Five O'Clock Chai

Welcome to my little corner of the internet! I would provide you with a cup of Chai, but fortunately or unfortunately the web has yet to reach such a development. Regardless, I hope you feel at home.

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The most underrated show!

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Cup 5: Boredom Strikes!

Boredom seldom has the tenacity to spread from one being and inflict its insipidness on others. However, when it does, it does with great fervor! One does not have to look far to observe the transmission. Simply turn on the remote and browse through some serials. Don’t catch my drift? Don’t worry there’s plenty of chai here to keep me calm as I delve into a bit of a rant.

When the creatives produce a boring, drawn out, uninspiring track and script the following transpires: the characters become boring, the actors get bored (can we blame them?), and finally the audience gets bored! Qubool Hai and KumKum Bhagya are excellent examples of this.

Yeh Qubool Hai, hum ko Qubool Bil Kul Nahein Hai!!!! Jannat is a manifestation of Sanam, Seher, and Zoya. She is supposed to be full of zest, passionate, and the life of the party. However these emotions are coming across in a depressed manner. The current misunderstanding and situation between Jannat, Aahil, and Shaad has created a dark grey cloud over the mansion. The dialogue delivery has become monotone. The morose tone of the track is the root of the problem. The creatives have tried to include some flare by including Aahil’s background scores as he smugly delivers his lines on the capabilities of love to transcend all evil. Sorry but it just does not flow with the track. They have included Janoon moments between Jannat and Aahil. However, I do not feel any goosebumps or feel anything for that matter. To me, they do not qualify as janoon moments when both characters are so awkward, upset, and lost. As a viewer I do not want to sulk. Feeling upset and emotional is always welcome, as long as it’s the result of an intense and heartwrenching emotional track.  Razia’s entrance may be the spark that the show requires.

KumKum Bhagya.... I know, I just did a post congratulating the CVs... but that does not preclude the show from not having any flaws. The pregnancy track is being dragged out beyond anyone’s tolerance level. Is this something new, dragged out tracks? No! The issue is not that drawn out track per say. It is the lack of emotions and intensity. Yes, I appreciate and love the creatives’ use of comedy. However, everything in moderation right? This track requires some intensity! I know they have tried to make it lighthearted in order to make the track bearable. That’s quite considerate of them. However, it’s like being served daal or sabzi without tadka. Chai without sugar or spices. It comes across bland. The only convincing and entertaining bits present are the comedic interactions between Abhigya and Abhigya and Rabul. This track was supposed to be a climax of sorts. It does not feel that way at all. Another difference between the previous tracks the current one is that everything is predictable. I miss the mystery and intrigue.

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O Mere Jaan

This is a beautiful video with a message that every human needs to hear, see, and internalize. It's about an issue that is close to my heart. I won't reveal too much. Go ahead and check it out. It was directed and produced by Waseem Sabir with Suhail Zargar as the singer. It also features many of your favorite telly stars.

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I was promised that the male protagonist will be shown fighting for the rights of women but later they completely changed my character. The person who used to fight for women's rights suddenly becoming an obsessive lover is not acceptable just by an actor but the viewers too. Also I never wanted to pass out a wrong message among the audience and that's the reason I was continuously posting on social networking sites that one should never be a obsessive lover like my character.

Tahir Shabbir

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Cup 4: Dosti... Yaariyan... Manmarziyan

This show has definitely struck the right chord with me! It’s a contemporary, light, and refreshing serial. The refreshing aspect comes from its lack of melodrama. There’s just enough drama to give it that umph but it never over steps the boundaries of common sense.

The friendships are believable and relatable. The show keeps the audience on their toes without dragging the tracks. As a viewer you expect the characters to take the conventional path but they leave you pleasantly surprised by forsaking melodrama and choosing the path of common sense.

The serial illustrates the meaning of trust, friendship, love, self confidence, and self-respect. For instance instead of blindly listening to and falling for the lies of her recent love interest, Arjun, Samaria chooses to trust her best friend Radhika. Instead of preventing Radhika from going to Mumbai, Radhika’s parents have faith in the the values and teachings they have imparted in their daughter.

If you want to experience a new genre and refreshing story definitely give this serial a try!

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Cup 3: Nisha Aur Uske Cousins

This show had so much potential!!! It really could have garnered higher TRPs and success. The basic storyline was the foundation. However, due to a few characterization glitches, the original story was cast aside. The blame? Of course the TRPs right? Well let’s just say that’s not the only culprit. The story was supposed to focus on Nisha and HER COUSINS!!! Each character’s story could have brought so much life into the show. Unfortunately the attention was on Nisha and her love story with Viraj.

Nisha and Viraj were a lovely pairing. The chemistry between Aneri and Taher would have been sizzling if the makers had tweaked the script a bit. The “Ms. Nisha” and “Viraj Sir” titles could have worked if Nisha was a tad bit older. In Qubool Hai “Mr. Khan” and “Ms. Farooqui” were used by Asad and Zoya as a respectful and formal means of greeting each other. Since the age gap between Karan and Surbhi is not significant this exchange worked. It was cute! The Coach/Mentor and student relationship between Nisha and Viraj hampered their chemistry. They were too formal with each other and thus there were no nok jhoks between the too. According to a little birdie from the sets the makers thought their chemistry was too “cold”. Instead of changing the characterization a tad bit and evolving the characters they instead chose to introduce a new male lead.

Kabir and Nisha as a pairing could have worked if the makers had not invested  in so many episodes that narrated Viraj’s history and story. Clearly the audience was attached to Nisha and Viraj. In order to make way for Kabir’s entry the creatives completely altered Viraj’s persona. He was what I would deem the new villain. During Kabir’s entry Viraj insulted Nisha and questioned her love for him. As the story progressed he become even more ridiculous. It was painful to watch a character I liked so much degenerate right before me.

What did the makers do right? Original storyline aside, the creatives illustrated what it means to have self-respect and self-confidence. After the lack of trust and disrespectful attitude Viraj displayed towards Nisha, I was quite content when Nisha made the decision to move on. This is exactly what young women need to learn, to value themselves! There is another show on Star Plus which is providing similar messages of empowerment and self-love. I’ll discuss that in the next post.

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When Abhi Slapped Pragya...

For those of you who saw that particular scene what are your thoughts? Was that scene necessary?

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Television is growing immensely, but it still has to work on storytelling and presentation. The main problem is time constraint. We have to dole out content everyday and then you don’t have time to analyse it. Things move so fast… where will quality come from ?

Karanvir Bohra

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Cup 2: Doli Armaano Ki’s Samrat Singh Ratore’s Redemption Track

Yes, you heard right... Samrat’s “Redemption” track!!! What a paradox! This is precisely why it is necessary for the industry to try finite series or seasons. The current framework is simply not working. Can a man like Samrat really be redeemed? Did the audience invest so much time into the show for him to be redeemed with a snap of a finger? What type of alternative reality is this serial being telecast in?

Samrat is a shrewd, a manipulative, and a selfish misogynist who is definitely suffering from a personality disorder.  He views everything as a zero-sum game.  He vowed to marry Urmi at any cost when her friend threatened to reveal his truth and stop the wedding. He then chose to cheat on her multiple times, including but not limited to their honeymoon. This is the same man who slapped Urmi and then went on to brutally beat her with his belt. When he learned that she was pregnant he suspected her of having an affair. This suspicion led him to shoot her and kill the unborn child. He tried to kill his own son and Urmi but setting their home on fire. Urmi was granted Shauryia’s custody and a divorce from Samrat. Samrat was given a prison sentence. This should have been the end of the show!!!

But no! The show took a leap and out came Samrat, with even more venom than before. I tolerated the domestic violence and misogyny those scenes were necessary for the overall story. This show was about Urmi’s journey and the journey of many women in this world who are victims of domestic violence. Urmi was an example. What’s more women who have not suffered from such obscenities could vicariously feel the pain that Urmi was experiencing.  The current developments have made this issue a joke. Samrat will be given the chance to reform himself, to feel guilty, and to become a better human.  Why? Because this is only a serial right? Then why take on such bold themes of domestic violence? Why go there when redemption is the solution for someone who in reality does not deserve it and is incapable of being “humane”. Urmi has become a household name in some Indian villages and town. Whether people like it or not, the fact is that this show has provided lessons and is a source of hope. 

Samrat should have been punished by his family or karma should have taken a toll on him. Individuals like Samrat rarely change. They need psychological help and therapy. The sudden plot change is due to the fact that Neha, aka Urmi, is quitting the show. Sudden behind the scenes changes and continuous leaps can damage the storyline and the ultimate message that the show had intended to send.

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Cup 1: KumKum Bhagya and Balaji Creatives and Cast

Browsing through various forums and social media I seldom see or hear the audience praising television creatives. Can we blame the audience? In an industry bound by the constraints of the TRP race plots falter and characters go astray. Initially the audience is presented with a set of impressive promos providing a glimpse of what appears to be a fresh and unique storyline. Once the show begins the audience cannot help but be enraptured by endearing characters and the relationships they establish. The musical scores are beautifully composed. Within the first few months, even weeks, the episodes are ingrained in our minds.

However, with time, the euphoria diminishes. The plot goes awry. There is no natural progression in terms of character development. Suddenly, the hero/heroine and the villain decide to switch roles. Leads are sidelined and new characters are introduced. The audience is left dejected as they watch the villain outsmart the protagonist in every episode. At times the audience bares the illogical changes and dragged out tracks because their favourite actor or actress is in the serial. This is the typical serial experience.

Keeping in mind the constraints of the TRP driven industry, I would like to praise and recognize the creatives of KumKum Bhagya along with the cast. Although the tracks are by no means perfect, the creatives have done a good job because they have preserved the original storyline. The tracks and subplots seamlessly flow together and add value to the overall storyline. Yes, there are drawn out tracks where the audience hopes for nothing more than the leads to resolve their misunderstandings and for a box of tissues! Nevertheless, these tracks are bearable! Actually, they are a delight to watch because the creatives are in the true sense “creative”. There is a comedic touch in every scene. Even in what would be the most boring of situations or the most morose scenarios, there is a subtle hint of comedy. The lines are unique and the jokes are laugh worthy.

This kind of script is difficult to pull off. If it were not for the stellar cast that brings the script to life, perhaps the core of the script would not be given the due representation that it deserves. Shabir, Sriti, and Swati’s dialogue delivery, nuanced expressions, and expressive eyes are phenomenal. This particular cast and creative combination is praiseworthy!

What are you views?

minahbirdie thank you! Yeah, they did change Pragya’s character quite a bit didn’t they. I think i’ll do a post on that tomorrow!

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Abhi and Pragya: Adhuri Prem Kahani

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Favourite KaBhi Moments:

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Hi. Is it one of your vms in which there is a little bit of thatbsong "tumko toh aana hi tha" from jai ho??

It's been a while since I've made a vm. off the top of my head though I don't think I've used that song before.

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Hi , I loved the KaBhi vm you made ! I was actually looking for the offscreen segments on youtube but it seems they're been deleted , if you still have them , can you upload them on youtube please ? :)

Hi! Which offscreen segments are you referring to? Have I used them in my VMs before? You can inbox me if you'd like.

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Qubool Hai | Shehzaad Shaikh Interview Preview:

He is beyond adorable!

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Qubool Hai | Interview | Karanvir Bohra and Surbh…: Nice interview!

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QH Promo - 1st May 2014 ( Surbi Jyoti and Karanvi…: Aahil and Billo Rani