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4.3

Summary

Astitva - TV Serial
Dhasaradhy J@dhasaradhy
May 21, 2004 11:35 AM, 3015 Views
(Updated May 21, 2004)
Flattering to deceive

The story of the intensely self-respecting gynecologist, Simran, began with a lot of promise, but soon joined the stockpile of serials woven with extra marital flings as the theme.


The director had a wonderful option of picturizing the differences in maturity levels that present itself when a lady in her mid thirties marries a guy, Abhimanyu Saxena who is ten years younger than her. How the partners resolve them to get along with their life would have been a different theme, but for some strange reason, the director opted to make the serial the way a million other prime time serials have been made ? you guessed it ? focusing on extra marital affair.


Enter Kiran, a model and the marriage of Simran and Abhimanyu is broken. Kiran marries Abhimanyu. Enter another Business tycoon (sorry I don’t remember the name :) and the Kiran- Abhimany marriage is broken, this time due to the straying nature of the lady Kiran !! Now, Abhimanyu wants to get back to Simran and the story goes on.


A parallel plot involving Simran s colleague, Manas and his wife Urmila also focuses on the dissatisfaction with marriage-extra marital affair-divorce-realizing that the second partner is worse ? reunion with the first partner cycle. The difference is that the age difference is not the cause. Some serials repeat this cycle five to ten times. This serial has completed one cycle at present J. How many more such cycles the viewers will be thrusted with depends on the number of episodes it gets extended to.


The actors follow another cycle that of appearing - getting replaced ? appearing cycle, making it very clear that commercial interests override the faith in the story or direction. This seems to the rule with all serials, with some exceptions.


The director makes his contribution to the mediocrity of the serial with some childish characterization. Why Simran, who is such a renowned and independent lady leaves no stone unturned to get her cheating husband back into her life is a mystery.


Simran s father (Alok Nath) and Manas excel in action. The maid servant of Simran seems to be more sophisticated and knowledgeable than Simran herself. She is presented as a serious character, but I found it very comical.


There is no dearth of support cast (in-laws, sisters etc) who serve no purpose other than prolonging the serial and reminding of scenes in other serials. I should say that the friendship between Simran and Manas has been presented well.


What I like about this serial the most is the title song by Mahalaxmi Iyer. Though it is a small song, she has done the job to perfection, the turnings and the tone as refreshing as Mahalaxmi s voice.


The serial did hold my interest in the initial stages as it looked like a serial with a difference, but it turned out to be a disappointment as it developed of the ’me too’ products.

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