Murtasim – The hero who’s the darkest shade of grey, just like all the men we know?
If Murtasim were a regular Pakistani drama hero, the one who makes all the mistakes, then repents, or the one who never takes a wrong step and then, poof! … his heroine ditches him for the other guy, then we would be able to set him in a neat little corner of our minds and all would be calm in the Tere Bin camp!
But, with Murtasim in the house, we just can’t keep calm and carry on!
Because just when we spot the feudal lord in him, he turns around to give Merab a very (un) lordly glance, – I’ll eat fish and prepare to die for you kinda love. But then, we spot him, holding her by the hand, telling her she just can’t be trusted, taking her back to the city as punishment, very (un)gallantly letting her fall into the pool, and lastly, not allowing her to know of his plans – Nyla and her impending doom – his thirst for revenge, or a Robinhood kinda comeback?
So, what is Murtasim really all about?
Well, for starters, what he’s not is all white like Saad in MPHT or all black like your dark hero who turns a new leaf after 10 episodes into the drama (seen many of those)! – Murtasim is a happy shade of grey and that’s the secret to his thriving popularity, both online, and now, probably, in Merub’s diary too! Want to know more? This is the ahem, well kept secret or … 6 reasons why Murtasim has us confused yet super hopeful, in this Pakistani Drama season!
1. First he tells his heroine she has all the potential to shine
Murtasim is the only one in the entire household who seems to respect Merub for her intellect, her education and her ability to bring about change in an archaic, old style household. Hence he tells her, you are capable of so much. Murtasim wants Merub to take charge, step into her role as mistress of the house and shows confidence in her abilities to takeover all the responsibilities that he feels she’s capable of handling.
2. But did he just ignore her desire to get a Law Degree?
How come no one’s talking about this one, including Merub? While Murtasim is all for Merub to take charge of the house, he doesn’t think she needs to complete her higher education! Hence, despite Merub being a shining start for our dear hero, her radiance should only exist within the home? Now, to be fair, Murtasim hasn’t said that in so many words, but the fact that the entire narrative post marriage seems to revolve around Merub hitting it off at home as the feudal bahu doesn’t leave much space for a Law Degree or does it? That, clapped with his trigger happy persona, yeah, guns come easy to our feudal hero, make him not such an easy kill after all. Murtasim is our angry young man, and he’s showing that and more in his fast & furious driving escapade in the recent episode.
3. The slap that spoilt the game for Murtasim
Murtasim was going so well till he decided to raise his hand on his heroine. And that too, straight before he caught her in his arms and then continued to blame himself that he had, in fact, never physically abused anyone before. So, are we being told this is a one time offence, not to be repeated, and since, Murtasim is in the grey, he is allowed this one transgression, as he continues to make up for his (slapping) flaws? Remember the fish episode? That one sacrifice was a big Murtasim comeback, even Merub’s top fans would agree!
4. But then, he proceeds to wipe the dirt off her feet and tend to her all night!
Murtasim acts swiftly to rescue her, carry her to safety, wipe the dirt off her feet and proceed to sponge her forehead in the gentlest manner possible for any feudal lord to enact onscreen – well done Murtasim, you just won fans with that one … and even made us forget that thappar, at least for a split second there!
But wait a minute, did we just see our hero tell Merub to stay put in the car earlier, just because he says so? Not needing to give an explanation for your actions is so borderline arrogant – when you feel you are the commander of the ship, the captain, the lone ranger, behind whom, everyone should bow their heads and pledge allegiance, obedience and more. Did he just expect the same from Merub – a no questions asked obedience – do as I say, … because, I say so? A very dark shade of grey there!
5. He wakes up to ask her “What happened exactly” rather than how she is, and how ghairat must be exchanged for ghairat by the enemy!
Here we go again Murtasim! We are confounded. Our head reeling with the tenderness you showed Merub last night, and now, this! Are you even for real? You are cold as ice one moment and one wonders if you’re the same guy who, gentle as a lamb, begged Merub to never leave him just a few episodes ago!
And just as we warmed up to Murtasim as the softie who would give anything for Merub’s happiness, here he is, stressing over his ghairat more than the emotional and physical wellbeing of his recently kidnapped wife.
6. But then, the Uplifting Panchayat Decision
Murtasim has us all guessing his next move. After the latest Panchayat shenanigans, his wise, and reconciliatory decision gave us real goals so we’re just wondering if we’ll ever be able to read our hero or will he keep us and Merub anticipating his next move?
So is Murtasim your grey hero who tends to defy a solid shade? Or is he the hero who’s teaching us how to become a better human being and defy the chains of past feudal tradition and history?
Tell us if Murtasim’s grey shades are adding to his persona, or, is he just a character in conflict, like many of the real life men we see amongst us, who are also in transition, trying their best to fit into the air tight expectations we have for them – sometimes they make it, and sometimes, they don’t!
And so, in fact, to sum it up, is Murtasim as real as it gets then?
Tere Bin is the vision of the producers & 7th sky Entertainment and the drama has reached epic watch numbers on YouTube due to standout performances from the lead characters, ensemble cast and a story line that is resonating big with viewers and a production team comprising Abdullah Kadwani & Asad Qureshi that has its finger on the pulse of audiences!
Tere Bin has been written by Noora Makhdoom and directed by Siraj ul Haq and is aired on HarPal Geo every Wednesday and Thursday evening.
With the post marriage stuff, Merub’s career has surely taken a back seat. I can’t help but think about it. And I really want Merub to initiate the conversation about it. But we cannot ignore the fact that by asking Ma Megum to renounce her responsibilities to Merub, he is somehow making her do what she loves- listening to people and helping the out. Of course, he’s doing it Murtasim way. I hope we get to see them talking about their dreams.