Rating: *

Who is in it? Most on-screen families that light up our television screens daily couldn’t care less about numbers. Baabul Ka Aangan Choote Na (BKAC) subscribes to the same idea. Families, relatives, relatives’ families are seen running in and out of frames as the story progresses. Most of the cast is new. TV old-hand Rameshwari makes an appearance on the small screen after very long. Astha Chaudhary is the angst-ridden leading lady.

What it’s about? The storyline is as hackneyed as the concept of tele-dramas itself. It has all the ingredients of a sop story: Retired parents, highly responsible elder daughter, rebellious other daughter, bank loans, easy monthly installments, and of course, dowry and other demands that demonic in-laws make. The middle class Joshis have four children. Astha, the eldest, needs to be married off. Brother Vinay pretends to shoulder responsibility but, in fact, hates being burdened with duties and wants to go to America because he’s ‘not interested’ in a middle-class life. This leaves Astha with a question: Who will look after ma-papa? Meanwhile, she finds out that younger sibling Shilpa is keen to enter the bad and unacceptable world of modeling. She’s devastated.

What’s hot? Although the serial mostly treads familiar territory, it has its redeeming points. For instance, Vinay’s frustration is very real. He hates responsibility being piled on him just because he’s a man. Why should he be expected to assume that mantle with a smile? It also gives an insight into what metropolitan medium-income couples are in for. Astha, at the threshold of a new life with Dhruv, is nervy at the idea of moving into a new one-bedroom house and a car, both on EMIs.

What’s not? What’s with the recurring shots of the tulsi plant in the aangan? Just because a certain producer in the past got lucky with the portrayal of the sacred tulsi and a character embodying all its characteristics doesn’t justify the aforementioned. All family discussions, poojas and decisions are taken around the plant. Tacky outfits and the good-girls-wear-only-salwar kameez attitude is also not happening. Women are portrayed as real weaklings, trying desperately to understand the difference between boys and girls in our country. Bummer.