#4lions

[jalebi-weds-bluetooth]

Hi how r you, thanks for reading, i really wish they make another leap series with IPKKND. Even if it is a few episodes, what do you think.

Hello there,

Absolutely NOT.

Best,

JWB

[jalebi-likes]

Channa Mereya Liveblog | E3: Trauma & Grief

Thanks to @aye-masakalii​‘s relentless PR of this show and with @tellywoodtrash​‘s blessings - for she is the OG liveblog queen - I begin the short and sweet summary of today’s LB. Today’s episode left me more reflective than in funny mood. Which... is good. 

The reason why I titled this episode between trauma and grief is because that’s the fundamental difference between Adi, Ginni and the way they perceive their parental loss. Adi’s trauma of losing his mum, coupled with his father’s abusive nature has shaped him. While Ginni’s grief of losing her is there, but it is also what motivates her to move further in life and make her father’s dhaba a success.

---

Episode 2: Trauma & Grief

Bhai killer vibes. Mum says I also hold knives in killer vibes.

HAHAHAHAHAHAA DID HE LITERALLY LIFT GHAR KA HEAD CHEF. This is how you know Adi’s true love is anything related to food. Cause ITV usually starts with heroes carrying heroines - Adi begins his day by carrying chefs *chefs kiss*

Ok, I am very soft and love that Adi starts his day in the kitchen like his mother. YES THE NON GENDERING OF COOKING IS SO GOOD. 

I love Ginni’s look really - after a long time a show convinces me of the character and their lives and economical status. 

Ok I love how the show shows Ginni mirrors her dad and Adi his mother. It’s telling about how children emulate their parents that is beyond genetics. It also shows the difference between trauma and grief. Adi is traumatized by his mother’s death and makes a conscious decision to keep her memories alive. Ginni has moved on from her father’s death but follows the principles her father set - sometimes she gets behaviorally similar, but otherwise her life is shaped very much by her dad’s belief system. 

But sidetone - Ginni’s home is such a prime property - full view of Golden Temple is a great real estate. AND ADI (in Precap) IS OFFERING ONLY TEN LAKHS - THAT IS THE BIGGEST CRIME IN THE SHOW NOW. I now don’t want ginny clothes - I also want her house. Sheesh I sound like a 4lions hero. *unlocks Arnav Asad Singh Rathore Khan Khurrana*

But on serious note, the dialogues and feelz are definitely better here. In the sense I feel that these characters do live these lives - esp ginny and her mum.

Lol, Goldie lying to all about how apparently he was beating the goons up. OK I LOVE THIS DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY SETUP because it’s been the longest time that something actually resembles a family. Goldie attempts to set his impression to his younger siblings. Ginni plays on while subtly delivering a threat to Goldie - because she doesn’t want her young siblings to know the truth. And the mother just has no chill. She isn’t hiding her son’s flaws, she is just disappointed that Goldie has no sense of realization. And once the kids are out of sight we see Ginni actually yell at Goldie.

Also Ginni did you try to give Goldie your kasam to not do anymore shady stuff? 

few episodes later

lol

(next in reblog)

[tellywoodtrash]

There is this show called "dear ishq" looks crap, any opinion on it?

Lol I'm so outta the loop, this is the first I'm hearing of it. Went and watched the promos, looks fun in that v brainless typical 4Lions-ish show way. Might check it out, coz god knows mere se filhaal focus nahi kiya jaa rha kisi bhi achche content pe.

[appplayspots]

4Lions | Ravet | Pune | Football and Cricket Turf Ground Booking

4 Lions, located inRavet , pimple nilakh, pimpri chinchwad,Ravet is now can book football turf through the PlaySpots app. This is great news for football fans and enthusiasts in the area who can now enjoy their favourite sport on a top-quality playing surface. The Mathai Turf is a state-of-the-art facility, with a well-maintained playing surface that provides an excellent playing experience. It has been designed to meet the high standards of professional football players, making it a great choice for both amateur and professional players. Booking through the playspots app is a convenient and easy process. Simply download the app, select 4 Lions Acadamey, and choose the date and time you want to play. You will then receive a confirmation and all the details you need for your booking. In addition to being able to book the football turf, the PlaySpots app also offers a range of other features that make it a great choice for football fans. For example, you can find out about other football facilities in the area, get updates on events and tournaments, and connect with other football players in your area.4 Lions Acadamey inRavet is now providing football turf booking through the playspots app. This is a great opportunity for football enthusiasts to enjoy the sport on a top-quality playing surface, and it’s also a convenient and easy way to book a match with friends. So if you’re a football fan, download the app and book your next match today!

[phati-sari]

Helloo! I’m new to the IPKKND fandom, and just wanted to ask, is it true that when Barun announced he’ll be leaving the show, they were gonna continue the show with a replacement, but decided to end it because of the fans’ opposition?

Hello0o0 and welcome :)

Yup, they'd even apparently cast a replacement (there were also rumours that he was meant to play a new male lead, not specifically replace Arnav). This is why Arnav has all those lines during the remarriage and Karva Chauth about dying or no longer being around. I've talked about this here and here.

You can still find articles from around the time that discuss what happened but you have to be careful as the media tends to report rumour as fact. This 2020 article features quotes from Sobti explaining not only the contractual situation, but the fact that they'd found a replacement.

Gul Khan herself has some interesting things to say on whether the show would've gone on:

'Iss Pyaar ko…’ was one of your significant shows, highly popular for its leads Barun and Sanaya. But Barun left the show mid-way. Producers have seen such phases where the audience relates to the characters majorly, but these very characters end up quitting the show. How do you handle such challenging situations?

Actually, audiences don’t relate solely to the actors in the show. I have done it so many times. When Qubool Hai was on the top, Karan Singh Grover wanted to leave. And it was on a very amicable note, so was with Barun. And Qubool Hai ran for three years after that. Because it’s never the face which is popular, it’s the character which people relate to.

source

[For context, when Grover left QH, 4Lions replaced the actor but continued the character of Asad. It didn’t go well, and they killed almost everyone off and introduced a time-leap to focus on another generation where Karanvir Bohra played a new character. When Bohra wanted to leave, they moved the storyline to Pakistan with an amnesia track to introduce a new character played by Varun Toorkey, before killing everyone off again and starting ~season four~. In other words, while Gul might say QH continued for three years, they had to kill off characters and introduce new leads and generations to keep it going.]

[thatcollateraldamage]

I could never watch ipkknd3 even though I lowkey wanted to because they fucking used rabba ve and I was like hell no but yesterday I accidentally came across one of the rabba ve redux tunes they used on that show and it pissed me off so much because goddamn the song is nice but my heart isn't ready to associate rabba ve with anything other than arnav and khushi.

[ferociouspompom]

ek raasta hai zindagi, jo tham gaye toh kuch nahin

Barun Sobti and Surbhi Jyoti (source)

[filmphilics]

Recommendation of the week: 4 Lions (2010)

Dir.: Christopher Morris

Cast: Riz Ahmed, Arsher Ali, Nigel Lindsay, Kayvan Novak, Adeel Akhtar.

Genre: Comedy

Plot: Four incompetent British terrorists set out to train for and commit an act of terror.

Filmphilics score: 7'5/10

[arnavsinghraizada]

This is dangerous. I'm already scared. Someone start planning my funeral cause whatever this is, it's gonna ruin my life

[rowdyprofessor]

Hey PS, as usual I missed many of the symbolism you have described. I guess I just don't have the eye for it. I found the fact that Chandini is already suffering about something else (that's how I understood her fb), really powerful. On top of that, Advay is going to drag her thro' hell as part of his revenge, POOR GIRL! And it will be really interesting to see Advay's justification for doing that - that is intriguing. It's a 1st for me to watch a Sobti show in real time, too! :)

Hey @poomohan :)

Ahh, I find it difficult to turn that part of my brain off – even when I’m just watching something for fun, there’s a part of my brain that catalogues all the connections and symbolism etc. I don’t know if any of the symbolism I see actually means anything though!

You’re right, usually the Hero is the cause of all the pain! The Heroine is usually happily chugging along before the Teen Naam Ka Rakshas comes into the picture. Poor girl. I did feel sorry for her. And like you, I am looking forward to seeing exactly which leaps of logic Advay has made to decide that tiny!Chandni is the cause of all his issues (when it’s obviously her mother). 

But I guess if he was that young at the time as well, the childhood trauma has been completely entangled itself with what he feels for her and he’s projecting (in true 4Lions Hero style).

I’m not too good at theorising and stuff in real time, I prefer to have a lot of context and time to think, so this might be difficult for me in the long run!!

[jalebi-weds-bluetooth]

Hey JWM,

Hope you are doing good.. here’s my ask, I read it somewhere long time ago that Feminist women love Arnav Singh Raizada.. and I am not sure what to think of it. What would be your view? Would you say Arnav was a feminist?

Hey!

I am a feminist. I love Arnav despite being a feminist.

Trust me, it's taken a lot of deep breathing and self awareness of how to engage with media and my love for the handsome faces of the opposite sex to keep loving Arnav.

I'd shut his mouth up the minute he goes to class, status, and all because apart from not wearing high fashion, what is giving him the entitlement to speak in such a way?

Gender.

Feminism is equality of all genders. Gender plays a role in how Arnav treats Khushi and Lavanya. Hence he's not a feminist.

Arnav is a man in a man's world and he reaps all benefits of it. He isn't as answerable, he doesn't have to lift a finger to be a part of Lavanya's life but she carries a list of his likes/dislikes and she has to make major changes to accommodate him.

And he is not a feminist because he thrives in male privilege. He makes no effort to acknowledge his privilege, nor is he attempting to make any change in it.

He's educated enough to know what privilege he has.

Yes he's progressive in terms of he absolutely does not follow archaic tradition, and he stands upto Dadi (but he's also standing upto Dadi cause she insults the woman he loves).

Arnav is a liberal. Which is that he is willing to respect or accept behavior or opinions different from one's own. Which is why he has a temple in his house despite being an atheist. Which is why, he patiently tells Khushi just once, that he gets her understanding and upbringing is different but she has no right to interfere in his personal life. Which is also why everyone in his house has the freedom to do what they want and he expects that freedom in return.

Arnav is better than Shivaay, Advay, Omkara, Rudra, Asad.

But that's a low bar to begin with.

Aryan is perhaps the only 4Lions hero who came somewhat close to being a feminist (and even then you have to only count the 80ish good episodes and point out that he's very dismissive of Imlie's problems and he carries a certain authority over Imlie that also stems from gender apart from age and finance - even if it's for the good).

Best,

JWB

[jalebi-likes]

Issues With 4Lions Heroes

from @rae-blogging:

AJ! Here I am, back to annoy you yet again (also planning on starting a blog just to rant about Indian serials because I do that way too often on my main blog, what do you think?) so I'm back to watching Ishqbaaz (idk if you can answer this here because it's unrelated to IPK) but I want to know your take on Omkara character and the absolute mess it became in DBO, like Omkara was my favourite 4Lions male character probably (I have not seen Qubool Hai past the first season so idk anything about Aahil) but why did they make him into a complete douche in DBO to the point where he was okay with practically handing Gauri over to be assaulted? And the fact that they never really talked about all her trauma in Ishqbaaz? Do you think they were conscious decisions on the part of the makers? Also do you have a favourite timeline from the show?

P.S. Sorry the ask got long and I probably spoke more than I asked

Dearest Rae,

Starting your own blog is always a great idea! I started Jalebi Likes with that motto - to discuss everything non IPKKND. Lol, so I posted your ask here to talk about Omkara from Ishqbaaz.

(that, my dear, is probably Omkara's own reaction at what he became to begin his 'angsty' love story).

It was unfortunate that they made him Shivaay 2.0 when in reality out of the three brothers it was Omkara who kept me hooked in Ishqbaaz. There was something very real about him. His character was, by far, the most interesting and intriguing one. We don't understand the level of his traumas given he appears 'sorted'. Has suicidal/addiction issues perhaps given his own screwed up parents and is really relatable in the form of he's wise, he's mature, he's aware that his family is screwed up but he's hanging in there. It's a daily effort for him to not be what his parents are and he's trying to be a better human being.

But one day, just one day given his untreated mental health he might even end up dead.

Ugh my heart for this man. Especially when in the initial episodes when Shivaay is being whiny about his family and like how he is a damaged human being in lieu of them, Omkara quietly snaps and reminds him that he too has a terrible family YET he's NOT using that as a crutch for anything unethical.

Them destroying this - THIS - man for whatever the hell DBO was is one of the many sins committed by 4Lions. And what's sad is Gauri-Omkara has the potential for an angsty love story even if they kept Om as what he was initially planned.

But no - they reduced him to a hair flicking abusive misogynist and God knows what (I heard he returns Gauri to her abuser, wtf) so as to they can have 'tashanbaazi'.

And the biggest problem with all of this is Omkara was never written as an anti-hero.

The only anti-hero 4Lions ever wrote well was Arnav, and he too had his own share of problems.

At this phase of 4Lions, they really thought abusive men ARE everything. This is a show where Shivaay-Annika are touted as 'the' couple where Shivaay has sexually harassed/threatened Annika MULTIPLE times.

And the sketch for that is given to characters as 'romance'. I remember Nakuul saying that the first 'romantic' scene Annika-Shivaay have is one in the pool. I only like Shivika as an established couple, platonic banters, or their few angsty bits. Scenes like below are a torture for me:

By this you can understand how the scene was briefed by the producer/director to the actors - they thought Shivaay harassing Annika was romantic?! Like thank the heavens they never thought Arnav tearing Khushi's blouse was romantic! In fact from Sanaya-Barun's interviews you can understand it wasn't explained as a 'romantic' moment.

But the fact is in IB the producers, directors and writers were at an all time high and off about what's romance (sometimes they still are? with Aryan they're very right actually for a change).

They couldn't think of romance beyond what they laid with Shivaay-Annika. And hence they morphed Omkara into being this abusive asshole and I have no idea what.

To be the devil's advocate though,

Gauri and Omkara have really good angst and redemption once they get their heads straight. And this angst was really worth it.

But yes, how could the makers talk about trauma when they literally use 'traumatizing' women as a way to show angst? They really went into this hole of a man pushing a woman to the most absolute worst situation possible and then showing him as a 'hero' for saving her.

Which is why my favorite part of IPK and why I even watched it is when Arnav saves her from the guesthouse - nobody is remotely impressed by it. He's not given a hero's glow up and everyone is like "you put her there, there's nothing heroic about saving her from a situation you put her in."

I had hoped the same for Ishqbaaz but the issue with the show - as you'll see - is that they spend an 'n' number of episodes showing the man causing torture/troubles for the woman, and then just one episode or two 'atoning' for it or even not traditionally atoning for it at all cause 'the character isn't one to say sorry'.

The only saving grace with Omkara and Gauri is that she does not forgive him easily and she has stellar moments in calling him out for his actions.

I won't be able to exactly say what timelines are the best for I haven't seen IB in full (and imagine I have so much to say, lol) so I will take the help of IB resident expert @tellywoodtrash (please address when is the best timeline of IB)

Also, yeah having these toxic relationships and toxic men in general is very typical of 4Lions and definitely a very conscious decision. You see their next show - IPK3 - and they really were so confused in how to deal with a villain for a romance hero and they ended up in a scene where Advay threatens Chandni of rape on their wedding night (which is 'ek raat ki dulhan') and all of that.

(The channel actually put a disclaimer when Advay was threatening her - it was that bad)

So yes if it was just one scene where the male lead is being torturous then we could say it was on oversight or they didn't realise how things would look ultimately and etc.

But if it keeps happening, the identical patterns all over for years then I can safely say that this is unfortunately a very conscious decision.

And why would they stop? Ishqbaaz ran for 750 episodes! People still lap up anything that production house produces. So... unfortunately that's the thing. Whatever they create is almost always a success.

And I do remember one of my television friends saying that yeah, for this production house, unfortunately misogynistic behaviors are paired with a perfectly good modern women for those fundamental thought differences stand out for 'tashan' when in reality it should be far removed from that.

Even see Haider - it was a web series with complete creative control and yet they created a man who literally ran away from his fiancee, ghosted her for six months and only returned to her when someone else told him that Meera and his best friend weren't involved.

The only thing is, she gets the base of such really good complex characters, with amazing casting and chemistry, and phenomenal production with serious good rom-com writing that 4Lions shows are never completely trash. They're the only escape from the saas-bahu nightmare TV otherwise provides.

There's always something to enjoy.

There's always something that gives you feelz

To share with you - there's something I found even about IPK3 charming. The idea of this rakish villain all set to seduce the heroine to get his goal (while getting attracted to her in reality) and the heroine who has gone through so much is actually enjoying the ability to feel desire for once and obviously not choose to marry him because he's a pretty face with sketchy thoughts.

(I love how the heroine is like, damn, loving my hormones but also shut up cause I knew you're not one to be trusted - but hey l don't mind the feelz). Dark comedy excellence if it went that way!

And I wish they'd work on their strengths! Imlie and Aryan seem to be their healthiest pair as of now (which they very nearly f'd up with forced wedding). Except the heroine isn't quite rootable as other heroines so that's the only reason why it isn't the best pair.

Lol sorry this was very less about Omkara and more about 4Lions shows cause everything that went wrong with Om is very much in line with how 4Lions writes male leads in the first place.

So it was obvious they'd screw him up once they started writing Om from a 'male lead' perspective.

Best and lots of love,

S

[ks-jins]

I’ve given into curiosity and started watching ipk3 and I already know I’m not going to stick with it. The hero or anti-hero, whatever, torturing the heroine with intent to hurt her is more than I can stomach. These types of regressive shit I can do without in my life. I’m just waiting for all the comparisons to start pouring in because they’re using the same bg tunes for Advay and Chandini that they used for Arnav and Khushi. I wanted to watch this show for Barun because he’s a terrific actor but I doubt I could stomach this revenge plot-line especially on a heroine that seems to have had a torturous past already. Come better than this Gul!

[appplayspots]

Football & Cricket Turf Booking | 4lions Academy Pune - PLAYSPOTS

4lions Academy in Pune is one of the best places for sports enthusiasts to practice and hone their skills. They provide excellent facilities for both football and cricket, and now, with their latest partnership with PlaySpots, booking a turf has become even more convenient and cost-effective. The academy has two well-maintained turf grounds, one for football and another for cricket. The football ground is made of synthetic grass, providing a safe and comfortable playing surface for players. The cricket ground is made of top-quality imported Artificial grass, ensuring that players get the best possible experience. Both grounds are well-lit, making it possible for players to train and play even during the evenings. Players can earn reward points with every booking on PlaySpots, i.e., PlayCoins and these credits will be added to their wallet following the game session, Allowing them to book into 4 Lions Academy at a more cost-effective rate. Booking a turf through the PlaySpots app is simple and straightforward. Players just have to select the sport they want to play, choose the date and time, and make a payment through the app. The app also provides detailed information about the facilities available at the academy, such as the size of the ground, the type of surface, and the amenities.In addition to the turf booking, 4lions Academy also provides various training programs for both football and cricket. These programs are designed to help players of all ages and skill levels improve their skills and reach their full potential. The academy has a team of experienced coaches who use a combination of drills, exercises, and small-sided games to help players develop their skills. At 4lions Academy, safety is of the utmost importance. The academy has a team of trained medical staff who are available at all times to provide medical assistance if needed. The grounds are also equipped with CCTV cameras, ensuring that players can train and play in a safe and secure environment.

[phati-sari]

Hello! I a hope you are doing well :) I have had a blast reading your recaps and relieving emotions I felt when I was watching the show years back. I recently saw some discourse that the Colors TV show Namak Issq Ka is similar to IPKKND and I was wondering what your thoughts about this was (if you have watched the former). It makes sense that there would be some similarities because both shows were produced by Gul Khan.

Hello!

Thanks for the love regarding the recaps ❤️

I haven’t watched Namak but most 4Lions shows are based on the same template so that wouldn’t surprise me.

[tellywoodtrash]

like............. are we sure this isn't a 4 Lions show????

kyunki vibes aur character's personalities toh poora ka poora is mishmaash of 4 Lions Greatest Hits. ginni's sadly stuffing (what I think is) dahi papdi into her mouth ala Khushi Kumari Gupta, while over there adi is channeling all his daddy issues into ragey masochism, paying some dude to beat the snot outta him in a cage fight, like every other 4Lion man in agony.

real production company se aao, gul khan.