I’ve recently rewatched Dhoop Kinare, a show that I watched as a child, with my mom and sister, never really understanding much, but something about the language kept me engrossed and had a soothing effect on me.
It’s been many years, and now the show is being recreated by Indian TV show experts as the serial Kuchh To Log Kahenge. As I compare the two shows I notice some stark differences, that speak volumes of the change that has come around in the last 20 years in the world.
Firstly, the production quality of Dhoop Kinare as you watch it now, seems so dismal. At the same time, it reflects the way things were then, basic and simple. Simple clothes, bare minimum jewellery, the simple engagement scene, the old-fashioned phone – all reminiscint of the days before malls, mobile phones, text messages, and elaborate weddings.
Secondly, what I see, is that the KTLK has thrown in twists and turns beyond beliefe, making it a battle between good and evil, a tussle of wrong or right, a fight or faint situation, whereas the original plot is a simple love story, and a struggle between the heart and the ego.
I suppose what sells today is drama and over-the-top antics, but if it works I guess they got it right. Though, I truly prefer the innocence of the original show and of course, the fact that its in Urdu makes me feel even more dreamy when I watch it. I keep trying, but I don’t understand the meaning of every word, but it never stops me from getting the story and loving every minute of it.
What amazes me though, is that what seems to be a rather major issue in KTLK, which is the age difference between Nidhi and Ashutosh, doesn’t seem to come up much as Ahmer and Zoya back in the day. There is the occasional mention of the age gap, but no one seems to object to the union of these two characters, neither people of their own ages, or the parents generation. This came to me as a pleasant surprise, considering that in today’s day, age seems to be a point of concern for many, and people do react unfavourably to the union of older men and much younger women.
Maybe we could learn a thing or two from the show that has gone down as epic in the history of Pakistani and Indian TV.
