The audio-visual medium is a strong means to communicate or tackle any issue. If a celebrity is associated with it, then the impact is stronger — be it Amitabh Bachchan appearing on TV and talking about polio drops, Wasim Akram about fighting diabetes or Deepika Padukone who talks against the stigma attached to depression. Now Kannada actors too are not far behind when it comes to tackling sensitive issues through films and TV series. Lately, surrogacy seems to be the hot topic for serial makers. The latest to join the band wagon is Udaya TV’s hit series Jo Jo Laali. The makers have roped in young actress Mayuri to propagate surrogacy in its storyline. The episodes, featuring Mayuri who started off her career with the film Krishna Leela , will make a “powerful guest appearance.”
“Her entry to the story is a major turning point. She plays a prominent role in educating people about surrogacy and convinces the lead character —Rukmini — to opt for it to have a child and not go into depression,” explains Trishool HD, the director of the serial.
“Though surrogacy has been around for years, people still hesitate to talk about it. A lot of stigma is attached to it. Mayuri, can help pass on the message that surrogacy can be an option,” he adds.
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“The idea is put across the subject in a sensitive way. Even though our population is exploding on one side, there are families that go through hell for not being able to conceive a child. The way society crudely analyses a relationship of such couple— is tackled in the story. We could have put across the message through a doctor’s character. But we realised that if a recognised face speaks about the subject, then it will resonate strongly even in remote areas.”
Jyoti Rai, who has earlier donned the role of a surrogate mother in Jogula, dons the role of a woman opting for a surrogate mother. She says, “ Jo Jo Laali is a very different story. It speaks about the science of surrogacy and the emotions a family goes through while opting for it. Most women will identify with my character and the character of the surrogate mother. Care should be taken that it does not become a business, but sensitises people to the option of surrogacy. It also has a subtle message about the unmarried girl who opts to become a surrogate mother. She should not be criticised or her character assassinated just because she volunteers to carry someone else’s child. On the whole the Jo Jo Laali is sensitively made,” she adds.
The serial is telecast at 6.30 pm every Moday to Friday on Udaya TV
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