Monday 4th Sept
Pujan get dirt all over him ... literally :) Some smart one liners from Anami ... especially when Pujan dares to insult her beloved parents ... 'you see everyone as a beggar' ... unspoken, since you're a beggar yourself.
Narottam becoming fan of Anami? Another one after Vatsalya to defend him ... but in a different way.
Satrupa missing Vatsalya ... and Anami's curiosity is aroused at the sight of the locked door.
Adhiraj questions the residents of LM about the jewels.
Tuesday 5th Sept
Pujan has an explanation ... but of course ... emotional atyachaar.
Adhiraj is not moved. Kamini is a weak link ... he presses her ... Kamini has a sudden headache.
Pujan fabricates the story of a robbery ... with some round and round story of company files and Kamini's jewels ... he even has an FIR copy. But Adhiraj is smarter ... unfortunately he finds no cooperation from Vikram.
Satrupa's suspicions seem to be very much aroused ... and she is definitely smarter than any of the men in the house.
Amend that ... most of the women seem to be smarter than most of the men in the house. be it Dadi, Satrupa, or the latest chip off the block, Anami :)
Speaking of Anami ... she's up tp no good as usual. Now trying to get a peep into Vatsalya's room ... and falls ... straight on to Adhiraj.
Adhiraj thinks Anami is an unwilling captive ... so he tries to help her by telling her about the upcoming DNA test. Anami of course is going to try to use it for her own ends ...to get out. He thinks the test will be negative, and assures her it will be done without Satrupa's interference, so she will be able to get out. But Anami knows if that happens, the test will show the truth and she will never be able to get out!
Vikram is really an idiot. Kamini uses the opportunity to play martyr ... Satrupa is not impressed at all. Neither is Baldev, surprisingly ... finally showing an iota of brain. Satrupa's suspicions are slowly and surely crystalising around Pujan.
And Narottam sees an opportunity.
Sudha makes an appearance. Mental rehabilitation centre.
Adhiraj and boss ... Adhiraj gets a warning ... and of course, Pujan has already doctored the file.
Anami and Poonam ... Anami is excited at the possibility of getting away from LM. Poonam teases her about love :) But then Anami explains ... she will sort out the DNA test.
Satrupa is hopping mad ...
Narottam has to tell her something about Vatsalya. The night V left, Pujan spoke to him ... maybe he knew V was running away from home.
Satrupa is a dangerous woman. Precap is exciting ... wow!
Wednesday 6th Sept
Saturpa disappointed me today ... thought she was smarter than Pujan ... but he is two steps ahead. Was he really willing to sacrifice his son? Or was he sure enough of Satrupa, the mother, to know she would not let harm come to another child? I feel the latter.
While Satrupa pulling back at the last minute did not surprise me too much, her apology to Avdhoot and Pujan did ... I hope she is as smart as I have been giving her credit for, and the apology was merely to throw them off and make Pujan feel he is no longer under suspicion.
A nice touch of symbolism there as Pujan falls into muddy water again as he rushes to his son. First he was drenched by Anami ... now he is dunked by Satrupa ... he's not having a very good week!
Adhiraj is falling for Anami ... and from the precap, it seems she's developing a crush on him too.
It does seem that Satrupa has been thrown off the scent ... as she warns Narottam from using her shoulder to fire his gun from ... again, was she warning him? His words set her off to catch Pujan without complete preparation ... the mother triumphed over the cold calculating power seeking head of Royal Steel, and lost the first battle.
Anami tries again to find out the secret behind the closed door ... did she get the keys?
Thursday 7th Sept
A sweet mellow episode ... whenever Vatsalya's flashbacks are interjected in the episode, his sweetness of character lights up the screen. Such a well written character ... and it seems the writers are aware of his popularity, so we keep getting flashbacks. Or maybe they were intended to be there all along ... this show is so well written, it feels like everything is planned well in advance.
As Anami hides behind the curtain, she sees for the first time, a grieving Satrupa ... a mother who has lost her child ... and how broken she is inside.
The scene brought me to tears ... the lovely interlude of Vatsalya and Satrupa playing the piano together, their playful oneupmanship, their friendship ... in Vatsalya's death, Satrupa lost not only her child, but also a friend, a playmate ... the only person in the house with whom she could unleash her playful, happy self. For the rest of the family she was dutiful bahu, unforgiving wife, strict CEO of Royal Steel ... with Vatsalya, she could be free and childlike ... she could be a child with him. She could be happy.
As the flashback fades, reality kicks in ... and with it, Satrupa's realisation of what she has lost. And she hlds Vatsalya's memories close ... wears his watch and holds it close ...
Anami is affected ... she tries to steal out quietly, but stumbles ... Satrupa opens her eyes from her quiet grief.
Was so glad that Anami was sensitive enough to not be her usual brattish self ... she tries to brazen out her presence, probably thinking she will encounter the usual curt, distant Satrupa. But Satrupa is uncharacteristically mild ... soft ... as she tells Anami, 'you can come here any time you want, the door is always open.' For you.
Anami nods and leaves quietly.
Satrupa sees her broken bracelet left behind, and picks it up ... looks at it, then at Vatsalya's watch ... as the realisation sinks in ... she had two children, not one ... and she still has one left.
Narayani was brilliant in that scene ... her eyes say it all. As she holds the watch and bracelet and looks from one to the other ... 'he was my child ... she is my child too.'
And Anami for the time saw her mother as a mother.
A fairly standard, slightly melodramatic scene between Pujan and Avdhoot and Pujan reassures him ... and the viewers ... that no, he is not a bad father, he just knew Satrupa would never kill a child. Nor would she create such drama. She would fire directly.
And now Satrupa's attention is fully diverted away from them. They can do what they like.
Or so he thinks.
I hope he is wrong.
Adhiraj and sister ... he has started falling for Anami :) And his sister, like all sisters, has a blast teasing him.
So right now Adhiraj is falling for Anami... and she is developing a crush on him. I can't call it more than a crush for her, because she's just 17. But she knows the truth, that she is Satrupa's daughter ... he thinks she is not. When he finds out that she is ... that she is part of the family he detests so much ... then how will that change the dynamics? when she finds out that he has his own agenda, that he wishes ill for her family, will that change the way she feels about him?
Another twist in the chakravyuh of relationships in this show.
Adhiraj-Anami ... another encounter. Ila is not happy that Adhiraj trusts Anami so much, Adhiraj assures her he trusts Anami as much as he needs to.
He's not quite accurate there.
Anami happily playing with kids ... she really is a baccha herself. Adhiraj tells her (trusting her much more than he should!) that the DNA test is going to be soon ... Anami is delighted and runs off with the kids into the garden, where mosquito spray is being sprayed.
And there comes another similarity between Anami and Vatsalya ... both are allergic to mosquito spray. As Dadi sees ... and remembers. Another flashback with Vatsalya ...
Later that night, a thoughtful Dadi reminisces about wanting pota-poti ... she apparently had a good relationship with Satrupa at the time ... very sweet scene, with both ladies looking pretty and so happy.
(Wonder what happened with Adhiraj's visit ... that was glossed over completely. Maybe he just interviewed some servants ;) )
Vikram warns her not to talk again about Anami being their grand daughter.
Dadi's expressions at that are classic ... 'we'll see about that' is written clearly on her face! The women in this family are kickass ... not one is anything less than a lioness! So of course when she's told by her husband not to talk about similarities between Anami and Vatsalya, Dadi goes about promptly trying to find more similarities ... modus operandi - peanuts in the poha.
And she finds them.
Only problem is ... will Pujan get the wind up about Anami actually being the real granddaughter?
As it is, he was not happy when Dadi said she stopped the mosquito spraying because Anami was allergic ... much to Vikram and Baldev's displeasure. So he shot a few barbs about the upcoming DNA test ... just in time for the peanut reaction. Now Pujan babu might be a little worried.
Another one who wants to interfere with the DNA test? or at least get a peek at the results before they are made public?
The DNA test saga promises to be an interesting one.
Brief updates for Friday and Saturday, as I was travelling
Friday 8th Sept
Peanuts in the poha bring the desired result Anami, like Vatsalya, is allergic to peanuts, and has exactly the same reactions. Not very wise of Dadi to try this - severity of allergic reactions can differ in siblings, and Anami's reaction could have been less severe, or more ...
Anami refuses Vatsalya's medicine, and has her own home remedies, which work like magic! Sarson ka tel? Like seriously? I must remember to try that some time!
Dadi is pleasedwith the result of her experiment, and turns to Dada watching from the balcony (with Baldev and Pujan) with a "See? I told you so" expression. Vikran might not be fully convinced yet, but Pujan is definitely getting suspicious.
And Satrupa is dumbfounded at Dadi's quiet triumphant smile ...
Anami doesn't know why Dadi likes looking at her ... Dadi tells her 'tum nahin samjhogi'. She could have added 'kuch kuch hota hai' :D
Back at the dining table, Baldev quite unfairly accuses Satrupa of using their son's allergy as a means of manipulating the family. Vikram agrees.
Damo tries to tell Baldev he's being unfair ... he's having none of it.
I thought Baldev was supposed to be alcoholic ... Pujan is the one always having a tipple.
Pujan is up to his tricks ... attack Lal Mahal through Royal Steel. And tells Avdhoot to track and find Adhiraj's weakness. While he ensures Vikram will attend the RS meeting.
Did Pujan do something to precipitate Vikram's heart attack.
Avdhoot in the meantime locates Adhiraj's weakness ... his sister, Tanya.
Royal Steel investors meeting - ends in Vikram having a heart attack.
Noticed that Baldev was not at the investors' meeting. Vikram, Gayatri, Satrupa and Pujan were there. So has Baldev been thrown out even from the board? No wonder he is so bitter.
As usual, medical scenes in Indian shows are the pits ... sadly, this show is no different.
Operation theatre for a heart attack? Have they never heard of ICU? And ECG monitors? At least try to make things a little authentic ... some basic research please!
And the shocker at the end ... which was not really such a shocker, as we had guessed as much ... Narottam is Sudha's son.
Saturday 9th Sept
Narottam - the Pawn or the Player?
The Chess Game
Either could be the title of this episode ... which brings out Narottam's true colors ... or rather, his many shades.
Some brilliant double edged dialogues
You play from both sides ... black and white.
I like the color black, so you take white.
I will defeat you in your own game ... tabhi to mazaa aayega. What's the fun otherwise?
Play whatever side you will ... I will defeat you in six moves ... you won't get a chance to play the seventh.
I still feel sorry for Narottam. Does he have anyone at all in his life who cares for him as a person, an individual? His mother seems to think of him only as a pawn, an instrument, in her thirst for revenge. Her words ... tumhari maa ko maaf karna nahin aata ... is she the one who gave Narottam the choice of flogging himself as punishment for his mistakes, or she would do it? His father and father's family detests him, barely tolerates him ... his stepmother was not his stepmother by choice, she was not told about his existence before marrying his father, so she hates him too. Pujan chacha and family are frankly abusive, with the promise of more abuse should they get more power in their hands. Vatsalya seems to have been the only person who gave Narottam any shred of affection ... yet, for all that, Narottam did not show much grief when he died. Was that because his mother engineered the accident? And also Narottam's reactions?
Now he has Anami ... who promises to stand up for him, to defend him, to punish anyone who dares to punish him. But his mother has told him ... she is your pawn, your means to an end ... befriending her is just a means to his mother's revenge.
Shkhandi in the Mahabharat was born eunuch by her own wish, so that she could avenge her insult from Bheeshma. But she was avenging her own insult. Narottam, the man-woman ... or rather, the man forced to be woman ... is being used, almost from birth, it seems, to avenge the insult of his mother. Will he turn against her? Will Anami's genuine affection and strong support change his path?
The actor playing Narottam is brilliant. The scene when Anami enters the Lal Mahal and his body language changes from normal man to effeminate ... subtle yet obvious. the shift is all in his body language and his eyes ... which go from menacing, calculating, to soft, meek, defenseless, entreating ...
The episode ...
Sudha-Narottam ... she decides who lives, who dies. It is not yet Vikram's time to die.
Did she decide it was Vatsalya's time to die?
For Sudha, her life, even her son, is all about her revenge. Even when she caresses her son as he is about to leave, her caress is accompanied by a threat ... don't make any mistakes ... you know I can't forgive mistakes. Motherly love, there is not an iota.
Hospital scene ... was fairly cringeworthy ... operation for a heart attack :(
Gayatri blames Satrupa ... Baldev draws her away ... Satrupa has been uncharacteristically silent through the accusations, first at the dining table scene yesterday, and again today ... as though on the verge of giving up ... why is she putting herself and her daughter through all this? For what? She could give up, let Anami go back to the Pandits, and leave herself ... But she has to follow the right path. Anami is the heir ... this is her birthright ... Satrupa has to fight, till Anami sees the right path and starts fighting herself.
Noticed that Avdhoot makes a move to comfort his grandmother ... and Pujan stops him. Will there be some redemption for Avdhoot? He seems to be not such a villain as his father, only dumb.
Anami-Narottam-chess ... the chess game was the major part of the episode ... forecasting the battle ahead?
Anami wishes for the first time that she could have met Vatsalya. In this house where everyone is at each other's throats all the time, he is the only person about whom no one has a single bad word.
The chess game starts ..
Anami - Tumhare game mein tumko nahin haraya to kya haraya ...
Narottam - Humein kaala rang pasand hai ...
Anami - Tum safed bhi chunte, to chhe chaal mein tumko hara dete ... saatvein chaal ki naubat nahin aayegi ...
She asks why does he stay here ... he says he has no choice ... then asks in turn, neither does she, isn't it?
She agrees ... but her stay is going to be short ... she will leave soon.
Then she broaches a forbidden topic ... his mother.
He is not allowed to talk about her ... he gets up and leaves ...
Was the tearing of the kurta accidental? if so, it was a lucky accident for Narottam's plans ... he definitely thinks so.
Anami is furious ... who hurt you? Narottam did it to himself ... but of course, he's not going to tell her that.
Narottam plays martyr ... my only fault is that I'm an illegitimate child of Baldev Sigh.
Anami vows to change history ... she will be his friend ... and if anyone touches him, she will hurt them ten times more.
She actually sheds a tear for him. Wonder what will happen when Anami realises Narottam has been playing her all along!
Narottam is touched ... let's finish the game. Anami finished it already ... defeated him in six moves like she promised.
What was that last evil look? Narottam just being evil? or unhappy that she actually managed to beat him?
Hospital again ... Dheeru makes a very dramatic ... and rather filmy ... entry. The actor is very good, though ... look forward to seeing what his role is like. He is also the co-producer of the show ... kudos to him for making such a good show!
So Dheeru warns the doctor that Vikram has to live or his family will die ...
Side note - doctor washing blood off gloves??!!! Seriously??!!! *head desk*
Has the doctor been paid by Pujan to kill off Vikram? Now he's being paid to keep him alive ...
And Dheeru visits Vikram ... (when the family was not allowed in ... seriously?!) ... and tells the unconscious man (finally on oxygen) that he can't die ... not till scores are settled.
The last scene was rather filmy ... for the first time in an otherwise impeccably crafted show.
precap - Anami finally approaches Baldev about tampering with the DNA test.
The new promo - Anami all set to leave ... and sees the picture of Vatsalya.
So it seems next week will be all about the DNA test ... and when the result is about to come/has come ... Anami will make plans to run away from Lal mahal ... only to see the picture of vatsalya ... game changer.
Superb promo ... very well shot!
Pujan get dirt all over him ... literally :) Some smart one liners from Anami ... especially when Pujan dares to insult her beloved parents ... 'you see everyone as a beggar' ... unspoken, since you're a beggar yourself.
Narottam becoming fan of Anami? Another one after Vatsalya to defend him ... but in a different way.
Satrupa missing Vatsalya ... and Anami's curiosity is aroused at the sight of the locked door.
Adhiraj questions the residents of LM about the jewels.
Tuesday 5th Sept
Pujan has an explanation ... but of course ... emotional atyachaar.
Adhiraj is not moved. Kamini is a weak link ... he presses her ... Kamini has a sudden headache.
Pujan fabricates the story of a robbery ... with some round and round story of company files and Kamini's jewels ... he even has an FIR copy. But Adhiraj is smarter ... unfortunately he finds no cooperation from Vikram.
Satrupa's suspicions seem to be very much aroused ... and she is definitely smarter than any of the men in the house.
Amend that ... most of the women seem to be smarter than most of the men in the house. be it Dadi, Satrupa, or the latest chip off the block, Anami :)
Speaking of Anami ... she's up tp no good as usual. Now trying to get a peep into Vatsalya's room ... and falls ... straight on to Adhiraj.
Adhiraj thinks Anami is an unwilling captive ... so he tries to help her by telling her about the upcoming DNA test. Anami of course is going to try to use it for her own ends ...to get out. He thinks the test will be negative, and assures her it will be done without Satrupa's interference, so she will be able to get out. But Anami knows if that happens, the test will show the truth and she will never be able to get out!
Vikram is really an idiot. Kamini uses the opportunity to play martyr ... Satrupa is not impressed at all. Neither is Baldev, surprisingly ... finally showing an iota of brain. Satrupa's suspicions are slowly and surely crystalising around Pujan.
And Narottam sees an opportunity.
Sudha makes an appearance. Mental rehabilitation centre.
Adhiraj and boss ... Adhiraj gets a warning ... and of course, Pujan has already doctored the file.
Anami and Poonam ... Anami is excited at the possibility of getting away from LM. Poonam teases her about love :) But then Anami explains ... she will sort out the DNA test.
Satrupa is hopping mad ...
Narottam has to tell her something about Vatsalya. The night V left, Pujan spoke to him ... maybe he knew V was running away from home.
Satrupa is a dangerous woman. Precap is exciting ... wow!
Wednesday 6th Sept
Saturpa disappointed me today ... thought she was smarter than Pujan ... but he is two steps ahead. Was he really willing to sacrifice his son? Or was he sure enough of Satrupa, the mother, to know she would not let harm come to another child? I feel the latter.
While Satrupa pulling back at the last minute did not surprise me too much, her apology to Avdhoot and Pujan did ... I hope she is as smart as I have been giving her credit for, and the apology was merely to throw them off and make Pujan feel he is no longer under suspicion.
A nice touch of symbolism there as Pujan falls into muddy water again as he rushes to his son. First he was drenched by Anami ... now he is dunked by Satrupa ... he's not having a very good week!
Adhiraj is falling for Anami ... and from the precap, it seems she's developing a crush on him too.
It does seem that Satrupa has been thrown off the scent ... as she warns Narottam from using her shoulder to fire his gun from ... again, was she warning him? His words set her off to catch Pujan without complete preparation ... the mother triumphed over the cold calculating power seeking head of Royal Steel, and lost the first battle.
Anami tries again to find out the secret behind the closed door ... did she get the keys?
Thursday 7th Sept
A sweet mellow episode ... whenever Vatsalya's flashbacks are interjected in the episode, his sweetness of character lights up the screen. Such a well written character ... and it seems the writers are aware of his popularity, so we keep getting flashbacks. Or maybe they were intended to be there all along ... this show is so well written, it feels like everything is planned well in advance.
As Anami hides behind the curtain, she sees for the first time, a grieving Satrupa ... a mother who has lost her child ... and how broken she is inside.
The scene brought me to tears ... the lovely interlude of Vatsalya and Satrupa playing the piano together, their playful oneupmanship, their friendship ... in Vatsalya's death, Satrupa lost not only her child, but also a friend, a playmate ... the only person in the house with whom she could unleash her playful, happy self. For the rest of the family she was dutiful bahu, unforgiving wife, strict CEO of Royal Steel ... with Vatsalya, she could be free and childlike ... she could be a child with him. She could be happy.
As the flashback fades, reality kicks in ... and with it, Satrupa's realisation of what she has lost. And she hlds Vatsalya's memories close ... wears his watch and holds it close ...
Anami is affected ... she tries to steal out quietly, but stumbles ... Satrupa opens her eyes from her quiet grief.
Was so glad that Anami was sensitive enough to not be her usual brattish self ... she tries to brazen out her presence, probably thinking she will encounter the usual curt, distant Satrupa. But Satrupa is uncharacteristically mild ... soft ... as she tells Anami, 'you can come here any time you want, the door is always open.' For you.
Anami nods and leaves quietly.
Satrupa sees her broken bracelet left behind, and picks it up ... looks at it, then at Vatsalya's watch ... as the realisation sinks in ... she had two children, not one ... and she still has one left.
Narayani was brilliant in that scene ... her eyes say it all. As she holds the watch and bracelet and looks from one to the other ... 'he was my child ... she is my child too.'
And Anami for the time saw her mother as a mother.
A fairly standard, slightly melodramatic scene between Pujan and Avdhoot and Pujan reassures him ... and the viewers ... that no, he is not a bad father, he just knew Satrupa would never kill a child. Nor would she create such drama. She would fire directly.
And now Satrupa's attention is fully diverted away from them. They can do what they like.
Or so he thinks.
I hope he is wrong.
Adhiraj and sister ... he has started falling for Anami :) And his sister, like all sisters, has a blast teasing him.
So right now Adhiraj is falling for Anami... and she is developing a crush on him. I can't call it more than a crush for her, because she's just 17. But she knows the truth, that she is Satrupa's daughter ... he thinks she is not. When he finds out that she is ... that she is part of the family he detests so much ... then how will that change the dynamics? when she finds out that he has his own agenda, that he wishes ill for her family, will that change the way she feels about him?
Another twist in the chakravyuh of relationships in this show.
Adhiraj-Anami ... another encounter. Ila is not happy that Adhiraj trusts Anami so much, Adhiraj assures her he trusts Anami as much as he needs to.
He's not quite accurate there.
Anami happily playing with kids ... she really is a baccha herself. Adhiraj tells her (trusting her much more than he should!) that the DNA test is going to be soon ... Anami is delighted and runs off with the kids into the garden, where mosquito spray is being sprayed.
And there comes another similarity between Anami and Vatsalya ... both are allergic to mosquito spray. As Dadi sees ... and remembers. Another flashback with Vatsalya ...
Later that night, a thoughtful Dadi reminisces about wanting pota-poti ... she apparently had a good relationship with Satrupa at the time ... very sweet scene, with both ladies looking pretty and so happy.
(Wonder what happened with Adhiraj's visit ... that was glossed over completely. Maybe he just interviewed some servants ;) )
Vikram warns her not to talk again about Anami being their grand daughter.
Dadi's expressions at that are classic ... 'we'll see about that' is written clearly on her face! The women in this family are kickass ... not one is anything less than a lioness! So of course when she's told by her husband not to talk about similarities between Anami and Vatsalya, Dadi goes about promptly trying to find more similarities ... modus operandi - peanuts in the poha.
And she finds them.
Only problem is ... will Pujan get the wind up about Anami actually being the real granddaughter?
As it is, he was not happy when Dadi said she stopped the mosquito spraying because Anami was allergic ... much to Vikram and Baldev's displeasure. So he shot a few barbs about the upcoming DNA test ... just in time for the peanut reaction. Now Pujan babu might be a little worried.
Another one who wants to interfere with the DNA test? or at least get a peek at the results before they are made public?
The DNA test saga promises to be an interesting one.
Brief updates for Friday and Saturday, as I was travelling
Friday 8th Sept
Peanuts in the poha bring the desired result Anami, like Vatsalya, is allergic to peanuts, and has exactly the same reactions. Not very wise of Dadi to try this - severity of allergic reactions can differ in siblings, and Anami's reaction could have been less severe, or more ...
Anami refuses Vatsalya's medicine, and has her own home remedies, which work like magic! Sarson ka tel? Like seriously? I must remember to try that some time!
Dadi is pleasedwith the result of her experiment, and turns to Dada watching from the balcony (with Baldev and Pujan) with a "See? I told you so" expression. Vikran might not be fully convinced yet, but Pujan is definitely getting suspicious.
And Satrupa is dumbfounded at Dadi's quiet triumphant smile ...
Anami doesn't know why Dadi likes looking at her ... Dadi tells her 'tum nahin samjhogi'. She could have added 'kuch kuch hota hai' :D
Back at the dining table, Baldev quite unfairly accuses Satrupa of using their son's allergy as a means of manipulating the family. Vikram agrees.
Damo tries to tell Baldev he's being unfair ... he's having none of it.
I thought Baldev was supposed to be alcoholic ... Pujan is the one always having a tipple.
Pujan is up to his tricks ... attack Lal Mahal through Royal Steel. And tells Avdhoot to track and find Adhiraj's weakness. While he ensures Vikram will attend the RS meeting.
Did Pujan do something to precipitate Vikram's heart attack.
Avdhoot in the meantime locates Adhiraj's weakness ... his sister, Tanya.
Royal Steel investors meeting - ends in Vikram having a heart attack.
Noticed that Baldev was not at the investors' meeting. Vikram, Gayatri, Satrupa and Pujan were there. So has Baldev been thrown out even from the board? No wonder he is so bitter.
As usual, medical scenes in Indian shows are the pits ... sadly, this show is no different.
Operation theatre for a heart attack? Have they never heard of ICU? And ECG monitors? At least try to make things a little authentic ... some basic research please!
And the shocker at the end ... which was not really such a shocker, as we had guessed as much ... Narottam is Sudha's son.
Saturday 9th Sept
Narottam - the Pawn or the Player?
The Chess Game
Either could be the title of this episode ... which brings out Narottam's true colors ... or rather, his many shades.
Some brilliant double edged dialogues
You play from both sides ... black and white.
I like the color black, so you take white.
I will defeat you in your own game ... tabhi to mazaa aayega. What's the fun otherwise?
Play whatever side you will ... I will defeat you in six moves ... you won't get a chance to play the seventh.
I still feel sorry for Narottam. Does he have anyone at all in his life who cares for him as a person, an individual? His mother seems to think of him only as a pawn, an instrument, in her thirst for revenge. Her words ... tumhari maa ko maaf karna nahin aata ... is she the one who gave Narottam the choice of flogging himself as punishment for his mistakes, or she would do it? His father and father's family detests him, barely tolerates him ... his stepmother was not his stepmother by choice, she was not told about his existence before marrying his father, so she hates him too. Pujan chacha and family are frankly abusive, with the promise of more abuse should they get more power in their hands. Vatsalya seems to have been the only person who gave Narottam any shred of affection ... yet, for all that, Narottam did not show much grief when he died. Was that because his mother engineered the accident? And also Narottam's reactions?
Now he has Anami ... who promises to stand up for him, to defend him, to punish anyone who dares to punish him. But his mother has told him ... she is your pawn, your means to an end ... befriending her is just a means to his mother's revenge.
Shkhandi in the Mahabharat was born eunuch by her own wish, so that she could avenge her insult from Bheeshma. But she was avenging her own insult. Narottam, the man-woman ... or rather, the man forced to be woman ... is being used, almost from birth, it seems, to avenge the insult of his mother. Will he turn against her? Will Anami's genuine affection and strong support change his path?
The actor playing Narottam is brilliant. The scene when Anami enters the Lal Mahal and his body language changes from normal man to effeminate ... subtle yet obvious. the shift is all in his body language and his eyes ... which go from menacing, calculating, to soft, meek, defenseless, entreating ...
The episode ...
Sudha-Narottam ... she decides who lives, who dies. It is not yet Vikram's time to die.
Did she decide it was Vatsalya's time to die?
For Sudha, her life, even her son, is all about her revenge. Even when she caresses her son as he is about to leave, her caress is accompanied by a threat ... don't make any mistakes ... you know I can't forgive mistakes. Motherly love, there is not an iota.
Hospital scene ... was fairly cringeworthy ... operation for a heart attack :(
Gayatri blames Satrupa ... Baldev draws her away ... Satrupa has been uncharacteristically silent through the accusations, first at the dining table scene yesterday, and again today ... as though on the verge of giving up ... why is she putting herself and her daughter through all this? For what? She could give up, let Anami go back to the Pandits, and leave herself ... But she has to follow the right path. Anami is the heir ... this is her birthright ... Satrupa has to fight, till Anami sees the right path and starts fighting herself.
Noticed that Avdhoot makes a move to comfort his grandmother ... and Pujan stops him. Will there be some redemption for Avdhoot? He seems to be not such a villain as his father, only dumb.
Anami-Narottam-chess ... the chess game was the major part of the episode ... forecasting the battle ahead?
Anami wishes for the first time that she could have met Vatsalya. In this house where everyone is at each other's throats all the time, he is the only person about whom no one has a single bad word.
The chess game starts ..
Anami - Tumhare game mein tumko nahin haraya to kya haraya ...
Narottam - Humein kaala rang pasand hai ...
Anami - Tum safed bhi chunte, to chhe chaal mein tumko hara dete ... saatvein chaal ki naubat nahin aayegi ...
She asks why does he stay here ... he says he has no choice ... then asks in turn, neither does she, isn't it?
She agrees ... but her stay is going to be short ... she will leave soon.
Then she broaches a forbidden topic ... his mother.
He is not allowed to talk about her ... he gets up and leaves ...
Was the tearing of the kurta accidental? if so, it was a lucky accident for Narottam's plans ... he definitely thinks so.
Anami is furious ... who hurt you? Narottam did it to himself ... but of course, he's not going to tell her that.
Narottam plays martyr ... my only fault is that I'm an illegitimate child of Baldev Sigh.
Anami vows to change history ... she will be his friend ... and if anyone touches him, she will hurt them ten times more.
She actually sheds a tear for him. Wonder what will happen when Anami realises Narottam has been playing her all along!
Narottam is touched ... let's finish the game. Anami finished it already ... defeated him in six moves like she promised.
What was that last evil look? Narottam just being evil? or unhappy that she actually managed to beat him?
Hospital again ... Dheeru makes a very dramatic ... and rather filmy ... entry. The actor is very good, though ... look forward to seeing what his role is like. He is also the co-producer of the show ... kudos to him for making such a good show!
So Dheeru warns the doctor that Vikram has to live or his family will die ...
Side note - doctor washing blood off gloves??!!! Seriously??!!! *head desk*
Has the doctor been paid by Pujan to kill off Vikram? Now he's being paid to keep him alive ...
And Dheeru visits Vikram ... (when the family was not allowed in ... seriously?!) ... and tells the unconscious man (finally on oxygen) that he can't die ... not till scores are settled.
The last scene was rather filmy ... for the first time in an otherwise impeccably crafted show.
precap - Anami finally approaches Baldev about tampering with the DNA test.
The new promo - Anami all set to leave ... and sees the picture of Vatsalya.
So it seems next week will be all about the DNA test ... and when the result is about to come/has come ... Anami will make plans to run away from Lal mahal ... only to see the picture of vatsalya ... game changer.
Superb promo ... very well shot!
Since next week will be about the DNA test, here are some thoughts -
ReplyDeleteThe DNA test seems to have been postponed for the moment because of Vikram Singh's illness ... but my guess is that Pujan will use the occasion to push down the image of RS even further so that it becomes even more imperative to choose the heir. However this might backfire on him ... because for the story to progress, the DNA test has to prove the truth i.e that Anami is the real daughter of Satrupa and Baldev.
When it was first proposed, the DNA test was relatively uncontroversial. Satrupa wanted it because she wanted to prove the truth ... no one else even knew about it. Now ... everyone knows. and everyone has a vested interest in the result.
Earlier Pujan, Dadaji, Dadiji and Baldev were not bothered, because they were sure the result would be negative.
Now ... things have changed.
Dadi wants it to prove Anami is the real heir.
Satrupa ... ditto ... she knows Anami is the real heir.
These two will make all efforts to ensure the test is done fairly without any interference.
Baldev and Dadaji have started getting suspicious ... but they want the truth ... so they won't interfere ... as of now ...
Not discussing the precap yet where Anami asks Baldev to interfere ... we have to see how that goes ... and whether it changes Baldev's mind.
Pujan has started getting suspicious ... so he will want to make sure it is negative ... AND he will try to tamper with the result if required.
Anami KNOWS it will be positive ... and she wants it to be negative, so that she can escape ... so she will also try to tamper with the result. Or she will ask Baldev ... probably to not give his sample or something.
Adhiraj is sure it will be negative ... so he will try to ensure it is done fairly and no one tampers with the result. He is actually on the same side as Satrupa and Dadi, and against Anami ... if only he knew that! LOL
Narottam and Sudha are the last players to enter ... my gut feel is that they will want the test to be positive, because they can then manipulate Anami, the true heir, against Satrupa and ?Baldev ... or use her to get Satrupa thrown out and Sudha back into Lal Mahal ... also they want to throw out Avdhoot ... as Narottam has already seen what life will be like if Avdhoot takes over control. So they want to kick out Pujan and Avdhoot for sure.
Now let's see what happens next week.