Reasons Why Anupama Is Yet Another Regressive TV Show That People Should Stop Watching

No one would deny that Indian TV shows have lost their charm. How, with time, our progressive TV shows became regressive and sexist is a disappointing tale that the entertainment industry should be ashamed of. Gone are the days, when we had progressive TV shows like Shanti or Saans. Now, most TV shows have no substance left. They have regressive plots, cringe dialogues, and illogical scenes.

In midst of such regressive shows, when Anupama started airing on TV, many hailed it as a progressive show that our TV channels desperately needed. But, sadly, the show is equally regressive as many other shows.

Here are reasons why Anupama isn’t a progressive show; but rather one of the many regressive Indian TV shows:

1. Regressive Portrayal Of Abusive Mother-In-law: Women Being Women’s Biggest Enemy

When it comes to Saas-bahu conflicts, the show is not any different from regressive TV shows. Like many other shows, this show also promotes saas-bahu’s endless conflicts. There is a mother-in-law who keeps abusing Anupama and turns her life into hell. Dear Indian TV shows, please stop pitting women against other women. We would love to watch some progressive Indian shows that give us supportive saas-bahu role models. 

2. Regressive & Problematic Portrayal of Teenage Relationships

The show faced massive backlash on how it handled teenage relationships. When Anupamaa’s daughter Pakhi is ‘caught’ talking to Adhik in a room alone, both of them are brutally shamed, especially Pakhi. How this show shamed teenage relationship and promoted a regressive mentality of controlling women is just a reflection of how this serial is as problematic as others.

3. Wife Forgiving Husband’s Extramarital Affair

The serial shows how Anupama’s husband, Vanraj cheats on her with another woman named Kavya. And, what is so disgusting about the serial is how Anupama accepts his affair, forgives him, and allows his girlfriend to live in the same house. We don’t think any woman with self-respect will ever do this! How could the serial be promoted as a progressive show to millions of women where the protagonist is okay with her husband’s cheating?

4. Regressive Promotion Of Woman As One-Woman Army

We are tired of Indian TV shows promoting women as a one-woman army. How Anupama is celebrated for being a one-woman army in the show is quite problematic. We live in a society, where women are expected to overburden themselves with domestic responsibilities. They are expected to bear the burden and sacrifice themselves for others. We are tired of this regressive portrayal of women that puts millions of women under unnecessary stress and pressure. And, dear Indian TV shows, stop promoting a sanskaari woman as someone, who is ready to tolerate everything for the sake of others!

5. Problematic Promotion Of Victim Mentality

Many netizens also discussed how the show promotes a victim complex. The show promotes that no matter how hard Anupama tries, she always turns out to be the victim of her husband’s, mother-in-law’s, and kid’s emotional abuse. Many women, who find this struggle relatable fall into the trap of assuming that like Anupamaa, they are victims of circumstances and they can’t do anything about it.

We just hope today’s Indian shows will seek inspiration from the past and give us some progressive shows like Udaan, Saans, Shanti, Aarohan, and many others