Mysuru: Tu Tu Main Main was a popular sitcom television series that had people glued to the TV in the 1990s. The serial was known for the delightful banter between the dominant mother-in-law and the clever daughter-in-law. The relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is rarely healthy and this phenomenon is not something peculiar to our country but it is universal.

In the rigid undivided family of yore the roles kept reversing as the daughter-in-law of the past would await her time to play the role of mother-in-law with a new found vigour as she herself was subjected to a lot of harassment during her prime years. How much have things changed in these last years with the nuclear families now the norm than the joint families? The answer to that was found at the Aahara Mela organised as part of Dasara celebrations here yesterday at the Scouts and Guides grounds where there was a mother-in-law—daughter-in-law duo contest.

More than the competition it was the camaraderie, understanding, love and affection that was in ample display as six pairs of mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law participated in the Akki Rotti and brinjal  (ennegai) making competition. It was almost like every male felt “How lucky would I be if the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law get along like them.” One pair particularly caught everyone’s attention. Vidyaranyapuram’s M.C. Nagarathna did not have her right hand. She was seen helping her daughter-in-law with one hand. “My mother-in-law even at home always assists me. She does not sit quiet even for a moment and helps me a lot. I also cooperate with her in every aspect,” said her daughter-in-law H.S. Nagashree.

Kodagu’s pair Shobharani and her daughter-in-law Ambika were the first to complete preparing the famous Kodagu akki rotti and ennegai combination. The easy relationship they shared looked like Ambika was more a daughter than a daughter-in-law.

The judges were Dakshayani, Ravi and Vasantha.

Winners: The first prize winners were Shobharani (mother-in-law)-Ambika (daughter-in-law), second prize-Kuvempunagar’s Lalitha (mother-in-law)-Soni (mother-in-law) and third prize-Kuvempunagar’s Aniya Ramesh (mother-in-law)- Swathi (daughter-in-law). The remaining three were given consolation prizes.