Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 First Impression: Smriti Irani-Amar Upadhyay's show has the same sanskaars after 25 years, when will Tulsi evolve?

Indian Express

5 days ago

Maintaining greatness is not easy – that's the first thought that crossed my mind after watching the second episode of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2.
In June, when the very first rumors of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi returning after 25 years surfaced, an initial excitement took over the millennial in me. I was amazed to see a show that held a special place in our childhood, return once again, but I also wondered how they would present it this time? Given that the audiences have drastically changed, and TV has lost the charm it once had, how would they bring back a show that served drama in abundance to its audience for eight years?
On July 3, the first glimpses of the new season dropped, only to pique the excitement. Nostalgia was at its peak on 29th July, 10:30 pm, when the show aired on Star Plus, after all, it had the good old font and the oh-so-loved title track. No doubt the first episode was dripping with so many amazing memories, it left the audience with a broad smile, social media was buzzing with praises for the show. Being high on emotions, serving the gripping chemistry between Mihir and Tulsi Virani, it felt like TV might gain its lost audience at least till this show runs. Unfortunately, the second episode failed to carry that momentum.
Also Read: Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 introduces its heroes and villain; fans say Smriti Irani-Amar Upadhyay show 'has not aged'
A post shared by kyunki saas bhi kabhi bahu thi 🦋 (@kyunki.saas.bhi.kabhi.bahu.thi)
The great hype around the show vanished even faster. The latest episode delivers half-baked messages around the generation gap, body positivity, etc. To add to that, the dramatic zoom and thunder strikes, every time Gayatri stared at the characters, became a tad bit too much. Well, with its second episode, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 felt like a refurbished gift that was shabbily wrapped in new paper.
Given the love the show received 25 years back, welcoming the Viranis again was very easy. What I liked was how every character knew their arc; they didn't lose that essence even after so many years. It was the new entries – Rohit Suchanti, Aman Gandhi, and Shagun Sharma's positions in the Virani family that led to confusion. However, seeing Karan and Nandini (Hiten Tejwani, Gauri Pradhan), Shobha (Ritu Seth), Hemant (Shakti Anand), Gayatri (Kamalika Guha Thakurta), and Daksha (Ketki Dave) reprise their roles so well, indeed worked.
Another brownie point for the show was that it cashed in on the nostalgia, keeping the font and the title song unchanged. Mihir-Tulsi's chemistry hasn't changed, and that is probably the sweetest thing about the show. Mihir appeared as a masterclass at being a green flag, or at least we thought so until the glimpses of the upcoming episode were shown. In the first episode, when Mihir went down on his knee to wish Tulsi on their anniversary, everyone's heart skipped a beat. In episode two, when he stood by her side despite many remarks about Tulsi being 'unfit' or 'shabbily dressed', the way he looked at her made them seem like the IT couple. But all of it only stayed till the promo from the new episode flashed, where Mihir finally questions Tulsi – 'what do you do at home the whole day?' and also reminds her of how she has faultered in bringing up their daughter Pari (Shagun Sharma), whose secret affair is finally exposed.
Sadly, it feels like while Ekta Kapoor has brought the show back, the way forward is still not clear. Just bringing back the original cast is not enough; giving them a new color is equally important. Sadly, other than Mihir, Tulsi, and Angad, enough attention is not paid to the others. Karan and Nandini simply exist to be cute, and Shobha is also given a few lines, of course, glorifying her 'oh-so-fit rockstar dad'. Ketki Dave, who is a legend of Gujarati theater, has been brutally underutilized – she is an older woman battling midlife crisis, struggling to say English words, and trying miserably hard to be social media savvy. All she wants to do is click a selfie with everyone she meets.
Don't Miss: Amar Upadhyay reveals Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 will run for 10 months to a year: 'Mihir has changed a bit, but his relation with Tulsi is the same'
Another big question is, where is Tulsi's individuality? Where is the Tulsi who fought all evils 25 years ago? Where is the Tulsi who shot her son, Angad? The Tulsi we meet after 25 years seems to have accepted her fate. She runs a lavish household, but she has forgotten to value herself. Does keeping the traditions alive mean ignoring what you were once celebrated for? In the first two episodes, we see an over-emotional Tulsi who finds happiness in the smallest of things, but she also battles an inferiority complex. She is openly body-shamed by her family members, and she is looked down upon as an unfit match for Mihir, and she doesn't mind being called 'moti' by her daughter. She is also shown helpless and docile, so dedicated to being a homemaker that she doesn't have time for herself; this isn't something Tulsi was last known to be.
A post shared by kyunki saas bhi kabhi bahu thi (@kyunkisaasbhikabhibahuthis2)
Kamalika Guha Thakurta (Gayatri) being shown as a vamp is something that didn't sit well with me. Because the vamp seems to be forgetting what she hates Mihir and Tulsi for. She doesn't wish well for them, but she has to try very hard at being sly. Also, what's with jumping zoom-in shots and a thunder striking every time Gayatri thinks something bad for Tulsi and her kids? When Savita Virani's (Apara Mehta) spirit conversed with Tulsi in the first episode, we could still give it to the makers' creative vision, but the melodramatic effects were not needed.
A post shared by kyunki saas bhi kabhi bahu thi (@kyunkisaasbhikabhibahuthis2)
What has scope for improvement in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2…
While it's too early to conclude how the show will unfold, the new entries' character arcs are yet to be fully explored. I hope that is done well. So far, Rohit and Shagun have still been given some limelight, but I hope Aman has more to him than just a sweet smile. Also, the suspense around how Mihir and Tulsi got three Gen-Z kids after 25 years needs to be explained soon, to kill the confusion and curiosity around who they are.
Expectations with the show have been very high, and I sincerely hope Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 becomes what it was back in 2000.
Nawaz Kochra is an enthusiastic entertainment journalistic for the last 9 years, he has been a known face and successfully worked with some big publications. At IndianExpress.com, Nawaz majorly covers TV and OTT and also does video interviews. Having the best conversations with celebrities is what Nawaz loves. ... Read More