The Great Indian Mother-in-law

In 2000,when Ekta Kapoor’s Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi,went on air,Apara played Savita,the much-despised MIL of the show’s protagonist,Tulsi,played by Smriti Irani,who became a household name. Savita conspired against her good-hearted daughter-in-law,was possessive of her son and the docile Tulsi got all the sympathy. It’s been 11 years since that pathbreaking show and the character of the saas on TV has not only remained a constant but has become a supremely central one. Even in TV shows set in the rural terrain which rally against child marriage and infanticide. The MIL’s wardrobe,language and issues have stuck for more than a decade. Despite TV undergoing a transition from reality shows and youth-based programmes,the saas has survived all storms.

The Indian MIL is stereotyped as the mean,conniving woman at loggerheads with the woman in her son’s life. Savita Tai,the MIL on Zee TV’s Pavitra Rishta,played by Usha Nadkarni,has left no stone unturned to separate her son from his wife,Archana. Similarly,Gayatariji,played by Sonali Verma,on Star Plus’ show Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai,finds flaws in everything that her young bahu does. “In real life,the relationship between a saas and bahu is full of grey shades and this is what attracts the audience,” says actress Smita Bansal,who plays Sumitra,MIL of Balika Vadhu’s protagonist,Anandi.

Even in a show like Naa Aana Iss Des…Laado,which deals with female infanticide,the crux remains the relationship between the saas and the bahu. It’s the righteous wife,Tia fighting it against Ammaji,the rigid matriarch. The same is the case with Balika Vadhu,where another stern matriarch,Daadisa,sours the lives of her two daughters-in law and her granddaughter-in-law and rakes in the TRPs. The setting might have shifted from the Virani bungalow of Kyunki Saas… to Balika Vadhu’s haveli in Rajasthan — but the essence is the same. The power to keep the audience hooked lies with the writers,who keep tweaking the track of the story. Ask Gajra Kottary,the script-writer of Balika Vadhu,what makes the saas such a sustainable character on TV and she says,“Women are obsessed with this relationship — there is a vicarious streak in them that makes them want to hate their mothers-in-laws or daughters-in laws and that’s why they keep coming back to it.”

Discovered by Kapoor,the saas-bahu formula has a long shelf life. Every month,a new show explores the dynamics of this relationship. “This formula will work as long as saas and bahu exist in the world. They are not going anywhere. Also,what’s the harm?,” says Anil Wanvari,Founder CEO,Indiantelevision.com Group.

However,some have tried to make a difference. Neena Gupta played the feminist gynaecologist MIL on Zee TV’s Dil Se Diya Vachan and now Supriya Pilgaonkar plays the doting MIL on Star Plus’ Sasural Genda Phool. While Dil Se…went off air in five months,Sasural Genda Phool has a niche following and Pilongakar is not really regarded as a powerful saas on the small screen. “I blame the audience for this — these shows are great but do not get any TRPs,” says Mehta,who wants to showcase a more modern MIL in her latest show. Bansal agrees with her,“No one wants to see normal life on TV — it’s boring. Everybody wants drama.”

Nadkarni cites psychological reasons for the success of the MIL on the small screen. “Viewers are sadists — they want to see other women suffering. They enjoy the troubles in other people’s homes,” Actor Amar Upadhyaya reiterates the same,“These shows are for the female audience who want to see women suffer and eventually win. There is no iconic father-in-law on TV but there is nostalgia around the mother-in-law.”

For the cynics,who have been waiting for the doom of saas-bahu shows,it’s time to give up. The saas is here to stay.