Upcoming social drama – ‘Doree’ sheds light on girl child abandonment

Mumbai, Countless Indians honor women as goddesses, ironically, a significant number among them abandon female infants at birth due to the belief that a daughter cannot perpetuate the legacy of a family. As per the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report issued in 2020, about 4.6 Lakh girls in India were missing at birth each year between 2013 and 2017.

This grim reality reflects the insidious grip of ‘chhoti soch’ (narrow-mindedness) deeply embedded in the collective psyche even today, demanding an urgent overhaul in the way society perceives and values girl child. Addressing many such socially relevant issues and building upon its legacy of delivering distinctive content, COLORS brings to light yet another critical issue – the abandonment of girl child – through the compelling narrative of ‘Doree’.

At the core of ‘Doree’ lies an unwavering depiction of a girl’s struggle that comes with her birth and the fight for her societal rights. Starring Sudhaa Chandran as Kailashi Devi Thakur, Amar Upadhyay as Ganga Prasad, and Mahi Bhanushali as Doree and produced by Jay and Kinnari Mehtaa’s Jay Mehtaa Productions, ‘Doree’ premieres on 6th November 2023 and airs every Monday to Friday at 9:00pm only on COLORS.

Set against the backdrop of Varanasi and highlighting social issue like girl child abandonment, the show ‘Doree’ traces the tale of a six-year-old doting daughter who lives with her foster father, Ganga Prasad in the Bunkar mohalla and questions her abandonment at birth. While Ganga Prasad counts himself lucky to have a daughter, the ruler of Varanasi’s handloom empire, Kailashi Devi Thakur deems daughters as unworthy. In this world steeped in discrimination, will Doree break the shackles of patriarchy?

Set to be seen essaying the role of Ganga Prasad, Amar Upadhyay says, “It’s incredible to be a part of a show that aims to give viewers more than just entertainment. The show focuses on regressive mindset of abandoning female child at birth.  I’m beyond excited on portraying the character of Ganga Prasad in ‘Doree’ a dedicated father, who like any parent wants the best life for his daughter, despite facing challenges in acquiring a job due to an impaired hand. Reconnecting with COLORS for a show like this, is a matter of pride and we hope that Doree will spark conversations around such important topics in the public sphere.”

On embodying the role of Kailashi Devi Thakur, veteran actor Sudhaa Chandran says, “I applaud COLORS for bringing a show like ‘Doree’ that sheds light on some prevalent social malady like – girl-child abandonment which even today is observed in many parts of our country. Fixated on a male heir, Kailashi Devi upholds archaic values within her family and runs its handloom empire. Having been part of numerous shows on the channel, I’m delighted to collaborate with them once again. Over the years, the audience has shown immense love for my previous roles. I’m hopeful that the same love and appreciation will be extended to this show.”

Producer Jay Mehtaa and Kinnari Mehtaa jointly says, “We are thrilled to present ‘Doree’, a show that delves into a heartwarming father-daughter bond and how she navigates her fight for equality against Kailashi Devi. Through Doree, our aim is to initiate impactful conversations on girl child abandonment that still persists in today’s time. We look forward to our collaboration with COLORS, and with this thought-provoking show we hope to bring a positive change in the society.”