Review: Pyaar ko ho jaane do

Some months ago, yet another mature love story was launched from the Balaji stable. In spite of, the K3G hangover to the launch promos, the premise seemed interesting. Ishaan and Preet Hooda, a couple with no time for love, rekindle their romance, with their family playing cupid.It seemed unusual and with an interesting new lead pair of Iqbal Khan and Mona Singh both seasoned actors with camera friendly faces.
If nothing else, the audiences would have checked it out for the good looking Khan, whose subtle sex appeal and interesting baritone have made him quite popular with the ladies. However, the show just got pulled off air, with one of the most hastily crafted denouement seen in recent times.
The few last weeks saw the couple achieve the checklist for television couples at breakneck speed. They finally made love, Ishaan’s Schumacher sperm did the trick and Preet had the fastest ever conception in the history of mankind. The family issues got sorted out, with one sister being hustled off to the US to end her track. In the end, the lead pair cuddle together as a bomb goes off, killing them ‘Dil se’ style and ending the show’s embarrassingly hole-ridden narrative.
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While shows are going on and off air before one can even register they exist, it was disappointing to see a show that had so much promise get pulled off air so abruptly. While poor ratings were blamed for its debacle, there are a few other factors that may have worked against this ‘Pyaar ka pickle’.
Audiences these days seem to have lesser and lesser patience, while they become more demanding of content on television. In such a scenario, the launch promos and pre-launch publicity play an important role in establishing the USP of the show and herding in viewers. Just how is this parivaar or bahu or pallu going to be different from the million other servile suffering women depressing you every night?
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PKHJD was launched with the promise of being a family drama with a central love story. Unfortunately, the show wandered very quickly from K3G to Kahaani territory. The protagonist turned out to be an agent/spy/terrorist from the neighbouring country living undercover in the paratha chomping Hooda parivaar. The show changing its core premise so soon would have certainly disappointed audiences. With all the sectarian violence we keep reading about in the news, the last thing we want is yet another Indo-Pak angle on our entertainment channels.
Also, given the background of terror attacks in India, it was rather presumptuous to assume that there would be any sympathy or empathy for Ishaan/Rizwaan, who is plotting against India. The crackling chemistry the lead pair shared also made the absence of love hard to believe, with both of them looking at each other with warmth and longing. The only thing missing was their sex life, and the show would have been more appropriately titled Suhaag Raat ho jaane do, instead of a slow rekindling of romance or a ‘falling in love all over again’ tale.
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In addition, the show had too many sub-plots spoiling the broth. A sister and her interreligious relationship, the brother getting involved with one of the poorest actors seen in recent times, silly Indian intelligence officers in psychedelic suits, and Ishan/Rizwan’s padosi infiltrators, all diluted the focus of the show. It didn’t allow a strong connect to build with the lead pair. Both Iqbal Khan and Mona Singh are good actors with great screen presence and the scenes with them together were delightful. However, with so many other khichdis cooking on the side, their love story never really got the arc it should have had.
Mona’s character remained stilted and there was very little back-story or depth added to her character post the first 20-25 episodes. Also, to believe that such a positive, responsible, life-affirming woman would choose to kill herself and her unborn child was completely unbelievable and out of character. Iqbal Khan was all charm and machismo, but the makers refused to let his character develop the right shades of grey or even black that would have made his Ishan/Rizwan double life an intriguing watch.
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Which brings us to the most pertinent question of ‘what if’? What if this show had been told differently? What if it had been launched as the love story of a man with a dangerous secret? Or a Mr and Mrs Smith style drama, where a couple who should hate each other can’t help but fall in love with each other. Or like, Kurbaan, the tale of a villain who ends up finding love. Any of these angles may have lent some element of originality to the show and remained honest with the audience about the genre and theme of the show.
A show with good actors and a potentially good narrative is a rare combination these days as television continues to vegetate over ek chutki sindoor, mata rani miracles, snakes, and black magic. Pyaar Ko Ho Jaane Do in spite of its clichés and loopholes, was an interesting watch initially at least because there was a realistic positivity to the show. Perhaps if the show had remained a slightly sappy romantic drama, its story on air may have been very different. But as a famous author said the saddest words are, ‘It might have been’.
WATCH: Pyaar Ko Ho Jane Do