- KUMKUM BHAGYA
- KUNDALI BHAGYA
- NAAGIN
- KYA HAAL MR. PANCHAL
- PIYA ALBELA
- BELAN WALI BAHU
- PEHREDAR PIYA KI
- JEET GAYI TO PIYA MORE
- SAJAN
- SAJAN GHAR JANA HAI
- BIDAAI
- MAJHE PATI SAUBHAGYAVATI
- EK SHRINGAAR SWABHIMAAN
- KAALA TEEKA
Not just the character projection for gender stereotype is a practice, the Indian Soap Operas aren’t yet ready to give away its regressive title names. The titles revolve around Piya, Sajan, and Pati. The Indian soap operas have a cursed glossary with all the right mixes to produce episodes depicting misogyny and stereotypes.
We are all aware of the supernatural content that the soap operas are ready to serve at prime times. Naagin which apart from keeping the kitchen politics and family drama intact had spooky episodes on the protagonist casting skin to become a wishful snake. Television already had a great share of these SUPERNATURAL CONTENT in forms of Simar from Sasural Simar Ka turning out to be a fly to the protagonist shapeshifting of a tiger in Yeh Kaha Aagye Hum. The criticism doesn’t affect them because they are already into the TRP game and doing well there away from the responsibility of showing some progressive ideas.
It clearly dictates to the idea that men and monster dominate the Indian Television with the female as the major audience to grasp such messed up narratives that dictate her to be timid, assertive, tolerant and submissive. I once saw a poster claiming,”When you admire something about another woman, tell her. Get into the habit of lifting each other up”.
Ekta Kapoor’s monotonous narrative works completely opposite to this empowering phenomenon. She has however produced empowering movies such as “Lipstick Under My Burkha” which was in news due to its achievements and criticism. But Ekta in an interview said that the Indian soap audience isn’t ready for progressive content. Does this mean if you don’t like Chicken Butter Masala I take you back to eat raw meat? So, if the Homo Sapiens aren’t doing well we go back to become Neanderthals?
These are means to construct barriers to progressive reality. Misogyny is served contingently the way cheese is served in a Mushroom Soup. the flavour slips in smoothly and has a lasting impact. Male gaze in soap operas also has a say to prolong the sexist approach.
The worst part is empowerment centric serial also lately succumb to the TRP game to promote sexism. Serials like Diya Aur Baati, Lado, Udaan lately wrap a powerless women with a sucess story to deliver wrong ideas of empowerment. Even the independence of women in such serials are a paradox as there is always an authoritative male contemplating the protogonist’s action.
This idiot box will definately turn us to sexist potates dumbing us on our ideas of empowerment.
