Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan Explained

Runtime:21 minutes
Director:Aashish Patil
Anil V. Kumar
Arvind Babbal
Manchan Vikal
Paresh Patil
Swapnil Shahaney
Sanjay Upadhyay[1]
Producer:Anuradha Prasad[2]
Company:BAG Films
Opentheme:"Kumkum" by Sonu Nigam and Pamela Jain
Starring:Juhi Parmar
Hussain Kuwajerwala
Country:India
Language:Hindi
Network:Star Plus
First Aired:[3]
Num Seasons:1
Num Episodes:1449[4]
Genre:Soap opera
Composer:Lalit Sen[5]

Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan[6] (pronounced as /ˈkʊmkʊm/; A Lovely Bond) is an Indian television series that aired on Star Plus from 15 July 2002 to 13 March 2009 in the afternoon slot.[7] [8] Hussain Kuwajerwala and Juhi Parmar played the lead roles of Sumeet and Kumkum, respectively.[9] It was produced under the company BAG films.[10] The show is currently being reaired on Star Plus and Utsav Plus at 2:30 pm.

Plot

The soap opera tells the tale of the Wadhwa family and its daughter-in-law, Kumkum. She is happily married to Jatin. However, he dies of a brain tumor while she is expecting their first child. The Wadhwas decide to get their young daughter-in-law remarried and find an eligible young man named Vishal. However, when obstacles arise leading and the marriage is called off on the last day, Jatin's younger brother Sumeet impulsively marries Kumkum in order to save her from societal disgrace.[11] Sumeet is plagued by guilt for marrying Kumkum against her will, but she eventually falls in deep love with him while trying to expose Renuka (Sumeet's ex-girlfriend). The crux of the story evolves as a blossoming romance between Sumeet and Kumkum leads them to realise that they are soulmates and how Kumkum being the ideal daughter-in-law of the Wadhwa family protects Sumeet's family despite the adverse circumstances facing them. Manik (an impostor bearing Jatin's face) creates havoc in their lives, but Kumkum exposes his fake identity and unites with Sumeet. Kumkum gives birth to Sharman and Aashka (Sumeet and Kumkum's progeny).

20 years later

Sumeet and Kumkum's story continues with their grown-up kids Dhruv, Sharman and Aashka and Kumkum's role of establishing harmony in the Wadhwa family. Dhruv's wife Antara plans an elaborate ruse to usurp the Wadhwa property and house to herself, but her plans are foiled after Sumeet and Kumkum unveil her truth to Dhruv. Sharman who is in deep love with Neeti gets engaged to her, but when Dhruv refuses to accept Siya on the day of the wedding owing to his feelings for Antara, Sharman impulsively marries Siya. Siya is disappointed and vents her frustration at the Wadhwa family, but she eventually forgives Sharman and confesses her love for him and Sumeet-Kumkum are finally happy to see the Wadhwa family happily settled. Unfortunately both Kumkum and Sumeet die before they complete a ritual that would enable them to be soulmates by Pulkit (Kumkum's ex-stalker) who conspires to kill Sumeet after trailing Kumkum secretly for several days. The shot misses Sumeet, but Kumkum is shot dead and Sumeet punishes Pulkit but still kills himself, unable to bear the separation.

20 years later

Sumeet and Kumkum are reborn as prophesied again without any memory of their past life. In the new life Sumeet and Kumkum initially hate each other, but fall in deep love all over again owing to unusual circumstances, prompting them to be a false husband and wife in front of their family members. When they finally realise their love for each other, they are separated due to a misunderstanding between the Raichand and Mishra families and later by a series of new obstacles but eventually reunite in the end. Sumeet marries Kumkum and Harshvardhan and Rajeshwari Wadhwa accompany them to the sacred pilgrimage site where their lives ended in the previous birth. The show ends with memories of the idealistic couple who demonstrated that love finds a way back and is undying and immortal. Sumeet and Kumkum complete the sacred ritual at this place, finally uniting together forever.

Cast

Main

Recurring

Production

After 780 episodes, on 10 April 2006, the storyline of the series took a leap of 20 years.[12] Then it took another leap of 20 years in 2008 where the leads were shown reincarnated with a new family.

In February 2009, the channel informed the production house to terminate the series by 13 March 2009. As per the channel's instructions the series ended on that day.[13]

Reception

It received the highest ratings in the afternoon slot and is regarded as one of the longest ran Indian soap during afternoons.[14]

After a time change from 3:30 pm to 1:00pm (IST) in November 2002, it started receiving ratings ranging 6 to 7 TVR in March 2003, becoming the most viewed afternoon show, overcoming the other highest rated afternoon shows like Bhabhi and Shagun.[15] On 25 March 2004, it received the highest ever afternoon rating of 13.12 TVR, overtaking some prime time soaps.[16]

It started to re-air in edit version from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

Accolades

Notes and References

  1. Web site: "Kumkum Will Give Me That New Identity": TV Actor Juhi Parmar. Indian Television dot com.
  2. Web site: Soaps drop off air without fanfare. The Times of India.
  3. Web site: Family saga where there is kabhi khushi kabhi gham. The Tribune. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200404170342/https://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020707/spectrum/tv.htm. 4 April 2020.
  4. Web site: Telly Hypnotists: What Makes A Mega Serial Tick, What Keeps It Running For Years?. Outlook India. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200404172357/https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/telly-hypnotists-what-makes-a-mega-serial-tick-what-keeps-it-running-for-years/300598. 4 April 2020.
  5. Web site:
    1. ThrowbackThursday: These awesome title tracks from Indian TV serials are something we miss today
    . 26 November 2015.
  6. Web site: Kumkum. 2020-06-20. apni.tv.
  7. Web site: Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan: A journey that ended 10 years back. 17 March 2019. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200404171212/https://www.iwmbuzz.com/television/celebrities/kumkum-ek-pyara-sa-bandhan-journey-ended-10-years-back/2019/03/17/amp. 4 April 2020.
  8. Web site: STAR to launch new programmes. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200404173254/https://www.afaqs.com/news/advertising/4589_star-to-launch-new-programmes#bypass-sw. 4 April 2020.
  9. Web site: Throwback: Juhi Parmar gets nostalgic about her show Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan; see post. The Times of India. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200404171345/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/throwback-juhi-parmar-gets-nostalgic-about-her-show-kumkum-ek-pyara-sa-bandhan-see-post/articleshow/68412253.cms. 4 April 2020.
  10. News: Newsmaker Anupradha Prasad. Business Standard India. 23 March 2007.
  11. Web site: Juhi Parmar writes emotional post for Kumkum co-star Hussain Kuwajerwala as the show turns 16. India Today. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200404172156/https://www.indiatoday.in/television/soaps/story/juhi-parmar-writes-emotional-post-for-kumkum-co-star-hussain-kuwajerwala-as-the-show-turns-16-1304163-2018-08-03. 4 April 2020.
  12. Web site: Fast forward: 20 years plus. The Telegraph.
  13. Web site: Saat saal baad. The Times of India.
  14. Web site: Shanti to Kumkum, 5 afternoon shows we loved to watch. India Today. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200404171523/https://www.indiatoday.in/television/soaps/story/shanti-to-kumkum-5-afternoon-shows-we-loved-to-watch-juhi-parmar-mandira-bedi-lifetv-968591-2017-03-30. 4 April 2020.
  15. Web site: Kumkum claims top spot in afternoon band. Indian Television. April 2003.
  16. Web site: BAG films afternooner on Star Plus Shoots up. Indian Television. 12 April 2004. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200404171726/https://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/apr/apr99.htm. 4 April 2020.
  17. Web site: Indian Telly awards 2005 list of winners. Biz Asia. 29 November 2005. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200404172003/https://www.bizasialive.com/indian-telly-awards-2005-list-of-winners/. 4 April 2020. 4 April 2020.
  18. Web site: Winners List. https://web.archive.org/web/20100617131115/http://www.indiantellyawards.com/y2k7/winners-list.htm. dead. 2010-06-17. Indiantellyawards.com.