IPKKND Nostalgia:Daily Dose NOTE - Page 38

IPKKND Nostalgia: Episode 032

Controversial Khaana

1. An affirming episode. No prizes for guessing my favourite moment: Arnav tells off La-Pam-Sim for spending their time maligning another staff member. "Call her by her name. Khushi Kumari Gupta." We cannot underestimate this. A monumental shift in his perception of Khushi. The GuestHouse Incident has impacted him. She is now, to him, a full human being. With an identity. Not just a symbol of a class of society.

2. It really is not La-Pam-Sim's day. Once ASR is done with them. KKG comes in to deliver her farewell salvo. This is the Khushi I love. Composed. Dignified. Confident of who she is and where she is from. How I would have loved to have Arnav witness this scene! (Oh well, this was just a warm-up for Episode 33!)

3. Someone must have informed La-Pam-Sim that I evoked a Macbethian theme yesterday, because these three witches are in fine form. Khushi makes a statement to each one of them directly; and her accurate assessment of each shows an observant, perceptive mind. Repeat: I love this Khushi. A nod to performance, lighting and direction. Ms Irani looked almost ethereal in this scene. The lighting was perfect. Her voice was lower than the usual. That always adds gravitas. And she didn't gesticulate at all. Her words spoke, not her hands.

4. Arnav receives a call from Mami. He pivots and marches straight out of the office. One-pointed intention. All he has on his mind is his sister's well-being. But wait---! His eye catches Khushi's desk. Her Devi Maiyya murti. He stops. To him, this murti is a symbol of her. This desk is her space now. Writers love to tease us. Because Khushi has just entered his space, with a letter to say hello-hi-bye-bye to him and that desk forever.

5. The background score when Anjali and Arnav are emotional about their sibling bond and their history is so beautifully sad. It's a piece of music which immediately makes me sympathetic to Arnav. Some nice moments here: For me, Mami's saving grace is her love for these three (Anjali-Arnav-Akaash). Especially Anjali. She tells Arnav everything about Anjali's condition. She's his Inside Man. For a brief moment, Nani and Arnav agree---for the first time in weeks. It shows that their love for Anjali is greater than their dispute. That's always good to see in a family. I know I gush about the Writers but I truly appreciate their small touches. They show that though Akaash is at a meeting, his thoughts are with Anjali. He calls to ask after her. These subtle things are what create a full storyworld for us, and attach us to these characters. What? No phone call from their damad? (My spellcheck wants to transpose -damad- to -dammed-. Ironic.)

By Jalebi Jane

Originally posted by: Anu567

Yes, Maya, a very breezy and momentous episode. Nothing much may seem to be happening on the face of it, and yet so many subliminal shifts. I love the bit where Arnav ticks the three witches off for not calling her Khushi Kumari Gupta, of course! What could be more fun than to see them cringe, and even though they do continue to rant after Chamkeeli once he disappears, they do so with a conscious swivel of their heads to take stock of their surroundings first. Khushi sparkles in this episode, having decided to resign for the sake of her honour and self respect rather than anything else, she tears into the La-Sim-Pam trio with a few choice words...all centering on understanding one's identity, self respect and a belief in one's convictions. Yes, she truly looks ethereal today, with her lofty thoughts and spouting ideals that she certainly needed to deliver to the superficial colleagues that make up the space at AR.

Arnav's concern for Di, Akash and Mami panicking for her too, and Arnav's promise to always be there for her...impressive fan following Anjali has in the Raizada household! And of course, why not. Interesting to see Nani and Arnav adopt a cease fire when they think her health will affected! Yes, of course no calls from the damned 'damdaji' dammit!

Yes, definitely a bow here for the creatives and production team. The little touches, the devil in the details go a long way towards adding to the huge fan following the show enjoyed - and still does! Which is why even Barun Sobti and Sanaya Irani to this day insist it is the cast and crew collectively that contributed to its success. And the music...don't even get me started. I am still hugely in love with those signature background scores for each character, the melancholia for the emotional scenes, the notes that precede Rabba Vey! Wah! The music is as much a hero as anything else

The interesting precap foretells this show down between Arnav and Khushi that will shift things further! Waiting! ⭐️

Best,

Anu

Originally posted by: aquagal

I would like to add that the love for Anjali binds them all. Be it Nani-Mami or Nani-Arnav. Their disputes take a backseat when Anjali is not well or someone is trying to bog her down.

Originally posted by: JalebiJane

I was thinking the same yesterday when I posted this on the -khushi- thread:

If Arnav was the anchor of the Raizada family, then Anjali had always been its heart. Her disposition, her goodness, her serenity, her faith made her everybody's beloved. Therefore, to witness Anjali's idealism crushed so mercilessly affected them as though a child had been crushed by a lorry in front of their very eyes.

IPKKND Nostalgia: Episode 033

Resignation

1. Khushi's resignation scene has such power that we forget minor-yet-notable moments in this episode. Mami is examining Shyam's absence and drawing sage conclusions. She gets very close to the truth and is dismissed by her husband. She will come back to reflect on this moment, some future day.

2. I enjoyed the scene when Anjali stops Khushi as she departs from Raizada House. She speaks two truths: You are very brave. My brother is not as bad as he seems. We can assume that nobody has ever spoken to Arnav in the manner which Khushi did, but I like that Anjali confirmed it. As Khushi walks away we see that Anjali admires Khushi. And this becomes important later.

3. Conversation between Payal and Shyam. She presses him to find another job for Khushi. And he wobbles. The noose tightens.

4. Buaji's scene pairs nicely with Mami's prediction. Mami is speculating on Shyam's extra-curricular; Buaji is wondering if Shyam is eligible. Nice piece of writing when Buaji alludes to a distant relative as a potential rishta for him, and Shyam says "what about Khushi?" Buaji and Payal assume he is referring to the general concern surrounding Khushi's resignation.

5. If you have no objection, I'll list my observations from the 10 minute scene where Khushi delivers her resignation letter to Arnav. It is perhaps the clip that I have watched the most. From camera work to writing to chemistry---brilliant:

- Love the entry. Nothing coy. They see each other immediately. The high-angle wide establishing shot shows the physical distance between them. And that metaphorically they are at opposite poles. There is a lot of ground to cover before they begin to get close.

- I like that both approach each other at a similar pace. She does not remain at the door. He doesn't wait form him to approach. His eyes never leave hers. Hers leave him.

- As she adjusts her dupatta she sees her injury and recalls the moment in GuestHouse when she received that scratch. He follows her thoughts. He looks a bit regretful here.

- Tum theek ho. The first appearance of another of Arnav's catch-phrases. Until he asks that, we can assume that Khushi came to give him the letter not lambaste him. But those three words unleash her passion.

- We often speak about A+K behaving as lovers long before they declared their love. In this moment, I saw a hint of that. Wifey is upset about something Hubby did yesterday. Hubby comes in and asks an innocent question. Wifey flips.

- What do we make of the fact that when she extends the resignation letter---he doesn't accept it. He looks at it.

- Love how Khushi lists all the various ways in which he tried break her. Arnav is ashamed. To have a list recounted in this manner must bring home to him how irrational and cruel he has been.

- Another shaming moment for Arnav: Khushi reminds him that the privileges of being a boss also come with responsibility. And he has failed in this area. One can imagine how hearing this must affect a man like ASR.

- Nice that the monologue returns back to the "tum theek ho." Well done, Writers.

- I like that between the usual over-the-shoulder shots, the camera pulls away periodically for an establishing shot. This shows us how Arnav and Khushi are placed opposite; and the space between them. They are shown as equals. Rivals. This is the kind of mark set-up we see in cowboy films, usually the inciting incident.

- Really effective how the camera moves over her shoulder and reveals the three ladies. They are not shown entering nor exiting. A collective gasp. We don't know how much they heard. Additional shaming for Arnav to have his family witness his humiliation.

- Now my favourite moment: "Bol Diya?" Hand extends. She slaps the letter into his hand. They connect. She removes her hand. His hand seems to still desire further contact. Goosebumps.

-Second fave moment: She says "chalte hai" to Nani. And then looks at him. The extended look implies that it's a farewell to him as well.

- Excellent dolly zoom as she walks out. He blurs for viewer but remains in shot. Never moves until she finally exits. I love that she turns around for that one final look. We have to remember that at this moment, they both believe that they will never see each again. Impactful moment.

- The flashbacks chosen in the sequence after Arnav crumples her letter are telling. It tells us that if they had never seen each other again, these are the KKG moments that would stay with him. Red saree tops the list.

- Neither he nor Khushi are comfortable after their encounter. Him, we can understand. But as she herself notes, "I should feel triumphant. Why do I feel so badly?" Hmmm...

By Jalebi Jane

Originally posted by: Anu567

Maya,

Can I just say that you aced it! You covered all points from camera work to stellar acting to the fantastic monologue to Mami's perceptions and Buaji's machinations. Wah!

The episode for me is deep dive into classic IPK glory. All those things you said, all the subtle nuances, complete care in the writing department to link one point of the dialogue, even that monologue to the other, absolutely surreal camera work...having set the bar so high things were bound to deteriorate in later episodes. Sadly.

Both Arnav and Khushi completely bedazzled here. As I said in an earlier comment, the colors, the glow on their faces, the powerful emotions they conveyed...not a word done wrong, not an expression out of place or delivered at a wrong moment. Arnav and Khushi definitely share a connection beyond love,...Khushi sums it up later in her other splendid monologue during the kidnapping track when she said it was one of hate. But we all know what a thin line there is between those two emotions. Khushi continued her Durga avatar and tore into him asking how dare he check how she is? Not because of you, but despite you, I am fine Mr Raizada, she hazards. Arnav remains speechless, the fisting of his hand being his only outward sign of taking it all in.

Loved that the three women in the Raizada household watched the whole scene from the sidelines. They could not believe that someone was giving it to ASR good. They had not ever imagined such a development would come to pass. Yes, the Anjali and Khushi scene was lovely too. Khushi is inclined following her venting to accept in a slightly mellow mood what Anjali says to her about her brother not being the villain of the piece. She realizes that his behaviour towards her was more uncharacteristic than she had assumed. She develops a liking to Arnav's sister who compliments her on being really brave. Anjali truly seems to respect and like Khushi. Another reason why it was important for the three ladies to watch Khushi's furious outburst was to know that justice had been meted out. This was important in a sense. The victim needed to have an opportunity to be heard. So here she had the audience to whom it would all matter. Loved the touch!

Finally thabpnk you for abandoning your five-point agenda and giving us this lucid account ...this episode truly merited it!

Best,

Anu