TV Show Review | Khamoshiyaan: Wonder where the story is heading; Rated 2.5 Stars

Nowadays it has become a trend for channels to promote their new shows in innovative ways  to impress audiences and gain viwership. In one such attempt Star Plus has gone a step ahead and have promoted their latest offering Mujhse Kuchh Kehti...Yeh Khamoshiyaan in a unique way that actually left the public at large a little confused with their promotional campaign!

The campaign adopted by Star Plus involved a certain Gauri Bhonsle peeping out from the posters stuck on city walls, on the railway station notice board or at a bus depot. She had been reported missing. Such an issue is generally taken very seriously, except this time something seemed amiss.  One can recollect seeing advertisements that depicted her missing status which was so authentic that people who saw posters that declared ‘Gauri Bhonsle a 21 year old NRI from South Hampton, London missing’ actually took a moment off to find out more about the missing girl. Gauri even made appearances on Facebook, on news channels, on her blog and even in the dailies.  The messages posted everywhere said that Gauri who reportedly went missing on October 15 was on her way to Old Delhi Railway station to board a train to Malda, West Bengal, but later rescued by the Saharanpur police from Talhari Biurg village.

Police announced that two men charged with kidnapping of a young woman believed to be Gauri  had been detained for questioning. Meanwhile Gauri explained her reason for her visit to India was to meet up with her grandmother who lived here but had no proof to support her statement. She had apparently stayed in Mumbai, Rajasthan and Delhi before going ‘missing’ The reports said that she had left London on October 10th after a tiff with her parents and had come to India in search of her grandmother. Gauri even spoke to the media and admitted to being under a lot of pressure and stress. She also kept referring to a certain Appa Saheb, a well-known politician and personality from Kolhapur.

Finally a report in newspapers, including Indian Express, The Hindu and Mail Today  revealed that the whole fiasco was  a hoax and it was  suspiciously close to the storyline of a television serial, to be launched soon by Star TV. The show was aired on 12th November 2012 at 7.30 pm on Star Plus. After much hype surrounding the serial the story began with a scene flashing breaking news on television screens that Gauri Bhonsle had finally been located and she herself would explain the reason for her disappearance since the past 24 days and the course of events that have unfolded in her life since then. The episode takes off with Gauri’s voice over taking us through the journey of her life in London where she grew up and which was home to her .

Gauri Bhonsle (Mrunal), daughter of Pratapsingh Jaywantrao Bhonsle, a Maharashtrian girl  lives in London with her parents and is engaged to a Punjabi boy Siddharth (Mohit) her childhood friend . Preparations are on for the forthcoming engagement. But all along one sees that Gauri and her family are troubled by the fact that none of their relations are with them to celebrate the grand occasion.  It is all the more evident with Gauri who is sullen and harbouring this thought 24x7. Brought-up in London, Gauri feels emptiness within her. She feels the need to connect with her roots. In stark contrast we are taken to the other end of the globe to Kolhapur where we see Gauri’s grandfather Appasaheb living in a grand mansion with people who are at his beck and call. An egoistical man with an attitude he is portrayed to be seen as a tyrant and seen meting out harsh treatment to his people who are at his mercy. Siddharth’s mother informs Gauri’s parents about her forthcoming visit to Kolhapur and suggests meeting up with Appasaheb but they are a little apprehensive about it and not too encouraging with her idea. Gauri and her family also notice that the  entire Kapoor clan are in London to the attend the wedding whereas their extended family is conspicuous by their absence. When Pratapsingh invites his father to London for the wedding he turns down the request and shows no interest whatsoever in attending his grand daughter’s wedding.

It would be interesting to follow the serial to know what is transpiring in Gauri’s mind and how she tackles the issue of the strained relationship between her parents and her grandfather. When she finds out some startling facts about her parents she takes matters into her own hands and embarks on her crusade which involves her journey to India in search of  her roots and to invite her  grandfather personally for the wedding.

The story line is different from the usual. It is fast paced. Direction, picturization and sets  too are commendable. The story is set in London but interspersed with scenes in Kolhapur showcasing the stark contrast between the two places. The former in all its modernity and the latter steeped in traditionalism. The talented Shruti Ulfat as usual has given her best performance but not the same can be said of the other actors. Appasaheb too has done justice to his role.

The value of relationships is highlighted in this serial. It is well known that in the case of NRI families settled abroad the children are cut off from their roots altogether unless they keep in constant touch. It is evident in Gauri’s case who craves the company of her grandparents and hence takes the bold step. She even imagines them to be living in a remote village in Kolhapur where even today people travel on carts and this shows how little she knows about her country.

The serial targets family audiences the young and old alike. Siddharth tries to bring in humour but it is a feeble attempt on his part. He seems a little too boyish a tad reckless and not worldly wise. On the other hand Gauri seems more responsible and mature in her role.

Appasaheb’s introductory scene was heavily laden with melodrama where he exhibits his power and unruly behaviour with people who disobey him. This particular scene could have been slightly toned down. Dialogues are good with a lot of popular adages and proverbs thrown in making it more impressive and interesting. It is a crisp and modern love story which simultaneously brings to viewers a heart wrenching story of a modern yet traditional Gauri Bhonsle.

In fact it has been seen that the promotional missing posters did not go down too well with most people in the city who argued that it could be playing with people’s emotions. The maiden episode could have stressed more upon and dealt with factors leading to Gauri’s disappearance and the reasons for putting out missing posters in Mumbai and London. From that point of view it did seem a disappointment but we hope that the serial gets its footing right and lives up to the heavy promotions that were undertaken to publicize the serial.  We do wonder where the story is heading but hope it progresses well and captivates audiences’ interest, given Gauri’s determination to set things right with her folks back home!

Adgully gives Mujhse Kuchh Kehti...Yeh Khamoshiyaan a rating of 2.5 stars out of 5 stars.