Opinion The family way

Therefore,Muniya’s waterworks in Dekha Ek Khwaab may not have been enough to gain their sympathy,not even the wonderful moment when she throws a bucket of water at a most obnoxious girl she had just met in the shoe shop,drenching her in the middle of a mall. Muniya,at this stage in the serial (its opening episode),is a cleaner with a rebellious tongue. She will soon realise her dream of being rich like her victim,only better than her,because when she attains fame and fortune,as she is destined to,she will treat those less fortunate than herself,with more courtesy than she received from Miss Uppity High Heels at the shoe shop.

Not sure the viewers will be entranced by the antics of Sweety Ahluwalia or Pinky Ahuja,sisters,wives and mothers to five kids between them (Parvarrish). It’s all about being a parent in modern India. Not easy. Sweety is Hitler Mom (not to be confused with the Zee TV serial,Hitler Didi),regimenting her children in even their dreams; Pinky is Toffee Truffle — hard on the outside,gooey soft within. She melts,just hearing her kids’ voices. They have two loving and patient husbands who listen to them with half an ear (that’s why they are loving). This is the world of mobile calls,SMSes,and you know, poor spelling: I luv u. In the first episode,Pinky takes lessons in bringing up Hitler-like children from Sweety and practises what she has learned — she locks her daughter inside her room because a boy at school said those three little words to her.

Wonder if viewers would like to keep the badmash company of the Khan Sisters (UTV Bindass)? That would be Gauhar and Nigaar Khan,model and actor,respectively,whose “glamourous and luxurious lifestyles” are now a reality show. In the first episode we accompany Gauhar on her return to the ramp three years after a wardrobe malfunction on the catwalk. Supportive sister Nigaar arrives with mother in tow,and there are some intimate moments. So far it has been frank (“Nigaar is the drama queen of the family”,“Gauhar is very fashion conscious”) and jokey. The Khan sisters are naturals before the camera,attractive and,extremely articulate. This is India’s answer to Keeping Up with the Kardashians (Zee Cafe) — can the siblings pull it off?

With major news channels blocking out news of Big B,Abhi aur Biwi and Baby B,we felt totally deprived,anxious: will TV news change for ever? No more Bollywood bakwaas? Then what? Then,you can switch to UTV Stars where all that glitters is movie people. And of course,the Bachchans. The two ABs held a press conference on Baby B,Tuesday; father and son spent ages saying nothing at all but what would you say if asked to comment on Amitabh Bachchan as a father? You too would put your arm around him and say he’s the best,right?

shailaja.bajpai@expressindia.com