KSBKBT - Derogatory portrayal of women. Review on Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi

I fervently hope ’’Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’’ - one of the most favourite Indian serials at present - is not a reflection of the Indian psyche.

But first, I’ll start with the good (redeeming) qualities :

One good thing is that the mothers-in-law / daughters-in-law are not shown typically scheming and plotting against each other. As a daughter in law myself, I feel this is one relationship one really needs to work at. There is always a preconception in the back of one’s mind that all mothers-in-law are the same - horrible. To be honest, my mother-in-law is pretty nice but still, it would take me much longer to forgive her for something she said/did than it would take me if it were my own mother ! One doesn’t really need this idea of bad mothers-in-law to get reinforced through serials being beamed daily into our TV sets.

Second, the women aren’t the clingy sort, forever sticking to their husbands. Frankly, who has the time now ? The women lead their own lives and the men go to office !

Now the things I don’t like in the serial :

The crying - the main character Tulsi seems to be forever shedding tears. I dont remember watching a single episode where Tulsi has not cried with that same old tired background song which has been the same tune since the start of the serial eons back. Please - we women are not given to crying at the drop of a hat.

Second, the women are mostly a pathetic lot. I really feel that Ekta Kapoor (nothing personal against her) should not trade her values for all the money / fame she is getting. Does anyone really identify with Tulsi ? She is forever wronged - sometimes thrown out of her house - but she always comes back for more. Is she some sucker for punishment ? Why do women have to be shown like that - without a backbone ? She is supposed to be a strong woman in the serial but is quite a pathetic character.

I dont think Indian women need more of this. We have already been brought up on epics like Ramayan where Sita finally prefers to be swallowed up by Mother Earth after she is endlessly hounded to prove her purity (?!). Its time we women are treated with a little more respect and characters like the cry-baby Tulsi do nothing to improve our standing.

Third, amnesia seems to be a favourite ailment of these K-serials. In my 33 years, I have never seen / heard of anyone having amnesia except in reel life.

Fourth, there is already enough sorrow in everybody’s life, why not show some happy moments instead of forever showing sad woe-begone faces ?

Fifth, there are hardly any working women in the serial. There is an evil one (the villainess, so to speak) who is obviously a politician, an empty headed simpleton who is again typically a model/actress and one thankfully is a journalist. There is also one who runs a dance school from home but that aspect of hers is seldom shown. The rest of the women just stay at home and plot against each other when they are not cooking. Please give us a break !

Another interesting thing you notice in the serial is that even if you miss out 20 episodes, you have no problems in understanding the story- it moves ever so slowly.