#but lets be real hindi tv is NOT ready for a female cheating story

[chutkiandchotte]

Rant time!!!!!!!!!

Can anyone explain to me why the cheating trope is so popular in current Indian/desi television? WHAT is the freaking appeal of it for mass audiences that practically every tv show sooner or later launches into this storyline IRRESPECTIVE of what their original show plot was???

And the thing about a cheating storyline is, when it is treated with nuance and respect, it can actually be very compelling. Like, on a personal, totally subjective level, I am NOT a fan of this trope. But, I will get into a love triangle, give it a fair chance, if I see a storyline with three fully fleshed out characters with distinct motivations related to their psychology, their personality, their desires. The angst of falling in love with another person while in a committed relationship, if explored without letting people off the hook for immoral actions, can actually be a very interesting. Duty/responsibility vs love/lust. What does it take to make an angel fall. Etc.

But nuance? Who is she? Certainly nowhere to be found in these shows. They have the most basic, fucked up version of the cheating trope, cheating used for drama, cheating to generate emotional torture situations, cheating the way a 15 yr old would understand it. When handled carelessly, its so easy to slip into either a victim-blaming or other-woman shaming narrative with the cheating trope. And, OF COURSE THE MAN (USUALLY THE CHEATER) ALWAAAYS GETS OFF SCOT FREE WITH THE CLEANEST CHARACTER CERTIFICATE BC BOOHOO HIS MANLY HORMONES BOOHOO DIDN’T MEAAAANNNNN TOOOO BOOHOO HE STILL LOVES HER.

THAT is the crux of the issue: these shows want to have their cake and eat it too. They want an other woman we instantly hate, but they don’t want us to hate the man who betrays his wife for her. They want to show an epic, pure, for-the-ages love, the romance novel tropey love, where two star crossed lovers fight through a sea of problems and even with their own damn selves to find their way together. And then they insert the cheating/betrayal as simply another melodramatic obstacle that doesn’t, in any way, dint the character of the cheater or cast a negative light on their OH SO GREAT love story. 

We as the audience are expected to continue rooting with all our heart for the couple to get back and stay together. We’re supposed to cheer the virtuous wife on as she “fights” to get “her man” back. Or, hate her for anything she does in anger as a response to the cheating. We’re supposed to despise the other woman for being an immoral villain, practically criminal at times, for “stealing the man”, but never hate the man for being stolen lol. 

We’re supposed to ALWAYS sympathize with the cheating man, even while he is cheating with the heroine’s sister/best friend/bully/attempted murderer/all of the above; even as he dumps/or is dumped by the heroine, and even as he is “stuck” in the secondary relationship while “loyally” pining for the heroine. He is never the one to hate, even for a second!

To which I say: FUCK YOU AND NO.

/end rant