Indian television has seen it all!!! The saas-bahu sagas have always been the torch bearers in terms of number churners. However, television content has seen evolution and has seen a rising trend in youth-based concepts, comedy sitcoms and finite series.

In an era wherein there is a huge competition with respect to what will sell and what will not, we have seen quite a lot of experiments being made by the broadcasters and producers. Yes, some of them have really done well, while few have not been accepted. 

Now, topping the list in terms of its experimentation is Colors’ Shakti – Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki, produced by Rashmi Sharma Productions. A concept never attempted before, that of the lead girl playing a transgender has raised eyebrows amongst the audience from the time it started.

Truly a commendable effort by the team to take up such a sensitive issue!! Earlier, the closest that Indian TV has come towards showing such a character has to be the dual personality role essayed by Vishwajeet Pradhan for Ek Boond Ishq. However, Shakti falls under a totally different category, as the lead girl here is a complicated character in terms of her genetic disabilities.

Hats off to the channel and the producer for thinking different and also carrying the courage to pen their thoughts in paper, and executing the same with elan.

Of course, a special word of appreciation goes to the talented Rubina Dilaik for accepting this role. Agreed, she was out of the limelight and was looking for a challenging comeback to TV. But choosing such a mighty and complex role as her comeback vehicle indeed needs a lot of pondering, and we are extremely happy to see Rubina play the role of Saumya to the best of her abilities. Yes, her acid test as an actress starts now, and we hope she does a swell job to give life to this transgender character on screen.

Now, the plot of the show lies at a crucial phase!! The revelation has happened... And it has been known to all that Saumya is a ‘kinnar’ who is a girl with improperly developed genitals.

Yes, the entire earth has come crashing down in Saumya’s life, and we writhe to see her in pain.

However, the big question placed before the makers now is – How will the track proceed from here? With the revelation happening, is there not a fear of this concept taking a mundane and predictable route? Or are there more surprises for the audiences in store?

We, at Tellychakkar.com, ponder over the probabilities and possibilities that can be derived from the situation the story is, at the moment!!

Well, the very fact that Surbhi (Roshni Sohata) is the only family member who is privy to this huge secret of Saumya is indicative of the fact that the story ahead will have Surbhi as the main driving force.

So what are the options available?      

A distraught Saumya will wish well for her love-smitten husband Harman (Vivian Dsena) and sacrifice her love, by getting him married to her sweet sister Surbhi.        

Harman getting to know of Saumya’s truth, and accepting her for life... Also, the couple decide to go for surrogacy in order to become parents and complete their family. And how will it be if Surbhi accepts to be the surrogate mother for her sister’s kid?       

What if we get to see a negative streak in the sweet and good-natured Saumya on knowing the truth?

Or how will it be if the sister Surbhi who knows of Saumya’s disabilities develops soft corner for Harman, and goes all out to get him in her life?

Hmm!! Quite many options available. But again, the big question is – How differently can the makers tackle this concept? And guess, the success / failure of Shakti will happen at this very stage.

We got talking to an expert from the industry about her views on this concept. “As a concept, it is great and one needs to applaud the makers to have come up with this, but what’s debatable is the way in which they have dealt with it. A transgender has loads of physical issues, but then this girl is stunning. Also the fact that she did not realize this for so long is something unbelievable. I am sure the moment a girl reaches puberty, she would know if there is something wrong in her. Now that the girl in the story is married too, how on earth will a husband stand up for such a girl?”

The expert continued to give her valuable time and thoughts saying, “We have issues with acid attack women / rape victims being accepted by the society. And here we are talking about a transgender and her love story. Also, women are never eunuchs; they are male. So the onus is on the maker now to justify the situations that she has put her protagonist into. My only call and plea is that if you are attempting something different, then be bold and be different. Move beyond the love story genre, and take the story of the transgender to another level.”

Interesting thoughts!!

Now, going by the expert comment, we thought of thinking wild and different too...

How about Saumya walking out of her family, including her loving husband in order to prove her worth in the society? How about going off-beat rather than working around a love story that is ‘impossible’ given the complexities in the female character... What if Saumya changes her name and identity, gets renowned as a writer, and her works start changing the thoughts of her own family, including her father?

What about the husband then lending all the support possible to make her stand in her own space?

Thought-provoking, is it? What do you all think as a layman when you watch Shakti’s new revelation? What do you think is the best plausible way to tackle this concept?

Drop in your views here...