IPKKND Nostalgia: Episode 012
Meet La-1-Ya
1. The season which begins with this episode and concludes with Khushi's resignation contain some of my favourite IPKKND scenes. Like many of our Sisters, I have a thing for office romance. It probably helps that I've never worked in an office setting otherwise reality would speedily check my fantasies.
I have worked in an office setting, actually have been working for quite some time and yet my IPKKND fantasies have never been under check. I still dream of a young, handsome, akdoo Laad Governor of a boss but all I get is... chalo jane do
2. I confess that when I was watching IPKKND in 2012, I didn't enjoy Lavanya. I know many did. And rightly so. She is a well-written character and the role is realized by a very capable, very attractive actress. The casting also contributes to her likeability. Though her exterior is flashy, there is palpable warmth there. And her first scene with Arnav shows that she is loving. Also, from story perspective, Lavanya cannot be scripted as a typical cold-hearted serial vamp. If she was than we would question our Hero's judgment because it is clear that he sincerely cares about her.
Of course he does. Like he won't have cut the cake if not for Lavanya as he didn't believe in birthdays or anniversary celebrations
3. The Arnav that I find compelling (and try to capture in my writing) is the Arnav we see in the first scene with Lavanya. He is not cold and indifferent, it's just that he is very focused and serious about his work. He is capable of affection but he doesn't display it. Yes, he is shouty but that is when his work is compromised. As we saw in the scene at the office. Did you notice at the end of the episode when Lavanya gave Khushi that ultimatum----she sounded an awful lot like Arnav. When Arnav offers someone a choice, it is clear that there is only one possible outcome. And it is the outcome he desires. Lavanya has clearly learnt from the best.
4. As a student writer, I thought the IPKKND writers found a very clever solution to a tricky challenge. Consider this: A romance requires that the Hero and Heroine share space. But these two despise each other. If there was some spark of interest then they would create their own opportunities to meet. But they won't; so the writers must. How to accomplish this? Two ways: Have Khushi enter his home or his work. They decide on the office first and save the home invasion for a later track. But even so, Arnav would never employ her. Nor would Lavanya. However Lavanya hiring Khushi is more believable than Arnav doing it. But will this be believable to viewers?It's clear that Khushi is highly unsuitable. Lavanya would never select her unless under some duress. Enter Sonia. Brilliant! Create an even greater evil so that in contrast Khushi seems like a favourable choice. I completely agree
5. By the way, I know this is a fashion house and the costuming has to be such that Khushi appears out-of-place and very unlike Lavanya----however, I found Lavanya's costume more club than corporate. I think a fitted suit or a little-black-dress would have been a better choice and would still convey style and modernity. I notice that on South Asian serials, whenever the stylist wants to suggest a female character is modern and fashionable they resort to showing more skin. I'm a believer of modesty in dress so perhaps this is just my bias.
I agree with your point above. But let me add that in South Asian serials skin show is more done for vamps or the girl they want to show as unsuitable for the hero (I find it highly disturbing). They use short dresses as a measure by which a girl (in fiction) shall be rejected which is wrong on many levels (viewers are mainly females so such portrayal of another female is unacceptable for me. Also that some viewers make this their permanent bias for judgement)
Edited by aquagal - 9 years ago
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