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Initially when daily serials like Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, Pavitra Rishta, Kasauti Zindagi Kay and others hit the telly, it was a definite war between the atrocious saas (mother-in-law) and the docile bahu (daughter-in-law) or even between daughter-in-law and the crafty sister-in-law of the serials. And as one serial got the TRPs, others followed suit and we had many xerox copies! Somehow, the viewers at large started identifying with TV characters and the 9 pm serials catapulted the small tube into a new popularity zone. A decade later things have changed. A statement like "Meri Gopi bahu" reflects the obvious mark of transformation in the relationships. In serials like Saathiya Saath Nibhana (Kokila and her daughter-in-law Gopi), Pyar ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyara Pyara (Avantika and her bahu Pankudi), Ek Veer ki Ardaas Veera (Ratan and her beeji) on Star Plus; Balika Vadhu (Anandi and Sumitra), Madhubala Ek Ishq Ek Junoon (Madhubala and Radha), Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha (Megha and Bela) on Colors; and Qubool hai (Zoya and Dilshad), Punar Vivaah on Zee TV, it’s the mother-in-law and sister-in-law, who take great pleasure in helping the daughter-in-law. "In real life, majority of mother-in-laws are educated and working women. They don’t want to see their daughter-in-law suffer the way they did. My mother has made it clear that come what may, her vote will always be in favour of her two daughter-in-laws. Both my sister-in-laws also love her like their own mother and address her as maa and not Maaji!’’ says Shama Deshpande, who plays mother (Radha) to the egoistic super star Rishabh Kundra in the serial Madhubala. In fact, Radha doesn’t mind antagonising her son by supporting her daughter-in-law Madhubala.
In Veera, Ratan is forlorn following the loss of her husband Sampoorn Singh. Interestingly, it’s his aunt who comes to Ratan’s rescue and leaves behind her own home to help family’s daughter-in-law rebuild her life with her kids. Writer Purnendu Shekhar of several hit serials, including the currently on air, Veera, Balika Vadhu and earlier ones like Saat Phere, Astitva Ek Prem Kahani, Jyoti, etc. says, "Serials many a time reflect society and things are changing all around us. Even in our daily lives, we all are grey characters. Many a times, we lie, we hurt others by our deeds or words, and sometimes, by the decisions, we make as we are bound by the traditions, do hurt someone in the family." He recalled the brickbats they received when they started Balika Vadhu made its debut on Colors for legitimising child marriages. Kalyani, the family matriarch or Majisa (Surekha Sikri) had expressed reservations on her TV character, of it being negative and oppressive. "I had to tell her that as the serial progresses, the trajectory will shift. Her traditional character will be a path-breaking one. She will go on to educate her grand daughter-in-law Anandi, support adult education, look out for a groom for her, coerce to accept work to bring about the change in the village and completely support her. This progressive nature of the serial is what has kept it alive even five years after the serial was started," explains the director. Similarly, the character Kokila in Saathiya, is in full support of her daughter-in-law Gopi. The uneducated Gopi is sent to school, taught mannerisms to deal with the world and supported despite her son Ahem, having second thoughts of having married her. Kokila even helps Gopi to win affection of her son! Madhuri Sanjeev, a veteran theatre actor who has also done many TV serials and is currently playing the role of widowed Bela in the serial Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha. Bela, a widow who takes shelter in her brother’s home and makes his family as her own, didn’t want the same fate to hang on a widowed Megha with two young kids. So compels her brother to get his widowed daughter-in-law remarried. In the current season, being the head of the family, she is a strong support system to Megha. Madhuri says, "In real life, I was widowed at a very young age with a small son. I somehow could empathise with the character Megha. Ours is a progressive serial, and today in real life also there is more of a friendship between mom-in-laws and daughter-in-laws than rivalry. And this is being portrayed in our serials." Shekhar admits there is a definite change in the trends of the stories. But he also admits, "Trends follow a cycle. And it is also true that in a story to show a goodness of a character we need to have a very negative character. So may be after five years, we will get back the old story types!" We hope not. The current trend is great to form a progressive society.
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Whoever
Similar is the
character of Dilshad in serial Qubool hai. Her successful
businessman son, Asad (Karan Singh Grover), though in love with his
fiancée Zoya, doubts her every move. However, Dilshad defends Zoya
and forces Asad to change his ways.