Monday, February 7, 2011

The 'Saas-Bahu' Saga


Thanks to umpteen numbers of TV Channel showing never ending serials based on ‘Saas bahu’ relations day in day out so much so that the word has become synonymous with legendary figures like Rama-Laxaman, Julius- Caesar, Laila Majanu, Tom & jerry or Romeo -Juliet! Not that this prejudice is confined to older generation, many of the present day modern and educated Saas Bahu continues to carry forward the torch with the same zest and zeal , the same old time tested thoughts and ideas.


Saas keeps harping on Bahu for not getting up early in the morning, not coming to kitchen to lend help, not taking care of other family members especially elders, not keeping the house in order, not doing the pooja, doing make up without the traditional Bindi or Teeka, not removing slippers inside kitchen or pooja room, unhygienic habit of eating, and occasional threat of walking out of the house!


On the other hand, the Bahu has her own equal number of grouse against the Saas:- too rigid in following age old costumes, always playing blame game, ridiculing the bride family, exaggerated reporting and complaining  to son about her behaviors etc etc. The son finds himself sandwiched between the two and finds himself between the devil and deep sea. On one side he has to please his wife and on the other hand, pacify the mother and make compromises to keep both happy!


Family harmony, adjustments, commitment towards each other, sacrifices, understanding and respecting the need/ space for each other remain buried under the wrap of long forgotten ‘Sanskars’ (values).




15 comments:

  1. :) Interesting. My papa keeps saying on this "ghar-ghar ki kahani, har ghar ki kahani" :)

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  2. Media industry driven by TRP has become a cancer for society now!

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  3. I don't know why people spend so much time in watching saas bahu types programme which influence their lives directly or indirectly and affect their relationships.

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  4. These saas bahu serials are a nuisance and I think they should be banned. Its not just in Hindi. The disease has spread to other languages as well: Telugu, Tamil, Kannada. You name it! I never watch them.

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  5. No comment....No, Mummys would get angry...My family likes it :P

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  6. How much we may complain, the fact is that these serials have a strong,dedicated viewership. Unless there is a TRP back up, they will never get the kind of sponsors they do.
    Personally, I dont watch any of the saas Bahu serials.

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  7. With more economic independance, late marriages etc..- adjustment has become a thing of the past. There are hardly any joint families now and regarding the saas-bahu serials the least said the better and adding to this list of woes is the so called reality shows.

    I wish they totally take away the satellite network off hook and we get back the 6-10 shows of doordarshan days which gave quality programs.

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  8. We have become a self-centered generation and our sanskars were the first casualty.

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  9. Agree with what Asha says here..Values have gone for a toss. I, me, myself...

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  10. Saas - Bahu are a never ending story. These serials aggravate the real happenings. Need a rule to limit these type of serials, I hope.

    Hamsmalini Chandrasekaran,
    www.women-wisdom.com

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  11. You'd think the saas-bahu serials were a characteristic Indian television thing, but I seem to think our very own Ekta Kapoor took a lot of her inspiration from the likes of Days of our Lives and Bold and the Beautiful!!
    If bored housewives, whose only way of entertainment is feeding off of other peoples' problems, like watching these disasters, what can we do about it, right?
    Great post!!

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  12. Well I dont watch TV so I am thankfully out of this Saas Bahu legends! Yes the relationship between a Saas Bahu is not without its problems- I speak from experience! But the extent to which some of these serials I am told go to show the rivalry is difficult to beleive! If nothing it will probably give the real life Saas Bahus some new ideas. But I think someone should make a serial about a Saas and Bahu coming together to tackle the men of the family- now that would be serial I would definitely watch!

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  13. tv serials do not depict real indian families

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  14. taking a moderate position between mother and wife is the biggest challenge indian men has to undertake.

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