From Astitva to Bade Achhe lagte Hain and now Itna Karo Naa Mujhe Pyaar, showmakers are moving towards mature love stories which have found many takers on the small screen. Sangeeta Yadav speaks with industry experts who say that such stories are complicated to tell but send out a social message
Talaak pati patni ka hota hai, maa baap ka nahi is how the promos of Ekta Kapoor’s family drama Itna Karo Naa Mujhe Pyaar (IKNMP) goes. The show that went on air from November 18, 2014 is a mature love story that gives out a message that even after a divorce what keeps them connected is their child.
What makes the shows based on such love stories so popular among the viewers is the fact that they tell an unusual story in a very realistic manner bringing freshness and newness that is different from the usual daily soap.
Showmakers have long tried to cash in on such projects — to rediscover love in marriage after divorce and the need to remarry even at 50-plus. If Pakistani actress Haseena Moin tried to do in with Dhoop Kinare in 1987, director Rajan Shahi recreated the same magic with its remake titled Kuch Toh log Kahenge. From shows like Astitva...Ek Prem Kahani, Na Bole Tum Naa Maine Kuch Kaha, Punar Vivah, Bade Acche lagte Hai to the present on-air shows like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and Ek Veer Ki Ardaas Veera, the showmakers have tried to deal with mature romance and drama in a different manner.
The concept of mature love story came 12 years back when in Astitva... Dr Simran Mathur got married to a man 10 years younger to her. Then there was a time when the serials had love stories were the lead were in their 20s and early 30s and this was for the target audience between 15 to 35. But then came Bade Acche lagte Hai and it changed the people’s perception that love is only for the young. The audience fell in love with the concept of love blooming between two people in their 40s as well.
“People are ready to accept mature love stories today. Not only have such shows got appreciation from the audience for their take on the concept, they have had high TRPs and hence some shows ran for long,” Gajra Kottary, scriptwriter of Balika Vadhu says adding that mature love stories give a lot of raw material to the writers to explore different angles and play with complex human relationships.
From the days ofAstitva..., television has tried to bring changes in the society. By centering shows around issues like remarriage of a divorcee or a widow, showmakers are trying to change the mindset of the people and to a certain extent they have managed to do so. Serials based on these issues have been accepted by the people — be it urban or rural India.
“love is a feeling that transcends age and caste. Our show — Ek Veer... — is set in pind and we understand the limitations of showing a mature love story in such a surrounding. But love is a natural feeling and more than love, it’s the respect that Ratan and Nihaal have for each other — an emotional bond that ties them together. It is a very pure relationship between two individuals who are mature and understand their roles and responsibilities,” Sneha Wagh who plays Ratan in Ek Veer... tells you.
The best part is that every mature love story sends out a message that one can hope to find love irrespective of age. “After watching Ek Veer..., many children, will hopefully, take a leaf out of this and think that ‘maybe I should think of my widowed mother or an aunt’. The good news for production houses is that these kind of love stories are also satisfying the curiosity of a lot of young people as well,” Kottary says.
But for the writers, to weave a love story around two people who are in their 40s is not very easy. The society doesn’t, in real life accept such a relationship. So the subject needs to be dealt with it carefully so that a positive message is sent out.
“Mature love stories due to its complexity and sensitivity need to be understood before one can make it into a serial. It’s not enough to pick up a subject which is interesting. It’s also important that the audience gets the correct message. If we are talking about a relationship which is mature or second marriage or remarriage, it’s important to give the hope and also do a reality check of the problems that one needs to deal with such relationships. That is a responsibility that rests with a writer,” Kottary explains.
As for Ekta Kapoor’sIKNMP, it focuses on the seriousness of divorce and how it affects children. “It’s true that even after divorce, it’s the child that connects the parents. Today, there are more divorces than successful marriages, a TV show on divorce parents coming together for their child’s well-being and falling in love again will be an interesting story to watch out for. Many viewers may be able to connect with it as the show will also explore the complexity of relationships,” Vipul Mehta scriptwriter ofIKNMP says.