The
cruel,
manipulative
mother-in-law
out
to
exploit
the
devoted
daughter-in-law
was
not
too
long
ago
the
staple
of
films
as
well
as
TV
soaps.
Well,
movies
have
moved
on
and
so
it
seems
has
the
small
screen
that
is
keeping
pace
with
the
changing
times.
Showmakers
and
actors
say
the
small
screen
monster-in-law
is
giving
way
to
the
empathetic,
understanding
mother-in-law
for
a
more
realistic
portrayal
of
the
age-old,
often
tricky
equation.
'Love
your
bahu'
is
now
the
mantra
as
the
long
held
image
of
small
screen
mothers-in-law
undergoes
a
makeover.
Ravindra
Gautam,
who
has
directed
serials
like
Kasautii
Zindagi
Kay,
Uttaran
and
Bade
Achhe
Lagte
Hain,
says
the
change
has
come
because
the
audience
is
also
evolving.
"People
are
getting
more
and
more
mature.
They
are
open
to
new
ideas
and
stories.
Also,
they
are
a
little
bored
of
the
regressive
storyline
where
the
quintessential
bad
saas
is
shown," Gautam
told
IANS.
The
trend
caught
on
with
Colors'
Balika
Vadhu,
where
the
young
child
bride
finds
a
loving,
protective
mother
in
her
marital
home
and
over
time
forges
a
bond
with
the
stern
grandmother-in-law
as
well.
Supriya
Pilgaonkar's
role
in
Star
Plus'
Sasural
Genda
Phool
was
another
example
of
an
understanding
and
friendly
mother-in-law.
"In
new
stories,
mothers-in-law
are
friends," said
Gautam,
adding
that
those
who
are
not
lucky
enough
to
have
that
could
at
least
watch
television.
For
Prashant
Bhatt,
weekday
programming
head
of
Colors,
the
changing
face
of
mothers-in
law
and
daughters-in-law
is
mostly
the
result
of
how
the
relation
is
changing
in
real
world.
Quite
true,
said
Smita
Bansal,
the
caring
saas
of
Balika
Vadhu.
"When
I
decided
to
get
back
to
work
after
my
pregnancy,
my
mother-in-law
was
the
first
one
to
extend
her
support.
It
was
a
very
emotional
moment
for
me
when
she
made
me
believe
that
she
will
take
charge
of
the
family
and
look
after
my
kids
in
my
absence," said
Smita,
who
is
married
to
Ankhush
Mohla,
and
has
two
children.
Change
is
always
slow
in
coming.
And
there
are,
of
course,
shows
that
still
play
on
the
saas-bahu
tussle
to
some
success.
Pavitra
Rishta,
Kairi...Rishta
Khatta
Meetha,
and
Diyaa
aur
Baati
Hum
are
cases
in
point.
But
that
shouldn't
dissuade
people
from
trying
out
different
concepts
and
presenting
fresh
stories,
say
showmakers.
"Any
newness
and
freshness
in
the
story
can
help
in
a
show's
TRP.
But
then
again
you
cannot
cash
in
on
any
subject
for
long.
You
have
to
keep
on
adding
things," said
Gautam.
Bhatt
agrees
that
whenever
human
relationships
are
presented
in
a
new
way
it
has
worked
wonders.
The
characters
in
any
story
are
a
writer's
imagination
and
authors
often
take
inspiration
from
his
or
her
surroundings.
Sonali
Verma,
seen
as
Gayatriji
in
Yeh
Rishta
Kya
Kehlata
Hai
said,
"As
society
has
evolved
and
as
the
younger
generation
of
girls
get
more
and
more
educated
and
independent,
it
is
only
natural
that
the
older
generation
also
evolves
and
changes."
"I
do
see
changes
around,
I
do
see
that
mothers-in-law
are
learning
themselves
to
be
secure
and
not
worry
about
mere
beta
ke
saath
kya
hoga," she
added.
She
feels
that
daughters-in-law
are
becoming
independent
but
at
the
same
time
don't
shy
away
from
appreciating
the
hard
work
and
thought
processes
of
their
mothers-in-law.
"I
do
believe
that
things
are
getting
a
lot
better
in
educated
sectors
of
our
society,"
Sonali
told
IANS.
The
abuses,
taunts,
sarcasm
and
the
evil
gleam
of
the
small
screen
mother-in-law
are
fading
away.
Slowly
perhaps,
but
it
is
happening.
IANS