IPKKND Nostalgia:Daily Dose NOTE - Page 32

Originally posted by: JalebiJane

Thank you.

I've been recording voice over commentary while watching.

May share that at some point because it is more spontaneous :-)

IPKKND Nostalgia: Episode 027

He Finds Her

Judge me. Vilify me. Take me to the town square and shame me with a scarlet letter A' (A for Arnav, not Adulteress) painted on my forehead. But these are desperate times for our Heroine, and I cannot---will not!---minimize her crisis. The Rule-of-Five must be dropped. I need to double-down to do it justice.

Let's do this, Sisters:

1. We begin with a brilliant bit of writing/editing dexterity. Payal and Mami's conversation spliced with Arnav and Mr Sinha's conversation. This is using the medium of film to its fullest. It would be possible to do this on paper but impossible to get that same racing effect.

2. One could really spend all day discussing those first 4 minutes. It's a superb ensemble performance. Note Buaji agonizing as Payal is crying into the phone. And Akaash coming to attention when he hears Arnav asking Mr Sinha about the state of the workers. But Mr Sobti is really our man-of-the-moment. He tells us everything Arnav is feeling-thinking without a word. When he hears Mami say, "Khushi." When he realizes that she has not reached home. One can see the cogs falling into order. I could weep with relief when I see him march out of Shantivan. Not a single moment wasted on superfluous dialogue.

3. I think this is the moment in the viewer's mind when Shyam stops being a bored married man and becomes a true villain. It is clear to the Gupta ladies that Khushi is in trouble. But Payal's fears are not being taken seriously at Raizada House. Shyam has a place in both households---he can bridge this divide and save our Heroine. He could be the Hero. But he thinks only of his precarious position. I understand that Mr Abhaas Mehta's crutch was necessary at that time---and not a prop for his role---but I think it is a gift to the story that he half-heartedly limps out of the house whilst Arnav strides out of his house with determination and concern.

4. There are multiple moments in the next 20 minutes where Arnav and Khushi are in sync. She asks and he responds. She cries, "someone come and find me." And the next frame is Arnav getting behind the wheel of his car. "Devi Maiyya, there must be someone who can rescue me." And again a shot of Arnav racing towards her. When Arnav crosses the threshold into the guesthouse, Khushi receives a jolt of energy. She begins to attack the door with new zeal.

5. I like the set designer's decision to have some random bricks and wood fall on Arnav as he searches the ground floor. As viewers we must know that he is risking his life too. This echoes the Rain Hug scene. He could have been run over---but without thought for his own safety, he lunged for Khushi.

6. Now comes the climax. Stay with me, Sisters. I want to observe it frame-by-frame: Khushi begins to lose consciousness. Her eyes close. Her head lolls back against the wall. Arnav is still searching. Then he seems to be changing direction (moving away from the stairs which will lead him to Khushi!) but Devi Maiyya tosses down a few bricks which upsets a pile of rubbish---and brings his to attention Khushi's sunflower yellow satchel. And her phone. His eyes widen. He now knows that she has not made it out of the building. He cries out, "Khushi!" And Khushi's eyes pop open. With renewed energy she goes to the door. Arnav is up the stairs. He's at the wrong door. Devi Maiyya makes the lightbulb outside Khushi's door flicker but Arnav doesn't get it. He is climbing to the next floor. Something falls next to Khushi. Blood-curdling scream! He stops cold. More lightbulb flickering! Go, Chotte, go! Through the door. On his knees. Looks up. Khushi! Something transfers between them. Khushi turns to the door. Is it? Really? My heart breaks in that moment. Because I imagine what it is to be Khushi right now. She has given up. She's no longer pounding on the door. Going to the window. She has found a relatively safe corner. And she's praying-praying-praying. Then something tells her to look up. Someone has come! But look who it is! She is frozen in that spot. She doesn't believe her eyes. I don't have adequate skills to convey to you, Sisters, what I feel when he takes her hand and pulls her to her feet. It's the way he reaches for her. He's not offering his hand. He is taking her hand. I know I sound like a fan-girl but---hey, I am a fan-girl.

7. Just enough time for an eye lock and escape before the beam falls. The way Arnav looks at her. Sigh. As though he has found his treasure.

8. The first four minutes of this episode belonged to Mr Sobti; the last 4 minutes of this episode belong to Ms Irani. She is glorious. All that seething energy, hair wild, hot rage. Enough-is-enough! And all Jalebi Jane can think is, "I know you have things to say, Warrior Queen. But take this fight outside. Get out of this crumbling structure. Delay gratification. Safety first." But they remain inside. This is a lesson in creating dramatic scenes. Have more than one thing going on. So all the time that we are listening to Khushi's potent speech, there is a secondary stress which is, "will the building fall while they are still inside?" I don't think we are even conscious of it but we feel an uneasiness. I don't think this scene would have been as powerful, as invested, if they had shot it outside.

9. When Khushi throws his hand off. He comes to a stop. Gathers himself. Turns. And we hear Arnav Singh Raizada, for the first time in 26 episodes, explain himself. But he is not allowed to complete his shabby defence.

10. Now comes one of Khushi's top-five monologues. "No! You will not speak. Now you will listen." I love that she has the presence of mind to throw back at him his earlier words. And how she punctuates her verbal attack with physical attack. In terms of writing, this is such an effective moment because we (by which I include Arnav) have never seen her this way. This Girl-Is-On-Fire. If Khushi had been having scenes like this with Arnav daily, this moment would not have such power. This is the way to do it, Sisters. In fiction. And in life. Choose your moment and then make it count. Arnav stands quiet and takes it. He takes it as long as he can. And after that last push, he takes over.

And that is a good thing---because I'm spent.

By Jalebi Jane

Originally posted by: Pari025

EPI 024 Rain Hug

Maya, you are making me watch the show again :-)
Can't help but add my two cents here and there, though I am not as good as you are Anu.
Needless to say I love that rain hug. Sizzling chemistry between these two.
During the rain hug Arnav was completely lost in her. Khushi looked innocent, scared and confused, but she was never repulsed by Arnav's closeness. Arnav is more aware of his feelings. He knew he was attracted to her and is frustrated about it. May be because he is not able to accept that he is drawn to this rustic, lower middleclass girl . In this aspect Arnav behaves like Mami's true bhanja.
On the other hand when Shyam was lost in her later that night, Khushi immediately rebuked his attention saying why he was looking at her that way. This obviously shows her preference right from the beginning.