Chhanchhan is an Indian family drama TV series which aired from 25 March 2013
through 19 September 2013 on Sony Entertainment Television India and Sony
Entertainment Television Asia from Monday to Thursday. The show was
tentatively titled Modern Bahu during pre-production and stars Sanaya Irani,
Supriya Pathak, and Anuj Sachdeva. Plot
Chhanchhan Sarabhai is a young woman with a modern outlook who lives in
Ahemdabad with her family. During the wedding of her friend Poorvi, Chhanchhan
meets Umaben, who is in need of money. Realizing this, they stop the marriage
and Umaben starts to hate Chhanchhan. Chhanchhan meets Umaben's son Manav, and
they also hate each other. Despite their mutual hatred, they develop a friendship
and fall in love. Chhanchhan's family are happy when they
learn of the pair's relationship. When Umaben finds out her son is in love with
Chhanchhan, she feigns illness and tells her family she will only recover if
Manav marries a girl of her choice. Manav's friend Himanshu says he will
arrange for Umaben and Chhanchhan to meet each other so Manav can marry
Chhanchhan. They meet at an ashram where Chhanchhan works, and she finds out that
Manav is Umaben's son. When Manav hears that his mother would
prefer a traditional daughter-in-law to Chhanchan, he plans to run away. Umaben
tries to stop him but fails. That night, Umaben faints and is rushed to hospital.
Manav visits her with Chhanchhan, who calls a doctor and tells him to save
Umaben's life. Umaben recovers and finds out that Chhanchhan saved her life, and
tells Manav she has accepted Chhanchhan while still hating her and planning to
ruin the wedding. Manav tells Chhanchhan's family, who are happy, and
the next day Chhanchhan's parents meet Umaben.
Chhanchhan and Manav—now played by Anuj Sachdeva—marry happily. Umaben vows to
make Chhanchhan leave the house within 30 days after her housewarming party;
she unsuccessfully tries to create difficult domestic situations for
Chhanchhan. In her sister Rushali's parlor, Chhanchhan meets a girl named
Sonali; she and Chhanchhan are surprised to hear that Chhanchhan's husband's and
Sonali's fiance's names are the same. Chhanchhan is shocked to hear Sonali's
fiance's full name is Manav Borisagar. Chhanchhan realises that Umaben is
trying to make Manav marry Sonali. Chhanchhan tells Manav about her
discovery and next day the pair meet Sonali and ask her fiance's full name,
which Sonali says is Manav Nagar. Chhanchhan decides to investigate. She
leaves Manav's house, goes to her parents' house and starts gathering
evidence against Umaben and Sonali. She follows Sonali to a temple where she
overhears Umaben telling Sonali she will remove Chhanchhan in one month and make
Manav marry Sonali. Chhanchhan records the conversation on her video camera and
confronts Umaben about it. Umaben tells Chhanchhan she hates her because she
interrupted Poorvi's marriage, accusing Umaben of forcing to give dowry. Umaben
also says she fears Chhanchhan's modern thoughts will break the house.
Chhnachhan promises to win Umaben's trust and never let her house break.
Kaumudi and Chhanchhan feel the family is drifting apart because of the
competition among its members. Umaben leaves for a teerth yatra. Manav gives
Chhanchhan a western dress and asks her to wear it for him. Chhanchhan refuses
but later agrees. She is unable to wear the dress to a date with Manav, who gets
angry and scolds her for this. Rupali, Manav's friend from college days, enters
the scene and taunts Chhanchhan for not satisfying Manav's wishes. Chhanchhan
tells Rupali she has no Indian values. Rupali leaves angrily, and later that
night telephones Manav and asks him to meet her to discuss a contract she had
to give. At their meeting, Rupali proposes to Manav, tells him she loves
him and asks him to leave Chhanchhan for her. Manav scolds her and leaves. Rupali
plans to avenge Manav. The next morning, a legal case stating
the family company Borisagar Enterprises supplied inferior quality materials is
filed. Manav fights with the claimant Harish in front of the police. Next day,
while Manav and Chhanchhan are out on a drive, a bicycle rider wearing a helmet
is knocked unconscious as she deliberately collides with Manav's car.
The rider is revealed to be Harish, who is declared dead at hospital. Manav is
arrested, charged with Harish's murder and gaoled. Chhanchhan realises these
events are Rupali's doing and confronts her. The murder charge causes the
Borisagar family to lose respect in society. Their business loses money and
people insult the family. Umaben is removed as head of mahila sanstha and
people seeking Mansi's hand in marriage reject him.
The family realise Harish is alive. Manav records proof of this on his
mobile telephone and shows it to Rupali. The next day, Rupali hires goons to
retrieve the phone. Manav tells Rupali that he gives up and wants her to clean
his and his family's name. Chhanchhan calls the police and Rupali is arrested.
Having solved their problems, Manav and Chhanchhan live happily.
Cast Critical response
DNA stated that Chhanchhan has average cinematography, art direction, and
costume design, making the show pleasing to the eye, while having to-the-point,
realistic dialogues with a decent story pace.
References