Mumbai: A househelp’s child is not confined to opt for the same profession as their parents, or an artists child limited to being an artist? Then, why should a sex worker’s daughter be destined to follow her mother’s path? Can a mother’s profession become an obstacle to her daughter’s promising future? Questioning these strong stigmas, COLORS brings a social drama, ‘Neerja… Ek Nayi Pehchaan,’ that delves deep into the lives of a mother-daugther duo, Protima and Neerja. These two indomitable spirits are determined to rise above societal prejudices, forge a new identity as they navigate the challenges of life in Asia’s biggest red-light area – Sonagachi. The show sheds light on the lengths a mother who is in the business of flesh trading will go to give her daughter a bright future and safeguard her from the maharani of Sonagachi, Didun. Produced by Sunshine Productions, ‘Neerja… Ek Nayi Pehchaan’ will premiere on 10 July 2023 and air every Monday to Sunday at 8:30 pm only on COLORS.
COLORS, Viacom18 Shital Iyer said, “COLORS takes immense pride in its commitment to deliver the most unique and poignant stories to viewers. We are thrilled to present our latest offering, ‘Neerja… Ek Nayi Pehchaan,’ a truly heart-warming tale centered around a mother’s unwavering vision for a brighter future for her daughter, entwined with their relentless struggle to break free from the confines of a red-light area. This compelling narrative not only showcases the unwavering determination and fortitude of Protima and Neerja but also sheds a light on the broader social issues that sorrounds them. Through the power of this show, our intention is to challenge the ingrained societal biases, evoke profound empathy, and ignite transformative conversations. Join us on this remarkable journey as we endeavor to redefine the boundaries of storytelling through this show.”
‘Neerja… Ek Nayi Pehchaan’ captures the journey of Protima (played by Sneha Wagh), who lives in Sonagachi with her daughter Neerja (Aastha Sharma) and resolves to safeguard her daughter from its evils, but fate has a different plan. The maharani of Sonagachi, Didun (played by Kamya Punjabi) has her prying eyes on Neerja as the word of her beauty spreads. Living away from it, the scion of the wealthy Bagchi family, Abeer (played by Rajveer Singh) is nursing a wound of his past. Serendipitously, Neerja and Abeer meet and are instantly drawn to each other, but the societal shame of reaching out to the dwellers of a red-light area is a huge hurdle in their relationship. Will Neerja be able to secure a life of dignity for herself and Protima? Will Abeer and Neerja’s love be potent enough to defy norms?
Producers Sudhir Sharma and Seema Sawhney Sharma, Sunshine Productions, both believe that, “Sunshine Productions has always stood for earnest stories with profound themes that have not only enthralled viewers but also given them something to think about. Reeling from all the love we’ve received from the audience so far; we are excited to bring Neerja… Ek Nayi Pehchaan that spotlights the infinite optimism of a mother from Sonagachi and the determination of her daughter to lead a life of dignity. Reuniting with COLORS for this show is an honour and we hope to make the best of our storytelling prowess and the canvas the GEC offers.”
Expressing her excitement about essaying the role of Protima, Sneha Wagh said, “As an actor, I am constantly drawn to projects that have a compelling theme and a captivating story. When I was approached for the role of Protima in ‘Neerja… Ek Nayi Pehchaan,’ I instantly felt a deep connection with the show. The way the theme and story were intricately woven together was simply mesmerizing, and it was an easy decision for me to be a part of this incredible journey. Additionally, playing the character of a mother from Sonagachi, who will move heaven and earth to protect her daughter’s future, made me understand the power of motherhood. I thank viewers for loving me in all the characters I’ve played, and I hope they embrace me in this role too.”
Kamya Panjabi, who is all set to play the role of Didun in ‘Neerja… Ek Nayi Pehchaan’ said, “I am immensely proud to be a part of COLORS’ legacy of diverse and engaging shows, and the opportunity to collaborate once again for ‘Neerja… Ek Nayi Pehchaan’ fills my heart with joy. In this show, I will be stepping into the character of Didun, the maharani of Sonagachi. Didun’s relationship with Neerja and her mother Protima is complex and intriguing. What truly excites me about Didun is the way she has been intricately written into the script, with multiple layers to her personality. She sees the world in black and white, but her character possesses a multitude of shades. ‘Neerja… Ek Nayi Pehchaan’ is a story that encompasses powerful themes of kindness, motherhood, and social acceptance, and I am confident that audiences will thoroughly enjoy it.”
Excited to be essaying the role of Neerja, Aastha Sharma said, “I am thrilled about essaying the titular role in COLORS’ Neerja… Ek Nayi Pehchaan. Neerja is like most daughters in every sense except that she belongs to an ill-famed place that comes in the way of her aspirations. She is on the receiving end of a lot of judgment and her never-give-up attitude is her only armour. I’m thoroughly enjoying the journey of being Neerja, a bright girl who wants nothing more than to live a life of dignity with her mother. After her and Abeer’s paths converge, she begins to question if she deserves to be married into a respectable family.”
Set to be seen in the role of Abeer, Rajveer Singh said, “I am incredibly excited to be a part of this show with its captivating storyline and the world it depicts. Abeer is the pride of his family and is blessed with an eidetic memory. While he’s working hard to revive his father’s business, he’s also trying to move on from his past. I can’t wait for the audience to watch me bring Abeer alive on screen. I am excited to see how Abeer and Neerja’s sweet love saga will unfold on television screens. I hope viewers shower immense love and blessings upon us.”
The show boasts an exceptional ensemble cast including Aastha Sharma as Neerja, Sneha Wagh as Protima, Kamya Panjabi as Didun, Rajveer Singh as Abeer Bagchi, Ayub Khan as Abeer’s father – Bijoy Bagchi and Vibha Chibber as Abeer paternal aunt – Shubhra Bagchi.
Intending to push the frontiers of the digital realm beyond promoting a show, COLORS devised a campaign to create awareness about the sensitive issues surrounding the residents of the red-light area. A vox pop video will seek informal comments from people on their understanding of the red-light area which will be amplified on COLORS’ social media platforms. Additionally, influencers such as Shweta Tiwari, Juhi Parmar, Dalljiet Kaur Patel and Chahat Khanna will be seen sharing their experience as single moms and raising a kid amid societal judgment. The highlight of this conversation will be that kids belonging to red-light areas have the right to lead a life of dignity.
