Yaaaaar, maza nahin aaya! We have been waiting for the past two episodes for that moment to come when Mushq and Fahd get separated and aside from the fact that I want them separated because I want the Mushq-Dabbu track to begin, I am also genuinely curious how Mushq and Fahd get separated in the first place!! I had thought it would happen in the previous episode and the preview for this week had suggested it would happen today but alas! Not fair!

 
So Mushq and Fahd are both locked up at the police station. Although Fahd tau seems to be strolling around as he pleases, sometimes outside to speak to the SHO, sometimes to make a phone call. Cat seems to have gotten Mushq’s tongue for she was quiet when the policeman was asking questions – had she shown some restraint when he asked her when she was headed then maybe just maybe she would not have drawn that much attention to herself. Was it really necessary to show the SHO stuffing his face that way though? Yes I get it, policemen are shown to be total nincompoops but must he be tearing into that tikka in such a vicious way – maybe that’s why Mushq was quiet then too having seen the fate of a fellow murghi haha!

Mehru. Ah, must we talk about Mehru ji? Okay, let’s because it seems as if this may have been the last we see or hear of her, woo hoo! I do not understand why she disappeared? Was she okay with the nikkah because she thought Aslam was locked up and then realized how he may tell Dabbu the truth now that she is out? And the letter she wrote – how did it get to Dabbu? Did she confess the truth about Fahd? Because the letter seemed to be more of a ‘it’s not you, it’s me and you are too good for me so I must leave you’ rather than a confession of how she has wronged him? I did not see Dabbu read the letter so I am assuming he has made the Fahd connection because he sees Mehru was not loyal since she has run off the day of their marriage? Uff so many questions and conspiracy theories for such a baseless track! I do not really care for the answers – good riddance I say!

 
Nayaz and Zeba, Zeba and Nayaz – so much lurrrve, well good for them! I am actually glad they are happy. Both such goody two shoes it would have been pointless if they started having tantrums too and undue focus was on them. Master Sb seems to look actually relieved to be rid of Mushq.

So Dabbu now realizes he was wrong to have not believed Fahd and Striker tells him that he and ‘lover girl’ have eloped. That word, lover girl! Makes me laugh! I keep thinking Fahd may leave Mushq in the lurch but even when the SHO says to lock them up Fahd asks to be locked up but Mushq to be let go so I really do wonder if he will leave her to rot there? I have a feeling his mother may implore him to come or something. I have run out of ideas really. I did find his mother’s reaction strange though when Fahd’s friend finally tells her that Fahd had gone to Karachi to bring Mushq back. I had thought she was not aware keh Mushq naam ki koi larki hai but her reaction did not seem to imply that was confused or surprised nor did she ask who Mushq is. So, I suppose she knew about Mushq then and was she also not in favour of the rishta like Master Sb? So many questions, uff!

 
I really feel like skipping a few episodes now and then watching them together. I do not like how one episode quickens the pace and then a few follow that drag the story at a snail’s pace. You know that scene we saw in last week’s preview when Mushq says that Fahd could not possibly leave her? I have a feeling that is how next episode will end, leaving us guessing again what will happen next. Uggh!

 
Are you all disappointed in today’s episode and expected more to happen like I did? Would love to hear your thoughts!

 
Kunwal Javid

Hayeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Ashraf ai ki kitta tu nay?! We all kept thinking something huge had to happen to jolt Ashraf out of his madness and well, here it is! One reader had commented on an earlier review that Hammad might die and Ifrah would think Ashraf was responsible so I would not be very honest if I said I did not expect something bad to happen to Hammad but I was really shocked that it did happen and the way it happened!
For all of Ashraf’s ‘Hammad would steal everything that belonged to Ashraf or Ashraf had a right to’ we learn from their last conversation that Hammad would go to his older brother after everyone had gone to bed to offer him whatever they had fought over. I did snort though when Ashraf says yeah well you have come empty handed this time and I thought what the hell? Was he supposed to bring a heavily pregnant Ifrah and dump her on Ashraf as a peace offering?! Anyways, Hammad truly believed his brother was not evil and wished he would give himself a chance and show how good a human he could be. I also got the feeling that he craved for Ashraf to make peace not just for the sake of the atmosphere of the house but because he really loved Ashraf, despite all the hatred Ashraf seemed to show to Hammad.

When he tells Ashraf he will go away and take his wife with him and never show face again I thought maybe something would happen to Hammad when he leaves for training. No way did I expect him to fall off the roof!! Literally!! True, Ashraf did not push him with the intent to push him down and kill him but as far as facts go, Ashraf DID push him and that push DID send Hammad down to his death so jitna bhi we say Ashraf did not mean to – he still was responsible. It does not help matters that Ifrah saw him when she looked up and their father witnessed the push.

I was quite interested in Ashraf’s reaction. When Saira had ‘committed suicide’ and lay in the hospital fighting for her life he was still Ashraf – angry and feeling no remorse or worry that his sister may die. That was when I thought that he really does hate his family and is beyond feeling any love for them. But his shock, the tears, the expressions show he is shaken by Hammad’s death and probably more so because he is being held responsible for it.

I have to admit, I shed a few tears in that episode. I never thought I would say this but Maha Warsi really made me feel for her character. A young widow, expectant mother and when she says to Ashraf ‘meray bachay ko yateem kar diya’ I thought, haye, the kid who is not even born yet – and already without a father! The whole scene of her hugging that teddy however was pointless and I do not know why it was such a long scene. True, teddy was important because it was part of their last conversation but it did not make much of an impact – the scene between teddy and Ifrah, not poor teddy itself! Saboor Ali’s wailing was cringeworthy and when she yelled ‘Allah Allah’ I literally winced. That hoarse shouting did not work for me at all – I just wish Sufiyan ki kahin transfer ho jaye and he takes Saira kahin boht duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuur!

Noman Ijaz was flawless as the older brother grieving for his baby brother – but not being to do so openly. I liked how the father does not turn against Ashraf yet. It is only natural that having lost one son he was not going to say to all that Ashraf was responsible and should be hanged. Likewise when the sisters are mourning Hammad and Rabab says we have lost one brother and she did not want to lose the other, I could understand how the feelings of the family are divided. On the one hand, they knew Ashraf hated Hammad, heck Ashraf did not waste a single chance to express his hatred so it was so easy to believe that the fatal push was intentional. However, on the other hand, Ashraf is family, and I could also understand how they did not want him to hang especially as it is not as if Ashraf is doing a celebratory war dance over Hammad’s death and seems to be totally devastated himself.

Revenge is sweet, maybe bitter sweet, but here revenge took matters into its own hands and dealt a blow so intense I do not see how Ashraf will ever be able to redeem himself in front of his family or ever escape the burden of what his actions resulted in. He may repent, grieve, beg Ifrah’s forgiveness but I do not see how he will ever be able to shake off the image or the guilt of being his brother’s murderer, even if all of them ever forgave him.

However, Ifrah has channelled her grief towards her own revenge. She is seeing red now and will not rest till she has justice – and Ashraf hangs. Ashraf is locked up in prison, facing his own demons. I wonder if from now on the drama will focus on Ifrah’s revenge (aakhir woh nikli auraton ki Ashraf – first he was bent on revenge, now her) which will finally lead to Ashraf being sentenced to death. Or will he be released from prison soon and then turn over a new leaf?

How many of you watched these episodes and shed a few tears like I did? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Kunwal Javid

Ohkay so, the production of Babar Javed, conceptualization of Imran Aslam, writing of Sarmed Sehbai & the direction of Surmed Sultan Khoosat, the most anticipated drama Mor Mahal made it to our screens tonight & I must say, it was enough of a prelude to let us know that we all are in for a great ride. The very first episode did introduce the situation of all the characters appropriately but I am sure that there’s more to all the characters & it will be revealed as the drama will progress. Right know, we got introduced to the main characters & I already can’t wait to find out more about them.

The story is about the ruler Nawab Asif Jahan (Umair Jaswal) who returns victorious to his residence Mor Mahal after accomplishing a mission in glory of his empire. On his return he is made to deal with his personal life situation where his mother Badshah Begum (Hina Bayat) orders him to meet his new wife Meher Bano (Sonia Nazir) & give her a status of his lawfully wedded wife. Asif Jahan feels a little hesitant as this happens to be a political marriage that took place in order to maintain the harmony between the two empires. Meher Bano’s brother gets her married to Asif Jahan for personal gains & Meher Bano finds it hard to accept that she was treated as a commodity for a barter bargain. The reason why Meher Bano hasn’t accepted her marriage to Asif Jahan is related to her past that she hasn’t been able to overcome till date. Meher Bano is still in love with someone (Zahid Ahmed) & she is unable to forget him.

Asif Jahan’s second wife wife Wazir Begum (Misha Shafi) awaits his arrival & is left disappointed after finding out that her husband Asif Jahan is going to follow the orders of his mother where he won’t be meeting her for now. Wazir Begum obviously has more loyal servants who actually feel for her & give her the hope & the validation she needs to keep her nerves calm. Wazir Begum still feels that nothing can distract Asif Jahan from thinking about her & their relationship is so strong that even his mother can not bring anyone between them but she is left in a great shock when she gets the answer given by Asif Jahan himself that his priority for now was meeting his new wife, Meher Bano & Wazir Begum will have to wait for him even though he was still in Mor Mahal.

The love Meher Bano has for her beloved is so strong that it pushes her to take extreme measures where without even thinking for a second, she forces her servant to cover up for her as she’d prefer dying than becoming a wife of someone she doesn’t love. Meher Bano leaves the palace & it still remains a mystery as to what happened to her but I am sure she must’ve fled from Mor Mahal successfully. Asif Jahan happens to come across Meher Bano’s Kaneez & just because he hasn’t met her before, he believes that she is his wife. Just a glimpse of her was enough for Asif Jahan to decide that he wanted to raise her status & give her the due rights of being his wife & sadly, the Kaneez had to follow the orders of Meher Bano as she is duty-bound to her.

Wazir Begum definitely didn’t take that news too well. She chose to poison herself in a hope that either she will be able to deal with the pain that Asif Jahan’s answer caused to her or she will be able to grab his attention & stop him from going to someone else. Wazir Begum definitely is not going to let it slide so easily & she will make sure that Badshah Begum gets the message loud & clear that she won’t let the political matters ruin what’s so special to her.

There were two more characters that got introduced in this episode & were of Surraya & Akhtari. Surraya (Fiza Ali) happens to be the first wife of Asif Jahan & she is also expecting their first child. She is lonely & miserable but the only thing that elevates her level from the rest of Asif Jahan’s wives is the fact that she is carrying his child. Surraya has lost hope that Asif Jahan will now come & spend time with her because she knows that Meher Bano & Wazir Begum will still be having more charm than her. She believes that depending on amulets will bring him closer to her husband. It looks like there’s a battle happening between the first two wives in a hope that at least one of them will be winning Asif Jahan in the end. The other character that got a little coverage was of Akhtari (Sania Saeed), I believe she happens to be someone who is quite close to Badshah Begum & looks like Badshah Begum doesn’t do anything without her consent & advice. I feel Akhtari will play an important role in changing the situations of all the characters in the future.

The very first episode of Mor Mahal was picture perfect & grand in literal sense of the word. I must say, the cinematography, the direction, the acting, the sets, the costumes, the overall styling of all the characters & most importantly the dialogues were phenomenal. It is a period/historic drama & they succeeded in taking us back to the Mughal Era that they were aiming for. I felt that watching the episode once wasn’t enough because there were so many details that I feel I couldn’t pay attention to & would love to see in great detail. Every frame was picturesque & I must say the characters picked up the attitude required to play such substantial characters. Umair Jaswal actually stood out the most because being a focal character he had a lot of responsibility on his shoulders to look like an actual ruler & everything about him starting from his his dialogue delivery to his body language to his composure made it seem that the casting directors made the right choice by assigning the character of Asif Jahan to him. Even though Ali Saleem & Jana Malik (Shahista) had a very limited screen-time but they both used it aptly & left a great impression as well. Misha Shafi looks beautiful & Hina Bayat picked up the demeanor of the mother of the current ruler perfectly too. Surmed Sultan Khoosat’s direction & the attention to detail is what made this episode such a visual treat & the hard work that went in to bring this project to us was evident throughout this episode. I am thoroughly thoroughly impressed & can’t wait to see more. Please share your thoughts about the very first & phenomenal episode of Mor Mahal.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

‘Baitay aap pareshan na hon’, ‘baitay aap araam karein’ – ‘baitay’ needs a good chamaat in my opinion!! Okay, okay, if she did get slapped then I would go on about how our dramas should quit showing grown women getting slapped or physically abused but I am sure you get my point!
I had wondered if Ahmer was truly in love with Zainy and even though there were references to his flirtatious nature in Mina’s conversations, but the way he spoke to Zainy and the mehndi scene, his dismay when she said she had to leave made me think there really was something between them. Ahmer’s ego has been bruised by the way Yusuf Kamdar addressed him and he wants nothing to do with Zainy now.

Zainy also learns Ahmer has been planning to marry a colleague Bina (Aimen Khan) from his showbiz world. Bina’s outburst and fainting spell was so ridiculous I thought. I do not understand whether Zainy’s friend (Moomal Khalid) has a bigger role to play further along the play. She is a decent actress in her own right and right now her contribution to the whole drama seems very minimal. Maybe she will be paired with Sherry?

‘Mujhay Ahmer kay baghair jeena nahin aata’ – what? And how has she managed all these years? And really – how long has she known Ahmer anyway? Zainy appears to me to be a brat and a half, treading on the feelings of the people who have always cared for her and running after the one person that is giving her an attitude. Growing up she has only had Yusuf Kamdar, her mother and Sherry around her. Nigar does visit but not often so I do not understand this ‘nobody loves me’ mantra Zainy has going on all the time. I understand the desire to know the people who were related to her dead father, to know her roots but to doubt the sincerity and sentiments of Yusuf and Mehtaab is absurd.

Up until the previous episode, I blamed Zainy for her attitude. True, Yusuf has been overprotective and maybe Mehtaab has tried to make Zainy put a lid on her feelings at times for the ‘benefit of the family’ but they truly loved her. However, Mehtaab’s outburst in front of Yusuf also made me see them a bit more clearly. Yusuf has always wanted the best for Zainy, no doubt, but he has been a bit excessive in his own way. Making her focus just on her studies, all the hoo haa over her going to a friend’s birthday party in the earlier episodes and not needing a mobile phone or laptop in this day and age is a bit out of the ordinary. She has been so sheltered by him and Sherry that she does not know how to react to anything new. However, Mehtaab’s new stance is also at the other end of the spectrum. ‘Give Zainy whatever she wants be it Ahmer’ and blaming herself and her husband for Zainy’s state was uncalled for. Mehtaab is shaken by Zainy’s suicide attempt and where I understand her sudden reaction to give in to Zainy’s demand based on her fear that she could have lost Zainy forever, I do not understand this ‘self blame’ and how Zainy is suddenly a victim of inferiority all her life. Zainy is ungrateful, spoilt and immature but I feel that sometimes even though parents are doing their utter best to do right by their child, it may not be the best approach and that in turn has an effect on the ‘child’s nature as they grow up.

Anyhow, Kunwal Javid, PsyD, I am not. Just trying to give Zainy benefit of the doubt and make sense of Mehtaab’s new plan of action. Or maybe Zainy is just an ungrateful brat. Period.

Ahmer seems unmoved by Zainy’s attempted suicide. His expression only changed when Mina reminded him of how he loved his deceased chacha and his ‘ehsaan’ on them and that Zainy is that very chacha’s daughter. Ahmer does go to visit her in the hospital and Zainy, silly silly Zainy, brightens up and thinks all is well. I wonder what game Ahmer is playing now.

I keep getting mixed signals from Phuppo and Co. Phuppo’s reaction at the hospital when Mehtaab asked if she knew anything surprised me. I wonder if it is because she fears that telling the truth would release Yusuf Kamdar’s wrath on them and he seems to be a much more influential person so she does not want any trouble. She did seem genuinely upset and when Mina confronted Ahmer she refers to Zainy as masoom. But then Mehtaab keeps saying how she did not want to remain in touch with her first husband’s family after her second marriage and that she has a sound reason for feeling that way – I am curious what that is.

Agha Ali is such a good actor in my opinion – I feel he does not have much of a role to play in these past few episodes and would like to see him contribute more to the story. I had forgotten to mention Sania Saeed’s ‘hairdo’ in my overview until Fatima Awan reminded me. Mickey mouse ears or a pirate’s hat – take your pick but it really does look odd and seemed even more so in the scene when she has that outburst with Yusuf and bends her head down and what a huge beehive!! She is such a brilliant actress but her appearance in dramas after the break she took is quite an eyesore – first in Aitraaz and now Tum Yaad Aye.

Ahmer seems to at times be totally smitten and at times not caring a dime for Zainy and the sudden switches in his expressions leave me confused and I do not know if that is a good thing or not. Was he really just passing time with Zainy or did he genuinely feel for her but his pride could not take how Yusuf treated him and he is reacting to that?

I am looking forward to see what happens next. Will Ahmer keep up a farce and string Zainy along without her being any the wiser? Or, will he marry her and then make her life miserable by continuing to meet Bina? Please do share your thoughts on this episode of Tum Yaad Aye.

Kunwal Javid

P.S. My brother is getting married next week insha Allah so will not be able to watch or review anything from Thursday to Sunday. Will try to post a review before the following Thursday otherwise will review both episodes together :)

I drew a sharp breath. My body tensed in anticipation. The voice in my head begged no, no, oh God, please no. I saw Hamza lying in the hospital bed and I felt sick. Oh because Hamza got shot? Heck, no! Because Mareena’s father said Hamza’s mum was on her way and I braced myself for her wailing!!

 
These two episodes finally got the ball rolling for what we had been waiting for. Mehru’s mother tells Ameer he should not put up with Mehru anymore and should divorce her. His ‘Mehru ji has a right to live her life’ is seriously annoying me now. Anyhow, my annoyance did not linger for long for the thoughts Hamza planted in Mehru’s mind in the previous episode began to bother her and she asks Ameer for a divorce. She feels she is doing him a favour by asking him to leave her for she does not love him and thinks he should not be suffering because of her and should move on with his life.

Ameer’s expression was so spot on when Mehru began her speech, not understanding why she had to wake him at this hour to tell him he has a ‘beautiful heart’. I was disappointed with his reaction though. I expected something, a plea, a question, a remark. He just went back to bed. Sorry, bed tau becharay Ameer kay naseeb mein nahin tha ever since he came to the city. So, I will rephrase – he went back to sleep on the floor again. Waisay before Mehru wakes him he did look so bechara lying on the floor sleeping with his mouth open. Ameer. Sigh!

Anyways, come morning and Ameer is nowhere to be found. I could relate to Mehru’s worry because she does not hate Ameer – she just feels she can not live with him and is actually being unfair to him by being with him. Whether Mehru is weak and easily swayed by Hamza for believing in that is another story. I almost gasped for a second time when Ameer says to his mother that these ‘baray shehr kay laug kay dil pathar kay hotay hain, pyar ko nahin samajhtay’ and thought whoa, did he say something negative about precious Mehru ji – finally?! But then his ‘miskeen’ everything in the name of Mehru ji’s happiness got my feathers ruffled again. This guy!

Meanwhile, Mareena’s insecurities and possessiveness are growing by leaps and bounds and she shoots Hamza. Haha! Okay, so she did not really intend to but that struggle ended with Hamza getting shot and landing in the hospital. We learn Mareena’s mother left her husband and daughter behind to be with another man. To make up for any insecurities, her father pampers her and gives her anything she lays her eyes on. However, Hamza has had enough and does not want to stay with Mareena again and leaves the house after agreeing to not divorce her and to continue working at his father in law’s office – am not sure what that deal was about then!

Back to Mehru and Ameer. I do not understand why Ameer sends a letter and divorce deed by courier. Why not just leave them at home when he left? Stick a note to the fridge or by her bedside table? It was interesting though to watch Mehru read the letter because what Ameer writes makes it appear as if the divorce is for the benefit of Mehru and not Ameer as Mehru would have liked to believe. I wonder if that is why she is reluctant to leave suddenly or because she does not want to go back to her father’s house. Surely when she asked for a divorce she knew she would need to leave then why the cold feet now? I liked though how her mother put her in her place and took charge.

I am not sure how Mareena will react to her father and Hamza both giving her the cold shoulder. Next week’s preview shows her father encouraging her to go bring Hamza back. Hamza’s mother seems to have had a change of heart after Hamza’s outburst and wants Mehru and Hamza to be together but Mehru seems to be singing a different tune when she tells Hamza she does not feel anything for him anymore. Bhayee, if it is not Hamza and not Ameer, then please announce it from the rooftops so we all know!

Ali Abbas and Soniya Hussain are definitely the stars of this drama. I felt nothing for Noor Hasan (or Hamza? – I can not decide who annoys me more!) . He looked pitiful and the ‘mazloom aurat’ in the scene when he speaks to his father in law and says ‘iss sub mera kia kasoor tha’!.Later, I could not believe how much he was jostling his own (wounded!) arm when he is yelling at his mother!

I am glad things have begun to move forward with the story. I wonder if Mehru signs the divorce paper. I just hope that Mehru’s indecisiveness is not dragged out now and they wrap up this drama. The end appears to be predictable which is fine for now, but will not be if the drama stretches.

How do you feel about the way the story is headed now and these episodes? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Kunwal Javid

P.S. My brother is getting married next week insha Allah so will not be able to watch or review anything from Thursday to Sunday. Will try to post a review before the following Thursday otherwise will review all four episodes together :)

Chalo ji, Mushq finally ran off with Fahd but the moment we were waiting to see was not really her running off with him but what happens to him/them that kicks Fahd out of the picture and brings Mushq to Dabbu Bhai. Arrgh!
It was evident from the way last week’s episode ended that Dabbu bhai believed Mehru ji over Fahd. I thought he would then beat Fahd to within an inch of his life but two punches and he sent Fahd on his way. When he keeps pondering over all the time he has spent with Fahd, I thought maybe he would realize Mehru had played him especially the scene where Fahd is asleep and Mehru is literally sitting almost on top of his head but no, Dabbu is only trying to figure out why Fahd would stab him in the back like that.

Mehru’s sudden change of heart is also very annoying. She was pledging her undying love to Fahd and now is dreamily thinking of marrying Dabbu. I would like to do a ‘Dabbu’ here – just go along and believe what Mehru is saying. She wants to marry Dabbu? Ok sure, marry him – I am done trying to figure this woman out.

For all Fahd’s cluelessness he ended up remaining true to his word when he had written to Mushq in that letter Mehru delivered that when she would need him he would be there. Mushq opens the door and voila, Fahd is standing outside, albeit his usual dazed self, but there nonetheless!

Master Sb ka dil nahin bhara with his match the pictures worksheet and now Zeba gets married to Nayaz. Honestly, he takes obedient student to a truly new level altogether! Nayaz’s baji does seem to be a bitter woman but I am hoping what Nayaz says is true about her being good at heart, not for Zeba’s sake but because I do not want to see much more of Nayaz-Zeba!

It would have made so much sense if Mushq had packed an extra pair of clothes, really! I suppose she did not know what she was going to do till the very last minute but seriously, is it safe to walk to the end of the street dressed as a bride, let alone all the way to Lahore?!

I wonder what will happen now that the policemen asked Mushq and Fahd to step down from the bus. I could not find next week’s preview online and my curiosity got the better of me and I watched the OST again. Dabbu and Mushq seem to be quite close and Dabbu quite smitten. I think most of us are watching this drama mainly for the Dabbu-Mushq track to begin and I was disappointed on the note this episode ended but oh well, till next week then!

Fahd seemed a bit dazed – well, more than his usual confused self and I wonder if it is because of how he left things with Dabbu being on his mind. He did not seem as relieved or happy to be taking Mushq finally with him as I would have expected him to be. I did not feel any sympathy for Master Sb either for when he wails that if Mushq had told him to give his life so she could be free, he would have given it I thought what the heck? You could very happily keep your life to yourself and just get her married where she pleased rather than trying to marry her off to anyone but Fahd! He had been made a laughing stock already in front of the entire mohalla, Mushq’s rebellious attitude surely spoke for itself so it would have made sense for him to have her call Fahd and his mother and marry her off. Sigh.

What did you all make of this episode? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Kunwal Javid

A Big Bang Entertainment (hang on – don’t run off just yet!) production, Tum Yaad Aye has been on air for quite a few weeks now. Written by Naila Ansari and directed by Aabis Raza, Tum Yaad Aye airs on ARY Digital every Thursday at 9pm.
I began watching Tum Yaad Aye when it first aired and the first few episodes did not blow me away but then I binge watched a few of them together and it has caught my interest. There are a few things which bothered me about the play and I will mention them as I write.

So Tum Yaad Aye is the story of Zainab, mostly known as Zainy (Seher Afzal) and her two ‘families’. We are first introduced to Yusuf Kamdan (Nadeem Baig) who is married to Mehtaab (Sania Saeed). Yusuf has two children from his first marriage, Nigaar (Erum Akhtar) and Sherry (Agha Ali). Through conversations we learn that he married Mehtaab when his first wife died and Mehtaab is not much older than Nigaar and Sherry which is why they refer to her as Baji. Mehtaab has a daughter Zainy from her first marriage.

Yusuf loves Zainy like his own daughter – rather more than his own daughter. Sherry is shown to be the obedient, well behaved son who cares for Zainy and Mehtaab as if they truly are family. Nigaar is married and comes to stay at her father’s house for a while enroute to Canada. Nigaar has never welcomed Mehtaab as her father’s wife and resents her and Zainy’s presence in their lives. Her son Sahir seems to be in love with Zainy and after a few ‘tantrums’ Zainy is engaged to be married to Sahir.

It was around this point that I seemed to lose interest in this drama. I was a bit wary of it from the first few episodes because of ‘weirdness’ of the relationships. If we are to speak from an Islamic point of view then yes, it is as clear as ‘mehram’ and ‘non mehram’ and that is that. But – and I only speak how I feel – the relations that were being moulded into something else seemed too close to comfort for me. Sherry has always thought of Zainy as his younger sister and Mehtaab plants the beginning of something new in his mind. Sahir is told Zainy is his khala and suddenly they are to be engaged. I know, in our culture we call cousins ‘bhai’ and next thing you know you are getting married to one of them and that is alright, but here I felt a bit uncomfortable. Also, Nigaar seemed as if she hated Zainy and suddenly she agrees to accept her as her daughter in law – huh?!

But that is just me and I am aware everyone has different opinions, which is fine. Anyways, what got me interested again was how thankfully Sherry’s new love is not given too much attention and the introduction of Zainy’s other family. Normally when a bunch of new characters are introduced after some five episodes of a drama, it throws me off as it did in Mun Mayal. I understand they are introduced as an essential part to the story but I feel so engrossed in the main story that the new characters dilute my interest. Tum Yaad Aye however made me feel differently.

Zainy comes across Mina at her college. Mina works as a librarian and recognizes Zainy and tells her she is her taaya’s daughter. Zainy, intrigued to know more about her biological father goes home with Mina and meets her taayi, phuppo (Aisha Gul) and Mina’s brother Ahmer (Muneeb Butt). With her engagement to Sahir broken, Zainy is ‘free’ again and romance begins to blossom between Ahmer and Zainy. Needless to say Mehtaab and Yusuf do not approve of Zainy meeting with her relatives but they feel they can not impose too many restrictions. The latest episode ended with Mehtaab and Yusuf learning of Zainy’s love for Ahmer and they express their objection to the relationship but Zainy seems to be adamant she will marry Ahmer. I was aghast at her outrageous comment to Mehtaab when she says that Mehtaab herself has gotten married not once but twice and keeps standing in the way of her marriage!

I understand Nigaar’s attitude to Zainy would upset her but I do feel Zainy is a bit unreasonable. She has been so sheltered and pampered all her life otherwise that the slightest things cause her to flare up and be over sensitive. Yusuf and Sherry, the ones Zainy has spent most of her life with have done nothing but shower her with love and pampered her no end. So, for us to feel sympathy for her or for her to lash out at them is a bit out of line. I could understand the curiosity and desire though, for her to know who her father was and to spend time with his relatives especially as they are so welcoming.

Zainy’s upset at the broken engagement seemed to do more with the loss of a house in Canada rather than the engagement itself. Also, she was at loggerheads with Ahmer one second and the next the way they suddenly seemed to be in love and openly expressing it seemed a bit unreal.

I do not seem to understand Sherry. When Mehtaab encourages him to think of Zainy from a marital point of view, he seems to be interested but his interest in her is at times just the way it was before and sometimes we see him ‘wince in pain’ such as when Zainy seems to fall in love with anyone but him! Yusuf Kamdan and Co are portrayed as well off, disciplined people who believe in rules and strictly adhering to them. I suppose that is also one reason Zainy is so attracted to her biological father’s family because they seem to be full of life and the opposite of the people she grew up amongst.

Mina’s conversations with Ahmer and the reference to the endless ‘titlees’ who keep ringing him make us feel that Ahmer is quite a flirt. Mina keeps telling him to stay away from Zainy so it appears she does have Zainy’s best interests at heart. Ahmer was apparently very close to his chacha, Zainy’s father so it would not appear that he would be stringing Zainy along but at this point I am not sure he is truly in love with her. Phuppo seems to be genuinely fond of Zainy too and with the exception of Ahmer and Mina’s mother, the family does not seem to have anything on their mind except to get to know Zainy for she is their ‘blood’.

We still do not know why Mehtaab is not fond of her first husband’s family and why she has not let Zainy mingle with them or why they have not tried to meet her before now. Her father was apparently a producer and Ahmer is an actor so they have an artistic background, something Mehtaab refers to in a disdainful way in one of her conversations.

Seher Afzal has performed really well for a newbie. I am not sure if she has appeared in any other dramas before but this is the first time I have seen her in one. I do find her dressing a bit odd though (those waistcoats!)and initially thought it was because I do not live in Pakistan anymore and also am not very into the latest trends but then realized I have not seen such outfits in any of the other current dramas on air.

See what I mean? Anyways, Agha Ali has only improved with time and I will admit it is a visual treat to watch him in those shalwar kamiz suits haha. Muneeb Butt and Seher look really good together and all the actors and actresses in this play seem to share good chemistry.

Tum Yaad Aye so far is a decent watch and has become interesting after the introduction of the characters from Zainy’s biological family. The story although not extraordinary is different and thankfully free from the typical doosri biwi, saas bahu tracks. It is essentially the story of how a young woman – who is not an angel and has personality flaws- explores different relationships in her life and longs to ‘fit’ in somewhere and I am enjoying it.

Well, it is obvious Yusuf and Mehtaab do not approve of Ahmer so will Zainy rebel and marry him instead? Or is this where Sherry steps in? How many of you have been watching Tum Yaad Aye and would be interested in a weekly review? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Kunwal Javid