Sehra

Against the backdrop of Rajasthan the story unfolds, the two rival clans & their children falling in love. How many times we must have seen the same story? With Sohni-Mahiwal, Heer-Ranjha, Romeo-Juliet to much recent ‘QSQT’ the final scene still fresh in the minds. What a waste!

‘Pankh hote to ud aati, Rasiya o zalima’ is a beautiful song also picturised as such. Sandhya is a skilled dancer & very hardworking. She is a director’s delight. This song is memorable because of her.’Tum to pyar ho sajani…’ is another sound track that remains with you. It is the story of Angara & Vikram who fall in love & wish to be together.

The feud makes it difficult for them to marry. Reminds of the latest ‘Ram Leela’ goliyon ki bauchar where they can’t help but meet each other & cannot be together because of their opposing clans.In “Sehra”,after her father’s death she is married off to Mangal, who claims to be her betrothed chosen by her father. He treats her badly after marriage. She is punished to carry heavy load across the desert. She comes across Vikram,who asks for water.He is dying. She tries to give him water. Her husband does not like it & shoots her. Both of them die.

“Sehra band ke main to aaya re….” this head gear at the time of marriages has fascinated me from the oldies like ‘Bahu begum ‘ or ‘Chaudavi ka chand’. Not only did it hide or adorn the face of the ‘Dulha’ but was used to create confusion or even change him at times! The serials have used the trick to perfection! What I admired was not only the ‘Dulhan’ but the ‘Dulha’ also contributes to the celebration by doing something different!

Sehra means desert. Then as words change did it become ‘Sahra’ or from ‘Sahara’… that is support. As the language changes ,some words change & some meanings change. As ‘shahana’ meant good. But today it is not only clever plus something more. The language will keep on changing in the future too. It is the emotion that counts! Happy counting!