Shalini Chandran and Vishal Karwal

After striking gold with child marriage (Balika Vadhu) and female infanticide (Na Aana Is Des Laado), Colors ventures once more into the socially conscious space with Rishton Se Badi… Pratha (Monday to Friday at 7.30pm). The burning issue this time around? Honour killing.

“Honour is a huge responsibility for Indians and sometimes there is no space for anyone to ruin it, including their own children. Rishton Se Badi… Pratha is a very poignant and relatable story that brings to light certain social prejudices that still continue to exist in our society,” says Ashvini Yardi, programming head, Colors.

The story of a madly-in-love couple hounded by society because they are not from the same caste, the makers of Pratha hope that the show will strike a chord with the viewer. “Every day one gets to hear of a couple ostracised by their elders for being in love. Many of them are even killed mercilessly. Through this show, we want to tell the audience that love rules above anything else,” says Shalini Chandran, who plays Noida girl Surbhi in Pratha. The trials and tribulations of her relationship with Abhay form the crux of Pratha.

“Abhay respects his family, but is also scared of them. He wants to marry Surbhi, who is his sister-in-law’s sister, but his family opposes his decision. That’s when he decides to take them on,” says Vishal Karwal, a former MTV Roadies finalist who plays Abhay in Pratha.

So what kind of research has the lead pair done to understand the intricacies of honour killing? “I read up a lot on honour killing. It’s extremely disturbing how parents can kill their own children in cold blood for their so-called honour,” says Vishal.

“I really didn’t have to do anything. I just watched the news!” laughs Shalini, who was particularly moved by the murder of Delhi journalist Nirupama Pathak.

Both Vishal and Shalini hope that Pratha will find a place in the mindspace of the viewer. “Our show isn’t glitz and glam, but has it’s heart in the right place,” says Vishal.