There was a time when Indian TV was at the forefront of creating progressive shows – Hum Log, Shaanti, and many more. But in the last two decades, the quality of the content has been deteriorating. Our country is being bombarded with idiotic and sexist & regressive TV shows. It is a problem for all those who would like to build a progressive society. The sad portrayal of women characters, prevalent sexist remarks, and male chauvinism are some of the issues that these TV shows suffer from.
So, if you are one of those who want to live in a progressive society, please boycott these 5 regressive TV shows.
Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!
Channel: Zee5
Overall Plot: Two middle-aged men trying to woo each other’s wives. In the name of comedy, you can see how this series is full of sexism. It’s the story of Vibhuti Ahuti Narayan Mishra – who makes advances at Angoori Manmohan Tiwari – who is married to Manmohan Tiwari – who makes advances at Anita Mishra.
You could often watch these men crossing lines or making the most regressive or sexist remark. Unfortunately, the women are showing so naïve that they just laugh and nod at such problematic stuff.
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
Channel: Sony
Overall Plot: An every-day depiction of a bunch of families living in the same residential society. What irks us is the way the show portrays women in the show. The women either remain in the shadows of their husbands or are showcased as too naïve or dumb or are objectified. Husbands, who are for some reason always bitch about their wives or keep flirting with other women. And, it is so sad and disappointing that it is one of the most-watched shows on our television!
Namak Issk Ka
Channel: Colors TV
Overall Plot: The struggle of a dancer, who faces social stigma for being a dancer. The plot could have been very inspiring, but it was so poorly handled and executed that we lost all the hope. The makers’ glorified stigma so much that the show reinforced the stigma rather than breaking it. One of the examples of a poorly executed plot is how makers promoted the show with this tweet.
The tweet reads, “Kya aap karoge ek nachaniya ko apne ghar ki bahu ke roop mein sweekar?” (“Would you accept a dancer as your daughter-in-law?”)
Not only the use of the word – ‘nachaniya’ is problematic but also how the markers have reduced a woman’s worth to just being validated by her in-laws. Rather than glorifying the elegance and charm of dancing, it’s unfortunate how makers chose to portray dancing as a shameful and disgusting profession.
Pinjra Khoobsoorti Ka
Channel: Colors TV
Overall Plot: In a beauty-obsessed world, the protagonist wants people to look beyond her beauty. But, rather than being with someone who values her achievements, she lands up getting married to a guy who fell for beauty. It is heart-breaking how this woman is always at the receiving end. And, to such an extent, that her husband giver her a permanent scar to ruin her beauty.
It is sad how the show makers tend to promote the idea that the scar made her less beautiful as there are so many people who have scars, but that doesn’t mean they are any less beautiful.
Kundali Bhagya
Channel: Zee TV
Overall Plot: A woman, Preeta, tries to convince a man who once loved her, that he is married to the wrong woman. In order to take revenge for ruining his brother’s life, Karan marries Preeta and then ditches her. And, then he gets ready to marry another woman though still being married to Preeta legally. Preeta has been subject to so much humiliation in this series.
She has been called a gold-digger and what not. But, unlike, any woman with self-pride, she doesn’t move forward in her life. What we can’t understand is why this woman is trying so hard!
It is heartbreaking how women are portrayed in these shows. Rather than showing them as smart and intelligent women, they are depicted as low self-esteem souls, which is truly disgusting.
Rather than censoring harmless scenes like kissing, it would good for a change if our censor board sets some standards regarding the sexism and regressive portrayal of characters.
Dear TV Show-makers, it is 2021. Can we show powerful women characters and progressive TV shows to inspire young generation for a better society.
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