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The extract begins with a confrontational meeting between Saloni, the protagonist and 'Manno babhi' -her father's sister. She is recognised as an antagonist because she is opposing what Saloni is talking to her about, -the truth about her son being a rapist. As she is the first to walk away, we identify with Saloni as being the hero.

Saloni's talk with the priest mentions the need for 'truth' and represents her as an image of strength standing up all those who don't believe her word.
Notably, she is also a firm believer in God and it comes as no suprise that the literal meaning behind choosing the temple for this scene is meant to show a society that is deeply religious.

Later at the Temple, Pia, the rape victim is told it is not advisable for the after-wedding ceremony to take place as this will allow people (society) to talk of her as being unchaste. Manno babhi speaks up against this representing change in society as she tells Pia not to fear the world and to stand up. -She is not inf act a victim and using her emotional strength, she should be able to walk head high in society.
Pia's lowered eyes are a reflection for all those women who are emotionally weak and ashamed of things beyond their control. -It takes another female to be able to set things right again.

Towards the end, Saloni is waiting, like a typical housewife for her husband to return from work. She tells him that she wants his support in finding out the truth about Pia's rapist but once again we see a wife being deserted by her husband when she needs him the most. However, from this does stem Saloni's Independence, echoing the changes taking place for women in society.

The Roles of the Women

Pia.
Pia takes the role of the sweet sister of the two brothers in "Saat Phere." For my study it is unnecessary to focus on the other characters unless they directly affect the representation of any of the female characters.

Pia is beautiful, intelligent, well educated. She has strong familial and traditional ideologies of the Indian society instilled within her.

Important factors to address with regards to her role are the following:
*She marries the guy her brothers oppose to. Saloni aids her in doing this.
*She is a victim of domestic violence but says nothing to her family.
*She is then a victim of rape.
*Her husband dies in prison, accused of her rape, when infact the rapist was her admirer who her brothers then tell to marry.

Saloni.
Saloni, being the protagonist is instantly identified as the hero because of her quest of always helping others.

Important factors to remember about her are the following:

*She follows the path of 'truth' and holds a strong belief in God.
*Being an elder sister, she suffered discrimination from her younger sister who was ashamed by Saloni's dark complexion, and her mother who frowned upon this too.
*The dark complexion led to difficulites in marriage proposals, -when she is married it is because her husband wanted a constant reminder of his first wife; Saloni's dark complexion would always remind him of the fairness of his first wife's countenance.
*She is a loyal daughter and wife, wearing the red powder symbolising her role constantly.
*In the lastest storyline, she is pregnant but wants to abort the baby in order to pursue her career.

Kaveri.
Kaveri is the female the audience identify as the villain. She is trechorous and cunning, and extremely selfish.
She acts as an opposition to the path Saloni takes and here we see the confrontational battle of the traditional good vs evil myth.
Important things to remember about her character are the following:
*She mistreats her father and mother in law which rejects the social norm of the respectful way in which elders should be treated in an indian society.
*She is the agent of change in every storyline, deliberately creating problems thus adopting a villainous persona.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060219/spectrum/tv.htm


Saraswati.
Named after the goddess for goodness, Saraswati is the oldest daughter. She is well cultured and extremely family orientated. She doesn't speak against the family when she knows injustice is being done and is another mother figure to her sisters.
Important things to remember about her are:
*She is forced to marry the guy her family choose for her, and not the guy she is in love with.
*She then turns into a victim of domestic violence..

Durga
Named after the goddess of immense power, Durga will not accept any form of injustice against her and her family. In doing so, she will not openly speak up but rather use more discreet means to teach lessons.

Laxmi.
Named after the goddess for wealth, Laxmi is the youngest born and also the rebel. She cannot stand being treated differently because she is a girl and unlike all of her sisters, will speak back to her father and the figures of authority in the household. She is the daughter that seeks to find truth and ultimately becomes the key figure that the narrative revolves around.







Menika
Menika is the woman that ruined the peace of saints in Indian myths. Using her name as a reflection of her character, Menika is the second wife of Surykant and is extremely deceitful. She is connving and sly, and adopts the persona of the villain for she deliberatly creates problems in the household.

Important things to remember about her are:
*Despite being a female, she still discriminates against the four daghters by considering them inferior to her son.
*In the latest storyline she discovers her son has actually married a prostitute and has decietfully gained access to the whole Garoria wealth and fortune.
*She is now being badly treated by her daughter in law.

Savitri
Surkyants first wife, whose name stands for Lord Rama's dutiful wife. She adopts this role perfectly, obeying all of her husband's wishes and trying her hardest to keep the family together.
Taking on the mother and wife persona, it is interesting to see how she has indirectly passed on her qualities to her daughters too. -They become suppressed housewives who readily accept their fate just as she once did.

Baa
Suryakant's mother and the instigator, along with Menika, of the familys main conflicts. She too places importance on having a heir and through this mistreats the daughters and Savitri badly. She stands for the traditional norms of an indian society, enforcing them wherever possible at all times.

Saat Phere is Hindi serial that airs on Zee Tv. The serial is based on the discrimination and degradation of women that still continues in India today and the protagonist, Saloni, is one of the girls who faces this situation.

Saloni is a 24 year old girl who has a dark complexion and the story shows how Saloni's courage and strength lets her continue to overshadow her complexion and also to get on board a journey to search for her own identity hence the tagline - "Saloni ka Safar" which means "Saloni's journey".

Zee Tv explains the programme as:

Saat Phere is a story of a girl’s struggles against the stigmas forced upon her by society and her quest for her unique identity. Although India has progressed in various fields of technology, science & education, discrimination against women remains the root cause of regression in many societies in India leading to degradation of women.One such story is that of Saloni, a dark complexioned 24-year-old girl. Salonis’s talent is overshadowed by her complexion. Faced with such a situation, Saloni is determined to not let society's will be imposed upon her and ruin her life and has the will, spirit and the courage to embark upon the journey to search for her own unique identity.

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Zee Tv's synopsis defines the cause of my study and in itself, presents neatly the conflcit between modern and traditional values. It seems that the world has moved on yet women remain strongly at the heart of discrimination and at severe disadvantages.

Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyannis a story of a Gujarati family that depicts the mindset of individuals who still believe that society can be run and governed by men only, thus introducing India's patriarchal beliefs.

Concept & Story:
Betiyaan is a story of a Gujarati family that depicts the mindset of most of the middle and upper middle class families of the society.

Suryakant Garodia is also one of these. He is a known, respected businessman whose family since past four generations is into the business of making traditional Gujarati 'bandhanis' and because of this reason he is one of the most respected and richest individuals of the area. For him its just not a business but matter of pride.

But what worries most to Suryakant is that will this honor and family business end with him? Will there be no one else from his next generation who will follow this decades old family pride and bussiness?

After giving birth to three daughters, his wife Savitri once again is expecting a child and Suryakant this time is very hopeful of having a son. In fact, his family pandit has predicted that this time there are no chances of anything going wrong. Finally the day comes. It’s Diwali. All are hoping that this Diwali will mark the entry of the heir to their family. Suryakant’s mother, too, is very hopeful and pressure is building up on Savitri. However, finally as Savitri gives birth to a girl, all dreams, expectations and hopes are shattered for one more time.

The newly born baby girl is called ‘Laxmi’, one who is not welcomed by anyone in the family except her mother and sisters. Though Suryakant always wishes to have a son but at the same time he is even fulfilling all his responsibilities towards his daughters, but as a man with orthodox thoughts he thinks that girls aren't really members of the family and one day they have to move on (marriage).

Things become more complicated when doctors declare that because of some biological problems Savitri will never be able to conceive in future. His family’s pandit suggests very soon will be blessed with it but for that, something has to be done…. something very drastic. And as expected, worst hits the family and Savitri when, one fine day, Suryakant walks in the house with Menka… second wife.

Savitri is shocked and helpless. Suryakant’s mother as well as sisters supports Suryakant’s act. Savitri is helpless and accepts Menka in her life and family. Menka, after few days gets pregnant and… on the next Diwali, much to the family’s delight, delivers a son, Yuvraj.

Suryakant’s life changes and now he is the happiest man on the earth. Menka becomes dominant in the house and Savitri and her daughters are pulled down. Suryakant & his family, least bothered about the existence of his first wife and four daughters, is happy in their new world with Menka and Yuvi.

It’s in these circumstances that the children grow up under the same roof… a brother whose every wish becomes the command at home… & his four elder sisters, whose every wish is sidelined & sacrificed. While the elder three sisters are too afraid of their father to raise their voice against this blatant injustice, it is Lakshmi, the effervescent, bubbly youngest of the lot, who will stand up for herself… & her sisters… in fact, for all daughters & women… & stake claim to their rightful place in their family, society… & the world!

"Saat phere" - The 7 rounds a husband and wife take around the sacred fire in a hindu wedding.

"Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyaan" -Literally, the goddess' of the house are the daughters.

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Instantly, the titles of the programmes distinguish the roles of women; being a daughter and a wife seems to where the emphasis is placed in the Indian society.

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The reason why I've chosen to study these programmes in particular is because whilst they compliment some ideologies of one another, they conflict heavily in the representation of women, presenting a battle between the traditional Indian society and the other which is advancing rapidly into the ways of the eastern world. Through this independent study, I want to see just how accurate they are in representing not only women (i'll be focusing on how they do this and why) but how true this is to the Indian society and more importantly, WHY are there these changes.