It‘s not your regular saas-bahu drama, but Shubh Vivaah is largely driven by the same old contrived elements. Now television soaps need to move beyond that formula
Almost a year ago, when Sony Entertainment Television pulled up its socks to race ahead in the TRP game, the channel launched a refreshingly different looking Bade Acche Lagte Hain. It was a story that TV queen Ekta Kapoor had always wanted to tell. BALH looked realistic and captured the imagination of the masses. Its success was followed up by Kuch Toh Log Kahenge and Parvarish, two new shows that looked equally appealing and promised to offer something different. If the former is a story of a young, bubbly girl falling in love with an older, reticent man, the latter deals with the predicaments today’s parents face in raising their children. These shows promised to bring a breath of fresh air (although ten episodes down they all walk the same old slippery slope of unrealistic, over-the-top hysteria). Unfortunately, Sony’s new show Shubh Vivaah, starring Rakesh Bedi, Eijaz Khan and newbie Neha Janpandit, lacks just that: freshness. Despite good actors, a fine screenplay and fairly decent direction Shubh Vivaah fails to impress.
What the show is all about: Mr Saxena (Rakesh Bedi) lives in Vrindavan with his five daughters and like every father, wants to see them get married and settle down. The story revolves around the love they share, the bonds they cement and the dedication with which they try to change the harsh realities of their lives.
Why should you watch it: If you are going to follow the show for hottie Eijaz Khan, you need to think twice, for he is not playing the regular, suave corporate honcho who romances hot chicks. His character is scruffy, raw and with shades of grey. Though the 36-year-old works his charm, he is certainly not adorable in this one. Neha Janpandit is impressive with her restrained performance…for a relatively new face. And because the other characters are not aesthetically appealing, Neha’s character of Saroj stands out. Rakesh Bedi portrays a responsible father with ease and conviction.
Avoid it for: Except for Eijaz’s character, all the others are either black or white.This unrealistic slotting is pretty annoying.
Our verdict: If you are sucker for a family drama and the experimental genre is not your cup of tea, give Shubh Vivaah a try.