Okay, so after an unofficial, unannounced hiatus from reviewing dramas, I’m back.
Even if I’m not reviewing or even watching dramas, it’s hard NOT to notice the upcoming dramas because my feed is filled with it; Ramzan special dramas being one of the many recommendations.
The poster of “My Dear Cinderella” triggered a thought-process and I was like, hey, let’s post about it (very unusual of me to think of posting things, weird!)
Retellings are my thing.
Why I Love Desi Retellings of Fairytales
Fairytales are fun, but you know what’s even better? Fairytales with a desi twist. Why? Because our culture practically breeds fairytales in real life.
Think about it—strict parents who control every move? Check. Marriages decided by family councils? Check. The rich-poor divide, dramatic betrayals, impossible love stories, and that one evil relative plotting in the background? Check, check, and check.
Desi culture hasn’t evolved much when it comes to these things. Our parents still have a say in who we marry, people still believe in destiny over choice, and family honour still weighs heavier than personal happiness. All of this gives desi retellings so much scope.
Cinderella waiting for a prince? Nope, in a desi version, she’s waiting for an rishta while her phuppo tries to sabotage it. Rapunzel locked in a tower? Sounds like a desi girl with strict parents who won’t let her out after Maghrib. Beauty and the Beast? Just another girl told to “adjust” in an arranged marriage.
Fairytales are already dramatic, but add desi culture, and you get stories that are richer, funnier, and a hundred times more relatable. And let’s be honest—who wouldn’t love to see a jinn instead of a fairy godmother, a shaadi ka jora instead of a ball gown, or an overprotective cousin instead of a knight in shining armour?
Desi fairytale retellings don’t just work—they thrive. And that’s why I love them.
Why am I talking about retellings all of a sudden? Because I have a lot to talk about it. More coming up.
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Shabana Mukhtar