Kyunki… it had lost the plot

After running for eight years, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is finally winding up. Not a day too soon, several of its former fans tell Speak Up

It appealed to women caught between roles
Soap operas are every addictive and everyone gets hooked on to them no matter which strata of society they belong to. They revolve around our everyday lives and involve a lot of gossip. Different people are hooked to different soaps; everyone watches one that is closest to their lives.

Many women who are working — and are feminist in their thinking — sometimes identify their traditional self with the characters in these soaps. They are caught between two worlds and it is difficult for them to transform completely into one or the other avatar. Soap operas revolve around domestic lives and this is the space that a lot of women can relate to. This could be their lives, even if it is not.

The issues that soaps deal with are very domestic and people can connect to them easily. But being hooked to a soap opera doesn't mean being inspired by its characters or behaving like them.

Women, in India still lead complex lives. They are expected to fulfil the notion of being "good women" and still be modern. They are stuck in this crossroad between modernity and tradition. Kyunki and other such serials could be described as regressive but they have something that appealed to the masses.

A lot of serials, even the reality shows, are very regressive but still people watch them. Maybe, even though we call ourselves a progressive nation, we are not that progressive in many areas. People are not focusing on equality or liberalism. They are more concerned about making money.
 —-Paromita Vohra. Filmmaker

The show stayed on top for years
The popularity of the show is unquestionable. It went on for eight long years and maintained high TRPs. I was a part of the show and it will remain very close to my heart. Some of my closest friends were part of that show. I can't be objective about the serial because I was so attached to it I wouldn't want it to end. I'm sad it is winding up. You cannot really compare it to reality shows or other soaps. Its popularity never dipped for a long time. Kyunki has been one of the most successful soaps on air.
—Rakshanda Khan. Actor

Kyunki... revolutionised TV entertainment
I was a part of the show once and I have great memories attached to it. It changed my life completely and I am sad that it is going off-air. It was a landmark, just like Buniyaad. I still get goose bumps when I hear the title track. After Kyunki daily soaps were taken more seriously and became more popular. Balaji, Ekta Kapoor and Star TV should be credited for revolutionising the TV entertainment scene. It gave employment to so many people. Despite the reality shows I think that saas bahu soaps still rule our small screens. Balika Vadhu is a big hit. Indian TV viewers obviously like masala elements. Reality shows like Kaun Banega Crorepati too could not survive more than two years.
 —Amar Upadhayay. Actor

It put off younger audiences
For eight years the serial portrayed women as negative characters who spent the whole day conniving. This image of women was just reinforcing the stereotype. The idealistic family situations shown in Kyunki are far from reality. Besides, the young audiences could not connect with these regressive plots. I think such soaps don't have any value because they do not offer the audience anything new. What was worse was that to add masala to the show they took to showing women having extra marital affairs and scrapping the whole day. In which household do these things happen?
—Namita Bangera

It had lost its charm over time
I used to watch the show earlier, soon after it had begun. I was able to identify with it on certain levels. I really liked the character of Tulsi, when it was being played by Smriti Iraani. But over time the show became very repetitive and lost its charm. It is not realistic, because in reality those kinds of situations do not occur. You rarely see that much drama in real life. It should have been ended long ago, before the audience lost interest and it had to be forced off the air. I do not regret the show's end.
—Namita Kulkarni

The show dragged on and on
I have never followed Kyunki But I have heard from friends that the soap was very boring. Also, they let it drag on too long. I like watching comedy shows that spoof Kyunki But I must admit that all those women with lots of make-up looked good. There is no connection between these soaps and real life. I am relieved and happy that the show is going to end soon. I think they should replace it with a good comedy or a thriller. And the new show should not last for more than three episodes. I am a big fan of Big Boss but I don't like reality shows much.
—Gaurav Agrawal

The plot was not realistic
Kyunki started the whole K-serial trend. It just goes to show how much the producer was blinded by its success. They were all the same kind of family drama, and they all had the same elements — rebirth, extra-marital affairs, conspiracies, tussles. But there was just too much masala in these shows which was not at all realistic. Baa for instance attained immortality! The show might have started off well, and garnered a lot of audience, but over the years the plot had gone haywire. Reality shows have really caught on. Bidaai and Jassi were great and could be re-introduced, with new episodes
—Somya Amritanshu

Ekta took viewers for granted
When the show started, I loved the show for the cultural values it portrayed. The track with Mihir and Mandira was entertaining but that was also pulled beyond limit. Then the show started showing a lot of sensational stuff and that was not nice. Also the show was used to promote other Balaji serials and movies, which was very irritating. Already you are dealing with some 20 minutes of ads and add to that more promos of Ekta Kapoor's other ventures, how much could the viewer take? I guess the show's time was up. Hopefully it will be replaced by a fresh concept.
—Snehal Singh