TV This Fortnight and more - 24th Dec '12 - 12th Jan '13

Last post for 2012 and first post of 2013.

Veera

Qabool Hai

Madhubala

Pyaar Ka Dard Hai

Khamoshiyan

Happy New Year 2013

Logging in for the last time this year to wish everyone Merry Christmas, happy holidays and a very Happy New Year.

All the best to everyone for the coming year. Special shout out to Swetha and Sandy, who are moving over the next few months, all the best for the move and for the new phase in your lives!
My kids are home for the holidays and I leave tonight on vacation. Will be traveling the next two and a half weeks so will not be online.  

See you in the New Year!

IPKKND Rewind ... July 2011

So much happened in July!!! Some of my most favorite episodes and scenes.

IPKKND July 2011

The office challenge begins ... Arnav is out to win at all cost, by unfair means if needs be ... he just has to win over this slip of a girl who dares to challenge him. And Khushi starts to learn slowly about the real world, where it's not your abilities that matter ... it's about who has the power. But she still sticks to her beliefs - if she does the work required, she will win the challenge.

Lady in Red ... and the first Rabba Ve. BS starting to show that he can act ... a very satisfactory 'knocked for six' look on his face at the sight of Khushi in the red saree.

The mask cracks open ... but only for an instant ... then the Beast returns. And banishes Khushi to the parking lot. Akash's wimpiness shows for the first time .. nice guy, but can't raise his voice in front of his bhai.

The first save ... the rain hug. Khushi, down but not out ... defiant to the end ... Arnav, for the second time in one evening, gives in to that unexplained tug ... first he allowed her to model in the saree, now he offers her his coat, which she turns down with disdain ... and then he saves her. So far, he has been rescuing her from situations that he himself has put her into ... so he didn't earn too many Brownie points from me
Arnav's drive home ... where he questions his own actions for the first time, and tries to justify himself for doing the unjustifiable. And Khushi is already getting under his skin, he can't stop thinking about her.

Arnav gives Khushi papers to type overnight - then deliver them to RM. His reaction when he first hears her Devi Maiyya ring tone Khushi's expression when she sees a typewriter!!! Who uses typewriters these days?!
The first poolside Arnav-Khushi meet ... when Khushi saves Arnav ... erm, Arnav saves Khushi ...erm, not quite sure both claim to be the saviours And the chemistry begins to crackle.

Khushi tells Nani about Lavanya, Arnav furious, banishes her to the guesthouse. Re-watching these scenes made me remember why I wanted an RTR for Arnav so much ... he was pretty hateful at the start of the show! No wonder Khushi took so long to figure out her feelings for him ... heck, no wonder she took so long to even fall for him!

Guesthouse episodes - starting with the first ME. Khushi gets stuck in the collapsing guesthouse. Sanaya's acting ... brilliant!
Arnav discovers through a combination of phone calls from Sinha and Payal, what exactly he has done ... and rushes to rescue her. While his family thinks he's gone to spend time with Lavanya - delicious irony in the situation. The juxtaposition of the two phone calls was very cleverly done ... how Arnav gets the entire picture from two incomplete halves. Barun's acting ... equally brilliant.
The rescue ... the war of words in the collapsing guesthouse. Whattay episode, what a war of words ... two fiery equals ... perfect match for each other ... the first time Arnav acknowledges his mistake silently, and tries to explain ... the first person he tries to explain himself to, and she's not listening ...
The first drive home. Arnav's expressions as he looks at the unconscious Khushi ... the guy is gone, fallen, point of no return ... she's under his skin, there is no way he can ever get her out ...
The first stirrings of guilt ... relentless, hounding Arnav, pulsating inside him ... 

Khushi's resignation ... Arnav's guilty silence ... Khushi's unwilling confusion ...

The Teej episodes ... need more time to write about these, will be back. The original updates are in detail for many scenes, but some are missing. Will update when I have the time!

IPKKND Wish List

The IPKKND hangover still lingers, as nothing else is really riveting on TV these days.

I will make the July IPKKND Rewind post by tomorrow(hopefully!) ... till then, here is Padfoot's demand - Wishlist of Scenes We Wanted to See ... but never saw.

First on the list - Padfoot's choice again - scene of Khushi getting hurt, Arnav going to Devi Maiyya's temple and begging for her life.

I wanted - Khushi's pregnancy and Arnav getting all hyper, while Khushi carries on with life pretty normally.


Also found a few good links for those interested ...

The funniest topics created in the forum

The best stories on the forum - this has links to the works of some of the best writers of IPKKND.

IPKKND 2.0  This is a collaboration by some of the best writers again, promises to be interesting. This has just started post IPK, only two chapters are up yet.

TV This Week - 17th - 23rd Dec 2012

Veera ... ambling along, the pace slowed down a little. Ratan has accepted Veera only for Ranvi's sake. Evil chachi Bansuri continues to be evil ... and oh, there are skeletons in those closets too.
I liked Kartar's wife ... very pretty, and sweet character.

Madhubala

Qabool Hai

Balika Vadhu ... saw the bidaai scene on Friday and nearly went to sleep! Sooo repetitive!

PKDH 

You can also access this blog at my new web page Autumn Sonata at www.diatals.com under the page Ramblings. The link is added above under the title of the blog.
This is my new web page - work in progress. Do visit and give me feedback about how easy or difficult it is to navigate.  

Post-IPKKND - LM interview, Sanaya interview, TOI

More articles post IPKKND wrap up.

Conversation with Lalit Mohan on IPK

Highlights - speaks about Sanaya's complete professionalism and talent. Also admits that her character was badly written towards the end - thank you for finally acknowledging it!
Slap on face for those journalists who reported Sanaya being late by 6 hours - again, thank you for that.
'Consummation scene was done in one hour when he had planned 8 hours' ... wow, it was so beautiful as it was, I wonder what it could have been. 
'Barun and Sanaya were sad too because as a team things did not happen the way we wanted them to, as planned' ... again, wonder how it could have been if done as they had envisioned. I remember their excitement after Diwali and Teri Meri - obviously they knew those scenes had turned out well. So they weren't so happy with the consummation?

Something we discussed on R&R
Q - How much of a director's actor should one be? 
Ans: Look ... director's actor is always good, but if the actor has the intelligence and the potential to put their points across in front of the director then it always helps enhance the show ... In case of a director's actor, the problem is they don't have an opinion of their own, or any views regarding the scene. They come on the set, director tells them what to do and they do exactly that ... it limits scope for improvisation, if any.

Part I liked:
Q - So how much of a director's actor are Sanaya and Barun? 
Ans: At times they are director's actor. When they don't understand things they leave it to us ... ki okay, Lalit, I am not getting this and then I tell them what I want. And at times Barun and Sanaya pehle se plan karke aate hai which majority of the times would be much better than what I envisioned and so we stick on with their plan. 

My favorite part of the interview: no prizes for guessing why Finally Sanaya gets her due Just for this part, thank you, LM.
Q- Who do you enjoy directing most, Sanaya or Barun?
Ans: Sanaya ... Sanaya is a very intelligent actress; she is very professional and dedicated. If I reach for a shoft at 6.30 am and her shift starts at 7, then she would be there sharp at 7. By chance if she was running late even if by ten minutes, she would inform us. 
Sanaya is one of the best actresses we have in the industry today. 
Dekho Khushi ke liye koi grand scene nahin tha, na uske liye choppre aaya na uske liye ASR jaise ek buildup tha, but still she managed to leave her signature in each and every scene and that was pure Sanaya. She did it all ... Sanaya has really worked hard and she used to give her 1000% to it. 

 Edited to add 
lalit mohan conversation tellytadka IPK more part 2 
Remembering Shwethu here ... LM blowing his own trumpet big time! Cosmic connection with IPK indeed! And everyone wanted him to come back to IPK ... hey, Arshad Khan also had a good deal to do with the success of IPK, bro ... you weren't the only one. Lots of hot air about how he hasn't achieved his full potential because of limitations ... ok, ok, got that ... you're a brilliant guy, destined for much better things in life. When a person blows his own trumpet, it's always less impressive than when others praise you. Keep that in mind, LM.
Although LM still remains in my good books for two things - one, for agreeing that Khushi was the most overlooked character in IPK, and whatever she achieved was mainly because of Sanaya ... and that the writing went wrong for Khushi at some point, read the overly OTT stuff. Also, Lalit did always read Khushi the best, and kept her less OTT than Arshad did. 

Interesting bits - LM left around November 2011, when the 'farak padta hai' track got too dark and was shelved, and the Payash wedding was brought in. Indicates that tampering with the original storyline began here already. 
More interesting bits - 
Question - From a viewer's pov, the story was about Arnav and Khushi and nobody was ready to accept another love interest for Khushi.
Lalit's answer - love can happen more than once. Agreed. But this was a story about star-crossed lovers. Question - two questions, actually. 1 - star crossed lovers are destined never to meet, except in the next janam. So was the story originally not supposed to have a happy marriage between Arnav Khushi at all? Silly question - we do know that the happy -re-marriage bit was thrown in to wind up the Arhi story when Barun decided to leave, and there was a separation on the cards at that point. So would they have actually died apart? Or would they have continued the cycle of coming together and parting again, until death finally claimed one or both - preferably both ... together? Barun ruined more than just the Arhi story when he decided to leave the show.
2 - love can happen more than once. Also agreed ... but when did this second love enter the picture? When Barun decided to leave and PH decided to get new man, rather than new ASR? It was a tough call at best, and LM obviously does blame the viewers for not giving the new track a chance. Can't say I blame him for that ... I do too. Viewers, and SP both - this has to be the stupidest decision SP has ever taken, to shut down the show so abruptly. Had they pulled on for just three more weeks, Barun's movie news would have been out, and the hysteria would have calmed down. Now SP is stuck with Kaali and laughable TRP's of under 1.0 ... am guessing these are the lowest ever TRP's ANY SP show has gotten for a long, long time. 
Anyway, the other option the PH had was to bring in a new ASR. And obviously they decided not to do so ... Barun had put his stamp on ASR far too effectively for any new actor to work in the role. Again, a pity, because the last few months, he was basically sleepwalking through the role, riding on the success and the doting gained in the first year of the show. In hindsight, he should have been replaced in Feb '11, when he first wanted to leave for MAMR. But these things are always easier to judge in hindsight. As I am sure SP is rueing in hindsight, the decision to pull off IPK so abruptly ... I am so glad Kaali has crashed, leaving SP with major egg on their faces for pulling off the show. 

Part I liked again ... and felt bad about for Sanaya again ... Sanaya was the most positive person on the sets about the new track, and was motivating everyone else that they would make it work. For her it was a double whammy, she had worked doubly hard to keep the show on track despite Barun's absence the first time round, and in the face of his disinterest when he returned, without grudging him his chance at BW in the slightest ... this was her time to get a break, a new and better track centered around Khushi, with a committed actor who wasn't 'taking breaks' every now and then, and with a cast and crew she enjoyed working with immensely. From Abhaji's and Jayshreeji's interviews, it's obvious that the entire cast loved her ... in fact, they all mentioned how wonderful the cast and crew were. Plus she had a hectic time before the UK trip ... rehearsing for her performances there, churning out daily episodes, which were Khushi-centered, and shooting for the introduction of the Viraaf track, which was to air the Monday she was still in the UK. And she gets this news, that all the extra shooting she did for her absence was wasted, she had to rush back and re-shoot to wind up the show instead. Like I said, I don't blame her for being upset ... I was furious! I am glad LM said this - hopefully people who read it realised what Sanaya went through. And if they didn't, and got upset with Sanaya - well, they are obviously only Barun fans, or if they have any conscience, they are angry because of a feeling of guilt that they did badly by Sanaya. Truth hurts, after all.




Interview with Sanaya
Link to Sanaya's new detailed interview
http://www.imagebam.com/image/a11e50225643124 - direct link, hope it works. It usually doesn't, hence the above link posted as well.

TOI farewell to 2012
A Salute to the most enduring small screen jodis
Direct link - A salute to the most enduring small screen jodis
No, it's not all about romantic jodis!

One more - SPL schedule outside India. No news on airing in India.
http://www.media247.co.uk/bizasia/star-tv-confirms-star-parivaar-live-uk-telecast

Lord, they still go on!
One more ...
Starry Takes with Viraaf Patel

Adding the whole interview of Lalit Mohan here, as it has been taken down from the link given above, and the new link.

http://hypnotizinglyarnav.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/lalit-mohan-in-conversation-with.html

Lalit Mohan in conversation with Telly Tadka

Passionate about directing ever since he can remember director Lalit Mohan has come a long way. Right from Family drama to thriller to horror to romance he has done it all…. But the abrupt ending of Star Plus popular star crossed love story Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam doon was not only a blow to its viewers but also to Lalit Mohan along with his entire cast and crew.

Apart from talking about his shows, actors, the industry and much more catch Lalit open up to TellyTadka on IPK and post IPK.

12.12.12 sure was a memorable day…..but here is TellyTadka making 13.12.12 special for our readers . Yes TellyTadka brings an exclusive 2 part Interview of the ace director Lalit Mohan as promised making the day all the more special….

1) What is your philosophy on the profession of directing/scripting?

Haa…. Yaar it’s very tough actually, because Philosophy changes at times.

…..and when it comes to IPK?

It’s like being the head of a family; you get together, work, teach, educate and entertain. As a director I do everything for the audience, the actors, producers et all but at the end of the day when your show shuts down, it hurts a lot because you are the head of that family. One fine day each and every member of that family goes their own way. Same happened with IPK….Hum log mile aur phir bichad gaye……And me being the director, the head of the family my show, I can’t cry…can’t show my tears to them. It is one of the worst aspects of being a director.

2) Experience with Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?

My experience with Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon was very different. Something I experienced for the first time and one of a kind. IPK was like a dream for me, the most beautiful dream of my life and now that it’s axed I am back to reality.

3) How long have you been in the TV industry….?

It’s been 8 years.

4) Over the years what are the negative and positive changes that you have seen?

The best thing about the industry is that the people here are very Passionate about their work. Most of them including myself believe in giving our 1000%. So I guess it’s a positive aspect that you are ready to put your best foot forward in order to keep your passion for this craft alive no matter what the circumstances are.

…and the Negative aspect?

People who don the garb of being passionate, when in reality they are not. When you put your best foot forward and others don’t its very disappointing…coz it disrupts everything. There are many who talk very highly of doing things but the moment you ask them to stay back for the betterment of the show, or when you want to get a particular scene done right so the audience can relate better etc…they fail to put up and as a director that disturbs me a lot. Sometimes my creative’s, actors, producer or even the channel are not on the same level as I am which is quite sad, because initially we are there. I am approached saying that I’ll do well for the show but once I am on board everything changes jo bohat ghalat hai!

5) As a director what according to you is the most important part of making TV Soap?

VISION. I am a director. Shuru shuru mein mere paaskuch nahi hota. I don’t have a story in my hand, no concept, screenplays, dialogues in short nothing…..Then a rough idea is given to me, I am filled in with the details which is when I start to visualize the story in my mind. I envision how a particular scene should be. What the character should so, what should be portrayed, how much should be portrayed, the amount of emotion it should hold etc. Like for instance “Khushi falling into Arnav’s arms”….Sunne mein aasan hai, but there are a lot of things to take into consideration so that the scene leaves an impact. How will he hold the girl, for how long will he hold the girl, how will the girl react at that particular instance, to his touch, what feelings would be racing through her heart, what expressions the two should give etc. So Vision is very important for a director, ki totality mein aapko kya chahiye from a particular scene/sequence or track. So I guess it has to be Vision because if there no Vision there is no story telling.

6) Which genre is easier to direct? Do u prefer sticking on to a particular genre or do u believe in challenging yourself by working out of your comfort zone?

No I believe in challenging myself. As a director I should be able to do shows irrespective of their genres….and I am fortunate that I have been able to do so….I have done almost every genre right from Thriller (Arjun), Horror (Shhh…Phir Ko Hai), Hardcore emotional drama (12/24 Karol Bagh), Romantic Melodrama (Bidaai, IPK), Love story (Kis Des Mein Hai Mera Dil) to name a few… Aur comedy ka aisa hai ki aap koi bhi genre lo uske andar ek comedy chahe woh black humor bolo, just humor bolo woh aap ko mil jaata hai. As a director I do not want to be type casted…..and touchwood I am not…I know people believe that I tell love stories better (Laughs) but for me its very important that I challenge myself not just with genres but even within the story and the scenes.

7) What are the factors that you take into consideration before taking up a project? Back then what made (IPK) particularly appealing?

After I quit Navya (Starplus) on the very next day I went on the set of IPK. I was there for 2-3 hrs, discussing thing with Nissar and Gul, they gave me a rough idea about the show and its characters. Then when i got the papers in my hand, jab mujhe initial ke 7-8 episodes diye gaye to go through… I said OK, I’ll do it kyunki wahan pe main kaafi kuch connect kar paa raha tha. And i also felt that down the lane the show was definitely going to be a Hit which i believe it became. IPK was different and it had quite a range of emotions to display, a quality with which connect instantly. And that’s how i decided to take up IPK.

8) Talking of IPK tell us who your personal favorite is, Khushi or Arnav?

Both yaar, it’s hard for me to choose between the two.

Still if you had to pick one who would that be?

I think Khushi Kumari Gupta. 

9) Which is the one scene/sequence/track in IPK that when you look back, makes you proud….one that you would term is your best work in the entire series. Why?

There are a lot of scenes yaar, it’s not very easy to pick one….

Phir bhi there might be something which is on the top of your head….?

I think the first time Arnav smiles ya smirks actually, when his Di talks about Pyar… the saase ruk jaayegi wala lines to be precise. That was one defining moment. Phir…jab Arnav ne cheekha, when he howled in the middle of the road to vent out his pain and anger after seeing Shyaam-Khushi hug on knowing that the woman he loved turned out to be the other woman in Shyaam’s life… Aur jo howl ab recently hua tha during the marriage track when Arnav comes face to face with his past, the entire Khushi waiting for Arnav at the Mandap Sequence…..Sanaya and Barun were simply brilliant in those sequences. But aise bohat se scenes hai…and I love all ArShi scenes, because of the way they were done.

10) Everybody comes across challenges. Describe a time when you faced such a challenging situation while directing IPK and how you handled it.

The last day of shoot when 4 days work had to be done in a couple of hours. 70 shots liye the humne Barun ke saath us din…. The entire work was to be completed in a span of 4 day, but we shot it in i guess 6-7 hours. I reached the sets at 7:30, Barun reached at 8:30 and we shot till 5:00 PM getting all the shots, closeup etc we wanted because that was Barun’s last day of shoot (23rd Nov). It was not only hectic, but as a director it was hard for me to do 4 days work in just hours because things were rushed and done to get over with. Another one would be the Arnav-Khushi Consummation Sequence, jise karene ke baad i cried. I had asked for 8 hours to do that sequence, to get exactly what i wanted but when time came I was given just 1 hour. After wrapping the shoot, everybody was congratulating me on how well the scene had shaped up but i cried that day because that is not how I had visualized the most beautiful moment between Arnav and Khushi. Sanaya and Barun were sad too because as a team things did not happen the way we wanted it to be, like planned. Woh bohat hi challenging aur depressing tha. I was not happy because it could have been much better.

11) Khushi who happens to be one of the most selfless woman chatacter on TV was highlighted in a more comic light in the last few months? She was far from resembling the “SankaDevi” that viewers fell in love with….Was that a deliberate move?

Look except for a handful of viewers who thought Khushi was being OTT, that it was character assassination etc the feedback we got was just the opposite. According to our research team viewers were actually enjoying the OTT Comedy and that Khushi was loved in those scenes…..In the more rural areas viewers liked this side of hers. Since the feedback we received were in favor of Khushi being OTT and that’s the reason we continued with it. Dekho aap logic ke saath kuch bhi karo toh theek hai……Par ghalat situation mein comedy karna that’s illogical. Yes towards the end there were times when Khushi’s Comedy became slightly OTT; actually there was some mess up in the writing department. Maine unse kahan tha ki koi bhi scene karo, chahe Khushi ko super woman bana do but logic hona chahiye ki without logic everything would look distasteful.

Example Cited:Khushi can slap Arnav, woh usko maar sakti hai but there has to be logic behind that slap. If Khushi found out that Arnav had slept with another woman and then lied about it she can slap him, he deserves that slap and it’s the right thing to do. But if she slaps him because he comes home late due to some office work, or that he couldn’t attend the Pooja coz of a meeting when she was waiting for him etc that would be illogical and stupid.

12) How do you handle performances? Do you personally enact scenes?

Yes, sometimes enact karke batana padta hai, but otherwise most of the time brief se hi kaam ho jaata hai.

13) How much of a Director’s actor should one be?

Look….. Director’s actor is always good, but if an actor has the intelligence, and potential to put their points across in front of the director it always helps enhances the show, because two people are giving their inputs, everything can be viewed from two different angles, pros and cons can be measured more accurately. In case of a director’s actor the problem is they don’t have an opinion of their own, or any views regarding the scene. They come on the set, they director tells them what to do and they do exactly that….it limits scope for improvisation if any. Any actor when doing a particular scene should know what and why they are doing it, in short they should be fully versed.

14) So how much of a Director’s actor are Sanaya and Barun?

At times they are director’s actor. When they don’t understand things they leave it to us…Ki OK, Lalit i am not getting this and then I tell them what I want. And at times Barun and Sanaya pehle se plan karke aate hai which majority of the times would be much better than what I envisioned and so we stick on with their plan. I think the reason IPK became this beautiful show that it is because of these connections between the technicians and the actors. We always try to understand each others perspectives and opt for the best one.

15) Does a personal rapport with the actors help in extracting better performances from them?

Yes Of course, bohat zyada.

16) Time for a tricky questions whom do u enjoy directing more Sanaya or Barun?

Sanaya…. Sanaya is a very intelligent actress; she is very professional and dedicated. If I reach the set at 6:30 AM and her shift starts at 7 then she would be there sharp at 7. By chance if she was running late even if it’s by 10 mins, she would inform us. Sanaya is one of the best actresses we have in the Industry today. Dekho Khushi ke liye koi grand scene nahi tha, na uske liye chopper aaya na uske liye ASR jaisa ek buildup tha but still she managed to leave her signature in each and every scene and that was pure Sanaya. She did it all…..Sanaya has really worked hard and she used to give her 1000% to it. 

TV This Week - 10th - 16th Dec

Shows

Veera (will update tomorrow)
Monday 11th Dec - Ratan reads the letter ... hey bhagwan, get to the point! We're dying here to know why Amrita ran away from her wedding! Chalo, at least the story starts, how Sampooran met her.

SN - I really like the way they're doing the promos ... building up to the leap by showing Ranvi buying shoes, clothes, bangles for his Veera in bigger sizes. Very well done.

Qabool Hai

Madhubala

Pyaar Ka Dard Hai 
Picking up slowly, while Pankhudi is still very blank, the rest are watchable. Although I wish Nanaji would stop shouting so much! I like the Adi-Harish-Dadi scenes, I like the actress playing Adi's Dadi, there is something very sweet about her. Have seen her in another show where she played typical evil saas who was outwardly all honey and sugar, but she always got away with it because of her sweet face.  

Balika Vadhu ... since a few of us were watching the wedding episodes this week.

Sanaya's trip to LA

Making this a separate post just to add links of various pictures and interviews on the closure of IPKKND, one post is the report on the Chicago Forum, and the next two are the meeting Prabba, an IF member, had with Sanaya and Rajan.

Saw the IPKKND forum has been archived ... feeling sad. The end of a journey.

The only good thing - appears that Sanaya is already in talks for her next show. Fingers crossed.

Links to posts:

SPL Concert videos - posted by member. Official videos not out yet.
SPL Concert Videos

Chicago Form - report by member 

Met Sanaya and Rajan
Post by IF member, written update of first meeting and youtube link to interview with Sanaya and Rajan

Interview with Sanaya and Rajan 
Second post by same member Prabba, with written update of interview and YT link again.

Pictures of Sanaya at Artesia Shopping Festival
More pics 

Last article - interview of producer of IPK on Sanaya and Barun.
Rajesh Chaddha comments on IPK ending 

Sanaya's trip to LA
A Q&A session posted by a member.

IPKKND Rewind - A Trip Down Memory Lane. June '11

When MJHT wound up, I was writing an FF on Samrat-Gunjan. The show had gone downhill after Rati's return, I had lost interest in it, and was completely ready for it to end. After it ended, I continued with my FF and kept waiting for news of Sanaya's comeback. I wound up the FF the week IPKKND started not exactly by design ... it just happened that way!

So now I start a new journey ... IPKKND Rewind, with the hope that by the time I reach the second marriage, Sanaya will be back on screen., or earlier if possible ... she is much more popular now than she was after MJHT, so I hope the gap is smaller! The first whispers of Sanaya's return started in March 2011. Let's see when we get news this time.

In the meantime ... Rewind to June 2011
Blog link - IPKKND June 2011

Scenes I loved -
The first Dori scene ... even when writing the update, I couldn't describe it. Scene has to be watched, words can't do it justice. The rapid-fire exchange between Arnav and Khushi started from the very first encounter. A scene I can watch again and again ... especially the way Arnav breaks the dori and Khushi defiantly loosens her hair to cover her back, and turns to gaze at him with that mixture of defiance and anger ... runs away ... and he lets her go. From the very first episode, it hurt him when he hurt her. She got under his skin from the start.

The first Jalebi making scene - with the precap, I thought it would be about Khushi wanting to commit suicide. And then we were introduced to the most unique trait of Khushi - her stress-buster making jalebis! Loved Shashi babu's words to Khushi - dil ke rishte khoon ke rishton se badhkar hote hain'.

The dargah scenes and the confrontation there. Clash of ideals and beliefs ... the first challenge. Arnav had decided to bury the fashion show disaster - he changed his mind after the clash, and set into a motion a series of events that changed their lives for ever. So did he change their destiny with that one act? Or was that meeting at the dargah pre-ordained ... if they hadn't met at the dargah, he would not have released the pictures ... and they would never have met again.

Shyam entered, and the girls moved to Delhi with Buaji. Just noticed that Khushi had her trademark way to deal with lafangas already in place in the first couple of weeks of the show .. by calling them 'bhaiyaji'.Note the meeting with the autovaalah.

The second clash - scooty with car ... and the first time I appreciated Barun's acting  He took a week or two to get into the skin of ASR. Their arguments were already showing the strong chemistry and the sparks.
My comment then - not so much a clash of opposites - more a clash of two strong, stubborn personalities, similar in nature, but with opposite ideologies. 

Arnav's character was cemented further ... he respects his sister, his Nani ... but does exactly what he wants to do.

Khushi got a job in AR warehouse with Shyam's help.

Inane comedy was already making its presence felt but in moderation.And I had already started grumbling about Barun's mumbling!

Arnav and Khushi clash in the carpark ... the first torn dupatta. He asks her, which idiot gave you a job ... That would be you, Mr. Raizada.
24/6 was the first What The Arnav and Khushi meet in the office and they both realise he is her boss.  Under the table.

27/6 - the first challenge - Office 15 days - You quit, you pay me 1 lakh. I fire you, I pay you. The first time (of many) Arnav didn't allow to Khushi to walk out when she fully planned to. The first challenge ... designed to make her stay. The first character analysis of Arnav from me.
Beauty and the Beast Round Two

Arnav had already started keeping his encounters with Khushi very private ... about the only thing he didn't tell his sister. The Payal-Khushi scenes were picking up, Payal the sweet, caring older sister, who was really shocked at the huge mess her impetuous younger fire-cracker sis had got herself into!

On the whole, wasn't too hooked to IPK yet ... the intensity was sporadic, and there was too much inane comedy. The first week was good, the second and third weeks were disappointing. The last week of June started picking up, but on the whole, I was still watching mainly for Sanaya, and hoping she wouldn't go the Nupur way (I disliked Nupur intensely!)

Best scenes from June - undoubtedly the first Dori scene, and the clash at the dargah.

Discussion Post for the Weekend

The sudden winding up of IPKKND has bothered all of us in various ways. We've been playing the blame game all week, trying to pinpoint what went wrong. My suggestion ... let's put all that behind us, stop pointing fingers ... and if we want to discuss, do so more positively, in terms of not what went wrong, but what can be done to make sure such things don't happen again. There seems to a deep rot within the television industry as seen in the declining quality of daily programming, with a concomitant ever-burgeoning quantity. Are the two related?

I am adding here two articles which I feel are relevant to the debate, with my views in brief.

 What Ails Daily Soaps

Indian television probably had never seen such outpouring of emotions when Barun Sobti decided to quit the hugely popular show 'Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon'. The show went off the air breaking millions of hearts. Following Barun's 'quitting', are Ankita Lokhande, Shivaji Satam, Pawan Shanker, Sriti Jha and Harshad Chopra, who are all leaving or are on the verge of leaving their signature shows. The reason that the actors offered when it came to leaving their respective shows halfway might vary from 'moving on to better career prospects' to 'refusal to grow old on screen' but it also raises the same old debate, do Indian TV soaps run out of steam after a certain amount of time, causing a sense of fatigue for viewers and lead actors? 

In the initial heady days actors were thrilled to be part of saas-bahusoaps and even stuck to the show till it went off air. But times have changed since then as the landscape of the Indian television industry now boasts of more GECs which means a fractured viewership that's changed the rules of telly viewing.

Actors need to stay on
When a lead star quits a show, it sends the producer/broadcaster in panic mode. The most obvious answer is to get a replacement actor. Scarred by the rejection of new actors stepping into shoes of popular leads, producers are wary of treading the same path and prefer to either 'send off' the lead or 'kill him/her off'. Actor Aditya Redij says, "I quitNaa Aana Is Des Laado as I had inhibitions about playing an 18-year-old's father. If the makers keep an actor creatively happy, why will he/she quit?" Aishwarya Sakuja shares, "An actor playing the lead has to be available for a long period as the story line revolves around him/her. But, if an actor feels a sense of monotony, then there are many waiting to be in their shoes."Karan Kundra says, "It is impossible for me to be a part of any show beyond a year. When I started with Kitni Mohabbat Hai, Ekta Kapoor was clear on not extending the story beyond a point and we wrapped season one gracefully and came back with 160 episodes of season 2."

Calling it quits

Pawan Shanker
The male lead of Kya Hua Tera Vada has reportedly also quit the show
Reason: Doesn't want to grow old
Aftermath: Show set to take a leap, new male lead might be roped in

Barun Sobti
The official heartthrob of TV and broke millions of hearts when he decided to 'take a long break' from Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?
Reason: Health and to eventually look at a career in films
Aftermath: The show shut shop abruptly a week ago

Shivaji Satam
After 15 years of playing ACP Pradyuman in CID, Shivaji has decided to move on
Reason: Wants to focus on films
Aftermath: New characters will be brought in

Harshad Chopra & Sriti Jha
After making an entry in Dil Se Di Dua Saubhagyabati Bhavo some months ago, a disgruntled Harshad has quit the show, taking along with him the leading lady Sriti
Reason: Unhappy with the track
Aftermath: The show has introduced new characters

Ankita Lokhande 
There are reports that Ankita won't be continuing with Pavitra Rishta after February 2013. Reason: Doesn't want to play grandmom
Aftermath: Talks of show going off air are doing rounds

Long running soaps end on a whimper Most top shows, from Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi(1830 episodes), Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki (1700 episodes), Dill Mill Gayye (721 episodes) to the more recent Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? (398 episodes) started on a high note, showing lots of promise and generating fan frenzy. When it came to their closure, the shows ended abruptly, an indication that the production houses had no choice, but to hurry up with the storylines, upsetting loyal audiences. Producer Sumeet Mittal shares, "Producers have a long story on mind when a daily soap airs. But, if we have to wrap it due to low TRPs, we do try to do justice to it."

We'll be back after a season break Shows with returning after a season break has always worked in the West. Following the footsteps of popular shows like Sex And The City, Grey's Anatomy and Lost, some popular Indian TV shows have also tried the 'second season' experiment In the past soaps, seasons of shows like Karamchand, Baa Bahoo Aur Baby, Kitani Mohabbat Hai, Na Bole Tum have been aired, with mixed results, says, "Yes, introducing a second season is definitely a good option. When shows come back on a fresh note, it definitely works. There is no point dragging the soaps without any relevance. Second season of a show like Na Tum Bole Na Maine Kuuch Kaha is awaited by fans eagerly."

In the end, it's not a jaded story line but a mint-fresh story line evolving continuously with powerful performances that does the trick. But with tracks being changed, altered story-lines, lead characters quitting the show — you never know in which way the show takes a turn. 


The second article, with the relevant portion highlighted in bold and different color. 
World's Sexiest Asian Women  
Bollywood superstar Priyanka Chopra has won the 'Worlds Sexiest Asian Woman' crown, according to an on-line survey conducted by a weekly magazine.

Priyanka, 30, defeated reigning championKareena Kapoor and three-times winner Katrina Kaif to claim the crown of sexiest Asian woman on the planet this year.

"Priyanka Chopra secured top spot with Kareena Kapoor coming second and Katrina Kaif third," Asian weekly Eastern Eye said.

A permanent fixture in the top three in recent years, the beauty queenturned A-list Bollywood star beat off very tough competition from some of the most stunning women from around the world.

"It has rounded off a dream year for Priyanka, which included a starring role in super-hit film Agneepath, delivering a superbperformance in India's official entry to the Oscars, Barfi! and launching an international pop career alongside chart-topping singer Will.i.am," the release added.

Clearly delighted with the win, Priyanka said: "I'm hugely flattered. Who wouldn't want to have a title like this bestowed on them! A big shout out to everyone who voted for me."

Eastern Eye showbiz editor Asjad Nazir, who annually puts together the popular list and is chairman of the judging panel believes a dream year will give Priyanka the perfect platform to possibly becoming a Hollywood star in 2013.

"The sheer diversity of the projects that Priyanka did in 2012 combined with her close connection to fans online worked in her favour and added to her already impressive fan base. That is why she was able to beat off pop stars, TV personalities, models and fellow film stars," said Asjad.

The biggest surprise of 2012 was the number of television actresses from India who entered the list for the first time. Ek Hazaaron Kein Meri Behna Hai stars Nia Sharma, who came fifth and Krystle D'Souza on 9th became the first ever TV actresses from India to crack the top 10.

Other Indian television actresses who made the list included Drashti Dhami (12), Sanaya Irani (13), Kritika Kamra (19), Jennifer Winget (21), Yashashtri Masurkar (24) and Asha Negi (32)."The fact that so many television actresses made the top 50 showed that Bollywood is no longer the only dominant force in India and that television is playing a much bigger part in the lives of people around the world," added Asjad. 
Other notable stars in this year's list include Deepika Padukone landed on the fourth spot, Bipasha Basu on the sixth, Sonam Kapoor on the seventh, Diana Penty (15), and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (16).

The highest placed Pakistani was supermodel turned television personality Mehreen Syed (10) and the highest placed star from the west was once again Hollywood actress Noureen Dewulf (11), who is currently starring alongside Charlie Sheen in hit US sitcom Anger Management.

Priyanka's cousin Parineeti Chopra (18), Rani Mukerji (22), Esha Gupta (23), Sussanne Roshan(25), Alia Bhatt (29), Giaa Manek (41) and singer Tasha Tah (47) were also included in the list. .

There was another article on Asia's Sexiest Men, with Barun in it, but since it was just a list of photographs, and there was no text  article alongside, I haven't added that. Didn't check how many TV actors were on that one. I would guess a similar number.  

*Edit*
A third article with just the relevant part added

Silver Screen still a Distant Dream for Television stars   (TOI)
Barun goes to Bollywood
The latest actor to bid adieu to television is Barun Sobti aka Arnav Singh Raizada of Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon. Sources associated with the show say, "Barun recently completed a movie. He now harbours the desire to try his luck in movies and is quitting television. The channel apparently received 20,000 emails a day, requesting that he be convinced to stay back. But Barun decided to move on."

However, Barun refutes all that is being said about him, "I had put in my papers in February itself but the makers asked me to stay on for a while. I have quit because I want to spend some quality time with my family. I am in talks for a few Bollywood projects but it's at a very nascent stage."


Relevant points from my side:
Actors quit for many reasons. IPKKND was the first instance of a soap shutting down because the lead actor quit. Most soaps either replace the actors with a new face, or with a new character, killing off the old one with an accident. The accident option leaves the path open for the actor to return if he wants to/ channel, PH or fans demand it. 
Karan Kundra is the only person in this list who says Ekta wrapped up the show because she was clear the story had ended. Rajan Shahi is another producer to wrapped his first show, Bidaai, when still running with high TRP's, because he felt he had nothing more to the story.
Another exception is the YR shows which always aired with a fixed time frame in mind, they told their story and ended when the story was finished. 
Factual inaccuracy in the first article ... Na Bole Tum is slated to re-appear with a second season - it hasn't aired yet. So mixed results is a very premature statement on that one!

TV and TV stars are becoming bigger and bigger ... as evidenced by the entry of so many into these lists of Sexiest Men and Women. As the article states, Tellywood is becoming as dominant an influence as Bollywood in people's lives. It is often said that in India there are only two religions, films and cricket. It seems a third might be entering the picture.

Questions: 
Is Barun's quitting merely a small symptom of a much bigger problem with the television industry today? Long working hours, daily rigorous shoot schedules, last minute changes of script, unending sagas, which mean that sooner or later storylines crash or meander into nothingness ... And add to that, soap stars are paid much less compared to Bollywood ones, and the discontent within the TV industry, and the ever-present lure of Bollywood.

Or is the daily soap meant to be exactly what it has become today? A mind numbing source of entertainment, where if you miss a day or two, or an episode or two, it doesn't really matter? And they carry on for years anyway, what's an episode or two here or there?

In that case, what then of the more discerning viewer, who wants more than that?  Would you be happier with a show which aired say once weekly, or even thrice-weekly, if the quality of the story-telling was better? If the acting and the story-lines kept you gripped, interested you, involved you, engaged you in debate and discussion? Should there be such alternatives available?

Is the situation different for men and women in TV? I read an article a long time back where a number of TV actresses had said they preferred working on television because the TV industry was a much safer place for women, as compared to Bollywood. I have heard horror stories of the casting couch in Bollywood, and how very widespread it is, from very authentic sources ... believe me, you would be surprised and shocked at some of the names involved! 

From the third article, Barun's name needs to be added to that of the PH and Gul, as among the people who lost interest in the show. He has confirmed that he put in his papers in February itself, which he also said in the interview with Gul. This is in spite of the fact that at that time, ASR was still the original ASR, and had not been watered down into the rather wishy washy Arnav we saw after the kidnapping. So was the lure of Bollywood so strong that he jumped ship halfway, to the detriment of the show? Despite the fact that he had an author-backed role?
TV is a women dominated medium, while Bollywood definitely has more to offer the men. (However this cannot be said for IPKKND, as ASR was the central character, whose journey was the central theme of the show.) Barun is not the first actor who has left a show for Bollywood, the list is pretty long. However, he is the first actor whose leaving has caused the show to shut down. And most of the other actors on the list left their shows after a much longer period of time, not after barely a few months.

The second article indicates that the popularity of TV stars has grown exponentially in recent times. I've seen saree shops advertising the clothes worn by TV stars to attract customers, something which happened earlier only with film actresses. Has their confidence that they will be able to make it on a bigger platform, grown along with the increase their their popularity?
Sushant Singh Rajput has bagged a reasonably big film, and is rumored to be in talks with Yashraj films and/or KJo. Ayushman, who is well known as a TV host, recently did Vicky Donor, which was a surprise hit. However since he's not part of a long-running show, his film didn't disrupt any TV schedules, he has therefore kept his options wide open. Ram Kapoor and Ronit Roy have been doing a balancing act for some time, the latest example being their very successful outing in Udaan. Ram Kapoor continues to move between TV and films, he does small roles of substance in films, and manages them despite being a lead on BALH. Raj Zutshi has done films and TV, Raquesh Vashisht has shifted from Bollywood to TV.
 SN - I didn't know I remembered so many ... I must be really jobless!!!
Interestingly, many Bollywood stars have also made a foray into TV ... Amitabh Bachhan being the most well-known, of course, followed by Shahrukh, Akshay, Shatrughan Sinha (he did the Bhojpuri version of KBC), Ajay Devgan and Kajol (they hosted a few episodes of a very forgettable show), and now Aamir Khan. Any more?

Note - from this weekend, I will start IPKKND Rewind - a Journey down Memory Lane. Let's remember and cherish the good memories, and forget the bad.

TV This Week - 3rd- 9th Dec 2012 (2)

TV This Week ... continue discussions here

Shows under discussion ...

Veera 
Wednesday - Scene I loved - the brothers and sisters all lining up to pray at the gurudwara for Ranvi to find his Veera.
Thursday - Ratan turning accusingly at Guru Nanak's picture, when she hears that Veera has landed up at the same hospital where Ranvi is admitted ... as though realising and acknowledging for the first time ever, that Ranvi and Veera are truly a bond made in heaven ... nothing she does can break them apart.
Veera smiling when she sees Ranvi in hospital - that baby is soooo cute!
Ranvi coming back to life when Veera is laid down next to him ...

Qabool Hai

Madhubala

IPKKND (still continues!)

TV This Week - 3rd-9th Dec 2012 (1)

TV This Week will now be a weekly post  to discuss all the shows we're watching.

Veera ... Ranvi's troubles at school continued, Ratan found out he was not attending class because of Veera and determined to do something about it. The village people instigated by evil chachi, also warned Ranvi to have nothing to do with Veera. Ranvi fights with evil chachi's son over Veera (SN - I need to get the names sorted out!). Because of all the problems due to Veera, Ratan leaves Veera in an orphanage. Chaiji is not happy. Ranvi is upset without Veera, and in the orphange, Veera cries incessantly without her brother.
They say 'jodiyan upar se ban ke aati hain.' In this show, they're showing another kind of divine love, for the first time I have seen on screen ... the love between a brother and a sister. Beautiful.

Not keeping up with anything else ... have had a very hectic weekend, and just caught up with the last episode of IPKKND and Friday's episode of Veera.

Monday 3rd Dec ... Ranvi is looking for Veera, Ratan is looking for Ranvi. Liked the Gurudwara scene again. Ranvi starts to lose faith in Ratan's words about looking for Veera.

Tuesday 4th Dec ... Scene I loved - Ranvi holding up a hand written - scrawled - message to Pari Maa to bring back Veera ... his friends see him, and rush to help by adding their own messages. The innocence of childhood, the togetherness, readiness, eagerness to help their friend, that faith in the essential goodness of everyone, including Pari Maa. 

30/11 - Epi 398 ... Arhi - Hamesha

Friday 30th November '12

Am I happy IPKKND ended with Arnav Khushi together hamesha? I guess I am.

Did I like the way it ended ... a rushed job, with Arnav Khushi not in the same frame except for just one brief scene? No.

Could the cv's have done better with the time they had at hand? Not talking about the one week they were given to wrap up, with Barun unavailable to re-shoot anything, and Sanaya available only after Tuesday, when there was just one episode left (Wednesday's episode was obviously shot before the UK trip, there was no episode on Thursday) ... Yes, even so, they could have done much better over the last two months when they knew he was going.

Just one idea ... they could have shown ArnavKhushi supporting Anjali after the whole Shyam exposure, then going on honeymoon on Anjali's urging ... maybe bumping into a Sheetal type on their holiday, and Khushi realising that although she fit in just fine with Arnav's family, she didn't fit in so well at his work life ... and then the last track on Khushi growing into Mrs KASR ... just in time for Arnav's accident, if they indeed did plan that to ease him out ...
This is just one idea, am sure they could have come up with others, which would have been better than leaving Khushi with a six year old child to bring up ...
Unless of course, they did plan a leap with Viraf as Aarav Singh Raizada, and Sanaya as the new girl in his life. Unfortunately, we will never know what they had planned ...

Made this post as we are already on 198 comments in the first one.

Episode update ...
SN - the entire episode was shot with BD's ... 

The family round continues with more Q&A ...and Arav calls Khushi mom for the first time ... And Khushi wins the round ... but of course ...

Arnav catches Khushi alone for a quick moment ... 'I troubled you a lot, didn't I?' His insistence on her learning to say No ... trying to teach her ways to face the world ... but as usual, Khushi wanted to do it her way ... and she did ...
She nods, pouting slightly ... and he gives her a quick peck of apology ... Khushi embarrassed to be seen making out with hubby in public but he doesn't care if the world sees, he loves his pagal biwi to bits, and he's not ashamed to show it ...

And vamp Amrita sees and is delighted ... finally a way to get rid of Khushi ...

Arnav tells Khushi they'll go home together, Khushi refuses ... you taught me to say No, here you go, I'm saying it ...  
Saying No to Arnav is not an option he's ever going to give her ...

Amrita blows the trumpet gleefully ... 'Khushi is seducing the sponsor to win the show ...'
Umm, wrong number, Khushi seduced the sponsor ages ago ... and he very willingly got seduced too ... she's Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, and she has full right to seduce him ...
Amrita is fazed only momentarily ... but she thinks on her feet ... 'if he's the sponsor, Khushi can't take part ...'
We did bring this up some time back ... seems like Arnav just realised it now ... so he bows out ... Khushi wanted it this way, because she wanted to win without his name, on her own merit, and he supported her decision ... Khushi is ready to withdraw ...
Judges see the chief sponsor backing off, and quickly confirm that of course Khushi can take part ... 
SN - and given the state of the competition, they need the funds desperately!  
Arnav agrees not to come in front of Khushi before the competition ends ...

Back home ... Khushi missing Arnav ... and he's there ... she might not see him, but he's always there for her ... and she knows it, she can feel him with her always ...
'Then why are you upset? I may not be with you during the contest ... but I'm always with you ... hamesha ...'
'Hamesha ...' a promise, a vow. Arnav-Khushi always ...

The Mrs India finale (and what a pathetic finale ... really! With the entire audience comprised of one family, the participants, the judges, the MC's and the trainer ... not even an attempt made to make this believable or grand in any way!)
Natasha's story emerges in a quick scene ... she wants to be a happy housewife and take care of her husband, he wants her to be a model and earn the moolah ...

Contest starts ... 
Natasha finds the courage suddenly to be true to herself, and find her own happiness her own way ... thanks to Khushi ...
Amrita stole the questions and parroted the answers ... she's kicked out ... not before time! Hey bhagwan, was this a school quiz or something?

Khushi's turn ... as she stands at the start of the runway, memories of the first runway she stood on, the first walk, the first fall ... the first broken dori ... the scattered pearls ... now all restrung into a beautiful new string ...
And dhak dhak again ... one last time ... even if he's not near, he's always here ... for her ...
The questions ... answered from the heart ... family or victory ... Family.
Love or worship ... for her, love is worship ...
Her last twenty-four hours ... what would she do? ... and Khushi names every member of her family turn by turn, and what she would do with them ...
But what about Arnav? No need to name him separately ... because he would always be with her ... the last 24 hours, and forever after ...

And of course Khushi wins ...

Final scene ... final 'I love you' from Khushi to Arnav ... 'We all love you' from the family to Khushi ... much to her surprise and delight ...
And finally Khushi acknowledges to Arnav ... he was her strength, her support all along ... she could not have done this without him ... she wouldn't have been able to face the world without him ...  she wouldn't have known what love is without him ... the most important part of her life is Arnav ...

And final flashbacks from the first meeting right up till the second marriage ... the Arhi journey ... thats started with a fall, argument, hatred ... slowly changed to awareness, desire, passion ... caring ... love ... a bond that started with a bandage ... and was cemented in love ...
A new grihapravesh ... a new beginning ... Arshi together forever ...

30/11 - Epi 398 ... Goodbye, IPKKND

Friday November 30th '12

Fitting somehow ... that I will watch IPKKND's last episode at around the same time that I watched almost 395 earlier ones, give or take the few weeks I was travelling.  A show I have watched from start to end, not missing a single episode - a first for me.

Am out for dinner ... will watch and post later tonight.

Quick edit ... watched very late ... will edit completely late on Sunday or Monday.

What do I say? An episode that was obviously rushed to meet an unexpected deadline. The disinterest of the PH shows again in the so-called "Finale" of a Mrs. India contest that has as an audience the family of one participant, the two judges who were also the selectors, the trainer and the MC in undetermined roles and no other audience whatsoever.  The flashbacks of the Sheesh Mahal only served to underline the grandeur with which the soap started, and the level to which it fell. How the cv's rushed to meet the deadline showed in the way that Khushi was not with the family in any frame, her last few scenes probably all had to be shot separately within a crazy time span as soon as she returned from the UK. Similarly for her scenes with Arnav, which were probably shot before the trip ... except for that one scene, they were not in any frame together ... even in the last scene when she tells him how he is her biggest strength and is always with her. Today I felt her emotions did not come through as well as they usually do ... Barun was very flat almost all through. Probably because they were shooting to a tight deadline and hardly ever together ... both Sanaya and Barun are far better when shooting with each other, especially Barun.

I liked the flashbacks tracing their journey ...

I wonder how the PH would have shown Arnav's accident ... and Khushi's reaction ... this ending was supposed to complete their story, and yet it left me feeling incomplete. Again the channel interfering and not allowing the PH to do things the way they had planned, because of the overwhelming popularity of one actor, and the unreasonable demands of fans. Is that the story of the show?

Epi 397 ... All for Khushi, Khushi For All

Second post ... thanks, Jaya! Please continue discussions here when the first one reaches 200 comments.

I will make a new episode post for tonight ... I will join you all late, but I will definitely be there!!! Please be around! And can we plan to meet up again on Sunday night if it suits everyone. I am out most of Saturday and Sunday, but will be back home by 11pm HK time ... 9.30 India time.

28/11 - Epi 397 ... All For Khushi, Khushi For All - The Raizadas

Wednesday 28th November '12

Khushi learns to say No all right ... but her mad family is not ready to hear it
So they all work on Khushi's soft heart ... individually, by turns ... and Khushi almost gives in to each one ... Arnav the Wicked is there to stop her from giving in to her soft heart and his mad family's emotional blackmail ... and Khushi ends up refusing everyone ...

Next day, Amrita gets a fake husband ... Jai catches her out ...

Arnav calls Khushi (who's looking drop dead gorgeous ... I actually caught my breath when she came on screen) ... and tells her he's always there with her, supporting her, loving her. Even if he can't be there with her physically.

Amrita gets caught out on stage by Jai ... disqualified from round, not from show ...
Natasha knows her husband much better than he knows her ...

Arnav starts worrying that Khushi took him a bit too seriously and said No to everyone ...

He needn't have worried ... Khushi's soft heart and the love she shares with his madcap family ensures that she will never be alone ... the whole family turns up to be with her. And they show how well they all know Khushi and she knows them ...
Again a great build up to the proposed end of Arnav having an accident and his whole family being there to support Khushi ... but ... oh well

The final question ... what can Khushi not live without?
NK answers 'food' ... Pretty close ... but what Khushi really can't live without is her pyaare pati ...

And a final Rabba Ve ...

Hey all ... I have house guests this weekend starting today, and a very hectic few days lined up ... will make the post for Friday, but will update both this and the last episode only on Sunday, I think ... won't have the time before that.

From Tuesday, I plan a series of posts on favorite scenes of IPKKND, hope you guys will join me on those.  

EDIT ... Finally editing episode posts for Wednesday and Friday ... with thanks to Devi Maiyya ... she obviously knew this was going to happen this weekend, and hence she planned such a hectic weekend for me that I could detox from the show 

Episode
Khushi grumbles about her autocratic LG and his lessons. which have put her in such a pickle ... the problem of saying 'No' to everyone she loves.

Nani arrives to comfort her, pamper her, understand her dilemma ... umm, not really Nani is here to promote her own candidature as chief cheerleader   Khushi starts to agree ... yes, Nani is the eldest, it's her right ...Nani waits with anticipation ...
NO ... One look from Arnav ... and poor Khushi has to repeat the lesson newly learned ... No, Nani, you can't ... 

Grumbling again, this time to Devi Maiyya about her dilemma ... please, Devi Maiyya, give him just a little bit of sense ... SN - I cracked up at this one! Give him sense!!!
Anjali arrives ... filled with love and affection for her dear bhabhi Khushi, how they are a lesson for all nanad-bhabhi's, the ideal NB pair ... and of course how good they will look on stage together ...
Khushi ready to agree ... one look from Arnav and the lesson again ... NO ... you can't come ... because my kismet is bad ... translated to mean - I have a dictator husband who's bent on giving me unpleasant life lessons at the worst possible time

Next candidate ... Dancing Mami ... Khushi closes her eyes quickly before Mami can make the inevitable speech ... and says NO again ... even more upset ...

She runs to her room to escape ... no escape, NK follows her there, ready with a prepared speech in shudh Hindi ... now can I come with you?
Of course you can ... how can Khushi refuse anyone? Arnav playing Narad muni Much to Khushi's complete dismay and annoyance ... he knows exactly how difficult this is for her! And he's not making it any easier! Quite the reverse.
Arav isn't to be left behind ... I love you ... Khushi moved ... he continues, now can I come with you?  

Khushi looks at Arnav for help ... not happening ...
Why are you looking at me?! Say yes ... unspoken ... I know you can't say No ...
It's a challenge again, not one she wants to win ... but she has to ... and he's actually impressed that she did ...
Not that it stops her from showing her annoyance ... to him, of course ... Khushi can show her annoyance to Arnav, because he understands her so well ... you are mean! And she flounces off ... much to his amusement. 

Khushi at the contest ... my breath hitched when I saw her, she was looking so beautiful ...
SN - why does she have just three blouses in total for all her sarees?
Worrying about being alone without her Mister, if he'd been there with her, we would have won without a doubt ... aww, poor Khushi ...
But when has it ever happened that she needed Arnav and he hasn't been there for her? So he calls ... 'I'm here ... maybe I can't be with you, walk hand in hand, claim you as my wife ... but I'm always with you ..'
And that's really all Khushi needs ...

Amrita very happy Khushi seems to be alone ... she seems to think Khushi is the only worthy competition for her ... methinks Amrita needs a reality check, is she worthy contestant at all?
Khushi sees Natasha and husband, both busy with their individual phones ...
Amrita has hired a husband ... who wants more money ... Jai overhears ...

Husband-wife round starts ... Amrita is caught out by Jai immediately ... exit from round, but not from contest ...
Natasha's turn ... she knows everything about her husband, but he knows nothing about her ...
SN - one thing I have to say about this PH, in one subtle scene, they manage to put in layers ... that explained why Natasha withdrew in the final round ...
While Arnav worries that Khushi took him a bit too seriously ... and called no one ... 

Khushi's turn ... she walks on stage alone and Riya wonders if no one wanted to accompany her ... Wrong ... problem was different, everyone wanted to accompany her ... and they did
First Nani ... then Mami ... nope, Jai, not two ... but three, four, five ... all there for Khushi ... because she can't choose just one ...
And Arnav isn't surprised ...what else to be expected from his crazy but loving family?!
The question-answers start ... of course, everyone knows everything about Khushi, and Khushi knows everything about everyone ...
NK thinks Khushi can't do without food ... oops, wrong answer ... she can even do without food if needed, but not without her pyaare pati ...

And a final Rabba Ve ... as Khushi stares mistily at her pyaare Arnavji, and he smiles lovingly and proudly back at her ...

27/11 - Epi 396 ... Life's Lessons ... Learn to Say No

Tuesday 27th November '12

Khushi ends her ramp walk, all smiles ...
Arnav gets a call and goes off ... Khushi tries to look for him, waylaid by efffusive Jai and Sam ... both full of praise ... she's a front runner now. Arnav is annoyed ... or jealous?
Amrita and Riya both not pleased.

Next morning, Khushi is surprised to see Arnav missing ... he's left instructions for her to take the car. Nani, Mami, NK, Anjali and Arav all fuss over her.
Khushi late ... told to do sit ups
Sit ups end barely two minutes later ... new task for the next day, the girls have to come with their husbands. Amrita and Natasha both look alarmed.
Khushi wishes she could bring Arnav, because the round would be a piece of cake with him. Girls pump her for ideas, which she happily gives away. She also asks Jai for permission to bring another family member as her husband is busy.

Back home ... Mami, Nani and NK are preparing their victory speeches, all ready to stake their claim to Khushi's fame. Aarav is sure his mom will thank him anyway ... all moms do. Filler scene ... but it was nice to see the mad Raizada family ... gonna miss them!

Arnav corners her furiously ... learn to say No! Don't give away everything to the girls, they're using you to get ideas. If you have to face the world if you're alone, then you have to learn to say No.
Khushi falters for a second ... rabba ve ... and then declares firmly ... she can face the world alone, she can say No.
SN - am sure this was shot pre-London.

So she goes home, and tells the family they have to accompany her the next day ... all are excited. Arnav arrives, and Khushi belatedly remembers her life's lesson for the day ... and slowly, less and less firmly, refuses all of them ... and almost crying, tells the reason ... she can take only one person. And run off ... feeling so bad for making them all feel bad. Didn't know whether to laugh or go awww at this ... so typically Khushi!
And Arnav looks after her satisfied ... she has learnt her lesson, though it was tough on her.

Note - timings changed here ... I get the episode at India time now!  

*edit*
Khushi completes her ramp walk ... stands with love, gratitude overflowing in her eyes as she looks at Arnav ... his eyes respond with love and pride and a quiet satisfaction ... his woman is the best, always.A smile maintained as he leaves with a phone call.
Riya is not very happy with Jai's open appreciation ... they could have made a nice parallel track on this, it looked promising.

Later Khushi looking for Arnav ... Jai compliments her ... so does Riya, but with a warning, don't try that on me again ... Khushi apologises if she hurt anyone ... typical Khushi ...
Arnav overhears the two admiring Khushi, and the jealous lover is back ...
So Sam did help Khushi by giving her a dress she could wear with ease ... now if only she would stop calling him 'bhaiyya!' But Jai says that whatever Sam does, Khushi can never be out of the competition now ... Amrita is annoyed and worried at Jai's open admiration ... so is Riya ... Khushi barely hears them, she is only worried about Arnav and his reaction ...

Manaoing annoyed, jealous Arnav is not easy ... Khushi tries her best ... did you see, they all liked me, I was so worried, they're not so bad after all, what do you think?
He's jealous, annoyed ... no one has the right to admire his wife but him ... I'm busy ...

Khushi puzzled ... then it clicks, oops, we're not husband and wife here, I'm not supposed to talk like this here ... doesn't enter her head that her man is one insanely jealous lover ...
But then confusion ... why is he so upset?

And she does get a hint when she overhears a conversation between Jai and Riya, Riya annoyed at Jai paying attention to everyone but her ... Jai accuses her of the same ... and Khushi wonders, these two are fighting like a husband-wife ... could they be ...?
Again, this could have been a nice parallel track ... the actors are decent, and they look the part ...

Next morning, Khushi again looking for Arnav ... he's left early but left instructions - take the car. Thank God ... finally! No autos for Mrs Raizada.
Entire family gets Khushi ready for work ... salad, drink, fruit ... and lots of encouragement and support ...

Some more timepass ... exercise for the girls, Khushi is late, gets situps as punishment, and within two minutes, called off as a new competition is happening ... a couple round. Khushi first happy ... then worried ... Arnav can't come to the sets. Amrita and Natasha are both worried. But Khushi clears the way for herself and for them ... she gets permission to bring a family member, because hubby is too busy. Of course Jai agrees - he's not going to disqualify Khushi

Amrita and the other girls happily pump Khushi for ideas, she equally happily and innocently gives them all away, watching movies together, gardening together, dancing together ... Arnav shakes his head ... this girl is pagal, not at all wordly-wise!

Filler family scene ... Manorama getting her thank you speech ready for Khushi's victory Nani and NK stake their claim for their share of glory Aarav says his mom will thank only him.

Arnav yanks Khushi into his room ... and puts forward a series of requests ... wear a mini dress and come for a party, shift away from the family with me, kiss me now ... Khushi, ek baat to sun lo!
Khushi refuses ... and Arnav makes his point ... if you can say no to me, learn to say No to others, they're all using you to get ideas!
SN - was that Arnav or Barun speaking? He's managed to say No pretty forcefully ...

Khushi refuses ... she wants to show him she's no less than him ... he repeats it's not about him or her, it's about living in the big bad world ... how will you manage if I'm not around?
And for a moment Khushi is shocked ... alone? Without him?
Then she gathers herself ... I will manage ... she's ready to face the world, and do it on her own terms too ...
He knows she can, but for that, she has to learn to say NO ... not let herself get taken for a ride, or for granted.
SN - somehow there seemed to be a lesson in there somewhere ...

Khushi comes home muttering to herself ... she's not that naive as he thinks. And announces to the family about the couple round ... and also that Arnav isn't coming, so she has permission to bring her family.
Family all overjoyed, all planning the outing immediately with full excitement ... and Khushi suddenly remembers she's only allowed one person, not a paltan ... just as Arnav arrives home, and she has to prove herself to him again ...  
So she says No ... with increasing sadness and guilt ... as Arnav pushes her buttons by mentioning each member and how much they have helped her ... and she dolefully sticks to her refusal, feeling worse and worse ... and finally blurts out the real reason ... that she's allowed only one person ... and runs to her room ... not even seeing the understanding on their faces ... and the satisfaction on Arnav's ... Lesson learned. Slowly Khushi is learning to face the world.







SN - I really wonder at Sanaya's capacity for work ... she was onscreen at least half the episode yesterday and most of today ... and she is away for three days to UK, where she did a Meet and Greet and three dances. How quickly does this girl can her scenes?! No wonder her producer called her the most professional actor on the sets.