Kyunki: History Repeats Forever

By: Arya Aiyappan
Thursday, December 28, 2006

Ekta Kapoor's "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi" reigns supreme as the mother of all daily soaps on Star Plus consistently holding firm onto its coveted prime place on the TRP charts. The serial, which is being telecast for years, has retained its supreme position by making adequate changes when the TRP rates wane. Centered on a typical Gujarati family, the Virani household, the home of all action and drama, it houses a joint family where traditions and age-old customs bear immense significance. Honour, trust, and loyalty are the watchwords.

The thrust is mostly on the skirmishes that ensue between the mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. Tulsi Virani, the eldest daughter-in-law of the second generation is one who holds the family together to prevent family break up. She wields the baton of justice symbolizing mother Goddess. Ekta Kapoor in the long run resorted to generation leaps, the first featuring the children, grandchildren and their lives. The serial virtually traces the family of the Virani family, the ups and downs in the lives of family members who have different perspectives with regard to life.

Even as Ekta resorts to narrate the same story over and over again from different points of view retaining the underlying linking thread of relations. Even as we get to see Tulsi in her old age with Baa as her confidante, the internal family politics is still intense. Bhoomi the foster child of Karan and Tanya, and daughter of Ansh, the black sheep of the family is slowly heading towards trouble.

History repeats itself. The drama that ensues is virtually a clash between generations of traditions and customs. Shadows from the past in form of Raj Bhasin and his son Abhir are there to spoil Tulsi's peace of mind following the trail of Mandira, Meera, etc. It is the family honour that is held at stake.

Tulsi is the archangel who guards her family and wards off all evil. Taking on the cue that truth and goodness prevails over treachery and evil, Tulsi manages to prevent Abhir's and Bhoomi's marriage and get her married to Joydeep. The tension is building up so also audience expectations as to whether Tulsi will steer clear of all troubles and thus reunite the family.

The audience readily identifies with the characters and situations as part of their very being and empathises with them. Kyunki is an out and out family drama where emotional bonding and traditional trappings are of prime significance. Though there are manifold speculations regarding the nature of the outcome, truth will eventually prevail and Tulsi who personifies truth will have the last say.