The month of February is all about love. From kids selling roses at the roadside to heart shaped chocolates & balloons at the bakeries and even drugstores; everything screams love is in the air. But is it really so? I bet not. Ask the hopeless romantic. Or the loner in your friends group who religiously advices everyone to stay away from it. Maybe not all of us, but I guess most of us believe in its magic. We fantasise and talk about it. Therefore, this Valentine’s Day Daastan hosted a live session talking about the evolution of love. Our Marketing Associate, Noor ul Huda Tahir discussed the changing trends from Heer Ranjha to all the way to Humsafar.
The Old School Love
At first, Noor took us back to the folklores. She reminded us of the time when lovers made grand gestures to express their devotion. So, tell us are you an old school romantic who would cross a river just to see her beloved like Sohni? Would you risk everything for love like Sassi & Punnu? Or would you denounce the whole world in agony of being separated from your beloved like Ranjha?
Aren’t we all living for a fairytale like that? However, such hopes rarely become realities. Perhaps what we need is a relatable portrayal of love to look forward to. But achieving that within-the-reach ideal can seem a little difficult. It is because we’re constantly bombarded by literature & other entertainment mediums that speak of a love that transcends through time, space & whatnot. And life outside the world of movies and books is not what the fairytales prepare us for. Now to compensate for such a gloomy start, I must tell you that your fairytale is out there. It exists. Go, get it!
Into the Realm of Contemporary Romance
Steering away from the Romeo Juliet & Heer Ranjha trope, Noor shed some light on the Young-Adult Romanctic literature. Personally, I am more than happy to talk about the direction contemporary romance is headed towards. We are a part of the generation who grew up shipping Mr. Darcy & Elizabeth Bennet, Augustus Waters & Hazel Green and of course the ultimate romantic duo of our Asian context, Ashar & Khirad of Humsafar.
The shift from tragedies to rom-com and stories dealing with real life scenarios has been refreshing. It brings a sense of belonging. Watching a TV series or reading a book & relishing in the relatability and authenticity of the story feels good. That being said, everyone has a different notion of love in their minds. Some find the contemporary romance too shallow, while for others the period romance is too much. In short, you do You! Love is a universal yet a personal experience and that’s why each person makes their own way through it.
We’re waiting to hear your thoughts on love & its evolution! Also share with Daastan what’s your favourite love story of all time & be a part of celebration of love!
