Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya

Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya is an Indian soap opera which aired on STAR Plus. The series premiered on 7 December 2009 and was ended on 27 October 2012. It starred Pooja Gaur and Arhaan Behl.
A new season of the series "Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 2" premiered on 15 March 2021 on Star Bharat and Utsav Bharat (UK/Europe Only) produced by Director's Kut Productions.
Plot.
It is the story of a woman Pratigya who will go to any lengths to fight for her rights. Krishna belongs to the Thakur family known for their power in Allahabad. The Thakurs, headed by Krishna's father Sajjan Singh, are rooted deep in tradition and superstition. The Saxena family, however, are traditional but believe in progressive thinking and educating their daughters Pratigya and Arushi. Krishna Thakur and Pratigya Saxena eventually fall in love despite seeming incompatible in the beginning.
Krishna is Pratigya's secret admirer and he forces her to marry him. To protect Pratigya, her brother Adarsh marries Komal, Krishna's sister. Pratigya is not satisfied with her marriage but over time she realizes Krishna's genuine love for her.
Krishna's brother, Shakti, causes his wife Kesar to lose her mental stability. As a result, Pratigya starts caring for Shakti and Kesar's son, Samar. Shakti marries Menka who wants to usurp the property of the Thakur family. Abhimanyu Singh Yadav, Sajjan Singh's illegitimate son, emerges and stakes claim to his rights and start planning against the family. Meanwhilele, in the Saxena household, Tanmay, Arushi's ex-husband, plans to kill Adarsh.
The show takes a leap when Pratigya and Krishna officially adopt Samar. The show ends with Pratigya gets pregnant and give birth to a baby girl and the whole family celebrates.
Adaptations.
The was remade in Marathi as "Devyani" on Star Pravah. It was dubbed in Telugu on Star Maa as "Pavitra".
Production.
Promotion.
As a part of promotion of the series before its launch, in December 2009, a campaign was done as "Meri Pratigya" at Nariman Point in Mumbai where along with lead Pooja Gor, 500 women as a chain to create an awareness on eve-teasing and ill treatment of women.
Casting.
Parvati Sehgal who played Komal's role in the show was originally approached for Arushi's role but got rejected because of a look test but later got selected for Komal's role when she was approached for the second time.
Falaq Naaz was originally signed to play an uneducated village girl Shakun in the show who was Abhimanyu's wife but things couldn't work out as she chose another show of Star Plus "Khamoshiyan" later her role got scrapped from the show. Rohit Khurana was finalized for Krishna's role but rejected it as he was busy with "Uttaran" at that time.
In mid 2011, Monica Singh playing Naina quit the series and was hoped for coming back after a break. However, as she refused returning, the makers decided to end her character and she agreed to shoot for two days but did not turn up. Thus, her character was mentioned dead in a car accident.
Cancellation and future.
The series was off aired in October 2012. In early 2013, the series was confirmed returning with a new season based on story of lead character Pratigya and Krishna's daughters. Neha Marda was roped as one of the leads and the pilot episode was shot and approved by the channel but the series was dropped when the discussions between the production house and channel stalled. However, on 19 February 2021, the series was confirmed returning with a new season on Star Bharat. "Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 2" premiered on 15 March 2021, is produced by former season producer Pearl Grey along with Rajan Shahi under Director's Kut Productions.
Filming.
Based on the backdrop of Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad, the series was mainly filmed at sets in Film city in Mumbai while some sequences were also shot at Allahabad.
Reception.
Critics.
"The Indian Express" stated, "It's a perfect Hindi heartland show - over-the-top drama and aggressive, regressive as well as progressive in characters and content."
In November 2010, "Deccan Herald" criticised, "The serial that broke many a record on Star Plus because of its unique anti-eve teasing storyline, seems to have changed track completely. Today, it’s boiled down to a tale where a woman is humiliated at home, her self respect trampled on by her in-laws and husband instead of portraying her to be a strong woman who stands her ground."
"The Hindu" criticised, "From the current crop of serials, a very good example of enthusiastic consumption of a bizarre plot line is the serial “"Mann ki Awaaz Pratigya"”. The production house, Star TV, bills it a “fight against disrespect of women”. And what does the lead character do? She marries a goon who eve-teases her. Then she tells him that he can win her body but not her love. You fight disrespect by marrying the eve-teaser, taking the battle into his home."
Ratings.
Pratigya opened with a rating of 3.7 TVR. As in April 2010, it was one of the top ten Hindi GEC which garnered 4.5 TVR. As in July 2010, it was at second position with ratings ranging 4 to 5.3 TVR. In weeks 24 and 25 of 2010, it garnered 4.8 and 5.5 TVRs. In week 4 of 2011, it garnered 5.7 TVR. As in week 29 of 2011, it dropped to 3.9 TVR while its peak ratings garnered were around 6 TVR in its run time. In the week ending 27 September 2011, it garnered 4.27 TVR occupying fourth position. When the ratings dropped ranging between 2 and 2.5 TVR, it was off aired on October 2012.