Episode 174 Discussion: 21st Jan 2013

Sangeet ceremony for Padmini-Shamsher's upcoming marriage - Playing Antakshari

Events of the Episode

20 minutes of Antakshari, the set decoration is visual delight, the actors and characters look lovely. Beautiful moments between Malik and Kundra family, individual dances, the sisters agreeing to matured way of outlook on life going foreward, the jethani-devranis, the Saas and her Bahus as they dance joined by their Samdhis and her sons and the husband and wife's outsmarting each other to express their love/feelings for the other in front of everyone.

The fast, pacy manner is what adds the filmy entertainment quotient to the serial MEIEJ. I just love it. Total filmy style. The MEIEJ team can watch 100's of movies in the name of 100 years of cinema and show us anything related to that by creating a customized fit for the Television soap and it would be still be beautiful.  Must say, this concept from Prashant Bhatt ensures a good Fiction programming content for the Colors channer and well supported by Saurabh Tewari for the story development and the rest of the crew of writing team.

20 minutes of Antakshari, the set decoration is visual delight, the actors and characters look lovely. Beautiful moments between Malik and Kundra family, individual dances, the sisters agreeing to matured way of outlook on life going foreward, the jethani-devranis, the Saas and her Bahus as they dance joined by their Samdhis and her sons and the husband and wife's outsmarting each other to express their love/feelings for the other in front of everyone.

The event management - the people, the performances and the venue decoration

A Sangeet function with an anatakshari game where each person plays himself attached to no party/team where persons belonging to the three families are involved, the families of the Kundras, The Maliks and The Bhatias...as introduced by the host Rishabh Kundra. He describes his In-law Mom and Dad's wedding as cute, romantic film with also action, adventure and drama. Now I don't understand why RK added action and adventure, because so far I have seen only romance and drama. Bad Mr.RK to be revealing future plotlines.

Entertaining and visually appealing episode with right vibes except the embarassing silences induced for RK and Madhu's song for Kaate Nahin katthe...which viewers live in absolutely embarassing moments for themselves and as well as for all the others. In other words horrible of the hosts to have ignored all the others, but then redeemed through the filmi husband's filmi drama along with his aide Bittuji with lights focussed on themselves to give a filmi feel and ending in giving a romantic appeal to everyone. Everyone present there would not mind the silences as they watched that performance of their hosts. Weren't they the only two Kundra ?!!!   Beautiful. The wife, not so filmy is really embarassed and runs away to her private chambers. That must have made the evening exceptionally romantic.

Almost everyone looked beautiful, including Dips in her deep red lipstick. It reminded me how we used to call her Deeplali (a name coined for her by one of our friends FQ during Dips earlier days of intro with deep red lipsticks). I would not forget even the junior artists. Looked lavish evening with that sparkling floor and the wall adorned with lights and colums adorned in silvery glaze of fabric material with lights and the orange and purple flowers atop giving the vase like feel.  I liked the Sangeet venue arrangement. Neat and elegant with lights and minimal flowers. Otherwise, the typical function organizing in daily soaps is seen with lots of flowers especially orchids.

And coming to people dynamics:

RK indulging in RK speak with Roma Paste, RK Paste and Trishna Paste was good, doing the ice-break between chawl-waasis and Mansion waasis...which though Bhatias in the form of Kuku and Dips try to show the difference, RK mingling there in his paste talk, makes it all a talk between relatives. There were confusing moments though. I did not if Madhu was trying to tease RK right at that time or trying to remind him for "Pair Choona". Well IMO RK does not need to be reminded about that. He has those manners. Ms Rads taught him all that, so Madhu you can be lax about it...so lemme forget Madhu's confusing gestures.

Roma was introduced to Radhaji.

Trishna

Madhu- Trishna scene was very good. I had been apprehensive as to how Trishna would react to the Sangeet being arranged in RK Mansion and what kind of feelings it would invoke in her. But strangely the sisters though remembering all that went by, yet agreed to remember just the good things. Seems Trishna's one supreme selfish decision to sign up the film with BSC Productions has made her mature to many other things in her life. She is now ready to see how her family would react to that and yet she just wants to reap the good things out of her one selfish interest...of doing something for her family through her fulfilment of dreams and somehow, being alienated in her mind through her decision, has now made her warm to the idea that how much her family's support means to her, when she is on the verge of losing it. Interesting and poignant feeling there.

Deepali

Madhu -Dipali scene also were good. Madhu does try to be good to her Jethani by lifting her up and boosting her morale when she has a flop show when her husband abruptly takes her to center stage. Didn't get why Dips has to fall...but chodo in the name of entertainment and together the SILs sing and rope in their MIL (saas) for the Radha Song. What I best liked about today's Dips and Madhu scene is...now officially I get Madhu openly taking Dips away from her husband, showing her place away from her husband and then claiming RK again. God!! How I have asked for this since the beginning. CVs thank you for giving me this scene. See now that protects the sanctity of the Madhu-RK marriage and will keep Dips off boundaries.

Sikky, Bittu, Roma, Trishna, Radha dances

I liked all their dances. Roma was making sure RK gets to sit with Madhu by taking Bittuji away. Seemed Bittuji was trying to flirt with Roma  and Trishna as well...but poor guy again was working for his boss. And Ms Radha was really good with that dancing. She managed to pull in everybody except Kuku Bhatia, the pissed off guy.

Hilarious moments

I cannot help laughing at the fact that ...of all the people, Bittuji was very happy sitting with his Bhabhiji. He was always going back to Madhu like a family. He did 3 times and the last time, he was pretty upset that RK usurped his place and would have shown his eyes angrily had it not been his Chief, who too showed his eyes...that moment was just too good to miss. Goes to Hall of Fame moments if you ask me.  But bad!!! he couldn't help his Bhabhiji and had to help or follow the orders of his chief. And Roma kept on observing this and helped RK get back his place besides his Biwi.

I also liked how Shamsher was asking Roma to stop laughing aloud when she couldn't control herself at Sikky and Dips' fall.

RK continues with his intimidating techniques

I would not make much an ado about RK-Madhu scene in their privy chamber or their small talk in the sangeet function as well. He is just deepening his romancing with his wife taking it to the physical intimacy level. I laughed when he said that he had never taken advantage of her modesty.

But their romance all filled with double meanings is making it all suggestive sexual innuendo very desirable at this stage of relationship between the husband and wife. Suits Colors channel's conservatism (My friend Zoya told me that Colors is conservative and will not allow PH's to show bold scenes for family dramas).  Seems the PH of MEIEJ is inspired with Rajshree Productions as well. The Barjatya clan are masters of churning out romance filled family dramas and yet beautifully place the erotic and sensuous feel in between. Do you all remember the erotica of "Maine Pyar Kiya"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4g9zKRe-Is

For me "Mere Rang mein Rangne waali" song made me lot uncomfortable because unfortunately, I was watching it as a "teen"  and that too in the movie hall sitting next to Dad. LOL !!!  I had dragged the whole family to watch it as it was a family drama and I never expected something like that. Salman and Bhagyashree behave way too much like man and wife before they are even married...and I am sure parents may not have liked all that  with their kids watching that kind of thing... See the last part of the song ... Recently at the Colors Screens (or others)  awards they made fun of this aspect in the retro movie presentation.

Pictorial Commentary - by Zorica 

Episode 173 Discussion: 18th Jan 2013

Rishabh Kundra tells off to Bhatias before his mother, Sangeet and Shaadi preparations - for jodo, todo, chodo

Jodo - Padmini and Shamsher ko by everyone

Todo - Balraj to everyone, shaadi ??? Dekhta hoon Shaadi kaisi hoti hai

Chodo - Madhu and RK, hum tayyari kar rahen hain sab kuch chodne ka

Events of the Episode

Read my post below. 

• The only thing not present in there is ...that ...Roma thanks Padmini for coming into their lives and taking care of them all and now marrying her brother.

Episode Reviews

Drama packed BALANCED episode. Each and every scene well constructed and seamed together. I give an A rating for this episode. Because nothing was forced on me, nothing was loud and it smoothly flowed.

The scenes played out were:

Madhu-Rishabh Kundra over their bed

Continued amour filled dialogues between husband and wife on bed, leading to the mutual challenge between each other, who is going to be the first one declaring his/her feelings for him in the upcoming Sangeet event of Padmini and Shamsher's marriage.

Kuku-Sikky-Radha-RK long scene - towards Reconcilation/Healing of Rishabh Track

The much needed amicable denouement for viewers with constructed scene where Kuku and Sikky get relegated to the status they should always been in Rishabh Kundra's life. Rishabh is now able to tell Kuku and Sikky that they are nothing in his life and that they are worse than furniture and his servants can throw them out of his life when he wants to. He is able to tell the duo right in front of his mother, when the duo act smart and try to instigate her against RK's decision of having his in-laws getting married. And further when  Kuku insults or rather tries to boss around his wife by throwing away the pooja ka prasaad ka thaal (that too Mohan Kundra's barsi waala). Rishabh not only protects his mother against the hurt generated by this gesture, he takes care that his mother is respected. So he tells Kuku to pick up the plate, thus showing his clout and power and how the duo are useless to everyone, including Radha Bhatia as now Rishabh Kundra, her son can take care of her. The duo understand the changed dynamics between mother and son and Kuku lifts the plate. RK sends them away saying its Sangeet Ceremony in the evening and they are not invited with heart, but still as they cannot be helped, they can enjoy. 

Rishabh-Radha New Dynamics Agreement scene

This follows with Rishabh-Radha scene. The son tells his mother, that she no longer needs to force the Bhatias relationship on him. And interestingly Radha is okay with all that. She gives a smile.

Chawl - Marriage Preparations and Balraj's surveillance

There at Chawl, Balraj has sent a man to keep a watch on Padmini, Shamsher, Trishna. He clicks pictures and sends them to Balraj. In this way, we are shown how the Sangeet and shaadi preparations are going on and how Shamsher still has monetary issues like the way it should sound for the ordinary man like him, Trishna overhears and wants to help. She does pay the money to supplier/contractor for the balance amt. Roma is shown to be very happy about all this. Interestingly, the man sent by Balraj has not clicked Roma's picture. Seems there's a motive for the CV's to keep her out of the wedding hungama.

Balraj's state of Mind and his place - Still the Mad Man

When pictures are sent to Balraj as MMS by his stationed man, Balraj in rage almost strangled his tailor to death, who was checking on the outfit that he had stitched for him and had indulged in unnecessary non-sensical talk about wives. I don't know if the tailor was dead or just fell down in ...fainted state...

Madhu-Radha Scene - towards Let's Leave Track

Radha tells Madhu that Rishabh called her his Maa. Madhu is super happy and secretly saying to herself, all reconciliations achieved and now me and RK can leave. Wow!! she is so excited. 

Best scene for me was Rishabh and Radha Scene though the Kuku-Sikky getting BBB'd was also awesome. Rishabh-Radha scene was best because it had the best emotional liberation through the Best Dialogue of the Day. 

"Maa, Main yeh samajh sakta hoon ki, aapne doosri shaadi kyon ki. Par ab mujhse, inhe izzat dene ke liye aur meri zindagi mein ek naam dene ke liye, Mat kahiega"

Through this RK has addressed his problem with Bhatias to his mother herself who gave him this pain. So he released all that pain with this reconciliation where he gets what he wants without losing his mother and not feeling burdened with false family respecting traditions. Its plain honesty, NON-NEGOTIABLE TRUTH for him, which his mother has to agree because they both have suffered for it for the last 17 years.

Bravo to the CVs for giving me the best dialogue and best scene today. 

Pictorial Commentary - page 3 by Zorica and pasted here as well.

Originally posted by zorica

Episode 172 Discussion: 17th Jan 2013

Preparation and mood-setting for upcoming drama of Padmini-Shamsher's Sangeet and Shaadi.

• Rishbala: Chaar Phere Talaab ke kinare, Halwayee ki Dukan, Husn ka pariskshan
• Padmini-Radhaji: Pradardhan Khauff ka aur Pratyaachar Naari Shakti ka

Events of the Episode

1. RK and Madhu continue on their Saat Phera marriage plans with the 5 elements as the witness. Madhu starts the Pheras, she takes 3 and Rk takes the 4th one and he asks Madhu to stop as he wants to complete the rest of the 3 in proper manner.
2.  >>> Seems an indication that they'll have to deal with the family(the 4 pheras suggest that)  before their own marital life (the last 3 pheras suggest that)...which might be that the actual remarriage track is a long way off.
3. RK and Madhu prepare for Padmini -Shamsher's Sangeet ceremony and in the pretext of choosing Madhu's clothes for the Sangeet ceremony, have a flirtatious and teasing romance under the context of RK as the condiment to be complimented and Madhu to be teased as the Husn ke laakho rang.
4. Padmini starts to share her apprehensions with Radhaji, about losing everything that she loves. She is terribly scared at thinking of what she would have to do if her loathsome and unforgivable past in the form of Balraj returns to claim her as his property.
5. Radhaji advises Padmini, that she need not treat herself as weaker sex and instead should just fight to beat that stagnating past to embrace her promising future.

Pictorial Commentary - Zorica 

Originally posted by zorica

     "You are so sweet!"

Episode Reviews

Anticipatory build-up for Saat Phera marriage of RK and Madhu

• Abey yaar, sui phir se 4 pheron pe aake atak gayi !
• When watching the promo ...I had said this two days back ..."okay we do not know yet, how they reach "Stonehenge" (kidding, but using for lack of a better word), they are taking vows before the elements (nature), so just taking the blessings of God and not society." I now know that Stonehenge is a set created for RK's first shot when entering films. Its gonna be used for other purposes as well. They are taking vows before the elements. Shabhaash Shridevi!!! Achhi jaa rahi ho!!

Preparatory Episode for Padmini -Shamsher Marriage

• Romance + Khauff + Nari Shakti ka Tadka
• Romance will lead to Sangeet ceremony drama
• Padmini ka Khauff + Nari Shakti ka Ahsaas from Ms Radhaji to prepare for Ballu drama

Highlight

Ms Radhaji Action Power. She is truly a spokesperson for MEIEJ. She drives people to do something. This is consistently being played...whether admonishing RK, supporting Madhu, RK or advising Padmini,

Romance kuch zyaada hi ho gaya. Too sweet and in danger of getting diabetes. But I will keep quiet for others sake. I did not get for what reason..."Husn ke laakhon rang" was played and what was going on with the cell phone. Why Madhu has that face and what RK was tryinh to hide ? Me too was a Tubelight there. Then Soundarya explained the scene that RK was playing the song from his mobile, hence that flirtatious play between miyaan-biwi.  Well they could have played the song as if playing from a mobile and not in Dolby Sound Stereo types !!!! What's with sudden song playing in that loud manner !! Silly !!!

By Munni_123

Eating too many  sweets causes diabetes!

ROmance kuch zyada nahi ho raha hai?

Radhaji and Padmini's convo is good. Kabhie kabhie kushiya bhi overwhelming ho jaata hai. 

Rest of the episode - I will read Shri's analysis.

Didn't understand about the song 'Husn ke lakhon rang' 

My tubelight brain

By Tanu07

From 'kachra, wo bhi sada hua' to 'sweetu, cutepie… blah blah'

I don't know what I prefer… the former which came out stronger than required or the later that sounded forced! Having thought about it for a moment, for me it is none!

I am not sure if I can complain… the couple are just having a happy moment… going with what they went through the previous day and the wedding preparations around. Somehow it didn't strike a chord may be because it didn't come across meaningful.

In comparison to the scene in the bedroom, the one by the lake was better. I hope the sangeet is better. I don't have the hopes high… knowing that the couple's favourite movie is Mr India and 'Maine Pyar Kiya' made its presence felt today… I am guessing 'Kaate nahi kat the…' will be the song. Will be surprised if they chose another song but I am hoping for that.

Finally, I get a chance to give a thumbs up for Radha. She did good to hear Padmini out and ease Padmini's apprehensions. Was disappointed with Padmini actually hoping(?!?!?) that Ballu will return and ask for forgiveness. Seriously, Padmini?  Thank god that Radha's better sense prevailed and made Padmini realise she can never have anything to do with that monster.

By MarathiMulgi

PanchaMahaBhut Tatva meaning 5 principles of the nature- prithvi, Aap, Tej, Vayu aur Akash (earth, water, fire, wind and sky).RK wants to get married with these as their witnesses.

Well RK don't forget the 6th tatva (which is us viewers). If none of your family turns up that's ok,we will still be there!!.  Madhu seems to be all in the mood to complete all 7 phere right then and there around that khamba. However RK does not indulge her in this. He wants to conduct the shadi in all rasm-o-rivaz. 

Radha Padmini convo - Padmini is scared to hold all this happiness in her lap. What does it mean? Will it last? How can she handle it? She has the foreboding  that evil from the past may just ruin all this. Radha is correct when she says ki woh admi ne galati nahin ki gunah kiya hai jiski use saja milni chahitye. But she conveniently forgot to tell Padmini that Padmini should not play the role of judge, jury and the executioner herself. This is probably the groundwork for Padmini shooting Ballu track. Nice going Radha. Why don't you just drink your cuppa tea and head home instead of planting these thoughts in Padmini's head?

Halwai Madhu banaye sweet sweet RK Mithai.  Lekin Madhu is Mithai ko Dipali se bachao. You (and we) don't want her to poison this Mithai anymore. Hai na?

Can someone please explain to me what was that about RK holding the cellphone while Madhu was trying to get his opinion on her sarees?  I did not quite understand that part. The song in the background was hilarious. Was he choosing the color of the saree or the color of the beauty (husn)  in  this case?

Sweet cute bantering between them otherwise. I just sat back and enjoyed the last segment. I will take any kind of chemistry between them as long as they are shown content in each other's company and Madhu is not crying.

Looks like celebration times in RK mansion for Padmini-Malik Sangeet. Hope we get to hear some choicest songs then.

By Zoya

Bekaar ka episode!!!

RK-Madhu at the lakeside khandar: It was quite a nice with RK wanting to marry Madhu with the Gods and the elements of nature being a witness to their holy union.  Though their marriage is sanctioned by the society, they both have made such a mockey of their marriage in private to such an extent that prolly his conscience doesn't let him to move ahead without the 7 pheras taken with utmost sincerity, purity and love.

Inki gaadi 4 phere se aagey nahi jaati kya?

Does he plan to get married in front of his family or will it just be the two and panditji?

Radha-Padmini: It was but natural for a woman like Padmini to be fearful of her past lurking back when she wants to move ahead after all these years. She was the one who has faced the atrocities of Ballu and she has been left traumatised ,as she was very young when she fled Motihari. And she needed to completely let go of the fear to embrace the happiness. And it is yet again Radhaji who gives her a pep talk on naari shakti as accd to me, no one else in the show is peer to Padmini to advise her on such issues... Padmini actually dreams of a situation wherein Ballu will tremble down and ask for forgiveness ... Hats off to her thinking!!!!! One strong, courageous woman  was advising another woman to not cower down in fear !!!Truly wonderful

RK-Madhu "sweet" scene: Aaj shauhar biwi ne besharmi aur mithai ki dukaan khol rakhi thi..LOL. Their comfort level is rising in atleast discussing intimate things with each other. Too much sweetness is also nauseating but anyways let them enjoy a few moments of bliss... And the show has become too filmy all of a sudden...

By Soundarya

Episode summary: 

Rishbala

RK and Madhu take 4 pheras again!! This time with both of them elaborating what each vow means. Why does he stop her at 4? they were anyway having fun, so 4 ya 7, they could have continued!!!

Back home, Madhu's feeling awkward because RK has arranged for Paddy-Shamsher's sangeet to he held at their place. RK reassures her that the house is hers as well so she can celebrate her parents marriage at her house. Madhu is touched and calls him sweet as a ladoo, he gets irritated, does'nt like being called sweet. 

She asks him to choose her sarees for her, he rejects it, and starts playing a song, 'husn ke lakhon rang'...Madhu is embarrased,...he rejects all her sarees. She asks him what should she wear, blouse and petticoat...?? he pulls her close and says he would'nt mind if they were alone. He brings out a sree for her to wear. Again she calls him sweet, cute and many such names...he gets irritated. She walks off and comes back to say 'sweet' and runs off. he runs after her and they fall on the bed together. And they get aware of how close they are, she gets all shy...ahaan, at last she blushed, she 's normally quite brazen about such close touch feelys...apni bholi bhali madhu, and finally he was not shy...did'nt break the mood!! 

Radha and Padmini:

I quite enjoyed their scene, Paddy comforting Radha and suddenly getting conscious that she also has something to look forward to, gets panicky, and worried. What if Ballu lands up and asks forgiveness!!! Sounds illogical coming from her, but the passing years may have dimmed his monstrosities in her eyes and she thinks he may want to redeem himself. Radha gives her a good talking to, and tells her to never forgive him if he enters their lives again. 

I liked:

• RK wanting to celebrate the sangeet at his house. This is indeed very rare in India, where maayka and sasural are two different planets. He truly believes Madhu has the right to everything he has. If these marriage ceremonies are TRP episodes, I'm all for it, because these are very subtle nuances that should creep in. Though I'm sure people will now call RK joru ka ghulam.
• Again, Radha and padmini bonding...sambandis being so warm,  sharing their lives with each other, becoming friends. Such a relief to see such normal relationships in a TV serial, regardless of the future tracks ( I must add the disclaimer.) 
• Rishbala - Sweetie pie, cutie pie, raspberry pie, blueberrypie, strawberry pie, apple pie...ok, got carried away.... Even in such sweetiepie scenes, I feel they have more chemistry and physics than some other couples I'm seeing on TV. CVS ae trying to redefine passion and chemistry. SO I'm all happy, happy and looking forward to the sangeet.

 guys check out this song...for retro value

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWlPXUAjeks