The Rights Stuff

Amita is Shama8217;s alter ego, her exact opposite. She is bold, outspoken, stubborn and does exactly what she wants to do. Any conversation withher has to end up in an argument and Amita has to have the last word.While still in college, Shama is forced to marry an older man. And the Nawab saheb Rajiv Verma, is pressurised into a second marriage by his first wife Smita Jaykar. The reason: she cannot bear children. While Amita simmers with anger, Shama marries the Nawab saheb for his money. Gradually, the husband-wife team start to share a relationship based on love and understanding. Shama accepts her USP as a child bearer and Nawab saheb arranges for a tutor to further her studies.

What8217;s interesting and different about the serial is that much of it concerns the life of a Muslim household. Unusual for a serial that caters to a largely Hindu audience. Director Lekh Tandon is convinced that the human element is what his viewers want, irrespective of class, caste or religion. quot;That does not mean that it8217;s a winning formula. You can even misfire at times. But we were lucky enough to succeed,quot; says he.

Adhikar also exploits our penchant forsuperstition. In the trying-for-an-heir8217; process, the ayah of the first wife uses black magic on Shama. quot;Who can say for sure that it is still not happening in our society?quot; asks Arundhati, defensively. The attempts backfire as Shama conceives. But she has to bow to her husband8217;s wishes and discontinue her studies. Shama protests, albeit faintly and is furious when she hears that Amita has graduated.

Of course there are some sub-plots as well. There8217;s a young man Sachin Khedekar who has seen Shama once despite her purdah. He falls in love with her and she inhabits for him a world of fantasy. Then, there is Shama8217;s widowed sister Divya Seth also trying to cope. And her former lover Irfan Khan who still holds a torch for her.

Amidst these sub-plots occurs a major disaster: the death of Nawab saheb. Yet this tragedy leads to an awakening. quot;Now Shama will take over, like Amita. She wants things to work on her terms, and refuses to compromise,quot; reveals Arundhati.

Shama will stand up for heradhikar. Which is why the name of the serial was changed from Aur Shama Jaltee Rahi8230; to Adhikar. quot;Shama will fight for her rights and so will Amita. Women have to fight for their rights. That8217;s the reason I have introduced the character of Saba,quot; says Tandon. Saba is Tandon8217;s idea of an ideal woman. She will be everything that a woman should be8211; confident and extremely sure of what she wants.

Tandon firmly believes that woman was created first and quot;man is an outsiderquot;. quot;Even when you are fighting for your rights, remember that you are fighting the most weak creature on the face of the earth,quot; he says. He proves his point with an anecdote. An ant and an elephant fell in love with each other. During one of their clandestine meetings, the elephant screams in fright, quot;Oh my God, my parents are approaching us. What shall I do?quot; To which the ant reassuringly replies,quot; Why are you worried? Come hide behind me.quot;

quot;Look at the sheer audacity of the ant ! This exactly describes the natureman. What I want to say to our womenfolk is this: rise to the occasion. Put out your hand and the world will be yours,quot; advises Tandon. And if you cannot do that, at least watch Adhikar.