Lallmatie.com Blog » TV Serials Critique

Busy month + End of Tulsi on MBC + Budget 2011

bhoot — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 20:10:34 +0000

I feel bad not having blogged for weeks, and missed Ba’s funeral on Facebook. Here we are finally, the end of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, aka. Tulsi over here… Happy to see 112y+ Ba and 64y Tulsi finally disappeared. I hope nobody remembers them… They should remember the villains: Ansh, Trupti etc…

I’ll have to write a full blog on the goods and bads of the budget 2011… The grave thing is that the government is spending nearly 20B (90B vs 70B) over it’s revenues, in times that businesses and themselves have shouted crisis! There are some good measures for the middle class, and for taxing the upper classes more but… the actual minister is no expert in the matter, and simply cannot match the former finance minister!

Mahabharat – On Bravery & Cowardice – War as a last resort

bhoot — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:02:40 +0000

One episode last month mentioned war as a last resort by Krishna. Considering other alternatives to war is bravery. Wisdom in moving away from war can be seen as cowardice by others, but these ignorants should be ignored. Thus, Krishna calls to leave the vulnerable Mathura for a new kingdom, Dwarika, with higher defence city.

Dwarika is described as being surrounded by sea, thus making attacks hard, by that day’s technology. This reminds of me Atlantis… I have read articles that say that Atlantis was perhaps Dwarika…

Threats by cowards vs warning by the brave should also be weighed.

If the student is not keen, what will the teacher teach

bhoot — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 17:27:53 +0000

Another point coming from Mahabharat this week: Motivation is required in the student for proper learning. Otherwise, the teachings may go to waste.

Action, Not Birth, Determines Caste – Religion, Politics & Management

bhoot — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 17:14:43 +0000

I was very pleased with the episodes of Mahabharat this week (Mahabharat 6 & 10 Sep MBC1). There were important lessons and teachings in each episodes. Given the recent uproar created by the infamous l’Express article on castes use in politics, I think it’s important that everyone understands that even in the times of Mahabharat (3000 years ago or so), it was accepted that people can determine their caste, by the job they do: their actions.

Karan told his father that he wants to become a warrior, a Kshatriya, changing from his father’s Shudra job of being charioteer. He will succeed in becoming a great warrior later in the series.

Another good lesson comes from Mama Shakuni to Duryodhan. Some people associate ‘Divide and rule‘ philosophy to colonial English, when the British East India Company used the divisions of small kingdoms in India to their advantage into conquering the big India. However, Shakuni gives the same advice over 3o00 years ago to his nephew. He mentions that together the Pandavas are stronger than he is, but one-on-one, Duryodhan can beat them.

Shakuni suggests that apart from the virtues, conspiracy can prove useful in battle. When the enemy is stronger that you are, you must first identify what your strengths are. Then identify the weaknesses of the enemy so that you can strike there. That’s how Duryodhan is able to beat Bheem by using the latters eating habit. Compare with the SW of SWOT analysis in Management…

Now I think that the politicians in Mauritius are really preaching unité national. After all, they are the models themselves, making coalitions, networks. Each party comprises of cross-religion and castes members. However, for the orthodox people who still vote on castes, they use a divide and rule approach, where it is easier to manage small blocks of the voters, compared to a large group. That’s also the approach in conventional management, where big companies (e.g. GML, Rogers..) have created specialised small firms to handle different activities…

Mauritians do work together well, at least, the youngsters do. I do, my friends from other religions do as well. We accept each other’s cultural differences, and learn the good things from each other, as well pointing the bad sides. E.g. women oppression in distorted ideas from Hinduism and Islam. Let’s hope that the current generation is stronger than the few of us who are still cultivate caste-communial differences negatively…

Tulsi Lessons/Kiyosaki – When in Business, Build Your Team

bhoot — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:23:52 +0000

I was glad to be home early this Wednesday, it had been days since I came back early enough to have a glimpse of Tulsi. I had hoped that my people have stopped watching it (too bad, at least I dreamed). I was surprised to see that Mihir had been arrested and was being questioned like an ordinary suspect. Here is what are missing:

In his 40 years of business, he did not have legal counsel. Businesses usually work with at least one legal firm, which would provide lawyers to defend the company and yourself… Where did that go? On top of that, rich people may have an army of lawyers!

More missing are his political contacts. How is it possible that such a big businessmen does not know any politician powerful enough to prevent the police (CBI here) from treating him like a criminal. He was even handcuffed in public…

Robert Kiyosaki said in his book (Rich Dad Poor Dad) that when you’re in business, you should have your team. This means, having a legal contact, accountant, financial advisor etc. You would at least need to have basic knowledge to be able to converse with them (they are not employees, contacts, partners). His advice comes from observing how the rich behave.

Well, if you are still not getting the real essence behind this serial is showing… JUST DON’T DO LIKE THE VIRANIS!

Mahabharat 07 – 26 July 2010 – 2 Lessons + This serial should really be PG-rated

bhoot — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:46:56 +0000

It’s so absurd to see more impulsive and extreme decisions today. The princess Gandhari prefers to blindfold herself for life instead of supporting his blind prince husband Dhristarashtra… Bhishma blesses her with 100 sons… Ayaya, this blessing will come true. Traces of cloning are speculated to have been the solution to this. I wonder if that will be pictured this way, or as usual to this serial: eye contact + smoke = new baby!I must say there is one good lesson to learn from Gandhari’s words: “one must learn to accept one’s fate.” This means that there are certain things that you cannot change e.g. past decisions. People must learn to live with those errors, must essentially correct them, or adapt to them. So stop complaining if you feel that you are too poor, or not good looking enough etc. Look at what you have, not at what you don’t!

Another lesson comes from Kunti, the upcoming queen: there is no need to go to temples or church to pray and give offerings. You can do it from your bedroom’s window. How am I going to convince my Mom about this?!

Science really was advanced that time. Women could conceive without having intercourse and undergoing pregancy. That’s what we call in-vitro nowadays… Read that somewhere… Like this there are many mysteries from myths (or history?) like Mahabharat and Ramayan that might be explained by an advanced ancient science.

What goes around, come around. Kunti abandoned her baby, who will rise as the mighty Karan and eventually know that Kunti is her mother…

Tulsi Tue 20 July – The 4 Lessons of this Episode That Your Mom Will Not Learn

bhoot — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:43:25 +0000

1. Realise that some people won’t change early, not after being kicked 10 times

Tulsi made the gravest mistake by trusting Mandira after being well aware of her character for over 40 years. Agreed that the first time you can forgive, come on even 2-3 times. But not after so many times. Even a dog would have known not to trust Mandira’s word.

2. Running with Sari is Hard

Shobha could not run after Mandira, who wore a knee-high skirt (or dress). Shobha must have work a heavy sari.

3. Know to whom you are donating

Didn’t Tulsi know that Nirmala has earned millions by blackmailing Mandira? Why does she give her peanuts then…

4. Check your alibi

Karan is no fool, he knows the moment you stutter in your words that you might be lying.

Tulsi Tue 13 July – Too lazy to run Ganga, too careless typical villain Trupti

bhoot — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:59:23 +0000

I finally decided to write more often about each bit the series that I can. No, I don’t enjoy watching, it’s because I’m fed up of complaining to my family that it ‘s bad.

So this episode showed a silly Ganga, who is supposed to be over 40 and seen all the ways of Trupti. It’s good that she guessed a trap in the old cottage, but she went right into the trap without any weapon, despite doubting the evil intention of Trupti (a hero to me )…

Pa fini, when Trupti was about to fire the house, she remained still. No she is not afraid of fire, but she can’t risk jumping over 1 foot of fire to pursue Trupti (aren’t they the same age? technically, Trupti is much heavier because of fat and jewels so Ganga should be able to run faster!)

Helpless, helpless me, not her to have to endure all that. Why don’t MBC put Sarabhai everyday!

Mahabharat MBC1 Monday 12 July – The lesson from Bhishma’s impulsive vow

bhoot — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:52:57 +0000

It was with great pleasure that I sat down to watch Mahabharat last Monday. I had spent my childhood enjoying the actions (flaming arrows etc) of this serial. I said to myself, let’s see if I still see it the same, convinced that I’d find new wisdom… Alas, I was not only disappointed, I was enraged by the picturing of the characters… So this episode must be No 2 or 4, telling about a king under whom India was united. He had a son Bhishma (who will later grow to become one of the best masters of war of his time), who was promised the crown. The king fell in love with a girl, whose father wanted her child to rule instead of Bhishma. The king, rightly bound by his vow, refused his love-at-first-sight. Bhishma came to know about it and negociated with the girl’s father that he would refuse the throne.

And the greedy father went on, seeing that he was at the advantage, asked how Bhishma can stop his own sons from claiming the throne. A most impulsive decision that Bhishma vowed that he would never marry, never beget children. The best part is that instead of everyone blaiming him, or telling him to stop, you are shown videos of demi-gods bowing to him for his great sacrifice…

Sacrifice of the throne for his father’s happiness is virtuous, but vowing not to beget children just for the ‘chance’ that his sons will claim the throne… That simply wasn’t in the agreement, not is it ethical. In a sense, it’s good that he didn’t become king, cause such an impulsive decision might possibly lead to the demise of his kingdom. As an aspiring leader of the great India, if only he had the calmness not to make such grave mistakes…

Now if I had to make this serial… I’d be different.

The Beauty of Tulsi KSBKBT – The real heroes are the villains

bhoot — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:55:53 +0000

After try so hard to make my family stop watching Tulsi every night, I came to realise one thing with the recent turn of events on MBC TV. Let me sum up, in the serial, a big climax and story just ended. Another one just started. A few points will show how the writers/directors are intelligent (yeah, may be you didn’t doubt that):

Trupti (a villain) pointed out that for a whole year nobody realised that the fake Tulsi (a.k.a. Juhi) was actually much shorter than the old real one. Really true – it means that the director knew about it!
If you take the information given recently, Tulsi should be aged 63 instead of 70 as on her hospital paper. Makes sense cause when she lost her memory, she had to estimate her age. Similarly, taking that Tulsi is married for 45 years aged the age of 18 gives 63 years old.
Following the above information, and assuming that Mihir is the first child of the first child of Ba, the latter should be aged… 126 years. Ba is 126 years old and is really very very fit to able to make conversations like she does…

It so happens that every villain, during his/her peak, makes sensible decisions, be it Eklavya or now Trupti. The supposedly models, be it Tulsi and bahus, are never learn from their own mistakes. The biggest flagrant is Krishna Tulsi who didn’t make the difference between Laksh’s hand and Eklavya’s hands, implying that she’s either very silly or wanted to get married to Eklavya to get beaten… and not taking the initiative to live her life, out of fear from Tulsi’s feelings that destructive relations are better than a free young widow in love with the right man…

Finally, Tulsi made the same old mistake of trusting a villain, Mandira in court. She’s a hard nut who never learns. Then that would mean that does have a character. A nuthead written by the writers, geniuses who want ordinary people to know by watching, that they should follow the villains to a certain extent, not the inhabitants of Shanti Niketan.

PS. I know I’ve already blogged about it before. Yes, I keep watching it’s dinner time, and I’m polite to accompany family:

http://lallmatie.com/blog/2009/05/16/kyunki-saas-bhi-kabhi-bahu-thi-to-be-banned-with-kavyanjali-lack-of-realistic-storyline/