The unbearable triteness of love

Dialogue writing seems to be Rai’s forte. What he’s done, successfully, in Sailaab is to mix together the cliched dialogues of Hindi films and Pakistani plays to produce the language of love. But nothing is happening. If you catch the serial once in 20 weeks the characters are still grazing like cows on the same patch of grass. Supporters of the serial say they find something to identify with: "Such is life" they say or, "I’ve been through this too". Conclusion? Give viewers something that reflects their own lives and you’ve got a success on your hands.

Rai gave viewers so much emotion, they got entangled in its web. You get the feeling that if he simply placed the characters before a camera and made them mouth words about life, love and emotions, it’d still be popular. Sailaab deals with the reunion of ex-flames, Renuka Shahane and Sachin Khedekar. They resume a liaison, though only through suggestive dialogue. They have never even been immoral enough to hold hands! These virtuous characters are puppets: she submits to an arranged marriage with Mahesh Thakur because of her brother; he doesn’t have the courage to sweep her off her feet. The serial is a reflection of the lives of innumerable middle class people who dream but can’t live life on their own terms.

What is particularly objectionable about the story is that the `lovers’ who at least emotionally cheat on their respective spouses, are most self righteous. After meeting again they mouth such sentimentality that the viewer feels `ah, they’ve realised that love must triumph over everything’ but as soon as there is a hint of their spouses finding out about their relationship, they scuttle back like frightened rabbits into the security of their holes. Not only do the recalcitrant duo return to their spouses; in reality, they’ve never left.

The story of Sailaab is a masterpiece of human failure; it encourages lies, deceit, and self love. Not only do the characters not love their spouses, they don’t even love each other. Through each other they simply love themselves.Yet they profess to love their spouses! They remain with their partners and dream illicit dreams, choosing not to step beyond the mundane. The serial seems to be a vehicle for indulging in `dialoguebaazi,’ ending as it started — tamely.

The popularity of the serial reflects the lack of discernment in the TV audience. Viewers lap up such mushy rubbish with infinite patience but reject something new, something different. Dialogues like "tumhein maine nau mahine apne garbh mein aur battees saal apne dil main paala hai" or "Main to aapse kuch nahin kehti…”

"Wohi to dukh hai, ki tum kuch nahin kehti…" are so trite but viewers can’t seem to get enough of it.