, a slight smile on his face ...
Loved the freeze ... Arnav smiling, Khushi looking dreamy ...

*edit* I did mention above, but just realised again, probably his encounters with Khushi, first the car and now the one in the office are about the only things Arnav has not told Anjali.
(And maybe the fashion show disaster - Anjali found out about that only from the media.) Otherwise he seems to tell her each and every detail of his life, including the sprinkler incident. Is that because in his mind he knows he hasn't behaved right with Khushi both times, and doesn't want to admit to his mistake in front of his adored sister? Or is it because Khushi is bothering him more than he cares to admit, as are the words she spoke every time, the unafraid way she challenged him every time? So he doesn't want to remember them, or rather, wants to pretend to himself that Khushi and what she said doesn't matter to him at all. 
Links (HD)
Part 1
Part 2

27/6 - Epi 16 ... Beauty and the Beast - round two!

Or is it round three ... or four ... or five? But it was the turnaround today ... a serious, tense episode, with the hallmarks of Sanaya at her best ... RIP, clown Khushi, and may you never return - this determined, hurt, yet fighting Khushi is the one I was waiting for since the first week!

The first four encounters with Arnav left Khushi wrong footed, hurt, humiliated ... and silenced. Arnav's superior power, both of muscle and money, overrode her every time. Power corrupts, they say, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. And here his power and money has turned Arnav into a Beast, devoid of even basic humanity. Yes, he has a tormented past ... but in his quest to rout his demons and avenge his wrongs, he has gone the other extreme, and forgotten all the basic values which distinguish man from beast. A man's experiences in life can change him for better or for worse ... here, they seem to have changed him for the worst.
A shred of the old Arnav remains, in the way he listens to his sister, in the way he tolerates an annoying aunt just because she once helped him in his time of need, in the respect he gives his family - or those members of his family that we have so far seen. But his attitude to anyone he deems inferior stinks, to put it mildly ... he will not tolerate anyone trying to take advantage of him ... even if that taking advantage exists only in his own mind. Maybe he was taken advantage of once, equally cruelly, maybe that is what turned him from boy to Beast. But he turnes that cruelty now onto others ... especially onto anyone who dares to challenge him.

Which shows his essential insecurity, a hidden fear that one day all this can be taken away from him ... as he snatched power for himself, humiliated someone who had humiliated him, so the table could turn again one day. So the almost obsessive need to prove himself every single day, to every single person, silence every single voice of dissent, however small or pitiful it might be.

Is that why he is so cruel to Khushi? Because he sees in her, a shadow of the Arnav he once was - a person with ideals and convictions ... only she has the strength to cling to him regardless of all his attempts to break her. So he will try again and again ... because there cannot be anyone he can't break ... the fear is that if he can't break someone, they could turn around and break him one day.

Or is it that he recognises, unconsciously, reluctantly, that he might not be able to break Khushi? That her convictions are stronger than his, and that her God is indeed stronger than Power and Wealth, whom he has made his gods.
Or is it that he envies her? Envies her courage ... she has nothing, yet she is unafraid to challenge him at every step. Maybe he wishes he had had that courage to challenge those who turned him out of his house ... wishes that he had raised his voice then ... but he didn't.

So he makes her stay, challenges her again ... in a way that she will not refuse ... does he already know her so well? Or again, is it a challenge to himself? To prove that he has killed the old Arnav completely, and nothing remains.
Or maybe ... just maybe ... he wishes the old Arnav would come back.

Episode - Confrontation, K wants to leave, A tells her to go ahead, but then tells her to wait and listen to what he has to say. The fall from his office ... the Beast in full swing ...

Akash Payal scene ... hackneyed, been there, done that ... *rofl* ... this will be a sweet, uneventful love story.

Bimbo duo give K her termination letter, she relives all the humiliation she and her family have been put through by Arnav through no fault of her own, including her banishment to Delhi and the subsequent insults by Arnav again. And she says ... not again.

And finally the challenge. Stay 15 days or pay the company one lakh.
And no one will chuck her out before fifteen days, or his name is not ASR.
*ahem* slight problem here ... his name is actually not ASR.
And Sanaya reminds me yet again why I like her acting so much. And I must admit, BS was not bad either. 

Links
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

24/6 - Epi 15 ... And the penny drops ... finally!

Funnily, maybe because I've given up expecting anything much from the show, and am watching it only and solely for Sanaya, logic be damned ... I actually enjoyed most of the episode today. And for once, the last scene, the ArShi meeting was good and did not leave me with a feeling of dissatisfaction like the previous two did.

Starts off with a scene from Mean Girls ... bimbo duo want Khushi to pay for their pizza, Khushi refuses lol.
Anjali praying yet again! Even naani feels the way I do ... this is positively unhealthy! Damaadji sent a tiny diamond ring, Anjali emoshunal, Maami thinks it's disappointment at size of the diamond! Mami is a scream! Naani thinks bakri is better than Maami ... maami offended! Don't blame her, really! That bakri is khaoing way too much footage on this show!

Khushi bullied by bimbo duo ... Manju aunty don't like! Lame adds her bit to the bullying.
Mami crying ... she wants to be a bakri lolzzz. Hmm ... so she was a servant before she managed to marry Mama JKG.
Lame now changed her mind about K ... why so?
Anjali Nani - Anjali grateful that her hubby married her despite her leg. Thinks her hubby loves her a lot.

Manju aunty gives Khushi muffin and gyan as to how to handle bimbo duo and Lame mil. Tells her to patao pati aka ASR ... now that is gonna be easier said than done. K gets appointment letter - needs to be signed by ASR - shouldn't it have already been signed?

Rest of episode basically cat and mouse leading up to K following A to his office and their first meeting. Under the table, no less! Their expressions were good - and I liked the fb's of all their earlier meetings as to their journey how they reached this point. Arnav's bitten off 'what the ...' cracked me up ... and the way the penny finally drops for Khushi as she realises ASR is Arnav ...

Links:
Part 1
Part 2

23/6 - Epi 14 ... The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain ... not in office ;)

Again, story moving forward slowly ... and we get the first Arshi scene after a long drought. Loved Sanaya's expressions in the dupatta scene ... and Arnav was good too. Both apt in terms of characterization.
Shyam and Buaji ... *rofl* ... and exactly as I predicted! Didn't expect it would happen so soon, though.


So the entire episode -
Starts with Shyam calling Khushi, he learns that she's in the  head office, not in the warehouse he sent her. Very ambiguous look on his face ... this Shyam is going to be an interesting character, and his character is going to unfold slowly. On the surface smooth-talking, polite, 'good guy' ... but he's gradually worming his way into the family ... very, very slowly. A subtly written role ... am enjoying it. Khushi being completely naive, blurts out the problem of Bua's pension, so Shyam offers to help again.

Office scene - they really need to write these better! Can't the writers pick up bare minimum office jargon, rather than the ghisa-pita 'you must deal with our company' kind of lines? Especially when spoken by Lame, and the audience is even more lame stuffed-shirted expressionless guys ...

Khushi does some work, or tries to - thankfully, they are making her a little less ditzy! At least she's doing the work assigned to her. She lights diya in front of devi ma ... they have a Devi ma in the office as well? Then she decides to take a small stroll. And the smoke from the diya apparently sets off the fire alarm ... and the sprinklers! Never saw that one before ... they need to reset some settings for sure. Cigarettes create more smoke than a diya! Anyway, was glad to see that the sprinklers scene was not due to some major stupidity - have the complaints reached the cv's already?! They were certainly loud and plentiful enough!

So the fire alarm goes off, and Arnav stands like a statue as rain pours down on him, and everyone else scurries (sensibly) for cover.
Khushi in the meantime grabs some tea ... *sigh* with the weather the way it is, I want some too! With a samosa or two!
Security discovers that fire alarm went off because of the diya. Arnav instead of asking for the fire alarm settings to be reset from such ridiculously sensitive levels, asks which idiot lit the diya.

Shyam enters buaji's home and proceeds to maskofy her. Loved bua's dialogues *rofl*.... phree phund mein naate rishte banaye lagye ... Bua melts *rofl* ... especially at mention of Lucknow ... Shyam looks at picture of Khushi with family ... hmm ...

Khushi in carpark, no money for food, so she can eat her ber ... Arnav strides out in a temper, and she hides ... first time she's been wise ... everytime I meet Lard governer, something bad happens. But then Khushi being Khushi, fires up again with a 'good' idea - to get his address so that she can return his money ... And also crow a little about getting a job, of course! Arnav not amused to see her, warns her, don't mess with me right now, I'm not in the mood ... honey, when are you ever in the mood?! Khushi of course, doesn't believe in stepping back, tells him with more bravado than truth, that she's not scared of him ... really, Khushi??? You aren't?! Not even a little bit?
Then follows tu tu main main as usual, insulting each other, she wants his address to return his money, he says, how will you return it, who have you hooked now? in a tone that's demeaning and insulting ... K gets angrier, turns to leave and dupatta gets stuck in car (but of course ... *rofl*) ... She tries to free it, but again, being Khushi, since she's stuck there, might as well talk while she's doing what she has to do ... so she tells him she's got a job, he wonders which idiot would hire her *rofl* ... umm, that would be you, Mr. ASR! Khushi defends her boss ... finally he tires of the game and tells her to get lost, but she can't ... so he mutters something rude, gets out of the car and comes towards her ... and she backs away immediately, tension and awareness rising suddently ... they're alone in the carpark, what is he gonna do? But all he does is to
jerk her dupatta free, tearing a quarter of it off in the procees. And she's left humiliated and defeated ... no one can beat Sanaya in these expressions, she is so amazing, especially her eyes ...
But she recovers fast (a bit too fast for my liking, actually) ... anger returning (now that he's left and she's safe to splutter a little more!) about not having the last word - again! And looking at her torn dupatta, she vows she's cut Rs 300 from the amount she owes him ... the rate KA are going, she'll recover the whole amount from her torn clothes pretty soon!
Khushi back to office, she discovers her diya fiasco, but before she can confess, Bimbo duo kidnap her to eat (they want to get rid of her for some unknown reason).

Meantime, Anjali and naani find out that someone lit a diya in Arnav's office, and are happy. Naani still doing jasoosi.
And Shyam inveigles his way into Buaji's good books, and then into her house. So he is going to stay there as paying guest.

Links:
Part 1
Part 2

22/6 - Epi 13 ... ArShi phone convo

Worth watching for the two minutes of the ArShi phone convo ... and relief that Khushi knew what a computer was. The way they were portraying her, I was afraid she would ask if it was a tv.

And slight relief that Khushi managed to carry out all the instructions fired at her by Lame ma'am - reminded me of the scene from Devil wears Prada - though Lame ma'am is of course nowhere NEAR Meryl Streep *sigh* goddess of the silver screen ... but Khushi gave a damn good imitation of Anne Hathaway scurrying to carry out her orders ... wonder if they will carry that further and show her messing up, yet still managing to get her work done. Don't care much ... just don't want Khushi to become more of a caricature than she has already become. The rest of the bimbos - don't know, don't care.

ArShi phone conversation - cute, funny, and had a sensible Khushi ... or reasonably so. The ArShi scenes should be good ... their confrontations hold promise to be crackling, and their close scenes even more so.

Just one question - is that Mary Poppins bag that Khushi carries around? In the warehouse, all it had was a tiffin, a file and a comb, by the time she reached office, it acquired Devi maiyya with all her paraphernalia, chunnis and all.
Oh, and there was some random scene with naani, bakri, mami and Anjali ... and the mandatory teasing telephone convo between Arnav and Anjali. Does Anjali ever speak to her husband at all?

All in all, watch without expectations and I can watch the show for Sanaya and ArShi. Switch off logic and thinking ... wait, why did I even have it turned on in the first place? This is Indian telly!

Links
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

@P, got your message - yep, I hope too it's just teething problems, because the promos give off a totally different feel than the episodes. I want the intense serious part of the story to start! Although I like seeing Sanaya in this new avatar, my preference for strong, sensible female leads doesn't allow me to appreciate her silliness for so long! Anyway, don't go by my updates - watch for yourself whenever you have the time and give me your feedback, here or on mail. Are you still watching BALH?

21/6 - Epi 12 ... Cliche upon cliche upon cliche .... cvs, grow up!

No wonder why Arnav looks as though he's perpetually swallowed some bitter medicine ... with namoonas surrounding him at home and at office! Starting with detective Naani, sister who's perpetually blowing pooja smoke at him and mami going 'hello hi bye bye' ... by the way, what happened to sister being his support in office and working with him? Cv's seem to have forgotten all that. Then in office, Arnav has Lame ma'am and her brainless cohort of Sam and Pam ... they make Khushi look intelligent!

And what on earth what that office scene all about ... Khushi looks as though she has never seen an office or girls in short skirts all her life - I thought her main ambition was to sit home and watch tv? Hasn't she seen them on TV at least? Chalo, chhodo, maybe she never thought such namoonas existed in real life ... like I said, compared to what followed, Khushi actually seemed intelligent! The only major fault I had to find with her was the clapping hands over eyes bit ... would have thought she would be staring avidly to pick up pointers.


So then follows the stupidest office scene, where Lame ma'am, who is apparently Arnav's right hand girl, fires her new assistant because she makes Lame look lame ... and appoints Khushi because Khushi looks lamer. Interspersed with Sam and Pam fussing over Lame's skin and hair and spots, and poking fun at Khushi because she's wearing Indian clothes and speaking Hindi, while the dress code in the office appears to be mini skirts and not much else. CV's ... really??? These kind of scenes went out at least a couple of decades ago. Can't you get even a semblance of realism into the office scenes?

The only positive I found - after hunting frantically for some positives to redeem Sanaya's choice of show - was that Khushi stuck her ground and didn't budge from the office till she got a hearing ... but without creating much of a scene or hullabaloo. Just hope this is San's stepping stone to bigger things - to more professional PH's and better shows. I think within two weeks, she has proved she can do all variety of roles, the silly, vapid Khushi as well as the dignified, intelligent Gunjan - read, silent, self-sacrificing bhartiya nari types (though Sanaya made Gunjan one with a difference). Two ends of the spectrum- and really, that's all Indian tv has to offer, such is the dearth of imagination here.

Interspersed with some scenes at Arnav's home where Naani doing jasoosi to find out who is Arnav's girlfriend, Anjali doing some pooja yet again - really girl, this is positively unhealthy, the amount of time you spend in pooja-path. More than your nani does for sure ... mami of course only believes in worshipping earthly pleasures.

Deja vu of MJHT - I gave up watching that show in two weeks ... maybe I should do the same here, and come back when the love story starts. If Khushi grows some brains by then ... I cannot sit through a re-hash of Armaan-Riddhima and MN ... with oh-so-cute nokjhoks and silly fights. Would rather watch the SG story again on youtube. Brings home to me yet again why I loved that story so much.

Links
Part 1
Part 2

On the other hand, Maryada continues to hold my interest - so SSP is putting Uttara on a guilt trip, and Roshnee Devi brings her son for dinner. And Priya continue to spy silently, while Devyani continues to hold everything together, though it's becoming more and more of a struggle. Vidya, in the meantime, is trying to bring Gaurav and Aarti together, Aarti feels guilty like hell, but can't do anything about it till Gaurav decides to tell Vidya his secret. Which should be very soon, the way things are going, or Vidya in her drive to right the wrong she committed, will end up creating another messy situation.

20/6 - Epi 11 ...Mixed bag

Am getting more and more convinced that getting GH to write the screenplay for IPKKND is a big mistake. He doesn't seem to grasped the fact that silly bimbette style heroines may be popular with the Star One schoolgirl audience all right, but for the wider Star Plus audience, the heroine needs to be the strong silent suffering types closer to Gunjan and almost all other heroines on Star Plus. Or he's just confused as to how to cater to both groups so he keeps putting in scenes to cater to both, and as a result, Khushi's character is becoming a total hotch-potch. The silly bimbette is all right for Star One and for Suhana type of shows, which are meant to be comedy, but definitely not for something which has been promoted as an intense love story. It's time the CV's realised that. The first week of Khushi showed a different girl, the second week saw her lapse into idiocy at times, the start of the third week has been not much better. A mixed bag, actually - the conversation with her parents had Khushi in her sober, serious avatar, then the leaving for her job, the 'shaadi' fantasy, the mandir scene was back to silly bimbette. The last scene at the AR warehouse (that's what it appeared to be) was marginally better ... just marginally. This is all from the viewpoint of Khushi's character of course. And considering that at the moment, I'm watching the show just for Sanaya, am not really happy with this development at all. Hope to god that GH is only here for the initial episodes and when the real love story starts, he will take a back seat.

So first we have Khushi convincing her bua to allow her to take up a job, Bua does a volte face and says, if your father agrees, then I'm okay with it. So Khushi calls her parents - convinces them to allow her to work just for two weeks *shaking head* ... why this insistence on two weeks? Since it has come up again and again, am presuming the CV's have something in mind, otherwise it seems very strange.
Anyway, I liked the phono convo between Khushi and her parents - all three are excellent actors and they just bring their scenes together to life. Garima is really sweet as the protective, worried mother - am really wondering now about her past and the skeletons in her closet regarding Khushi.

And I love the sisters here - such a sweet symbiotic relationship, both take turns to console each other in a really cute and funny way (though I could have done without the sasuraal scene).

Arnav's house - Anjali spends way too much time in pooja-path and pandits for a young girl! And her mami in dolling herself up - roles a bit reversed here! And naani wants kundali for her 'bakri' - I don't blame mami for sniggering, I really don't!
And again, some mystery here ... why does Naani object to rishtas for arnav? While Mami is all keen and eager?Just because she wants to buy more jewelry? That part is okay, but what's with Naani's attitude?
Funnily, this show is reminding me of BALH - there too, the leads are at loggerheads, there too, Ram's stepmom doesn't want him to get married though of course, being an Ekta show, there is far less subtlety there. And there too, Sakshi has normal loving siblings and a horror for a mother - substitute Bua here for Khushi and I see lots of parallels.

Anyway, back to IPK - wow, there was actually a lot going on in this episode, I notice. So Mami says that Arnav is already one step ahead, Anjali tries to shush her, mami oblivious ... so again, why hiding it from Naani? Especially as in the last episode, Arnav made it very clear he makes his own decisions?

Khushi leaving for work - the scene I didn't like at all ... Khushi the bimbette re-appears. Did she not even read her appointment letter, that she has no idea what work she's gonna do? And for once I agree with Buaji - give Khushi some buddhi - sadbuddhi to door ki baat hai! And the way she tells Payal - Khushi is not going to tiko in job for too long, who can jhelo her other than us?! *rofl* The way Khushi behaves sometimes, I have to agree!
*Sigh* they need to show major character development for Khushi as well as Arnav ... the only hope I have is that the creatives did do it for Gunjan, slowly and surely ...

Tiny Arnav-Anjali scene, where Anjali teases him about Lavanya Kashyap, Arnav not amused, drives off. Although he's khadoos to the core, I am liking Arnav and his one-liners with his sister :)))
And ok, Naani overheard Anjali, so detective Naani to the fore. Naani confides in her goat - she wants to meet Kashyap woman. And ridiculous tv man is back ranting about Arnav and his ideal match :(((
Naani wants ideal bahu for Arnav ... traditional like her damaad. Anjali looks noncomittal.

Mandir ... Shyam reappears ... hmm. Smooth, unctuous, soft-spoken, not overtly pushy ... if he is a villain, he's going to be an interesting one. And am revising my earlier feeling - is he really Anjali's husband? So he doesn't work in the same office where he got Khushi a job ... how did he get her the job then? Definitely has some agenda ... is it just that he's fallen for Khushi, or is there something more?
More bimbette Khushi, drops her letter, almost forgets her chappals ...
She reaches the office - looks more like a warehouse kind of place, with the logo outside - AR. She can't find her letter.
Precap - Khushi is directed (surprisingly politely) to the Head office.To meet Lavanya Kashyap.
Red sports car lady Lavanya meets Arnav.

Links
Part 1
Part 2 

Twists and more twists

So Karan is Roshnee Devi's son ... *rofl*

And what is the reason for SSP becoming sweet as honey with Gaurav? Because Priya got to know his latest dirty secret?

Priya is disappointing me ... she is becoming a clone of her m-i-l's ...knows everything, says nothing ...
However, I still like the show ... and love the acting! Especially of the older actors - they are really good.

17/6 - Epi 10 ... Some movement

So the story, after two highly random days, finally inched forward ...

Khushi meets Shyam in same market as Bua and Payal ... a near miss scene ... main point being that Shyam hands over an appointment letter to Khushi for a job and tells her where to go. Khushi overjoyed ...
No interview, no discussion of qualifications, seedha appointment letter? Means that either Shyam is in position of authority in place wherever he's got Khushi a job ... well, it could be as peon in his own law office, actually ... or that this is a big blooper ... shall find out soon, I guess. Anyway, Khushi of course is itchy to get back home before Bua returns, so she runs for her life.

Arnav's mami buying jewelry by the kilo ... caught by Naani ... runs off crying dramatically, and Arnav sees her. Naani does not like Mami. Something about the punishment for lies ... said in very meaningful tones.

Payal and Bua reach home, just as Khushi falls in through the window ... cute! Klutzy Khushi :) Payal heaves sigh of relief ... Payal is acting much better since the last 2-3 days, matching up to Khushi's quicksilver expressions ... enjoying the sister interactions ... much more than the Gunur ones. This bond is so much more realistic.

Arnav has bought one horrendously huge and ugly jewelry set for mami. Mami overjoyed.
Naani, on the other hand, not happy at all. Says something about not forgetting the way Mami entered the house. Arnav says he can't forget how mami gave him money to start his business when he needed it.
Arnav's character being slowly put into place here. He will respect his sister, his grandmother ... but he will do exactly what he wants to do.
Hmm ... does that mean with Khushi also?

Buaji gets letter that her pension is being stopped. Khushi Payal worried, Payal says Bua will never let K do naukri, and she should forget her zid about paying back ASR. K says, it's not only ASR, that's a bonus, but this is to help Bua. So now to manao Bua ... drama ;) Nautanki Khushi and Payal in black and white old Hindi film, rags and all, no less ... cute! Bua does not want K to do naukri ...

Precap - Bua says, get your father's permission first ...
So story moved today ... next week, Khushi will start her job ... in Arnav's office?

Part 1
Part 2

16/6 - Epi 9 ... Another Filler

Show slowing down considerably after such a fast-paced start ... my personal feeling is that they need to replace the screenplay writer ASAP ... never said I was not biased, but this time I'm not alone! Popular opinion all thinks the same. Back to trademark OTT scenes - when they were based on characters I didn't care for at all, I didn't give a damn, but this is destroying the main lead before she is even fully established. . And we do need to see more of the lead guy - give us some office scenes, to show his khadoos nature, scenes with his driver, his peon, staff - anything ... except for OTT mami's, who have nothing of value to add.

The CV's have to realise they are not catering to a schoolgirl audience any more - they need sensible stuff, not the same silly, bubbly chirpy girls which worked for them in DMG, MJHT and Geet. Besides, in both DMG and MJHT, the bubbly chirpy silly girls were the side leads, not the main ones - no idea about Geet, so can't really comment. Here what it seems to me is that BS is taking time to get into his role, so Sanaya is getting the bulk of the scenes, and hence they are badly written and GH is falling back on his trademark stupidity! Especially the scenes in Arnav's house - the annoying mami fulfils no purpose whatsoever - except to create hurdles for Khushi, so that she is forced to join Arnav's office. But she doesn't need to lose her brains to do that!

Scenes I liked yesterday - the dining table where Arnav deadpan pulls Anjali's leg about her husband being happy at her absence - such a typical brotherly remark! And the Khushi-Payal scenes, where for once, Payal managed to restrain Khushi's impetuousness, and Khushi agreed that she wasn't going to go alone to meet Shyam ... though of course, she will. Also liked the little directorial touch of Khushi being in a simple salwar kameez for bed, rather than her normal bright clothes, and that she didn't sleep with her dupatta - somehow, that sight always irks me - WHO sleeps with their dupatta?!

Again, I really wish they had shown Khushi being around 21 and having finished her graduation - would have made getting a job in Arnav's office far more believable. The first two episodes showed a far more mature Khushi, this week has made her regress to the brink of stupidity! Hope the CV's realise their mistake and bring back the maturity and intelligence they started off with - mature intelligent girls can be bubbly too! Or is it vice versa - bubbly girls can be mature and intelligent too - they don't have to be dumb!

Part 1
Part 2

15/6 - Epi 8 ... Filler

Slowing down the pace - well, after the first frenetic week, this was needed - and probably Sanaya got busy with rehearsals for the awards show.
So one random pooja scene, very typically Star Plus types, with entire family, Arnav standing most disinterestedly through the proceedings :) interspersed with Khushi calling Shyam to ask help in finding a job.

Nice Arnav-Anjali scene - BS is growing into his role - or maybe am just getting used to him ;) Liked his line - di, aap Nirupa Raoy banti jaa rahi ho! More talk about his being stuck in the past, and his ever-present 'dard' - there had better be a good story on this one, not the usual half-baked stuff.
Interspersed with Khushi-Payal scenes, Khushi still stuck on her 'lard governer', 'rakshash' ... Arnav will have a whole long list of names by the end of this show! Khushi wants a job, Bua complains about how Khushi's arrival in her house has driven Bua to penury, so Khushi seizes opportunity to do some work, and take chikan samples for sale. Vaise, Buaji, see apna size and see Khushi's - who eats more will be very obvious!

So Khushi lands at Arnav's house ... but of course! Saari dilli mein there are only two families, Khushi's and Arnav's! Everyone else is on summer vacation ;) And Anjali - I thought in the character sketch she worked with Arnav in office - but so far all she seems to be doing is pooja and bugging her brother.
Cute Anjali-Khushi scene. Khushi coming across as really naive and innocent ... she has a long way to go to reach any level of maturity. She did show it in the first two episodes, though, so hope the writers do their job properly. Sanaya can carry that bit off effortlessly, so am not worried about the acting part, but the journey to that point.
Rest of the episode was hit and miss of Khushi and Arnav in the bakri's room *rofl* - will they come face to face tomorrow? Or will they miss each other and Khushi get some kind of clothes order, to account for that dream in the precap?

Like I said, slowing down the pace considerably ... less of senseless comedy today, it must have been put in because Sanaya was busy rehearsing. Khushi is still the jaan of the show ... she lights up the screen whenever she comes on it. I never thought Sanaya could be so good at comedy - I thought she would be good, but so good, I didn't imagine! Her timing is good, and she doesn't make too many faces ... or screech and shriek. Just hope she doesn't degenerate into silliness like the others always do.
Am beginning to like Anjali now as she grows into her role. Naani is good - thank God Jayshree T is in a positive role after her two stints in DSDV and Sangini, which were pretty indistinguishable in terms of character. Still can't remember who the mami is and where I saw her before - it's bugging me!

Links
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

14/6 - Epi 7 ... Clash of wills

And so the clash begins - a clash of wills between two equally stubborn, self-willed people, both equally set in their beliefs. What I liked about this confrontation - for the first time BS showed some signs of acting ;)

Seriously ... what I liked was that Arnav has actually started to notice Khushi ... as an irritating fly, maybe, but there is a grudging, unconscious recognition of her will and her khuddari. Liked the dialogues - except for the fact that the scene started as though it was in the middle of the arguement, not at the start ... they should have had a few seconds of 'tum' 'aap' ... some recognition of each other, before Khushi started off on her lecture about how he ruined her life and caused her exile to Delhi ...

However, I guess they wanted to show them at cross-purposes at the start - though again, another first, the misunderstanding took very little time to actually clear up ... both knew exactly what the other was talking about. Arnav didn't seem surprised that Khushi knew he was responsible for the news clips, is that part of his recognition of an equal opponent, or just a blooper?

After that part, the scene was interesting ... as is usual for Sanaya, no raised voices or loud screaming and yelling (even Sakshi in BALH couldn't manage this!) ... and Arnav was the same. He seemed to be actually enjoying the argument, knowing he was easily the victor, but as though it's been a long time since someone actually challenged him. Hence that smirk, and the scornful offer of money - adding insult to injury - I don't want your money, because I know you're not of that stature to be able to afford it ... so here, take some money from me instead! Very dismissive, very insulting ... far more so than actually demanding that Khushi pay him for the damage. And then Khushi's self-respect and khuddari are of course called into question, so she vows she will pay him back somehow - preferably slap the money on his face.

A clash of equals ... in spite of difference in status, in position, in wealth ... their wills are equal to each others'. Both strong, stubborn characters ... opposite ideologies, maybe but similar characters. Should one even call this a simple cliched meeting of opposites? They both seem very similar in nature ... which is the interesting part.

Rest to be updated later - this was the part I liked best. The rest degenerated into inane comedy ... watchable because it was Sanaya for the most part, but Bua is getting irritating. Arnav's family comes in ... edit later.

Links:
Part 1
Part 2 

Forbidden love ... and lust

Maryada getting interesting again as the Gaurav being gay track picks up. Liked the Vidya-Karan scene. The actor playing Karan is appropriate - has those pretty boy looks that gel with the character he's supposed to be playing. And after my irritation with Vidya and her stupidity in the file episode, am back to liking her again - her dignity is back.

On the other hand, Mr. Lech is in full flow and he has the opportunity now. Is Uttara really so stupidly trusting that she doesn't pick up the vibes? Or is she equally ready for a fling?

Again, the acting of all the cast is the strength of this show.

13/6 - Epi 6 ... Delhi - Hurricane Khushi hits

So episode starts with Khushi scolding Devi maiyya - hey bhagwan, yeh ladki kisi ko nahin chodti! Knight in shining armor and Dabang bracelet re-appears, maroes some flirty dialogues, gives Khushi his card (Shyam M Jha) and leaves. Khushi feels kindly disposed to the guy, even though he looks quite a namoona, but he has muscle power - always useful.

Girls tearful about leaving, babuji feeds them dahi, but mother doesn't say a word, and Khushi is distraught. Have a feeling this adopted mother-daughter bond might reveal some secrets later. They have some nice understated scenes between them and both Sanaya and the mother are excellent actors.

And so delhi, here we come. Rest of the episode was mainly comedic - the pace has already slowed down. Only problem, this bears the GH stamp, which does not really bode well for the future if they want to make this an intense show. Anyway, it was enjoyable, Bua is another decent actress, even though OTT, and her comedic flavour came to the forefront - and Sanaya is a revelation in comedy! I always said that she can't do nautanki, but give her even halfway subtle scenes and she will shine - she does just that. So Bua and Khushi take over the second half of the episode, including the rickshaw tug-of-war, the bit where Khushi 'accidentally on purpose' bangs the rickshaw driver's head while removing the luggage, and then sweetly says 'maaf kijiye, bhaiyaji' - the inflection on the word bhaiya :) And the rickshaw driver of course behaving like typical uncouth Delhi lafanga ... blech - I hate such people, and unfortunately they do exist. Just wish Bua would stop her high decibels though - seems like she hasn't heard that you don't have to be LOUD to be heard! I actually turn down the volume when she speaks!

Arnav-Anjali scene ... better acting now, they seem to be settling into their roles more, but still have long way to go to catch up with the Gupta khandaan! Khushi and her family are definitely the better actors. Arnav's nastik nature emphasized again, as well as his concern for his sister ... he is man of few words, and it's better that way!

Back to Khushi Payal giggling away over their bua's idiosyncracies, some nokjhok between Khushi & Bua, then phone call from home. And Sanaya again slips effortlessly from comedy to serious, missing her parents, lovely scene between Garima and Khushi, more unsaid than said - these two really belong to the same school of acting, understated, subtle, silences that speak more than words.

Khushi Payal clean their room, dust the comforter right onto Bua, precipitating asthma attack, so Khushi 'borrows' the neighbour's scooter to get a new pump.

One attention to detail I liked - Payal calls Khushi to tell her to come back, cos Bua found a pump - so for the accident scene that's gonna follow, I won't be fretting about Khushi fighting with Arnav, forgetting that Bua is huffing away at home. Just a small detail, but am glad they put it in.

And then Khushi bangs against Arnav's car. What is he doing in such a down market area anyway?
So tomorrow will be the next face-off.



Part 1
Part 2

10/6/11 - Epi 5 ... Goons and journos

Part 1
Part 2

Very average episode ... dabang style entry of namoona and poor copy of bollywood style fight. Then Knight in Dabang bracelet sees the damsel he rescued and of course falls for her at first sight. Like everyone else in the show!

Family scene at home where Garima decides the girls will go to Delhi with Bua - Bua not ecstatic about this part!

Khushi upset, decides to go to tv station to find out where those clips originated. She and Payal go - Payal is a wimp, she doesn't support Khushi as much as get swept by her into all her escapades! But she's sweet :) At the tv station, after some mandatory jeering by heartless journos, Khushi discovers that the clips were released by none other than ASR.

So we move to Delhi now.

9/6/11 - Ep 4 ... Chappals, making up and breaking down

Confrontation between Khushi and Arnav at dargah - both challenge each others' beliefs in their respective Gods. Khushi walks away with the last word, Arnav can't have that ... so an attack majorly below the belt.

Damn cute family scenes at Khushi's home, making up with her mother was very cutely done. One thing worth a mention - for the first time that I can remember, a simple, small town girl, although devastated at the breaking of her marriage, is not hiding her face in shame, but says - if we'd given in now, it would never have stopped, so better it happened this way.

For the way they've handled the dowry demands, I think the cv's deserve applause. A path-breaker. very subtly done, no OTT bhashans, just both daughters and their father emphasizing that dowry demands are wrong, and it's like feeding a hungry monster - once fed, he always wants more.

Khushi's dance with jhaadu - DAMN cute, this girl is getting more and more adorable every day. No wonder she's stealing the show. And the part where she asks her amma, I am your daughter, aren't I? was so sweet. Sanaya can do these scenes in her sleep now, I think - she effortlessly gets just the right blend of emotion. And the mother is good too. Love the way Khushi switches between being chirpy to exposing her vulnerability to back to being chirpy so naturally.
Dayan Bua enters and the family stops dancing - why are they all so scared of her?! Everyone escapes - Payal to make tea, Sharima to finish the wedding accounts, and they sweetly rescue Khushi from her DB's taunts by telling her to come with them.

Interspersed were Arnav scenes, showing his 'cruel tycoon, money can buy anything' nature, again interspersed with his soft corner for his sister - she said no non-veg, so no non-veg it is. His bro makes an entrance - Ridhi Dogra (Maryada)'s brother - can see the resemblance. He's a younger cousin, though, not an older one. Scene with some Sindhi money-hungry guy trying to blackmail Arnav, who shuts him up with insults, money and slaps - thereby proving his point that money can buy everything.

And then the vidoes hit town ... and the humiliation starts. :( Poor Khushi! She really didn't know what she was doing when she challenged Arnav - she woke the beast in him all right.

Precap - so now the show shifts to Delhi ...

YT links - Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

8/6/11 - Ep 3 ... Jalebis to dargah - food for body and soul

Of course Khushi is not going to commit suicide ... she's upset and depressed and miserable with herself, so she does what many girls do in similar situation - she eats ... lolzzz. How many jalebis does she manage by morning - I was feeling thirsty every time she popped one more into her mouth. DAMN cute scene ... sniffle, fry, chomp, sniffle, fry, chomp ... am in love with Khushi already and it's just the third episode!

Liked the father daughter scene, and the mohalla vallas with a difference - for once they don't want to throw her out for breaking her sister's marriage, but sympathise because many have been through similar problems themselves. I liked this scene - for once, truly a different outlook. Kudos to the cvs team for this one.

Add rest later - need to work!

YT links (HQ)
Part 1
Part 2

On the whole, the episode was slower than the first two - good thing, otherwise they would be rushing too much! So basic outlines established, and from the precap, basis of the hate relationship also established ... the love is going to come much, much later!
She is young, impetuous, armed with her values and convictions, guileless and clueless as to the ways of the world, says what she feels, attacks directly and openly.

He is older, cynical, has shed all moral values completely, and is motivated solely by revenge and bitterness. He is cunning and devious, plans out his attacks well. It took him thirteen years to ruin the uncle who destroyed his and his sister's lives, and he did that through careful planning - as they say, revenge is a dish best served cold.

But this young naive girl somehow gets under his skin, she attacks his deepest wounds without a care in the world, and he forgets his planning around her - he just wants to get back at her immediately. She disturbs him from the beginning ...

Let's see how this goes ... good intense start as of now, no major loopholes in the story yet, and the basics of the characters well laid.
Just hope Khushi doesn't degenerate into silliness, and this is her journey to maturity and becoming a woman as much as it is Arnav's journey to becoming less of a cynic, and rediscovering the joys of life he lost so early, when he had to grow up too fast.

7/6/11 - Ep 2 ... Taut ... and family drama

Feels good to be updating every day again ... :)

Episode starts from yesterday's scene of K in A's arms, she shocked, he ... erm, not quite sure ;) He literally throws her down onto the ramp ... oyeee, mister, that's our Sanaya ... gently please!!! Random security men come to hustle her off, he tells random bg man, make sure none of these pics are published. Bhaiya, aaj kal mobile uploads and internet ka zamana hai!

Cut to Payal getting ready and everyone getting worried, where is Khushi and where are dukaan ke papers ... the second is more important, because without them, the wedding won't take place. Sheesh, our great Indian values :(
Khushi being dragged by RSM to a room, locked in ... all the while pleading, let me go, I need to go home ...
Payal's wd be mil is creating ruckus about dukaan papers and dowry, Payal don't like.
Khushi crying, let me out, I haven't done anything ... :( BS tells RSM to find out who paid Khushi to ruin his fashion show. He says something else I couldn't catch even on re-winding thrice. Man, get a voice coach!!!

Payal asks - last straw, is even Abhishek asking for the dowry? Bua says, of course, he's not saying anything in front of all the elders ... only his mother is talking. Methinks Payal had a narrow escape ... and she thinks so too.

Khushi interrogated by RSM ... doesn't know anything, let me go ...

Mother suspects Khushi's disappearance and papers' disappearance may be linked. Payal keeps mouth shut ... grrr.

BS takes matters into his own hands, RSM let Khushi out, she runs, he pulls her back. Ok, this scenes just needs to be watched, can't be described. Rapidfire exchange, he touches her sore point, her sister, and she fires back with his sore point - HIS sister ...
The part where she loosens her hair to cover her back ... oh boy! and then turns arund to look at him with a misture of fear and defiance ... then leaves, and this time he doesn't stop her.

Second half was typical family melodrama ... mohallavalas badmouthing Khushi and family for broken marriage. Ok, something new at least ... Bua doesn't take it lying down, sends them packing with few choice gaalis.
Both parents worried sick, has anything happened to Khushi?
And sister is still quiet! *head desk*
Bua reassures parents in her own rather rude fashion that nothing wd have happened to Khushi ...
Sister finally opens mouth to speak ... and they hear scooty.

One thing I liked in the otherwise usual melodrama - mother first asks Khushi if she's all right, then tells her, no tamasha outside in front of everyone, and drags her inside.
And San's acting ... actually, everybody's acting in this scene is damn good, lifting it above the usual accusatory mudslinging such scenes usually become.
Okay, next good thing ... first mother asks, where were you out so late? Have you any idea what you do ...
Will this be a reflection of Khushi's past somehow? Or the mother's?
Bua is more worried about the dukaan papers ... more worried about her niece's wedding breaking ... niece is her flesh and blood.
Shit.

One liner of the show - wish it had been highlighted more.
Dahej adhikar nahin hai.

And after Garima tells Khushi, don't call me Amma ... and Bua pipes in with, if Payal was her real sister ... Garima says, you've proved you're not my daughter. Khushi doesn't say another word after that. Only her eyes speak ... her hurt, her grief ... her loneliness ... am I really all alone in the world?

Shit, San does these scenes so well ...

Sisters scene ... now this is a sisters bond I am going to like.

part 1
part 2
part 3
part 4

6/6/11 - Epi 1 ... Beauty and the Beast - the show begins!

First things first ... just downloaded the episode, and holy cow ... it was all of 29 minutes and 41 seconds long ... without a break! They have to slow things down now onwards ... but it was a dhamaka episode all right!

So it starts with scenes of Lucknow, panning slowly to Gomti Nivas, a typical middle-class home (how come all middle class homes are so huge with these gorgeous central courtyards - wish I lived in a home like that!).

And in this Gomti Nivas, preparations afoot for a wedding - one plump cheerful Bua bustling around exhorting people to sing and dance and make merry ... what I liked, the clothes etc are NOT all gawdy, or overly so, especially those of the older women.

Pan to scene inside where a worried Payal stands at window while a figure behind her walks up and down talking all the while (digression here for a minute - big grin - Sanaya is BACK!!!).

So the sisters talk ... I like Payal, wasn't very impressed with her in Manzil, but she was nice here ... worried about her marriage breaking, and also about her father having to mortgage his shop for last-minute dowry demand ... Khushi reassures her that it's not right that their father has to mortgage the shop and she's sure that unseen 'jijaji' doesn't know about the demand, so they need to tell him and he will stop his parents ... (Khushi's intro in bits, they show her eyes, her lips, but not her face yet ... and I'm so glad that in this show we'll see her eyes, so expressive and pretty as they are, and were always hidden behind chashmas in MJHT).

Sisters decide that Khushi will go and try to talk to 'jijaji' ...

More cuteness outside - old ladies giggling away, handing over dentures *rofl* ... buaji wants to lagao 'thumkas' ... Payal comes out, and the Banno songs start (I remember my bua from Allahabad and her Banno songs at weddings ... aww, these old ladies are so sweet, and the old songs are so raunchy, far more than the Bollywood ones!)

Meantimes Khushi is changing her shoes ... to white canvas keds LOLZZZZ ... practical girl, I love her!!! And hats off to whoever in the cv's team who thought of this touch - now if they took six hours to figure this one, was worth it for sheer *rofl* value!

Banno ki behna ... and they figure out Khushi is missing ...

Cut to Khushi mumbling away to scooter ... no, to devi maa ... LOLZZZZ ... they finally show Khushi's face :))) ... her little chat with devi maa is cute, when she tells her, it's not right that they make this demand right now, is it ... lolzz, as though devi maa is gonna answer her right back. So Khushi gets on her scooty in wedding lehnga with white keds and bright yellow helmet ... ONLY Sanaya could carry this off and look cute rather than ridiculous *rofl*

Talk between parents ... the dad wonders if they're doing the right thing by marrying their daughter into such a house ... but mom is typical Indian mom, and says, no, we're ladki-valas, we have to bow to their demands ... the fact that she's Payal's step-mother and not real mom makes this scene touching rather than irritating as always ... that she's not wicked step-mom, and she's ready to mortgage their livelihood for Payal.

Khushi getting stares from everyone ... lolzzz ... fat family staring at her ... more lolzzz, Khushi's explanation paves way for entry of 'rajkumar' ... in helicopter, no less! Big budget show? Then why couldn't they get Nikes for Khushi? lolzzz

Entry of Arnav with dhinchak background music ... pesky reporters asking questions which he ignores and walks off ... ok, the guy looks good as tycoon, I agree.
Stares at Sheesh Mahal - memories of a wedding, Daljit as bride, woman in sari running, gunshot, 'maa' ... Business meeting where AR buys Sheesh Mahal from his uncle, who had turned him and sister out of the house after their mom's death ... so he's back for revenge ... Hmm, is this all to his past? Or is there going to be more?
BS needs Strepsils. Work on dialogue delivery, mate ...

Back to Khushi on scooty ... her phone rings - not devi maaiya ringtone but Dabangg *rofl* ... I like Khushi, I REALLY do!!! :D Payal asks, have you reached, Khushi says, stop calling, phone dying ... ok, this was to be expected ... but the shoes and Dabangg make up for it ;) Khushi tells her sister that one needs usool and zameer in life, not only money ...

cut to AR saying he doesn't need usool, only money ... (fb of uncle throwing him and sister out) ... smart boy changed his name, so uncle won't recognise him?

The bit which I couldn't quite digest - in one day, AR buys SM, converts it to hotel, organises fashion show ... all in the same time that Khushi still hasn't reached from her house to said SM. That was a slow scooty all right... or does A move so fast?!

Entry of Arnav's sister ... Daljit, looking pretty, but she also needs to work on her dialogue delivery. BS has to be blank, stone-faced - he manages to do that all right ;) he does manage to get expression in his eyes when his sister is talking ...

So it's evening in Gupta house, getting ready for wedding, no sign of Khushi or papers ...
Khushi reaches SM ... Side note - why didn't Khushi take the time to take those milkcans off her scooty?!
Asks devi maiyya like she's her best friend - stay with me, ok? Twirls round in her canvas shoes to decide which way to go *rofl*

Fashion show ... clicheeeee ... Khushi lands up on ramp, mistaken for model ... ok, we guessed this ages ago ... absolutely no surprises here ... K whispers to devi maiya ... forced onto ramp, trips, and falls right into Arnav's arms ...

Sanaya's eyes ... *dream*

Precap ... oh boyyyy :))) Waiting for tomorrow!

Sanaya back as Khushi :)

Finally what I was waiting for ... Sanaya as Khushi - no SBS/SBB yet, but segments on House Arrest and E24. And again, watching Sanaya on her offscreen moments leaves me, as always, with a huge grin. She shows off her new look, including her 'trademark' pompoms ... sums it up as 'gawdy Gunjan with hair tied up' ... wish I had that *rofl* emoticon here! Adds that whatever look she came in, her fans would have found it different ... I need multiple *rofl* emoticons here ... has she actually read the comments of all the self-styled Sanaya experts everywhere, who've been busy dissing her new look, and offering their free opinions on what they felt it should have been?! Or is she just laughing at herself as usual - I love this girl, I really do!

Like her tagline for Khushi ... "darti hai par karti hai" :)

BS was ... to put it mildly ... unimpressive. Or maybe, Sanaya just didn't give him a chance to talk ... as usual! But they seem to share a good camaraderie and are comfortable offscreen, so I am very glad for her ... have this protective instinct about this gal somehow ;)

Another *rofl* segment - the reporter askes them to show us around Arnav's house, and Sanaya says she doesn't know much about it, then promptly takes over the tour, saying he's a rich guy, so lots of nice-nice things *rofl* ... she finds a silver dish to ooh and aah over, then looks at the light, and says in a tone of mild surprise - Oh this is actually quite pretty! And I cracked up again ...
A bundle of clothes - she says, main kapde bechne aayi thi ... now is she kidding as usual, or does that happen in the show? And a room where she says, mera murder hone vaala hai ... with a delighted grin on her face ...

At the end, San says, don't be confused, watch the episode and everything will be clear. And I'm left with a big grin on face, and the interest in the show is back full time, just to see this girl back on screen! Sanaya, you rock!

Khushi is back
 Khushi is back ... the sparkle on tv is back. Am finally looking forward to switching on the tv set again!



*edit*
And now an SBB segment - seems to have been done the same day, giving the same information ;) Arnav is akdu, sarphira rich businessman and Khushi is just a normal girl, who becomes abnormal because of Arnav - according to Sanaya, of course - only she says things like this! Again Sanaya comments on her looks - more gawdy than Gunjan was, with trademark pompoms - why did they choose pompoms as a trademark look of all things?!

Sanaya Barun SBB

Title song ... Meet Arnav and Khushi

This torrent means that I have no time to comment ... just keep adding links to follow what's going on!
Finally editing ...:)

So one article on names of new shows being based on songs ... Bade Achhe Lagte Hain takes the cake, of course, for being the longest title - not just the line, the entire first stanza lolzzz. I love the song, and I love the new version sung by Shreya Ghoshal, she has such a beautiful voice ... and the old-worldliness of the song suits the age of the characters.

And next on the list is Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Dun? ... before the show even starts airing, from the promo articles, the song seems apt for the theme, but will have to watch the show to see how it really fits. Wonder if they will do a new song for the show ... would be quite happy if they did, because although Sonu is a great singer, I'm not that fond of the song.
Song based titles

Meet the characters - starting with Arnav.
Meet Arnav Singh Raizada
Different character? Really? Oh well, I guess no actor in his right mind would say he's doing the same old run-of-the-mill stuff ... remains to be seen if BS can actually make it different.

Meet Khushi ... opposites do attract
Well, Gunjan and Sanaya both know all about that ... does Khushi feel the same way?
Meet Khushi

Again, same comment - different? Sounds very much like Gunjan to me, minus the big sister worship - which is such a big relief that I'm ready to watch almost anything now!

More thoughts - Sanaya-centric as usual ;)
What caught my interest - BS saying that San is very hard-working and focused on her character, and Sanaya saying that she's finding her character very difficult to get into.

I found Gunjan awkward and unconvincing the first few weeks of MJHT, and when I tuned in again during the bet episodes, I found a sea change. Partly, of course, the character of Gunjan appealed to me - a LOT. But looking back in the wake of this interview, I now think that it was also partly due to Sanaya finding her feet as Gunjan - it took some time for her to switch into the Gunjan mould. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - Gunjan and Sanaya were poles apart, not just in character and dialogues, but in body language, way of talking, way of smiling, laughing ... Sanaya moulded herself into Gunjan so completely that if you met Sanaya on the street, you would never even realise that she was Gunjan.

The few promos of IPK that we've seen, in the chirpy parts, Khushi reminds me of Sanaya. Gunjan never did.

So, even though the basic character might be somewhat similar to Gunjan's, am thinking ... and hoping ... that it will be sufficiently different to actually BE different. And judging by the hard work Sanaya puts into her work, and the one end-result I have seen - Gunjan - am pretty confident that Sanaya will make it happen.

IPK hotting up :)

So much action in one day :)

New forum, new promo, message from the makers ...

New promo is definitely the best of the lot so far ... just hope it's an indicator of the story ahead and will not happen very early ... want this to go nice and slow :)

IPK promo 4

Seems intense and with Nissar's previous record, can hope for something good.

New forum finally up, after the MJHT forum went totally dead when IPK discussions were stopped there. So new adda opens :)

And the makers seem to be working really hard on the show - for the PH's as well as for the actors, especially the main leads, it's a great career op - to be a prime time show on the leading channel after being associated mainly with Star One, which has such a limited reach. So they will all give it everything they've got ... hopefully!!!!

Let's see ... am trying to keep expectations low, but am waiting for this show with a very positive attitude. Unless they serve absolute crap, it will be difficult to put me off ... and because of the actress, the director, and the concept, I think I will be pretty hooked very soon!