You have to give it up to Indian TV serial for their ability to leave a lasting impression on the audience. But they also need to stop glorifying harassment.
It was a light-hearted drama that featured dance, music, mother-in-laws, and romance. It was also very realistic and made you want to watch more. Ghum Hai KisiKey Pyaar Meiin Written Update
1. They don’t have a makeup overload covering 90% of the screen
Indian drama serials are known for their ability to hold the audience’s attention by teaching them valuable life lessons. They focus on themes such as kindness, compassion and familial loyalty, which has made them popular among family audiences.
In recent times, some Indian dramas have attempted to tackle more sensitive topics such as gender bias and patriarchy. However, the audience is not really responding to these messages.
For instance, Leila is a Bollywood adaptation of the Hulu original The Handmaid’s Tale, while Thapki Pyar Ki is a story of a stuttering girl and her relationships. These shows essentially aim to show that no matter what your challenges are, you can still find happiness.
2. They don’t revolve around religion
Indian TV serials should stop showing too much of family disputes, arguments and shouting. They also misinterpret Indian religions, culture, traditions, customs, principle, self-esteem, limits and values in their shows. This would hurt the sentiments of Indian people. Moreover, it would give the non-Indian audience a negative impression of Indian society.
For example, in many shows, the mother-in-law is always ready to curse and torture her bahu. Another classic is the saas-bahu storyline.
This is very different from Pakistani dramas that are more subtle in their approach. For example, the drama Kitni Girhain deals with a sensitive issue such as abortion. Another example is the show Selection Day which tells the story of two teen cricket prodigies. It is based on a novel by Aravind Adiga. The series is available on Netflix. You should check it out!
3. They don’t take their audiences’ fools
Indian drama serials have long been mesmerising audiences. They have a subtle combination of entertainment and values that are appealing to all age groups.
They are less towards the tangent of high octane drama and more towards realism. They show the culture and traditions of India and aspire to change the society for the better.
Most of the time, they have a good sex ratio and show men in different roles with women. Unlike Pakistani soaps which focus on the opposite. They also show families who live together under one roof. This is something that hardly makes sense in this day and age.
4. They don’t have a high octane drama
It is a crime to waste the talents of great actors like Milind Soman and Kartika Rane on sappy, trite, and predictable Indian dramas. The plots are open-ended and drifting, while Korean dramas frequently have clear beginnings, middles, and ends.
The series explores a whole host of issues including gender, religious divisions and power, and ethnonationalism. And the acting is incredible. Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Gaitonde is just mesmerising.
A star-studded romantic drama about an arrogant boy and a sweet nature girl who hate each other at first, but then fall madly in love. It is a refreshing take on the genre that resembles the popular Korean drama Boys Over Flowers. It is a must-watch! You can watch it on Netflix. The story is a little slow to start, but it does pick up pace later on.
5. They don’t have a sex ratio remarkably higher than men
Indian drama serials have long been lauded for imparting moral values to young viewers. They emphasize kindness, compassion and familial loyalty. This is one of the reasons they attract families and young children.
However, Indian soap operas have a dark side that has been overlooked. One of the biggest issues is that the protagonists in the shows are often divorced and marry again and again. They also have a habit of getting kidnapped and disappearing for days at a time.
Another issue is that the dramas portray toxicity in marriages and reinforce patriarchy. The popular TV show Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai is a good example of this. It has Naira and Kartik get married 6 times and then get separated again. It is not just in India that people watch these soaps. They have gained a following in countries like Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
6. They don’t have a happy family
Indian dramas are renowned for their family-centric stories. They have characters that are able to touch the audience’s heart and soul, thanks to the nuances in their personalities.
They are also replete with sex, drama, and even action. The most acclaimed one is Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, with its portrayal of complex relationships between brides and their mother-in-laws.
The show is a perfect example of how Indian TV soaps depict the patriarchal society. It focuses on a family’s struggle to make their daughter’s and son’s dreams come true.
Moreover, Atul Kulkarni’s character of the strict father feels a bit melodramatic at times. However, the chemistry between him and Ratna Pathak Shah is quite believable. He is definitely the show’s most recognizable face.
7. They don’t have a plot line revolving around reincarnation
A father will do anything to save his dying son in the gripping Amazon Prime Video original series Breathe. The drama is based on the Denzel Washington film John Q and stars R Madhavan as Danny, a man willing to go to extreme lengths to get his child on the organ donor list.
Another popular drama is Balika Vadhu. It tells the story of a woman named Anandi who gets married at age 11, then becomes pregnant with a daughter, Nandini.
Another thing that’s often seen in Indian drama serials is dumb villains. These characters don’t have any logical reason for why they hate the protagonists, and their plan to take them down usually fails. They also have meaningless character arcs. They keep making the same mistakes over and over again and are forgiven again and again.
8. They don’t have a plot line revolving around black magic
The success of 'Naagin' led to many more shows in the same genre, however, they don’t have a plot line that revolves around black magic. The characters in these dramas are well written and portray the values of compassion and familial loyalty. They also teach viewers important lessons.
Another popular Indian drama is 'Tandav'. It is a political thriller that follows the race to become the Prime Minister of India. This Amazon original stars Saif Ali Khan in the lead role.
Another drama that made waves was Breathe, which is a story about a father who will go to extreme lengths to save his son. This show was an excellent portrayal of patriarchy and the negative impact of it on families. The show was a hit among audiences of all ages. However, the characters did have some dumb moments that could have been avoided.
9. They don’t have a plot line revolving around death
The cynical cop Hathiram gets tangled up in an assassination attempt on a journalist and is soon dragged into the Delhi underworld. This Indian original on Amazon Prime Video is a nail-biting drama with brilliant performances.
The tangled love story of a woman is at the center of this series. But there’s a twist in the tale as her father refuses to let her marry the man she loves. The show also tackles mental health issues such as multiple personality disorder. It is an excellent watch and ranks among the best Hindi TV serials.
10. They don’t have a plot line revolving around love
Indian TV serials have a tendency to be incredibly cringe-worthy with jokes centred around body-shaming, baseless rumours, hatred, mental health, and patriarchal ideologies. These jokes are just plain lame and make you feel sick to your stomach.
This Hindi drama has a lot in common with the brilliant Hulu original series, The Handmaid’s Tale. The plot centres on a powerful political dynasty in Mumbai.
The show is a gripping crime thriller with an underlying message that’s worth your time. It’s also one of the best Indian dramas for new viewers. This one’s about the love life of a stuttering girl who refuses to lose hope and continues to find her prince charming. It’s a great show with some good acting from the leads. It’s not a tear-jerker by any means but it does hold your attention till the end.