In North India various towns are popular for their unique tools and food items. For example, Meerut is known for its scissors, while Rampur is famous for its knives. On the food front, Mathura is known for its pedas, while Agra renowned for its pethas.
Keeping this ground reality in mind, producer Shashi Mittal decided to base his new serial Tum Hi Ho Bandhu Sakha Tumhi in Agra, as the lead family in the show is in the petha business.
To give a touch of originality, Shashi took the cast and crew to Agra for a four day shoot. The shooting took place at the famed Agra Fort and against the backdrop of the Taj Mahal. The most interesting bit was the shooting of a romantic scene on a boat in the Yamuna near the Taj.
Though the serial has a pronounced love interest, it actually brings the concept of a united joint family.
Throwing light on this, Shashi says, “Unlike other shows which have a single protagonist and the viewers are supposed to follow the journey of a hero/heroine, we are making a show where the family is a hero. Our endeavour is to give viewers the concept of joint families through a modern lens. The pethawalas are a fine example of a family that makes the concept of a joint family and will inspire the audience to live in a joint family.”
He says the pethawala family represents an evolving pattern among contemporary joint families who believe they are friends first, before family. “ Dost bhi hum, parivaar bhi hum, har mausam mein sath hain hum . (We are friends, we are family, we are there in every season). The parent-child relationship is no longer about keeping each other at an arm’s length. When family becomes your best friend you cannot wish for more.”
The show stars Neil Bhatt, Rupal Devpura, Chandni Bhagwanani, Tushar Dalvi and Madhu Malti, who is playing the role of daadi and is the eldest member and the strongest pillar of the family.
On the set, one got a chance to speak to Chandni Bhagwanani who started acting at the age of seven with a show named Kohi Apna Sa in 2001 and then went on to do serials like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Karishma Ka Karishma and Amita Ka Amit .
Says Chandni, “Most of the television viewers are housewives and teenagers, they like to see love stories and comic shows. We are trying to show them what they like. The show is very realistic, without any negative character. It is a real family drama where we will show the importance of a joint family. There is no lead role which makes it different from other shows.”
Noting that she is playing a girly character, Chandni says, “She is a modern and fashionable girl. I am thoroughly enjoying the atmosphere. It brings back fond memories of my first trip to the Taj Mahal when I was studying in class three.
Throughout this show we are trying to pass a message to the elders that they should be friendly with their kids and do no put lot of restrictions on the kids.
It’s a very simple concept, completely realistic. I myself lived in a joint family with my grandparents, parents, uncle, aunt and my cousin. If you have cousins living in the same house you do not need to make friends outside and there are other benefits too.”
(The show “Tum Hi Ho Bandhu Sakha Tumhi” will soon be aired on Zee TV.)
