The marriage in the show has a justification to it, rest of things do NOT…
The world has been talking about all this while, but I took my sweet time to write about it. By now you know its about Sony TV’s latest offering, Pehredaar Piya Ki and the apparently preposterous concept that has seized the attention of many. However, I tried to incorporate the makers’ perspective of showcasing an idea like this along with viewers’ approach towards it while writing this piece.
Weird, awkward, illogical or what? Checkout-
Set on a spectacle of a backdrop
If there is one thing everybody can have an unanimous agreement upon than that is the absolute magnificence the show has to offer. We keep talking about television pushing the bar and the scale for this one justifies that with conviction. Infact, you may never have the need to go to the state of Rajasthan after watching this show. But, you will certainly be tempted to.
They couldn’t have had a worse start
I know, that’s rough. But that’s only fitting. The first episode itself showed this little 9 year old boy, Ratan (Afaan Khan) stalking (and yes, legit stalking) a beautiful 18 year old girl just because he is imagining about the story of a fairy that his aunt has been telling him.
What’s fine in it? Ok, I get it. It is seemingly tad logical to have a kid develop an imagination towards a woman owing to a fairytale image in the mind. So, the makers try to bring some meaning to a the idea of a kid following the grown-up girl.
What’s not? A 9 year old boy casually following a girl may still be fine and that is what happens with Diya’s (Tejasswi Prakash Wayangankar) reaction too. However, it is exactly after that when things get cringe-worthy as the kid legit proposes the girl after having a filmy moment of saving the girl in his arms. (Yes, we are still in the 21st century, apparently!) Nothing and I mean nothing, justifies that!
A competition between a kid and a prospective groom
I almost thought that things were brought to normalcy with the entry of Abhay (Suyyash Rai), as he becomes the prospective groom for Diya as the families agree to the union. It all changes rather sooner than we an expect. There is a moment when Abhay is asked to compete with the little man, Ratan as instructed by Diya herself.
What’s fine with it? The idea of some friendly banter and teasing between a to-be couple is good and healthy without a doubt, so the flicker of chemistry between Abhay and Diya was endearing.
What’s not? Guess who became rather jealous about it? You know the answer. Ratan’s jealousy may still be acceptable, but the instance, where Diya willingly tells Abhay that ‘you know, you have some competition, mate?’ And later, she challenges him to compete with Ratan on jalebis. Just what is going on?
The FINAL agreement
So, here’s how it actually goes. After all of the above, following an unanticipated accident and demise of Ratan’s parents, Diya decides to marry Ratan and become his ‘pehredaar.’ Why does she do that?- because, back when she was young, she was saved from a death-defying accident by Ratan’s father, Maan Singh (Parmeet Sethi) and thus they are indebted towards him. And on his death bed, Maan Singh asks Diya’s father for the marital union of Diya and Ratan as the latter is cursed and has been plotted against. And that is how Diya and Ratan are now husband and wife.
What’s fine with it? The logic behind the idea of why is Diya ‘willing’ to do is this perfectly fits. I mean, why else would a 18 year old girl willingly want to take such a step, right? Also, Ratan’s safety is paramount and with his loving parents dead and having no family member to be trusted, it is important that the kid is safe. So all that is understandable and acceptable.
What’s not fine with it? And after getting an insight of the situation, the idea of marriage may not seem much of a problem, but what is ludicrous and grotesque is the boy’s development of feelings and approach towards Diya. A 9 year old doing the things that he does is not innocence which can be laughed off by the elders.
The REAL reason as to why this MARRIAGE was so important
The actual reasoning for this weird union of marriage between Diya and Ratan became much clearer in the last minutes of the last episode of the show, when Maan Singh’s family comes to mourn his death and there is sense of awkwardness in the air already. In a clash between the family and Diya’s father, we are enlightened with how Ratan is not going to be safe in his own family, now that his parents are dead. So, a marriage just confirms and seals a relationship enabling Diya’s entry into Ratan’s house, where she can guard him constantly.
Even if we say this can be done by being a friend or a motherly figure, that cannot have the same impact as Ratan’s family would have an obvious objection with Diya living in their house without any authority and binding. Hence, a marriage makes Diya the wife of the only heir of a rich house. With several hawks eyeing Ratan’s death and taking over the property, this marriage with Diya makes him safe enough.
Now that we have managed to decode the actual plot amidst all this backlash, we would hope things are much clearer for people to look at. I do not counter the awkward moments in the show as just like anyone, I was irked by them too. However, when it comes to the actual plot of the show, it may need a much more rational approach apart from being quick to write it off.
Purely on the basis of critical analysis and encapsulating all the needed pointers, I feel the show needs to get much more watchable and free of uncomfortable moments and try rationalizing the plot in a less confusing manner in the future.
Rating – **1/2 (2.5/5)