29 October 2001 (2001-10-29) – 16 January 2003 (2003-01-16)
Kutumb is an Indian television drama telecast on Sony TV. The show aired FROM 29 October 2001 to 7 February 2003. The show had two seasons but the seasons' plots were not related. However, both series revolve around the principal characters of Pratham (Hiten Tejwani) and Gauri (Gauri Pradhan), and their love and kutumb (family).[1][2]
Plot
The Mittal family is successful and rich but very grounded in their traditions and culture. Of the four Mittal sons, the eldest Umesh is married to Gayatri and has three children - Nandini, Pratham and Gautam. Rajesh is married to Archana and they also have three children - Samay, Tushar and Diya. Sanjay is a widower, who often has imaginary conversations with his late wife Maya and their three kids are - Siddharth, Riya and Richa. Ajay and Kavita have no kids of their own and instead dote on all the other kids. The other kids who are also part of the family are Sanskar and Sanskriti, who are Umesh's sister's children.
Pratham is revealed to be the spoilt brat in the family and dearly loved by everyone, much to his father Umesh's frustration.
In contrast, Gauri Agarwal, comes from a middle class nuclear family and takes no nonsense from anyone. Gauri's family includes her father, mother, sister Preeti and brother Shashank.
Pratham's own sister, Nandini married young as per her father's wishes but the marriage results in divorce. Her ex-husband also doesn't want anything to do with their son Shobhit. Nandini's father is remorseful for having chosen the wrong man for her and wants her to remarry but she decides marriage is not for her.
At the same college, Gauri hates everything Pratham stands for - a lack of principles and his being rich and entitled. Pratham loses the Class President election to Gauri and to teach her a lesson locks himself with her in a room insinuating they were fooling around. When the media gets whiff of this, the incident is blown out of proportion and their conservative families decide that the two must be married. Pratham takes this as an opportunity to make Gauri's life a living hell. Under family pressure, Gauri gives in and the two are married.
How the two cope with their differences, and eventually fall in love with another form the crux of the story.
The second season shows Pratham as a rich spoilt brat who is disinterested in studies. Gauri on the other hand is the college topper and actively participates in drama activities. Their opposite natures initially lead to fights but while practicing for a college play, they develop feelings for each other. However, Pratham's parents oppose the relationship as they feel Gauri is a middle-class girl and does not fit in with their family.
Pratham and Gauri are very much in love and elope. They face financial hardships but eventually settle down in their new world. Everything is perfect, till Gauri is diagnosed with cancer and is given a few months to live by the doctors. Pratham is shattered but continues to take care of her during her treatment. Gauri is finally cured and Pratham's family also accepts her. But as fate would have it, Gauri soon dies in a car accident instead.
