Molkki (lit. 'One Who Has a Price') is an Indian Hindi-language television drama series produced by Ekta Kapoor for Balaji Telefilms. The series was broadcast on Colors TV from 16 November 2020 to 11 February 2022. It starred Priyal Mahajan and Amar Upadhyay.
Contents
Background
The series, set in Haryana's Rewari district, focuses on molkki pratha (the custom of bride-buying in India). Its plot revolves around Purvi, a 19-year-old girl who becomes the molkki bride of 42-year-old chief Virendra Pratapsingh, a widower and the father of two. She fights for herself and the rights of other molkki brides while fulfilling her responsibilities as a chieftain's wife, a daughter-in-law, and a mother.
Plot
Purvi marries Virendra, a widowed father of two and head of a village in Haryana's Rewari district. The relationship between Purvi and his children improves, and she tries to bring them closer to their father. While the family is on a picnic, Vaibhav (Virendra's half-brother) rapes Priyashi (Purvi's sister); Anjali (Purvi and Virendra's sister-in-law) records the event.
Virendra initially refuses to believe Purvi's allegations about his brother. He asks Priyashi to choose the punishment, but she marries Vaibhav. Virendra arranges the marriage, despite Anjali's plotting to prevent it. Vaibhav wants to take revenge on his brother, and hires a hitman to shoot him. Purvi saves Virendra, but he is attacked by goons hired by Vaibhav. Priyashi learns about Vaibhav's intentions on their honeymoon, and tells Purvi; the hitmen are caught. Purvi enrolls in a nearby college, where she must downplay her wealth. Vaibhav decides to punish Priyashi for her betrayal, and apparently kills her. Purvi suspects that Vaibhav planned to hurt her sister. Vaibhav provokes Virendra to shoot him, hoping that he will be imprisoned. Wearing a bulletproof jacket, Vaibhav escapes and tries to leave the country with Anjali's help. Purvi uncovers her brother-in-law's scheme, and frees her husband from prison. Priyashi, still alive, says that she planned to have Vaibhav accused of her murder. She shoots him, and vows to wreak havoc in Purvi's life. Priyashi and Anjali unsuccessfully try to separate Purvi and Virendra. Purvi awakens from a nightmare about a woman in chains: Virendra's first wife, Sakshi, presumed dead five years earlier. In a flashback, Virendra and his family travel to Goa for his marriage to Purvi; Prakashi plots to ruin their wedding day. As Purvi and Virendra take their vows, Juhi and Manas (Sakshi's children) see her. Purvi is devastated; the wedding is cancelled, and she poses as a helper in Virendra's house. Virendra tells Sakshi how he married Purvi. Purvi prepares to leave, but Sakshi asks her to stay and thanks her for looking after the family. While Virendra is away, however, Sakshi humiliates Purvi. Confronted by Virendra, Sakshi demands to know his feelings for Purvi and cuts her wrists. Purvi demands a divorce.
Sakshi persuades Purvi to marry Vipul so Virendra gets over her; Vipul agrees. As Purvi's Haldi begins, Virendra wins the first chance to apply turmeric to her; however, her father refuses to bless the marriage. Purvi expresses her love for Vipul as he supports her, but Virendra keeps Purvi from applying turmeric to Vipul. Virendra, drunk, confronts her and Vipul; he has an accident, and falls unconscious. After seeing him unconscious, Purvi knows she loves him. On the wedding day, Virendra learns that the divorce is delayed; he rushes to the venue, and carries Purvi away. Sakshi reveals that she bribed Prakashi and Anjali to throw Purvi out of the house. Purvi has an accident, and loses her memory.
Cast
Main
Amar Upadhyay as Virendra Pratapsingh: Bade Mukhiiya Ji's son from first marriage; Prakashi's step-son; Yogendra and Vaibhav's brother; Sakshi and Purvi's husband; Nandini, Veer, Juhi and Manas's father (2020–2022)
Priyal Mahajan as Purvi Pratapsingh: Daddu and Priyashi's daughter; Veerendra's second wife; Nandini, Veer, Juhi and Manas's step-mother (2020–2022)
Toral Rasputra as Sakshi Pratapsingh: Manikant and Priyamvada's daughter; Veerendra's first wife; Nandini, Veer, Juhi and Manas's mother (2021)
Recurring
Supriya Shukla as Prakashi Devi Pratapsingh: Matriarch of Singh family; Bheem's sister; Bade Mukhiya Ji's second wife; Veerendra, Yogendra and Vaibhav's step-mother; Nandini, Veer, Juhi and Manas's step-grandmother (2020–2022)
Tushar Kawale as Yogendra "Yogi" Pratapsingh: Bade Mukhiya Ji's second son from first marriage; Prakashi's step-son; Veerendra and Vaibhav's brother; Nandini, Veer, Juhi and Manas's uncle; Anjali's husband (2020–2022)
Pranav Kumar as Vaibhav Pratapsingh: Bade Mukhiya Ji's third son from first marriage; Prakashi's step-son; Veerendra and Yogendra's brother; Nandini, Veer, Juhi and Manas's uncle (2020–2021)
Rishika Nag as Nandini Pratapsingh: Virendra and Sakshi's daughter; Purvi's step-daughter; Veer, Juhi and Manas's sister (2021)
Mohit Hiranandani as Veer Pratapsingh: Virendra and Sakshi's son; Purvi's step-son; Nandini, Juhi and Manas's brother (2021)
Anushka Sharma as Juhi Pratapsingh: Virendra and Sakshi's daughter; Purvi's step-daughter; Nandini, Veer and Manas's sister (2020–2022)
Rithvik Gupta as Manas Pratapsingh: Virendra and Sakshi's son; Purvi's step-son; Nandini, Veer and Juhi's brother (2020–2022)
Abhay Bhargava as Bheem Singh: Prakashi's brother; Veerendra's step-uncle (2020–2022)
Shraddha Jaiswal as Anjali Yogendra Pratap Singh: Yogendra's wife (2020–2022)
Trilokchander Singh as Sarpanch (2020–2021)
Madhuri Pandey as Chandni Singh Shekhawat (2021)
Meenakshi Sethi as Nani (2021)
Guest appearances
Avinesh Rekhi as Sarabjeet Gill from Choti Sarrdaarni (2021)
Anchal Sahu as Parineet Kakkar from Parineetii (2022)
Production
Molkki began filming in October 2020. The series addresses bride buying in Haryana:
My character explores the harsh realities of the real world. I hope people connect with it and bring in change for the betterment of society. The main reason why I have picked up this character is that it challenges my set of skills as an actor, as there are no similarities between our lives. I was born and brought up in Delhi hence the word Molkki was alien to me. Going through the whole research and hearing the unheard sounds of life it's already been a beautiful experience in its own way. Yes, being an uptown girl playing a character that was born and brought up in rural areas requires a lot of research, study, and understanding of the way of their culture.
Reception
According to ThePrint, Molkki tackled the issue of brides for sale when Purvi is forced into marriage to a sarpanch twice her age for money. The series was "as real as it gets ... the serial is set in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh where such marriage transactions are only too often the tragedy".
Influence
On 15 June 2021, residents of a small village in Rajasthan banned molkki pratha after watching Molkki. Amar Upadhyay, who played Virendra, was proud of the series' influence.
Sequel
A sequel, Molkki - Rishton Ki Agnipariksha, premiered on Colors TV on 13 February 2023. It starred Ashish Kapoor and Vidhi Yadav, in Yadav's TV debut. The sequel had low ratings, and ended within a month.