Kasautii Zindagii Kay (2001 TV series)

Kasautii Zindagii Kay (The Trials of Life) is an Indian television series created by Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms on Star Plus.[3][4] The show starred Shweta Tiwari, Cezzane Khan later replaced by Hiten Tejwani, Urvashi Dholakia, and Ronit Roy who portrayed Prerna Sharma, Anurag Basu, Komolika Majumdar, and Rishabh Bajaj[5]

Kasautii Zindagii Kay
Directed by	Santram Varma Gautam Sobti Qaeed Kuwajerwala Ravindra Gautam[1] Santosh Bhatt Yash Chauhan Raminder Singh Suri Sushen Bhatnagar Rajeev Bhatia Jitendra K Basantt Rohit Malhotra Sangeeta Rao Deepak Chavan Jignesh Vaishnav Arvind Babbal Rishi Tyagi Hitesh Tejwani Shankar Verma Anoop Chaudhary, V.G Roy
Creative director(s)	Monisha Singh Nivedita Basu Doris Dey Shipra Arora Shiwangi Singh Chauhan Riti Chopra
Starring	Shweta Tiwari Cezanne Khan Ronit Roy Urvashi Dholakia Hiten Tejwani
Theme music composer	Priya Bhattacharya Babul Supriyo
Country of origin	India
Original language(s)	Hindi
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	1,423
Production
Executive producer(s)	Niel Singh
Producer(s)	Ekta Kapoor Shobha Kapoor
Cinematography	Santosh Suryavanshi Deepak Malwankar Rajesh Naag
Editor(s)	Dharmesh Shah Sanjeev Shukla Uday Raj Achintya Ghosh Vikas Sharma Sandeep Bhatt
Camera setup	Multi-Camera
Running time	24 minutes
Release
Original network	Star Plus
Picture format	576i
Original release	29 October 2001 (2001-10-29)[2] – 28 February 2008 (2008-02-28)
Chronology
Related shows	Kasautii Zindagii Kay (2018 TV series)
External links
Website
Production website

The show explored the story of the star crossed lovers Anurag and Prerna. The various stages of their love and life as well as the lives of their children and grandchildren. And how, despite being in love with each other they were constantly separated throughout their lives and achieved union only after death.

Plot

Star crossed lovers Anurag and Prerna fall in love with each other, only for fate to time and again separate them. Komolika and Rishabh Bajaj are vital catalysts in the story. Over a span of eighty years in the show, the story revolves around Anurag and Prerna their children Prem and Sneha and eventually their granddaughters.

Chapters

Kasautii Zindagii Kay was based on following chapters in its storyline. Below are the highlights.[6]

• Chapter 1 (Episode 1–26) | Prerna and Anurag are in love. Mohini, Anurag's mother wants him to marry Komolika.
• Chapter 2 (Episode 27–67) | Anurag marries Komolika due to his mother's emotional blackmail; Prerna pregnant with his child.
• Chapter 3 (Episode 67–108) | Moloy recovers from coma and comes to know about Anurag and Komolika's marriage.
• Chapter 4 (Episode 109–164) | Komolika and Anurag's divorce. Komolika conspires with Rishabh Bajaj, a business tycoon to destroy the Basus for revenge.
• Chapter 5 (Episode 165–210) | Prerna marries Rishabh Bajaj to protect the assets of Basu family, as Bajaj forces her.
• Chapter 6 (Episode 211–276) | Bajaj's wife Menaka poses problems for Bajaj. As they are not divorced yet.
• Chapter 7 (Episode 277–330) | Bajaj disappears after his accident. Prerna and Anurag get engaged and married.
• Chapter 8 (Episode 331–374) | Bajaj creates trouble in Anurag and Prerna's paradise. He clicks intimate photos with Prerna by making her unconscious in Pune and uses these photos to blackmail Prerna with the help of Mr. Patel who also kidnaps Prem on the instructions of Anurag's cousin, Shubroto.
• Chapter 9 (Episode 375–402) | Prerna and Anurag's son Prem is abducted and dies when Anurag brings the police to the place where Prerna was asked to meet the kidnappers with ransom.
• Chapter 10 (Episode 403–441) | Anurag and Prerna's marriage falls apart due to misunderstandings and Anurag's belief that Prerna is pregnant with Bajaj's child. Due to pressure from his mother, Anurag marries Aparna.
• Chapter 11 (Episode 442–472) | Prerna is mad at Anurag for doubting her and remarrying and moves to Panchmeshwar with her daughter Sneha.
• Chapter 12 (Episode 473–511) | After eight years, Sneha visits Anurag's house. When the questions about Sneha's parentage becomes unbearable, Prerna becomes engaged to Bajaj.
• Chapter 13 (Episode 512–572) | Sneha has leukemia and needs bone marrow transplant. In order to save her, Anurag's wife and Bajaj show understanding and encourage Anurag and Prerna to have another child.
• Chapter 14 (Episode 573–623) | Aparna's past is revealed. She tries to murder Anurag and gets all the properties of Basus under her control. Anurag takes the help of Prerna in pretending to be a ghost, to haunt Aparna and make her confess her crime. Misunderstanding arises between Prerna and Bajaj.
• Chapter 15 (Episode 624–646) | Prerna wants to convince Bajaj that she loves him but he thinks Prerna is still in love with Anurag. Aparna tries to kill Prerna but falls off a cliff. Prerna is accused of murder.
• Chapter 16 (Episode 647–685) |Bajaj and Madhavi get intimate. He asks Madhavi to save Prerna from jail. Madhavi tries to sabotage Prerna's case as she loves Bajaj and wants him for herself but Shravan saves Prerna. Prerna and Bajaj reconcile. Madhavi tries to stop the wedding but fails.
• Chapter 17 (Episode 686–757) | Generation Leap: Shravan avenges his mother Aparna's death.
• Chapter 18 (Episode 758–781) | Bajaj's one night stand with Madhavi comes out. Is Tanisha, Mr Bajaj's daughter?
• Chapter 19 (Episode 782–833) | Bajaj and Prerna meet with an accident.
• Chapter 20 (Episode 834–873) | Yudi is actually Prem
• Chapter 21 (Episode 874–928) | Yudi's transformation
• Chapter 22 (Episode 929–993) | Mukti and Yudi grow closer. Sharad assaults Mukti.
• Chapter 23 (Episode 994 –1022) | An attempt to take Prerna's life.
• Chapter 24 (Episode 1023–1048) | Anurag marries Sampada, Prerna takes the blame for Sneha's offence.
• Chapter 25 (Episode 1049–1069) | After five years: Anurag-Sampada live happily and take Prem and Sneha's responsibility. Prerna returns from jail.
• Chapter 26 (Episode 1070–1101) | Prem is shattered by Mukti's death
• Chapter 27 (Episode 1102–1163) | Prem is taken to Panchameshwar for treatment.
• Chapter 28 (Episode 1164–1202) | Aparna's attempt to murder Prerna.
• Chapter 29 (Episode 1203–1250) | Prerna shoots Anurag.
• Chapter 30 (Episode 1251–1300) | Twenty years later, Prerna's granddaughter Prerna is the protagonist. Anurag returns as Pratham Mitthal.
• Chapter 31 (Episode 1301–1358) | Sampada confesses her crime. Prerna apologizes to Anurag.
• Chapter 32 (Episode 1359–1394) | Anurag exposes Komolika's plan.
• Chapter 33 (Episode 1395–1423) | Komolika points the gun at Anurag, but Prerna takes the bullet and Anurag and Prerna die in each other's arms. Komolika falls off the cliff and dies. Prerna and Anurag unite in death. Prem writes a book: Kasautii Zindagii Kay on Anurag and Prerna's life. Mr Bajaj reminisces Prerna.

Cast

Main article: List of Kasautii Zindagii Kay cast

Production

Development

Kapoor stated that Anurag was named after her director friend and Prerna was named after her father's friend Prem Chopra's daughter.[7]

The series was filmed at sets in Killick Nixon studio in Mumbai.[8] In early 2003, a sequence was filmed at Australia.[9]

In October 2003, the series had a crossover with Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand.[10][11]

In 2007, Khan was replaced by Hiten Tejwani in the series.[12]

Cancellation

In November 2007, Kasautii was confirmed going off air on January 2008.[13] However it ended on 28 February 2008 for which Kapoor stated, "I won't deny that the TRPs of Kasautii… had gone down quite a bit and moreover, I didn't have a story to tell."[14]

Reboot series

A reboot of the show, also titled Kasautii Zindagii Kay, is currently on air in Star Plus from September 25 2018.[15] This reboot has been remade in Kannada language titled Premloka.[16]

Adaptations

Kasautii was dubbed in the local languages of Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Mauritius and was telecast there.[17]

Reception

Critics

Rediff.com stated, "One nice thing about Kasauti... is that all characters in the serial are very strong. Be it the protagonists or antagonists, every character stands on firm ground."[18]

Ratings

Kasautii Zindagii Kay became the third-longest running Indian television series after Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii— all three of which were produced by Balaji Telefilms.[19] The show recorded one of the highest TRPs.[20][21]

The crossover episode between Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand and Kasautii during October 2003 garnered 14+ TVR.[22]

Being one of the top-rated Indian television series maintaining its position in top 10 programs until 2006, it dropped to eleventh position in 2008 after which it was soon cancelled.[23]

Soundtrack

The Kasautii Zindagii Kay soundtrack is from the Indian soap opera that has recorded more than fifty tracks during its airing from 2001 to 2008 and won several awards.

The show had recorded more than a hundred tracks including some versions of Bollywood hit songs Kya Pyaar Karoge Mujhse,[24] Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh,[25] Hum Bewafa Hargiz Na Thay,[26] Kal Ho Naa Ho, Jiyen To Jiyen Kaisy[27] and Do Ajnabi Kidar Ja Rahy Hain.

Original serial versions

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Chahat Kay Safar Mein" (title track)	1:20
2.	"Milti Hai Nigahein"	1:30
3.	"Chahat Kay Safar Mein" (sad version)	1:23
4.	"Zindagii Kay Safar Mein"	1:54
5.	"Zindagi Kya Hai Jaisy"	1:29
6.	"Mujse Rootho Na Aisy"	1:45
7.	"Pyaar Ke Mor Per"	1:23
8.	"Jab Se Tum Milay Ho"	1:36
9.	"Teri Meri Yeh Yaari"	1:24
10.	"Meri Ankhon Ke Taaray"	1:32
11.	"Aega Wo Ek Din"	1:26
12.	"Jaany Anjaany Mein"	1:28
13.	"Kya Chaha Tha Mein Na"	2:34
14.	"Kabhi Aisa Bhi Hota Hai"	1:59
15.	"Koi Jab Mujse Kehta Hai"	1:46
Total length:		24:29

Awards

Main article: List of accolades received by Kasautii Zindagii Kay

References

1. ""If you restrict the story to the main characters, the viewer enjoys it more": Ravindra Gautam". Indian Television dot com.
2. "Ekta Kapoor shares how Kasautii Zindagii Kay and Kutumb 'busted the rating charts' 18 years ago". The Times of India.
3. "Kasautii Zindagi Kay TV basti". tvbasti.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
4. "Kasautii Zindagi Kay Episodes". briyanshu.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
5. "Audiences are used to seeing characters dying and coming back". tellychakkar.com. Archived from the original on 13 December 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
6. "Chapters in Kasautii Zindagii Kay". hotstar.com. 19 May 2003. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
7. "Ekta Kapoor on Kasautii Zindagii Kay 2: I am nervous as whenever my shows are too hyped, they usually don't work". The Times of India.
8. "Kutte kya mean hai". Mumbai Mirror.
9. "'Kyunki...' storyline moving to Australia". Indian Television dot com. Archived from the original on 8 January 2009.
10. "Star Plus to marry 'Kasauti' and 'Des Mein' in special show". Indian Television dot com.
11. "Two 'K 'serials to overlap today". Hindustan Times.
12. "Kasauti Zindagi Kay 2: After playing Anurag, Hiten Tejwani to play Mr Bajaj? Here's the truth". India Today.
13. "Finally... the 'Kasautii' ends!". Daily News and Analysis.
14. "It's their loss if they don't understand the power of Balaji". Mumbai Mirror.
15. "Erica Fernandes begins shooting for Kasautii Zindagii Kay promo". 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
16. "Vijay Suriya's 'Premaloka' to premiere on July 22 - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
17. "Channels focus on content syndication". Daily News and Analysis.
18. "Do soap stars watch their own shows?". Rediff.com.
19. "Ekta Kapoor gets nostalgic as Kasauti Zindagi Kay 2 premiere nears, thanks Shweta Tiwari, Cezanne Khan and Urvashi Dholakia". India Today.
20. "Crorepati Gone, Star To Slug It Out For 9-10 Pm Money". Business Standard.
21. "'Des Mein' ousts 'Kyunki..' & 'Kahaani..' from No. 1 position". Indiantelevision.org. 19 May 2003. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
22. "Adding to the content". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020.
23. "Dramatic twist in long-running Star-Balaji soap". Live Mint.
24. "Kya Pyaar Karoge Mujhse (Dil Mera Pooch Raha Hai) - Kasauti Zindagi Kay - All Versions". youtube.com. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
25. "Kasauti Zindagi Kay | Anurag & Prerna | Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh All Versions JUKE BOX". youtube.com. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
26. "Kasauti zindagi ki (hum bewafaa hargish na the)". youtube.com. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
27. "Jiyen To Jiyen kaise [Kasauti-Zindagi-ki] [Serial]". youtube.com. Retrieved 8 January 2015.

External links

• Kasautii Zindagii Kay on IMDb
• Kasautii Zindagii Kay on Hotstar
• Kasautii Zindagii Kay at the Wayback Machine (archived 10 March 2010) (Star TV)