Monday, December 21, 2009

Can they revive it?

21st December

Taut episode again - can they revive SG? Samrat has not forgiven Suhani yet, so that's a big plus for me - forgiving Suhani within two minutes of reading her letters was what got my goat on Friday. More importantly, he hasn't forgiven Gunjan and of the two, that is the bigger hurt, and that gives me hope that SG are going to be back in the limelight, as their separation is actually going the way I thought it would initially - Samrat is the one who's hurt this time, not Gunjan. Absolutely loved his acting today - the Sayank scenes were good, and Samrat shone, again because no raised voices, no yelling, very quiet, very deep hurt and the way he kept looking at Gunjan's picture was heartrending - as though he was asking her again and again - you did this? She was the only person he called his own, had complete trust in, this is going to be a tough one.

The Bui scenes was also good, only I wish they would give everybody some dialogues - it's most unnatural that everybody stands around like statues. Nupur was good, Adhiraj was actually decent today, though the whole scene gave a very saas bahu feel. I still don't approve of the slap, though.

As for the precap - Adhiraj ready to forgive Suhani? So shatabdi express ready to take off again? So we'll get more AS scenes?! Lovely - don't have time for MJHT for next few weeks, so this is perfect timing.
But uh oh ... Samrat still can't forgive Gunjan :( The kind of tension I wanted ... hopefully the making up will make up for the separation :)

Gunjan and Sanaya

I was rather amused to read a post on restoring MJHT's lost charm, where in the character discussion, it said, 'Gunjan was shy and scared, now she's Sanaya'.
The topic maker apparently was unhappy with this evolution, but I wonder if she realised what a compliment she paid Sanaya's acting!

Of all the four lead characters, Gunjan's is the one which is the furthest from the personality of the actress who plays it. Sanaya even said in her introductory interview that she is not even 1% like Gunjan. And it has been over a year since she has been playing this character, only now, when Gunjan has developed a different personality, become more confident, has Sanaya allowed even a shadow of her real personality to show on screen. Speaks volumes for her acting abilities, especially given the conditions under which daily soap stars work, not enough time for rehearsals, re-takes etc. Sanaya has managed to subdue her own self completely and become Gunjan, be it dialogue delivery, body language, way of smiling, laughing, everything ... NONE of the other actors have had such a tough act to do. Not Arjun, not Rati and not Mohit - although the character he plays is also not close to what he is in real life, but then he has always been a little weak in comparison - he could never really carry off the stud personality, because he isn't like that in real life. Sanaya carried off the shy, timid Gunjan personality perfectly right from the start, to the point that I got so irritated by her character that I didn't even watch MJHT for the longest time.

Take her voice and her dialogue delivery - Sanaya's real life voice is loud, a little harsh, a typical Parsi no-nonsense voice and way of speaking. Gunjan speaks softly, her voice is musical, beautifully modulated, and the emotion she manages to get into her few words is just amazing. The voice in which she did the play announcements sounded as though she had dipped her throat in honey before speaking - a perfect announcer's voice, clear as a bell, each syllable beautifully enunciated and sweet. Her voice when she tells Samrat after the Sheena showdown - please, leave me alone just for a while - she didn't have to break down into sobs to show her heartbreak, she didn't have to show that she was barely controlling her tears in front of him, it was all in the few words she spoke and the voice she said them in. And the way she whispered 'I love you' to Samrat was just perfect - the depth of her emotion, love and happiness and shyness all mixed into it in just three soft words. It takes a paragraph for me to decribe the emotion she depicts in the few words she speaks.
Take her smile - Gunjan's sweet, gentle, always a little held back, as though she never smiles freely. And when you see Sanaya's sbs interviews, she's laughing, pulling other people's legs (mainly Arjun's and Mohit's) and getting her leg pulled very cheerfully.
She mentioned at the start of MJHT that she wasn't comfortable in Hindi, and this did show in the first few episodes - but now after a year of speaking the language, her dialogue delivery is much better, much more natural and easy on the ears. Her dialogues are more formal than those of the other three, but she carries them off beautifully - even the most cliched hackneyed ones she uses, like 'Samrat, sab dekh rahe hain' in the recent party, was so utterly natural because of the way she said it.
And take her dressing style - Sanaya is stylish, elegant and stunning, and completely comfortable in Western outfits - that's all she wears off the show. And on the show, I, for one, cannot imagine Gunjan wearing anything other than an Indian outfit. On top of which, she looks utterly, stunningly sexy in those outfits - even as a woman, I notice this, so obviously the guys on the set are all over her, be it Arjun, Mohit or anyone else (Arjun's comment - red apple, who everyone wants a bite of, was a little crude, but for guys that age working with such a sexy girl, completely understandable!).
That's probably why we all went gaga over drunk Gunjan - she was stunningly beautiful in the onion pink outfit, the thin gold belt accentuating the slimness of her waist was sexy like hell (no wonder Samrat kept grabbing her round the waist!), and when she gave that come hither smile to Samrat in the pillar scene, I could almost see how hard it was for him not to pick her up and carry her off!

Gunjan at the start of the show - the kind of heroine I can't stand. Gunjan with quiet strength, with a backbone, with the ability to make her point and put it across in a few well chosen words and the softest of tones, without raising her voice = the kind of heroine I admire the most. She has turned my opinion around 180 degrees and then managed to keep it there even through the worst phases of Gunjan character destruction.
She doesn't have the advantage of screamingly funny dialogues, of a bright, bubbly vivacious onscreen personality, in fact her on screen personality is dull, if anything. Sanaya has managed to color it into the brightest and strongest character on screen, without the backing of the script - Mayank is the hero always, and Samrat the leader - but still she has made her presence felt - and how! Creatives, please take note of the strength you gave this character, and the ability of this actress to portray that strength, and bring her back!

Friday, December 18, 2009

RIP Sajan and MJHT

18th December

Sajan are dead, MJHT is dead for me. Samrat listened to Mayank, after Gunjan had spent one month trying to get brother sister together. Suhani told Samrat that Gunjan is a very good girl. He had to hear it from her????

Rest of the episode, don't care. Neither about Suhani and her tears, nor about Adhiraj. Nor anyone else.

Edit - after reading all the comments that Mayank gave a straightforward and supportive talk, well, Gunjan could have done the same and she has done exactly that in the past - she is the only one he listens to and she can be very clearcut and straightforward when she has to. Witness the way she broke their friendship after the bet and minced no words in telling him why. Even witness the way she carried on with tutoring him for the exams after finding out about the bet, or before that when he’s rude to her on the phone – she promptly ticked him off in college the next day – I’ll keep giving you the notes, you want to read them, you read them, you want to throw them, you throw them, but I will keep giving them because you’re my friend. That was the best phase of Gunjan – why have the cv’s forgotten that? Why have they completely dropped the strongest aspect of Gunjan’s character?

MN needed mediation in their storyline at that point, it was the first time they had any mediation in spite of so many fights. But SG have never needed mediation, if ever, Benji has been the one to give Samrat help, and it would have been better if Benji had taken both Su and Gun to Samrat to talk. But best would have been if Gun had taken Su and forced her to talk to Samrat, and both Samrat and Suhani had spilled out SOME story of misunderstanding, letters not reaching, something, anything, which made that hatred Samrat had more justifiable.

But then I guess Cv's now want dramatic scene like we had of Mayank leaving in the bus and Nupur running after him - omg, are they going to have dramatic scene of suhani leaving in plane and Samrat running after her like that?!!! Or maybe Samrat and Adhiraj both? No, can't be Adhiraj because AS love story has to start now.
Am already getting ready to CRINGE!!!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Am happy!!!

17 December

Am very happy ... now Mayank, Nupur, Dia, Uday, Benji - the whole gang can sit on Samrat's doorstep and tell him the TRUTH, the whole truth and nothing but the truth for all I care!

Samrat called Gunjan!!!!!!!!!! As on the phone!!!!!! Mayank, you were so completely wrong!!! Samrat and not wanting to talk to Chashmish????!!! Doesn't happen - not to my Samrat and Chashmish!!!Thank you, Cv's!!!!

Episode take- Mayank continues lecture, doesn't really say anything of practical importance, more like rara the troops, but everyone is happy, group hug. Mayank says it's better if Gunjan doesn't come, for once Suhani says let Gunjan go, but Gunjan says no.
I would like to think Suhani was thinking about Gunjan and her tension with Samrat but methinks in view of the next scene, it's because she'd rather stay and talk to Adhiraj! Also maybe she knows that she won't get very cordial reception from Samrat. Mayank leaves with Suhani, Benji Uday leave (to change clothes? forgot) and Dia, Nups and Gunjan left. That's when Gunjan breaks down about Samrat and the look he gave her. I KNEW it - she will not break down in front of everyone!!!

MayankSu leave for college, taking their time about it - Su looking for Adh - seriously, who IS she here for? Am beginning to sympathise with Samrat's pov about his sister being selfish. Anyway, guess the AS track has to start. A also looking for Su, mixup of phones - not really interested.

Gun wants to be alone - touching scene where she breaks down again alone, decides to call Samrat then not, so that he has to get close to Su - Gun I love u, but stop being so selfless! Just as Samrat cools down and tries to call Chashmish, thereby redeeming himself completely in my eyes!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Gunjan vs Chashmish and Samrat's heartbreak

When I wrote the Gunjan vs Chashmish post last week, I never dreamed it would come up again in such a big way in SG tension.

When we (SG fans) discussed that we wanted some SG tension, expected it, even looked forward to it, I didn't realise it would be so heartbreaking.

When I thought that even after hearing the truth, there is still going to be tension between Samrat Suhani, I didn't know it would be closer to hatred.

Suhani and Gunjan were heartbroken today, but for me the most poignant was Samrat's line - today I have lost my family again.

Oh boy! What an episode! Spent the first few minutes in ironing out logistics about Samrat leaving hospital :) ... Dia trying to apologise to Adhiraj was well done as she had been through exactly the same situation herself.

Then the tension! Samrat rampaging through Su's locker - did he break the lock, btw? Chucking everything, seeing Suhani, Su running away AGAIN ... there had BETTER be a more rational reason for his hatred than the one Su has given Gunjan otherwise this will be totally over the top!!!

Then the way Samrat rushed to Gunjan to let loose about Su, only to realise that Gun knew all along ... and the switch to 'Gunjan' instantly ... oh boy!!!
Again, there had better be a good reason for this hatred!

MN entry - Samrat realising they also knew - his feeling of betrayal - did the whole college know, only I didn't?!

Suhani picking up everything Samrat had thrown was very filmy ... so were her tears. Also, didn't particularly care for everyone consoling her - her first lie "Nupur" when Adhiraj asked her name the first time was actually what started this whole web of lies - so if anything she should have apologised to all the rest - at least when they all started apologising to her!
And even now she's thinking of Adhiraj!

Ok, I DON'T want Mayank to mediate ... not between SG. He can mediate all he likes between the rest but SG HAVE to sort out their tension themselves. But SG are going to be apart for come time, that's for sure, and I think - I hope - that it's only after Gunjan manages to reach out to him, after they get back together, that he finally forgives Suhani. Otherwise the way they have built up the SG bond will be compeltely useless.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Taut

15 December

Taut episode - completely as I predicted but well done.

G finds Sam missing, they all go looking. Adh with Su asks her why she's so worried about Samrat all the time. Sam materialises and asks the same thing. Asks all the questions about his childhood etc. - thought he was a dhakkan but he actually noticed all of them! The others standing like spectators, again as I predicted :)))

Afterthought - I think Samrat is the quintessential tubelight ... he only starts thinking after being hit on the head or being knocked out - be it realisation of love or realisation of sister!

Suhani begs for forgiveness. Adh's expressions were the only thing that broke the tension - I cracked up every time the camera focussed on him!!! ROFL worthy!

Sam storms off after Su finally calls him bhai and says she has no one else apart from him - Adh ROFL expression again!!! Poor guy - I didn't find him so unbearable today cos I was laughing at him so much! Thank god Suhani finally let out the word 'bhai' ... I don't blame Adh for getting all the wrong ideas from Su's dialogues!

But Samrat's expressions were spot on!!! This guy has gotten very, very good in serious scenes - his face built up the tension really well, and his dialogues - again, the expressions in his voice was spot on. Good scene. Am also glad that Adh knows Sam was as much in the dark about Su as he was - at least no more Sam-Adh stares!

Last bit of the episodes - flashbacks - Sam had no dialogues (because of his throat?) but his expressions were great again - judging from those, Su isn't going to be forgiven so easily. And there IS going to be some SG tension, especially after Samrat comes to know that Gunjan knew all along.

And finally AS shatabdi express got derailed!

Monday, December 14, 2009

Expected rona dhona

14 December

Expected rona dhona episode - I think poor Mohit is getting the rest he needs with his bad throat!!!

Felt so nostalgic to see good old Sanjeevani ... hayyeee!!! And Atul - I love his new serious avatar, but miss the rest of the gang when I see him.

Anyway, MJHT - AS centered - Adhiraj waking up from beauty sleep to wonder why Su has 'speshul' feelings for Samrat. And Su - I should be writing the script - all the points I brought up yesterday about Suhani, madam finally started thinking about! What mess her lies have caused.

Liked the first hospital scene with the signing of papers business - and am glad that Nupur stopped Su from signing, and got Gunjan to sign instead. Agreed it was to protect her lie, but G is far closer to Sam, that's not a lie. And again, the standard hospital line - aadhe ghante mein hosh nahin aaya to - when are they going to learn that doctors NEVER say this! Bollywood and tellywood both! Reminded me of Armaan's last accident scene ;)
Liked the MN scene - Nups showing regret - don't worry sweetie, if you had disclosed the truth at the party, how would today's drama have taken place?! Sab Cv's ki meherbani hai!

Leads to Su crying buckets - taken over the crying queen tag from G, much to my relief.

G at Sam's bedside - liked her lines, see, I'm not crying, wiping her tears frantically. Except for the 'bhagwan ka shukar hai' - somehow that just does not suit her!!! Rest of her dialogues were Suhani centered - as was the episode. I can see SG fans leaving this show in droves if Cv's don't wake up soon. Oh well, I now have a stock of downloaded episodes I can rewatch happily - RIP, MJHT. Funny, I said this about DMG a few months ago.

More AS ... zzz Actually, not that bad, just that I don't like this couple, but story wise, necessary scene. Just stretched too long, that's all. Wonder why they're thrusting AS down viewers' throats - I think we should make it quite clear they're not liked! As secondaries to SG/MN, ok, nothing more. If AS take over MJHT, it's bye-bye MJHT for me.

Last scene - Samrat sees visions of Su as gunjan keeps talking about Su - talk about yourself, girl! The only thing which made him redeem himself slightly was that he didn't wake up shouting 'Suhani'! That would have pissed me off! Seems from his visions that he might have put the truth together, especially if he heard what G was saying through his concussion. Wakes up, G runs to call doc, and he disappears.

Slightly disorienting - watched DMG after MJHT to see the MJHT scene - and Sam's arrival to Sanjeevani in reverse! Followed by Sam still unconscious!!! ROFL!

Waiting for this track to end and Su drama to be out! Even if they show AS romancing, Su won't be after her brother and SG scenes (however rare) will be undisturbed - hopefully.
As for AS romancing in hospital - that's a tradition of Sanjeevani! Patient kum, romance zyada!

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