Monday 29th July
What a riveting episode! The second half with the Chhanchhan-Umaben confrontation went by so fast I couldn't believe the episode really was for a full hour ... it seemed far too short!
And now the real clash begins ... the clash between two strong women, two different generations, one backed by centuries of tradition, cultural conditioning and old-fashioned values and struggling to preserve them in the modern world, fiercely believing that is the only way to go ... the other, modern, educated, aware, her thinking moulded both by tradition as well as by modernity, who believes that tradition and people both have to keep pace with the changing times.
Episode starts with Chhanchhan deeply disturbed and heartbroken at what she witnesses in the temple ... her marriage is under attack, and she will do anything to save it ... anything except destroy her family. And exposing the whole truth will destroy her family for sure. So what should she do?!
On the other side, Sanjana and Mansi are fasting for their husbands, present and future ... and Manav to his surprise and concern, discovers from Kaumudi, that Chhanchhan is fasting too. And Kaumudi urges him again to bring Chhanchhan back home ... Manav says he tried, she didn't listen ... Kaumudi reminds him how much Chhanchhan did to appease him when he was upset with Chhanchhan, he has to do as much for her. Seems that Manav didn't need much urging ... he was quite happy to be persuaded!
So off he goes to cajole Chhanchan into coming back home ... and Chhanchhan doesn't need much persuasion either ... her over-helpful, over-affectionate family is dispatched pronto and Manav and Chhanchhan return home.
Much to Umaben's dismay ... she tries to cover with her sweet demeanour, Chhanchhan is not buying it this time.
Dadaji is cute! Happy to see Chhanchhan back, covers it with scolding ... CC says she has something to tell the family, but will say it when everyone is together ... Umaben wonders what she has to say ...
The family is ready to help Mansi, Chhanchhan and Sanjana stay awake the whole night with a family dandiya ...
One song later, Chhanchhan tells the family the Sonali story ... much to Umaben's worry and Manav's not too happy surprise ... but with a twist ... her fears were unfounded, Umaben is as pure as the driven snow and she is ashamed she thought such things about her saintly saas.
Babuji starts to get a little annoyed, but Dadaji is having none of it ... CC emerges with honors for her honest confession, Manav is proud of his wife, and their whole fight is blown over and out of sight, the marriage is safe again ... the danger of Sonali is blown to smithereens, for now even if Sonali appears, the whole family will be alert to any signs of trouble ... and Umaben is not sure whether to be worried or relieved. Has she fooled Chhanchhan ... or not? Interestingly, Umaben being the shrewd lady she is, seems to realise that Chhanchhan has not told the whole truth here. Chhanchhan's words about a mother only wanting her son's happiness, seemed to strike a tender spot ... as intended.
Dandiya resumes, this time Chhanchhan with Umaben ... and Chhanchhan remembers all that Umaben has done, all her deceit ... unable to wear a mask any more, she flees the dance floor ... followed by Umaben.
Dialogue of the day for me were ... Umaben - 'I forgive you, why are you still upset?'
Chhanchhan - 'you have forgiven me, but tell me, how am I supposed to forgive you?' and shows Umaben the recording at the temple ...
Sanaya and Supriya aced the scene ... shock, pain and heartbreak still on Chhanchhan's face, along with the determination to find her answers ... Umaben shocked beyond belief that Chhanchhan knows the whole truth and yet did not expose her ...
'Why?'
Because Chhanchhan could not bring herself to break a son's relationship with his mother.
And finally the gloves are off ... two strong women face each other, both with a common goal, both determined to keep their family together and intact, but their ways are so, so different. And each believes her way is right.
No longer is Umaben black or evil ... she has her reasons for behaving the way she does ... her ways have stood her family in good stead all these years, have saved the family time and again ... she is right, her ways are right, and Chhanchhan is wrong. And that is why she wanted Chhanchhan out ... not because she hates her ... but because she hates her new, 'modern' thoughts and ideas. Thoughts which she believes will break up her family.
Today were Umaben's thoughts ... tomorrow will be Chhanchhan's turn.
And judging from the precap, the next challenge ... whose ways are the right way for keeping the family intact?
No deceit, no lies, no covert plots now ... it's all out in the open. The clash begins.
What a riveting episode! The second half with the Chhanchhan-Umaben confrontation went by so fast I couldn't believe the episode really was for a full hour ... it seemed far too short!
And now the real clash begins ... the clash between two strong women, two different generations, one backed by centuries of tradition, cultural conditioning and old-fashioned values and struggling to preserve them in the modern world, fiercely believing that is the only way to go ... the other, modern, educated, aware, her thinking moulded both by tradition as well as by modernity, who believes that tradition and people both have to keep pace with the changing times.
Episode starts with Chhanchhan deeply disturbed and heartbroken at what she witnesses in the temple ... her marriage is under attack, and she will do anything to save it ... anything except destroy her family. And exposing the whole truth will destroy her family for sure. So what should she do?!
On the other side, Sanjana and Mansi are fasting for their husbands, present and future ... and Manav to his surprise and concern, discovers from Kaumudi, that Chhanchhan is fasting too. And Kaumudi urges him again to bring Chhanchhan back home ... Manav says he tried, she didn't listen ... Kaumudi reminds him how much Chhanchhan did to appease him when he was upset with Chhanchhan, he has to do as much for her. Seems that Manav didn't need much urging ... he was quite happy to be persuaded!
So off he goes to cajole Chhanchan into coming back home ... and Chhanchhan doesn't need much persuasion either ... her over-helpful, over-affectionate family is dispatched pronto and Manav and Chhanchhan return home.
Much to Umaben's dismay ... she tries to cover with her sweet demeanour, Chhanchhan is not buying it this time.
Dadaji is cute! Happy to see Chhanchhan back, covers it with scolding ... CC says she has something to tell the family, but will say it when everyone is together ... Umaben wonders what she has to say ...
The family is ready to help Mansi, Chhanchhan and Sanjana stay awake the whole night with a family dandiya ...
One song later, Chhanchhan tells the family the Sonali story ... much to Umaben's worry and Manav's not too happy surprise ... but with a twist ... her fears were unfounded, Umaben is as pure as the driven snow and she is ashamed she thought such things about her saintly saas.
Babuji starts to get a little annoyed, but Dadaji is having none of it ... CC emerges with honors for her honest confession, Manav is proud of his wife, and their whole fight is blown over and out of sight, the marriage is safe again ... the danger of Sonali is blown to smithereens, for now even if Sonali appears, the whole family will be alert to any signs of trouble ... and Umaben is not sure whether to be worried or relieved. Has she fooled Chhanchhan ... or not? Interestingly, Umaben being the shrewd lady she is, seems to realise that Chhanchhan has not told the whole truth here. Chhanchhan's words about a mother only wanting her son's happiness, seemed to strike a tender spot ... as intended.
Dandiya resumes, this time Chhanchhan with Umaben ... and Chhanchhan remembers all that Umaben has done, all her deceit ... unable to wear a mask any more, she flees the dance floor ... followed by Umaben.
Dialogue of the day for me were ... Umaben - 'I forgive you, why are you still upset?'
Chhanchhan - 'you have forgiven me, but tell me, how am I supposed to forgive you?' and shows Umaben the recording at the temple ...
Sanaya and Supriya aced the scene ... shock, pain and heartbreak still on Chhanchhan's face, along with the determination to find her answers ... Umaben shocked beyond belief that Chhanchhan knows the whole truth and yet did not expose her ...
'Why?'
Because Chhanchhan could not bring herself to break a son's relationship with his mother.
And finally the gloves are off ... two strong women face each other, both with a common goal, both determined to keep their family together and intact, but their ways are so, so different. And each believes her way is right.
No longer is Umaben black or evil ... she has her reasons for behaving the way she does ... her ways have stood her family in good stead all these years, have saved the family time and again ... she is right, her ways are right, and Chhanchhan is wrong. And that is why she wanted Chhanchhan out ... not because she hates her ... but because she hates her new, 'modern' thoughts and ideas. Thoughts which she believes will break up her family.
Today were Umaben's thoughts ... tomorrow will be Chhanchhan's turn.
And judging from the precap, the next challenge ... whose ways are the right way for keeping the family intact?
No deceit, no lies, no covert plots now ... it's all out in the open. The clash begins.
Dia, missed your posts! Power packed epi and very happy to see the story start. Loved the dialogues! So Sonali had no backstory. And UB is not all that black? There were times when she was pleading her case I wondered if that was an act too. Am happy everything is in the open now and we get to see the actual clash of ideologies. Hope it does not become OTT and they keep it sane and with the times.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Enkay! I will be erratic this week ... am travelling and will be catching the episodes late :(
DeleteSonali has no back story ... I think this is the end of the 30 day challenge and with it, the Sonali track. From now, the new challenge starts, which is also the real story ... the clash between tradition and modernity ... or rather, how to balance the two, to sieve out the good from the bad ... because while rigid traditions have their negatives, unthinking modernity has the same too.
Supriya P was very good ... she also had me convinced about the value of dowry ;) ... of course, that is the way dowry started, as Streedhan, the daughter's rightful share of inheritance was handed over to her at her wedding, but it was to remain hers and hers alone. The negative crept in when it became all about "gifts" for the in-laws ... progressing to the current practice of buying a son-in-law, and selling one's son to the highest bidder. Things like this should be brought out during the show ... how traditions have been warped and bent out of shape into the current bad practices.
Let's see how they go ... so far, so good, I have to say!
Fabulous episode ... will miss tonight, and will catch it only later :(
Dia, the way you put it makes so much sense. Watching today's epi which while having a fast pace left me confounded at what the CVs were driving at. UB's character seems so sketchy. Can figure out if she is grey or pure black. Her dialogues say something and her actions something different like something getting lost in translation.
DeleteReminded me of how Anjali's character swayed from grey to black to grey based on offscreen drama.
Perhaps reading your take on today's epi will give clarity.
Really good episode and superb acting by Sanaya and Supriya Pathak. The last scene was just explosive. So, now we know how and why of Uma Ben's actions, it was always about safeguarding her family and Chhanchhan's way of thinking can destroy the unity of her family.
ReplyDeleteToday they finally spelt out the ideological differences between the two, the crux of the show. However the creatives have still not let us know what will happen next. If this battle of wits and ideologies is handled well, it would be something Intetesting and unique to see.
Meanwhile the Mukut-Kaumudi problem will it bring these two women together or create further tensions? Will Manav find out the truth and where will he stand?
You are right Enkay, there seems to be no backstory for Sonali, as of now.
Many questions and the creatives have maintained the suspense...good going.
Uma
Uma,
DeleteFab episode ... I missed the continuation today ... will watch and post in a while. The gloves are off, both women know exactly where the other stands ... but will Umaben give up her efforts to throw out Chhanchhan now? How is Umaben going to handle this? And how is CC going to handle this? And what of the rest of the family?
Lots of questions ... my download is almost done, will be back with the new post soon!