Where is Indian Television Steering? ‘Pehredar Piya Ki’ Shows a Young Boy and Mature Girl in Wedlock

– by Naina Mishra

July 26, 2017: Recently, a show called 'Pehredar Piya Ki' has been gaining popularity all for the wrong reasons. The show showcases an uncanny marital bond between a girl and boy. What's appalling is the age difference between the duos. The boy is merely 10 years old and the girl is eight years older than him. The show features Tejaswi Prakash Wayanganka as Diya Ratan Sing and Afaan Khan as Ratan Singh.

The director of the film ousted the backlash by saying that "there's no romantic situation. It's a bonding between the boy and the girl. The scenes are innocent scenes. Ratan, the boy always has a dreamy eye for the girl believing she's a fairy. He's always in the same mood and thought. It's a special kind of a bond, not romance", as reported by Desimartini.

A still from Pehredar Piya Ki. Youtube

The male lead, Ratan, is seen stalking the girl he wants to marry. In his fantasy world, the 18-year-old girl is akin to fairies from the fairy land. No wonder, how sensible it sounds to the makers of the show but such portrayal of a child will leave the viewers of the same age group in a tight spot.

[bctt tweet="Selling anything in the name of content is unjustifiable" username="NewsGramdotcom"]

For a long time now, Indian television industry has used children to earn a highly engaged audience. The information acquired through what is being depicted on television distorts the mind of a child. A child may not be able to comprehend the deeply embedded meanings in the series; they only acquire what appears to them the most apparent. What children are watching on screen makes a crucial difference, and it is obligatory for those at the helm of it to take the accountability of the shows that involve children. It is widely believed that what children see on television influence their attitude and behavior. They are likely to feel some of their first time experiences in life particularly at the formative stage.

Diya, the female lead marries Ratan of the royal household to become his protector. The show revolves around the girl who will discover her hidden warrior traits as and when the time comes. She is said to protect the boy, which further sounds nonsensical. If at all, the makers wanted to show the strength of a girl, they wouldn't have tied her in wedlock. What appears palpable is the loss of childhood innocence with such shows. The conception of marriage is way broader than how it is depicted in the show.

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Not to ignore, a girl child marrying a man double of her age, which is as wicked as its opposite is considered normal for our society. No one tries to object the strange wedlock of the child bride owing to its acceptance.

It's shocking to see how the time has flown. From growing up watching 90's kids shows like, "Hum Paanch, Malgudi Days and Mowgli", it horrifying to see children growing up watching serials like 'Pehredar Piya Ki' now. The content of the shows has regressed. Moreover, it is the audience which allows such shows to thrive. If there will no audience to watch, such shows will not survive a single day. There are lots of intelligent content and shows which are not regressive. The power to decide lies in the hands of viewers. Children have a tendency to follow what is projected on the screen and it ultimately reflects in the society. Selling anything in the name of content is unjustifiable.

– by Naina Mishra of Newsgram. Twitter @Nainamishr94

television