BOTTOM LINE
Loyal Remake, Less Impactful
PLATFORM
ZEE5
RUNTIME
2 hrs 58 mins, 7 Episodes.
What Is the Show About?
Ahilya of Vesaicha Vadgaon schemes to hide her puberty and dream of becoming a doctor, defying a 500-year-old child marriage tradition. Supported by her now-suspicious mother, Lakshmi, she reaches Class 10, braving all odds. A tragedy drives her to risk all to save another girl, challenging the village’s beliefs and inspiring women to rise against a curse and an oppressive custom.
Performances
Sajiri Joshi, playing the protagonist Ahilya, has a bright, vibrant screen presence and fits the bill as the rebellious face of change. Kshitee Jog, in the shoes of a mother and an ally, delivers a moving performance. Vibhawari Deshpande is efficient, while other actors get limited scope to prove their mettle.
Analysis
Some stories deserve a far-reaching audience, with an innate potential to entertain, inspire, and educate at once, regardless of region or language. The Tamil show, Ayali, is a prime example, chronicling a teenage girl’s fight against religious dogma in her village to chase her dream of being a doctor. Directed by Nipun Avinash Dharmadhikari, Baai Tujhyapayi, the Marathi remake of Ayali, is now out on ZEE5.
One of the prime reasons why Ayali worked, apart from its engaging, socially relevant premise, was its rootedness, blending folklore, tradition, and belief systems of a region through a pathbreaking story. Agreed, many such traditions exist in villages across the country, but their localisation is crucial to a remake’s reception.
Baai Tujhyapayi is a more or less faithful, frame-by-frame adaptation of Ayali (with minor changes at best). The show takes viewers through a village disturbingly unaffected by development, thanks to age-old traditions that force girls to abandon education and marry immediately after they hit puberty. Ahilya, soon to enter her 10th grade, challenges this norm.
The narrative features all elements expected from a story calling for social change: an old lady in a trance, a landlord resistant to change, a male teacher trying to put women in their place, and a friend who falls prey to the tradition (used as an example of what a girl shouldn’t do with her life).
Except for Ahilya’s father (who has a soft spot for his daughter), most men are portrayed as silent enablers, dunces, or inhibitors of a woman’s spirit (a tiring ‘emasculation’ trope). This simplifies the storyteller’s job, making it an ‘us versus them’ tale where apprehensive women gather the courage to stand up for one another and inspire change.
That only one girl is shown as the ambassador of change is an overestimation. It would have been more interesting to witness stories of Ahilya’s counterparts who share similar dreams but remain voiceless. However, the broad idea of a mother fighting tooth and nail for her daughter, come what may, is still inspiring.
Despite the nobility in its intent, Baai Tujhyapayi is predictable after a point. The conflicts appear superficial – either easily resolvable or overly exaggerated. In its desperation to replicate the original, the director is hand-tied, left with little scope for meaningful changes. Apart from the impressive idea and decent performances, the show doesn’t create the emotional impact it intends to.
Baai Tujhyapayi tells a story worthy of an adaptation; yet the treatment is too simplistic, soapy, and old-fashioned to be memorable.
Performances by Others Actors
Sajiri Joshi, playing the protagonist Ahilya, has a bright, vibrant screen presence and fits the bill as the rebellious face of change. Kshitee Jog, in the shoes of a mother and an ally, delivers a moving performance. Vibhawari Deshpande is efficient, while other actors get limited scope to prove their mettle.
Music and Other Departments?
One of the reasons the show doesn’t strike a chord is its technical limitations. Sarang Kulkarni’s music doesn’t uplift the narrative, often going loud and melodramatic, treading the expected route. Other key departments, including cinematography (by Dhananjay Navagrah), costumes, fail to infuse much life into the ambience. Mayur Pawar’s production design fares better with its aesthetic values, sincerely aiming to bring the folklore to life. The loyalty to the original also means the editor(s) lack an opportunity to give this show a renewed appeal.
Highlights?
Inspiring story
Decent performances
Drawbacks?
Too faithful to the original
Old-fashioned treatment
Lacks rootedness, technical appeal
Did I Enjoy It?
In parts
Will You Recommend It?
Only in case you prefer Marathi content; others can watch the original Ayali instead
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Baai Tujhyapayi Movie Review by M9
