Desi View to Full House
A single father along with his friend and brother-in-law raise three girls. There are problems each day but nothing that the Tanner family can’t get through and solve together. This is Full House, an American family sitcom of the nineties shot in front of a live studio audience. Many Americans grew up watching this as a kid with their families but I am Indian and had never even heard of it until last year. The reason for it can be a lot of things but the most convincing one is that maybe this series never made sense to Indians until now.
Single dad, kids dating and a whole lot sharing. If you would’ve showed this series to an Indian family at the time of its release they would’ve been left wide idea. They would have had no idea as to what to make of anything happening. Boy problems? No my kid wouldn’t even think of such things, they’d say. Drinking issues and that too with girls? Oh impossible, they don’t even stay out late or go anywhere without supervision at such an age, they’d say. For so many years Indians have had only a certain way to life. Study hard get into an engineering school and then work in a good company. This was their blueprint. The men never did the housework and the girls never went out to party. You were always ‘told’ what was right like when to marry or how to behave. But you don’t have to be 27 and engaged, you should be allowed to do things at your own pace and comfort. Luckily, this is something that many Indians have started to understand and hence Full House now has started making sense to them.
Primarily, the thing that appeals the most to an Indian family is the ‘full’ house concept, meaning that the family is like a joint family. Indians have always lived like that; other family members helping out with kids or work. It is a concept that needs no accepting- it gives a feeling of home. However, Indians might tend to see the family more in the perspective of a joint family than three men raising kids. While it is a good thing that they find their own family structure in that, it might not be the best as the message of struggles of single dads can get lost. Full House is a show with a problem and solution taken out in 30 mins span and a lesson (always). When such is the case the makers would want their meaning to be deliver as per their intent. However, due to different ideologies and ways the Indian interpretation can be different. But that isn’ necessarily a bad thing. For example, Indian kids don’t do chores as they have house help so seeing the characters in it have such responsibilities can act as a learning point for them.
Another aspect to keep in mind is that watching series specially of different countries was never a prevalent idea in India. The increasing connectivity and creation of platforms like Netflix has played a big role in Indians getting introduced to series like Full House. Such series have turned out to be of particular appeal to the younger generation as they see an idle life in it. Being open to their parents and grandparents, not having to hide their relationships and trust and independence are things that they want. And it is human nature to watch more of what appeals to you. The good news is that now the relation between parents and kids have started to open up, there is more sharing and talking. Moreover, understanding of each others worlds has increased and therefore series like full house have become relatable.
The grandparents of the current generation would still see this series in a different light. The kids drinking or smoking, getting in car accidents would all just seem too absurd to them. For them discipline is primary and a parents instructions the ultimate bible. They are not wrong to think like that as they were brought up that way but all that is now changing or maybe westernising as some would say. The concept of prom and dates might be few steps away but recognising mental health as an important goal, being open with kids and accepting teenage problems is a good start. Full House touches upon these aspects and does it as a family which seems quite appealing to the changing mindsets of an Indian audience.
This series was made about 15 years back so it was an earlier time for Americans as well. Therefore while watching the series I don’t quite see a cultural view although the lessons and learnings are globally valid. It tells you that the idea of globalisation didn’t prevail as much then. However, just like our minds even the series evolved. We now have a ‘Fuller House’ that many are binging on Netflix. This series does have cultural celebrations, it even has an Indian themed party in it. This shows that with the series the makers also evolved as they stepped into a globalising world.
Surely, Full House has created a place on the watchlist of many Indians but why should that be a big deal? The answer is that this is an indication of progress and progress is a big deal. It shows an increasing overlap of views across nations which is a milestone for today’s world. The stories and lessons might have a different meaning here but at least people are evolving and mindsets are gaining a global perspective.
