DNA:Punjabi tadka with difference-Bani review

Punjabi tadka with a difference

Boski Gupta

Bani Ishq Da Kalma
Colors, Monday – Friday, 10.30 pm 

What is it about: A pind in Punjab, vast mustard fields, women dressed in colourful fulkaris, handsome men standing tall in their turbans...so what's new? Every second serial these days is either based in Punjab or has characters talking in Punjabi. However, this serial is based on a very serious issue. Call it fascination for a foreign country or desire to have a better life, most of the Punjabi families would not think twice before marrying their daughters off to an NRI, especially Canada-based. Unfortunately, thousands of girls have been duped due to this foreign attraction. Numerous instances have come to notice when an NRI marries a local Punjabi girl and leaves for his new country with a promise to call her back soon only to not return. Worse, in many cases, such girls are taken and treated badly by their husbands and his relatives. Bani.. is based on this sensitive issue and where families of two brothers, based in a Punjab village, are continuously fighting over something that happened 22 years ago. 

Visuals: Punjab is a region of North Indian beauty. The mustard and wheat fields of village looked beautiful in the first episode. Also, the set is made quite authentic with a couple of manjis strewn on a vast verandah where women have left their spices to dry. Though the characters were shown in small village, the two protagonists went to the local gurudwara which actually was the Golden Temple!

Characters: Full points for lingo. The characters, including the protagonists, know their diction and language quite well. Also, they look genuine with the typical Punabi attire. Though we are not sure how many 20-year-olds these days wear a paranda at home. Senior actors lend authenticity to the background of the serial.

Way forward: The serial has raised one of the most important issues in the region. Though there was no connection to the first scene and the rest of the story in the first episode, it will be interesting to see how the makers connect the two. Special mention for Harshdeep Kaur's soulful rendition, of a newly-wed's plight left to wait, is beautiful. We would like to hear some more traditional renditions like this.

—Boski Gupta