The love story and twists and turns have been part of Indian folklore for millennia before Shakespeare. This author is ill informed and presumptuous to assume this was a British colonial legacy. Read up on Kalidasa's plays (ca. 5th century AD) Meghdoot, Shakuntalam etc.
>just one out of sixteen couples studied...
>a generational shift!
All right.
These stories have been a part of Indian cinema for decades. There is nothing new here. Audiences like all kinds of stories, these ones included.
The tragedy of star-crossed lovers exists throughout Indian history, infact Indian folklore are littered with so many of them and different versions that I grew up learning. Mirza Sahiban is just one example. It makes you wonder if these stories by modern writers are just recycled from concepts from older civilisations or possibly true events.
Um India has had this tale for centuries. The story of Heer Ranjha is an immortal tale in the Punjab, and has been adapted many times over. ;/