It’s back to a dramatic week then, lots happening here! From Murtasim’s shawl to Aaliya’s phoppo, Saad the sad face of Mujhe Pyaar Hua to Pyaari Mona, the new kid on the block. We give you the week in dramas!
First up is Pinjra because Abaan’s story is relentless, so is Javed’s obstinacy and Khadija’s regard for him, she was thankful for the money in the bank, literally. But it made me and Wajiha wonder if financial dependency is how many women view their relationships. And if they do, is that okay? Wajiha doesn’t think so, because, at the end of the day, the one who hands out the money also calls the shots!
But it doesn’t have to be like that always. I see multiple matriarchal families where the husbands are the financial backbone and the women and what they stand for wins. However, that is a rarity. And perhaps, we have something to learn from these women too?
Suffice to say our perspectives are colored by our experiences and Wajiha’s world view, though well balanced and acutely sharp, will be colored by her own story – being human matters.
But more critical is the realization that Pinjra sliced into our life with the most recent Scarsdale School incident – drugs, violence, influence, minors – it’s all happening amidst us, but perhaps we love to watch Murtasim flying his shawl in an expansive Mazaar instead – because that is an escape from the macabre reality we live in. Just my take, you’re free to deny it and go ahead, flaunt the shawl!
Fat Shaming Just Got A Face!
Let’s move on to Pyari Mona spotlighting an issue that lives amongst us too – Being overweight and being fat shamed is a reality many people have to live with. Pyari Mona made me think about health concerns vs just being overweight and happy with it. It also made me think about whether overweight people really eat all day? Or perhaps, it made me consider that although I consider I’m not one of them – the fat-shamers, I do not do it overtly, I might be judging them in a secret place inside myself, where I look at that overweight person and say in my head: “Oh my Goodness, why can’t she just lose some weight!” Are you me? Or are you the super self-actualized human who ‘s a happy ‘live and let live; story – let them be, you say!
However, I can’t just let it be, I feel, what if they contract a health problem, what if they have low self esteem, can’t fit into aeroplane seats and etc etc – is it because our seats are not all inclusive, made for slim people, or is it because we can’t control our food(ie)_ desires?
Sanam Jung seemed quite hunky dory in that Fat Suit and I have to say, in carrying on her daily life with nonchalance, a normal kind of normal; playing video games, applying for a job – so are we just making a ‘big’ deal about nothing? Yes, pun intended there! It was also interesting to see Babar and Samia’s story – the anti hero of the narrative? Is the storyteller trying to tell us that being obsessed with our fitness is a bad thing, but being overweight is not? Or just that being obsessed with overweight or losing weight should not take over our lives! I’d go for the second narrative and I think Pyari Mona is heading towards it too.
Changing mindsets is a challenge indeed and Pyari Mona is making me consider my own latent thinking too, believe it or not! Watch this one but I hope the story remains in the grey and hence, so much more relatable!
Next Up, Saad or Murtasim?
I’ll go for Murtasim coz Saad is more popular in my non-sensational, compassionate heart – he’s taken over the very small pile of heroes I want to see more of, so, save the best for last! Yeah, Murtasim lovers (and there are many) live with it!
So every thing Murtasim does now will have to help redeem the thappar he planted earlier on Merub’s unsuspecting cheek! And the writer and director are well aware of that. The slap was part of the character plan – show the guy to be this alpha male who is then brought down from his oh so elevated pedestal by (hypothetically) kneeling to the woman he’s fallen hopelessly in love with. That, coupled with a tear jerking back story where he had been wrong in a past life is all we need to justify his actions, make our hearts bleed for him and want him to possess his beloved. Sound about as cynical as I can get? Yeah, you’re right, I am!
But …
That being said, let’s go on to appreciate the shawl that added miles to his moves, much more than the thappar and his ability to do things the )Un) Ma Begum way by going out of his way to include Merub’s parents in the marriage. And now, the scene is set for his final redemption when Merub refuses to marry him before a large crowd of respected family members! Sound a bit like our friend Hamdan from across the channel who also refused to marry Arishma in broad daylight? Just saying, exacting revenge in new and original ways is Pakistani dramas in 2023!?
Safe to say, Murtasim fans will milk it as our poor hero is left in the lurch by Merub, and so will Haya – the less the better said there! So the stage is set for more drama this week and I’ll leave it at that for now, as we move on to the ‘other’ Wahaj Ali, the one I’m rooting for – Saad here we come!
Mujhe Pyaar Hua Tha
Saad’s misery knows no reprieve and fans are lapping up this one, rightly so, so am I! If Maheer appears insensitive, (she is in love after all), we want her to feel his pain, have you never been in love, my dear reader? In her defence, Maheer is a girl in love, starry eyes and all, she cannot see beyond the love veil as of now, give her time, and she will. Although Neelo’s not prepared to do that!
And Neelo is after all, the fans ki awaaz, resonating in every angry breath – how dare Maheer do this to Saad, how can she be so blind not to see (Umm, love is blind, remember? and she’s in love) – just playing Devil’s advocate here. Anyway, Wahaj as Saad is hitting it out of the park and just when we think it’s becoming a bit too much of a sob story, he cracks a joke at Neelo – that sort of, helped balance things out for me.
What is interesting and a relief is that heroes like Saad are not seething in self pity, or a toxic kind of unrequited love. They are trying to get on with it, facilitating the story life is handing out to them and not forcing their emotions and feelings on another person – Saad is all about consent and I’m loving that. I would like him to tone down on the self pity now and pull himself together; too much of a good thing becomes not too good, and I hope for a more uplifting episode next.
On the other hand, Areeb my friend you have been dealt the wrong hand! I mean, we were already questioning your simping behaviour with the mom, and now you go ahead and use the weapon as a last resort. I mean, why? And, on another note, what are you planning to do with your prize winning once she lives under the same roof as your toxic mom? Oops another Mere Humsafar we cannot live through!
To top it all, Areeb pledges to ‘change’ his unsuspecting bride and make her exactly what her parents would want – oh Goodness gracious, that dialogue shouts red flag in a hundred directions!
So our hero Saad seems to be a clear winner and I for one, would have wanted to spot more of a battle of the heroes, where they are more equally pitted against each other and we felt for both. That would have really made for a gripping narrative.
But that’s just me and my problematic problems!
May the best man win in Mujhe Pyaar Hua Tha, coz they’re both in love.
I did say Saad was the last, but how can I let go without addressing Kuch Ankahi?
Kuch non sensational, gritty, real content that hits our screens with a silent whisper, not a loud thud, coz it’s not a thappar, but a warm hug! Yes, I’m talking about Aaliya and Salman’s Kuch Ankahi. But also Samiya’s, Tanya’s and everybody else’s story. I have to say the phuppo entry had my heart this time, only because it wasn’t just the performance but the dialogues too. Vaneezah Ahmed was a breath of fresh air and her performance just hit the right spot in warm, relatable ways. Her reservations about Saif ur Rehman were delivered in a calm, composed yet, firm stance, her defiance of Agha Jaan, her brother, were tongue in cheek; sharp witted sparring with an old and practiced opponent, and her genuine love and concern for the girls was just fab! And you know what? There was no unnecessary toxicity between her sister in law and her either! Win, win there!
Aaliya and Salman continued their sparring too, which made for a fun watch! My question, simply, for all those who are not watching, what is it about Kuch Ankahi that you don’t like? Admittedly, many have quoted Samiya’s self sacrificial role as one they’d rather not vibe with. And that said, I do agree. We are only sticking up for Samiya because a) Mira Sethi delivers it beautifully b) The character is penned beautifully, c) We know it is a Kashf Foundation narrative and will not disappoint us.
But, if we remove all 3, especially the 3rd expectation, we would, in isolation, be quite frustrated with Samiya handing out submissive goals to young girls who have and will continue to live in low self esteem and say yes to a red flag proposal only to reduce their parents’ ‘burden’ and unfair pressure of getting their daughters married before a certain age. I for one, would like Samiya to turn her fate before she discovers that Saif is a dodgy one. If she does it after, the story is unfortunately, lost upon me. Just my concern, and I sincerely hope I am wrong!
So, keep on watching the dramas you love, drop the ones you don’t, like I have, Kacha Dhaga and Farq and perhaps Hook too. And, look out for Maya and Bilal’s Yunhi – coming soon!
Adios and cheers!
It’s Saad, More Saad, And A Bit Of Neelo On Twitter – MPHT Vibes!
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