When Zee TV launched ‘Ek Mutthi Aasman’ in August 2013, the show promised to give viewers a reality check and an insider’s look into the world of Mumbai’s unsung heroes … the domestic help! Produced by DJ’s ‘A Creative Unit’, ‘Ek Muthi Aasman’ beautifully captured the hopes and aspirations of a domestic worker alongside the trials and tribulations of her daily life. It showcased how domestic workers throw themselves in to a life of tremendous toil and tears only so that their children can grow up enjoying the fruits of education and amenities they could only dream of and live life with dignity in the future.
The show saw the return of a very popular face as its central protagonist. Actor Shilpa Shirodkar, who had made waves on the big screen in the 90’s with hit films like Mrityudand, Khuda Gawah, Hum, Aankhen and Gopi Kishan, bid adieu to stardom and walked to the altar with UK-based merchant banker in 2000. Having played wife and mom for over a decade, Shilpa returned to her first love – acting with this show!
Speaking of the show drawing to an end after a year of its launch, Shilpa said, “Working on Ek Mutthi Aasman’s been a gratifying experience to say the least. With shorter attention spans in today’s day and age, I wasn’t sure if the audience would remember where I’d left off, so it was practically like making a new beginning. I loved the subject of the show and immediately said yes. There are over 10,00,000 domestic workers in Mumbai alone whose day starts at the crack of dawn. They have no time for a leisurely breakfast and chit-chat with their families. They set about hurriedly cooking, packing tiffins for their men and children, cleaning, washing, etc. This is a normal day for women everywhere, one might say. Except that these particular women have to leave home and often walk for 30-60 minutes or board a congested train to other households where they repeat the same cleaning, washing, cooking routine several times over in a day. Those who are employed full time have the added responsibility of looking after the needs of children who do not as much as bother to pick up a glass of water or their dirty plates or fold their clothes because they expect the Bai to fetch and carry all day long. Yet, the Bai remains, perhaps, the most taken-for-granted service provider of the household. Most of us deal with our maids with a casual “we pay her, don’t we?” approach. With this context, I am extremely glad my role of Kamala Bai and the show made an earnest attempt to sensitize people towards the realities of this underprivileged yet constantly struggling lot!”
The show’s other big draw was the return of the suave Ashish Chowdhry to the small screen after the splash he made in Bollywood with comedy capers such as Dhamaal and Double Dhamaal. His portrayal of the 30 year old suave, stylish, sharp-talking businessman Raghav Singhania earned him a place amongst the hottest male faces on television across countless polls. Ashish’s character was the object of affection for both the daughters of Kamala Bai – Kalpi (Rachana Parulkar) and Pooki (Shirina Singh). The drama that ensued when Kamala had to pick the happiness of her ********’s daughter Pooki over her own daughter Kalpi’s and the dynamics of love, jealousy and sabotage that transpired between the trio of Raghav, Kalpi and Pooki had the audience watching on with interest!
As the show’s plot draws to an interesting climax, viewers will see Kamala Bai attempting to set right all that had gone wrong in the lives of her daughter Kalpi and Raghav … will she be successful in re-uniting the two star-crossed lovers? Will Kamala Bai’s hopes and aspirations for a bright, happy and secure future for her daughter bear fruit? Tune in to the last few episodes of ‘Ek Mutthi Aasman’ to find out.
Ek Mutthi Aasman will be replaced by the new show – Bandhan… Saari Umar Humein Sang Rehna Hai from September 16 at 7 PM, every Monday to Friday on Zee TV.