Main cast

• Pooja Gor as Pratigya Saxena Singh Thakur: Naina and Shyam's elder daughter; Adarsh and Aarushi's sister; Krishna's wife; Kriti's mother; Samar's adoptive mother (2009−2012) ^[4]
• Arhaan Behll as Krishna Singh Thakur: Sajjan and Sumitra's younger son; Shakti and Komal's brother; Abhimanyu's half-brother; Pratigya's husband; Kriti's father; Samar's adoptive father (2009−2012) ^[5][6]

Recurring cast

• Parvati Sehgal as Komal Singh Thakur Saxena: Sajjan and Sumitra's daughter; Shakti and Krishna's younger sister; Abhimanyu's half-sister; Adarsh's widow; Kartik's wife; Chinky's mother.^[7][8] (2009–2012)
• Shahab Khan as Shyam Saxena: Naina's widower; Adarsh, Pratigya and Aarushi's father; Chinky and Kriti's grandfather. (2009–2012)
• Monica Singh as Naina Saxena: Shyam's wife; Adarsh, Pratigya and Aarushi's mother; Chinky and Kriti's grandmother. (2009–2011) (Dead)
• Avantika Hundal as Aarushi Saxena: Naina and Shyam's younger daughter; Adarsh and Pratigya's sister; Shakti and Tanmay's ex-wife.
• Ankit Gera / Aniruddh Singh as Adarsh Saxena: Naina and Shyam's son; Pratigya and Aarushi's brother; Komal's husband; Chinky's father.^[9] (2009–2011) / (2012) (Dead)
• Drishti Hemdev as Chinky Saxena: Adarsh and Komal's daughter. (2011–2012)
• Arya Dhramchand Kumar / Malhar Pandya as Kartik Saxena: Komal's second husband. (2012)
• Kunal Karan Kapoor as Angad Yadav: Thug; Pratigya and Komal's foe (2010) (Dead)
• Mrunal Jain as ASP Iqbal Khan IPS Officer: Shyam's student; Pratigya and Aarushi's childhood friend; Krishna and Komal's wellwisher. (2009–2012)
• Anupam Shyam as Sajjan Singh Thakur: Sumitra's husband; Shakti, Krishna, Komal and Abhimanyu's father; Chinky, Samar and Kriti's grandfather.^[10] (2009–2012)
• Asmita Sharma as Sumitra Singh Thakur: Sankata's sister; Sajjan's wife; Shakti, Krishna and Komal's mother; Chinky, Samar and Kriti's grandmother. (2009–2012)
• Jaswant Menaria as Shakti Singh Thakur: Sajjan and Sumitra's elder son; Krishna and Komal's brother; Abhimanyu's half-brother; Kesar and Menaka's husband; Samar's father; Aarushi's ex–husband (2009–2012)
• Kalpna Bohra / Aalika Sheikh as Kesar Shakti Singh Thakur: Shakti's first wife; Samar's mother ^[11] (2009–2012)
• Eklavya Ahir as Samar Singh Thakur: Kesar and Shakti's son; Krishna and Pratigya's adopted son (2011–2012)
• Soni Singh as Menaka Singh Thakur: Shakti's second wife (2011)
• Asha Sharma as Mrs. Saxena: Shyam's mother; Adarsh, Pratigya and Aarushi's grandmother (2009–2012)
• Mohit Malik as Advocate Abhimanyu Singh Yadav: Sajjan and Shakuntala's son; Shakti, Krishna and Komal's half-brother (2011–2012)
• Abhishek Rawat as Tanmay Srivastav: Aarushi's ex-husband; Adarsh's murderer
• Amita Udgata as Mrs. Singh Thakur: Sajjan's mother; Shakti, Krishna, Komal and Abhimanyu's grandmother
• Akhilendra Mishra as Sankata Singh: Sumitra's brother
• Sana Amin Sheikh as Ganga: Sajjan's mistress (2011)
• Deeya Chopra as Anu Mathur: Aman's wife (2011)
• Piyush Sahdev as Advocate Aman Mathur: Sarveshwardayal's second son; Gaurav and Jay's brother; Aarushi's ex-fiancé; Anu's husband (2010–2011)
• Sachin Sharma as Gaurav Mathur: Sarveshwardayal's eldest son; Aman and Jay's brother; Nandini's husband (2010)
• Mayank Arora as Jay Mathur: Sarveshwardayal's youngest son; Gaurav and Aman's brother (2010)
• Chetan Pandit as I.G. Sarveshwardayal Mathur: Gaurav, Aman and Jay's father (2010)
• Sehrish Ali as Roli: Pratigya's best friend; Adarsh's lover (2010)
• Manmohan Tiwari as Radhe
• Prachi Pathak as Maayi
• Kunal Jaisingh as Sarang "Gunga" (2011)
• Kunal Madhiwala as Lucky
• Dinesh Soi as Jugnu
• Vinay Rajput as Tunna
• Pratima Kazmi as Guru Maa
• Sonal Jha as Shakuntala:^[12] Sajjan's mistress; Abhimanyu's mother (2012)
• Nirbhay Wadhwa as Goon
• Raj Premi as Makhnu Singh
• Jaydeep Suri as Chandu
• Abner Reginald as Judge (in Angad Yadav murder case) (2010)
• Ruchi Savarn as Sunehri (2011)
• Chaitanya Choudhury as Abhishek: Neelima's husband; Pratigya's college friend (2011)
• Akanksha Juneja as Neelima: Abhishek's wife; Pratigya's college friend (2011)
• Neha Kaul as Meera: Krishna's one–sided lover (2011)
• Deepak Advani as Mr. Batra: Abhishek and Neelima's boss (2011)
• Deepika Singh as Sandhya
• Sanaya Irani as Khushi
• Manasi Parekh as Gulaal

Promotion

As a part of promotion of the series before its launch, in December 2009, a campaign was done as Meri Pratigya at Nariman Point in Mumbai where along with lead Pooja Gor, 500 women as a chain to create an awareness on eve-teasing and ill treatment of women.^[13]

Casting

Parvati Sehgal who played Komal's role in the show was originally approached for Aarushi's role but got rejected because of a look test but later got selected for Komal's role when she was approached for the second time.^[14]

Falaq Naaz was originally signed to play an uneducated village girl Shakun in the show who was Abhimanyu's wife but things couldn't work out as she chose another show of Star Plus Khamoshiyan later her role got scrapped from the show.^[15] Rohit Khurana was finalized for Krishna's role but rejected it as he was busy with Uttaran at that time.

In mid 2011, Monica Singh playing Naina quit the series and was hoped for coming back after a break. However, as she refused returning, the makers decided to end her character and she agreed to shoot for two days but did not turn up. Thus, her character was mentioned dead in a car accident.^[16]

Cancellation and future

The series was off aired in October 2012. In early 2013, the series was confirmed returning with a new season based on story of lead character Pratigya and Krishna's daughters.^[17][18] Neha Marda was roped as one of the leads and the pilot episode was shot and approved by the channel but the series was dropped when the discussions between the production house and channel stalled.^[19] However, on 19 February 2021, the series was confirmed returning with a new season on Star Bharat.^[20][21] Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 2 premiered on 15 March 2021, is produced by former season producer Pearl Grey along with Rajan Shahi under Director's Kut Productions.^[22]

Filming

Based on the backdrop of Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad, the series was mainly filmed at sets in Film city in Mumbai while some sequences were also shot at Allahabad.^[23]

Critics

The Indian Express stated, "It's a perfect Hindi heartland show - over-the-top drama and aggressive, regressive as well as progressive in characters and content."^[24]

In November 2010, Deccan Herald criticised, "The serial that broke many a record on Star Plus because of its unique anti-eve teasing storyline, seems to have changed track completely. Today, it’s boiled down to a tale where a woman is humiliated at home, her self respect trampled on by her in-laws and husband instead of portraying her to be a strong woman who stands her ground."^[25]

The Hindu criticised, "From the current crop of serials, a very good example of enthusiastic consumption of a bizarre plot line is the serial “Mann ki Awaaz Pratigya”. The production house, Star TV, bills it a “fight against disrespect of women”. And what does the lead character do? She marries a goon who eve-teases her. Then she tells him that he can win her body but not her love. You fight disrespect by marrying the eve-teaser, taking the battle into his home."^[26]

Ratings

Pratigya opened with a rating of 3.7 TVR.^[27] As in April 2010, it was one of the top ten Hindi GEC which garnered 4.5 TVR.^[28] As in July 2010, it was at second position with ratings ranging 4 to 5.3 TVR.^[29] In weeks 24 and 25 of 2010, it garnered 4.8 and 5.5 TVRs.^[30][31] In week 4 of 2011, it garnered 5.7 TVR.^[32] As in week 29 of 2011, it dropped to 3.9 TVR while its peak ratings garnered were around 6 TVR in its run time.^[24] In the week ending 27 September 2011, it garnered 4.27 TVR occupying fourth position.^[33] When the ratings dropped ranging between 2 and 2.5 TVR, it was off aired on October 2012.^[34]