Times have changed. Soaps two years ago used to be mild and prudent. Only at rare occasions at least a month apart would drums be pounded and lightnings be struck to signify the shock behind Mihir's death, Mihir's resurrection and other world famous events. Even then, the echoes were mild and the screen stayed put.

These days armed with experts on 'special effects,' the likes of Ekta Kapoor play it loud and dirty. Its a drum shattering whenever the bahurani utters a taunt. Its a lightning crashing whenever the saut opens her mouth - its there when she asks the price of lauki, and its there when she demands property rights. Its even there when she pauses midway in any sentence. Not just the drums, not just the lightning, the entire screen cracks and shakes and rotates and discolors when this happens. One wonders if its an emotional backup to the constantly plummeting acting skills of these wives. Sample:

vamp: "ma, aaj newspaper nahin aaya?" [estimated duration: 2.3 seconds]

[sounds and visuals of hell exploding] [estimated duration: 15 seconds]

maaji: "nahin beta, newspaper band karwa diya hai." [estimated duration: 2.7 seconds]

[repeat sounds and visuals ] [estimated duration: 20 seconds]