Bandini, yet another Ekta kapoor serial which left the viewers puzzled by leaving out its K fixation. Bandin now B sells serials like Balika vadhu, Bidaai, Betiyaan etc are pulling in the TRPs.
Bandini is a believed to be based on a gujarati novel.( I thought it to be a Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay story and started watching it with much anticipation, not knowing of course, that it was an Ekta Kapoor product, as it does not start with the customary K)
It is the story of a regal diamond merchant, Dharmaraj Mahiyavanshi and his Saalubhai, who is his competitor. Not only competitor, he hates him for reasons unknown. Santo is the grand-daughter of his most capable worker Madhav Solanki.
There is a Union leader in Dharmaraj’s factory who works for his Brother-in-law. Competing and trying to meet a deadline with his Brother-in-law, Dharmaraj is compelled to marry the grand-daughter of his worker Madhav Solanki.
Have you seen something similar? So, what’s new. All the serials are shamelessly lifted from movies and this one seems to be influenced by Virasat starring Anil kapoor, Tabbu and Pooja Batra. Only, the movie was nowhere as hateful and regressive as Bandini is.
Enter, Dharmaraj’s five children from his previous marriage! The Indian Government should seriously ban these serials and follow the “Hum do hamare Do”( or even "Ek") slogan. Time we start taking small faltering steps towards population control.
The caste divide and hatred for “Nichi jaati” takes you to the early 50’s maybe.Thrown in is Ektaa’s most trusted ingredient “schemes” and blue-eyed boy …ops man, Ronit Roy as Dharmaraj Maahiyavanshi. He looks every inch the affluent and majestic diamond merchant. Other fixtures, regulars and trademarks synonymous with Ektaa serials are missing.
No five star hotels, no good-looking handsome guys, no gorgeous gals, no expensive sarees and painted faces. The only watch able face is that of Ronit Roy. The grandfather, Madhav Solanki looks like he is going to drop dead today. And the story… did you say story? Sorry? Watch it if you have nothing else to do.