Review – Colors’ Sanskaar Dharohar Apnon Ki

This is yet another serial which deals with family values, challenges and the lead hero’s life journey and everything in between…only this time it works.

Yes, we are talking about Colors’ latest tango with the soap world, Sanskaar Dharohar Apnon Ki which kissed small screens yesterday (14 January 2013). The show is produced by Anahita Productions and Cinemantra.

The screens open up to picturesque colour corrected scenes which depict Jai Kishen (Jay Soni) revering the sun God on a beach. His friend comes and informs him that he has bagged a meaty job in USA and he should rush to the airport asap. But instead his heart craves for Gujarat and after completing his studies, he is all set to return to his dharohar. Here we would like to mention that the creatives have used the word “dharohar” quite many times as if to hammer the title in the heads of viewers.

Moving on…while Jai Kishen talks about family love in word graphic rhetoric all along, the family back in Gujarat prepares for the homecoming of khandaan ka chirag Jai and of course, re opening of a handloom mill which has been shut for 12 years.

The head of the family, Ansu Ba (Aruna Irani) is a widow but wears sindoor. Reason? “Sethji ka naam ko sindoor mein jibit rakkha hai,” this amazingly dramatic dialogue says it all.

In the due course, the creatives aptly set the exposition carpet and introduces majority of the characters. While Karsan Das and Parul, Jai’s parents played by Rasik Dave and Sonali Sachdev, are the do gooders, Hasmukh Chacha (Rejendra Chawla) has a veneer of grey which promises interesting sequences in the coming days.

The camaraderie between Ramila (Supriya Shukla) and Ketki (Divya Bhatnagar) is meant to add a comic relief.

Mayank fufa’s (Krunal Pandit) gossipy yet authoritative nature adds a unique flavor.

Now, coming back to yesterday’s episode, viewers also witnessed a little Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham moment between mom Parul and son Jai. She turns back to look for her son and son runs gallantly into mom’s arms.

We would like to summarize the episode here. It had three factors…

1) Jai’s homecoming and long speeches and observations on family bonding, love and values.

2) The family in Gujarat waiting for Jai’s return and re opening the mill.

3) And the third…revelation of all characters.

Oh yes yes…there was a fourth major element too…which can be said to be a sting in the tale. Before the show ended, the creatives infused a mystery element. A car is shown with a man sitting and flashing a bracelet with the initial ‘A’. His car stands outside the mill and suddenly the factory goes up in flames.

Wow…what drama. So who is this man and is he responsible for the fire and mishap in the factory? At the end of the episode the creatives throw enough interesting loose ends for the viewers to run back to their small screens to catch more of Dharohar in the coming days.

The show has a comparatively larger canvas and the setting looks well lit and beautifully designed. The cinematography is crisp and captures moments and emotions well. Screenplay moves at a fast pace which acts in favour of the show and the direction department too has done a credible job.

Each and every actor has put in a lot of effort and the first episode was reflective of the fact that a lot of heart has gone into the making of Sanskaar.

The plot is tried and tested…but it all depends on the execution. Jay Soni as the male lead suits the role to the T. He is restrained and exudes subtle aggression. However, he should delve deep into the character. His role is very strong and on doing justice to it…he can attain a cult figure something similar on the lines of Karan (Hiten Tejwani) of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Jay should let it go and become more liberal and free as an actor. Remember…a good actor never acts.

The first episode is about homecoming which is in stark contrast to the central theme of Jai going abroad to fulfill his family dreams.

The show will manage to strike a chord with the thousands of families in India and abroad who understand and experience the feeling of separation. And the Gujarati background is always a win win situation.

Before wrapping up, we must pat the back of the makers for the two lovely original numbers. The songs are beautifully composed (by Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy and Shatnanu Moitra) and comes as a great break from shows which churn out dance sequences on popular, often annoying, Bolywood numbers. A little bit of extra push on creative lines can add so much value to a show.

Sanskaar Dharohar Apnon Ki works and clicks. Viewers should gear up for lots and lots of tear-jerky moments in the coming episodes. Drama and emotions will be in the thick of things. But how many times we have seen shows starting on a punchy note but meandering on lanes which mark the usual camera pan, zoom, tilt up and tilt down modes of execution. We just hope that the makers keep the storyline and screenplay gripping and do justice to the central theme of the show.