I quite like the pace at which this drama is moving along now. Seeing that Zaryan and Zaina left all their clothes and belongings in their old home, Mehr takes it upon herself to get them some basic necessities. I liked how she did not try to persuade or push Zaina to accompany her. It was very heartfelt and genuine the way she said itna tau haq do mujhay but I did wonder – haq based on what? Is it because Mehr genuinely wants to help them so she wants Zaina to start trusting her? Probably. It just seemed awkward given that Zaina clearly resents Mehr – she does not feel obliged in the least to give her any sort of control or rights – but the very real truth now is that only Mehr can help Zaryan and Zaina at this point of their lives.

I had earlier mentioned how Zaina was being a bit of a brat and I thought that initially too until I remembered the scene in an earlier episode where Zaina is looking at the boxes of unopened presents she received from Hassan over the years on her birthdays but never opened. Although we know and understand Mehr is not at all at fault here and in fact is being extremely compassionate but Zaina was very little when Hasan came (rather came and disappeared) into their lives. And I suppose everyone deals with insecurities and feelings differently. Whereas Zaryan truly appreciates what Mehr is putting at stake by helping them, Zaina feels she is only trying to ease a guilty conscience.

People close to us do have quite an impact on the way our thoughts develop but seems like Hamza and Haider lack brains of their own and need Alia and Minahil to do all their thinking! If only they let Mehr do their thinking for them instead! Haider is convinced Mehr is wrong to reach out to Zaryan and Zaina whereas Hamza is willing to hear his mother out and then sort things as a ‘family’.

Selfieeeeeeeeeeee. Haha. Minahil and Hamza’s selfie has made its way to Zaina’s eyes and she feels heartbroken that Hamza had been playing her all along. Convinced Lahore ‘mein kuch nahin rakha’ she agrees to go to Karachi with Mehr. Did anyone else find Saman Aunty’s outburst when Junaid tells her Mehr is bringing Zaryan and Zaina to Karachi hilarious? I mean, like what does she care?! Itna outrage over Mehr’s decision – how does it affect her?! Haider and Hamza dono haath se nikal gaye hain, oh but wait. A thought just occurred to me. Zaryan and Minahil? Yes? Maybe? Especially Zaryan-after-getting-due-share-from-Hassan’s-inheritance- wala Zaryan? Saman Auntyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!! She has rubbed off on me now! Shoot me!

I found tears pricking the back of my eyes in the scene Mehr is expressing her feelings and fears while looking at the photo of her and Hassan. I also loved how she said she did not know how she has found the courage to do all this because it is so true that in the initial episodes she came across as a woman who is very warm but Hasan handled everything and she was very content for things to be that way.

Mehr ji is very nice, no doubt – but her taste in clothes was a bit disappointing. Zaina and Zaryan looked so awkward and out of place in their new clothes but maybe that was the whole impression that the director wanted to create or maybe I am overly feeling things here. I was so used to Zaina’s simple clothes and Zaryan’s hoodie that the black jacket and that frilly white thing Zaina had on really stood out for me. I would have loved to say that the scene where ‘everyone meets everyone’ was powerful but sadly it failed to make much of an impact. Hamza’s reaction surprised me. I do not know quite how to explain it. I expected more shock, concern, worry at the realization that Zaina is well, Zaina rather than a ‘oh no, why did I fall for her’ kind of reaction. What I did love about that scene though was how Mehr raises her hand to stop Haider in his tracks and declares yeh ghar mera hai and she will decide who stays and who does not.

Each episode Samina Peerzada gives a performance that has me riveted to the screen. I love Mehr’s character – such a breath of fresh air. Such characters are rare, I agree but maybe they do exist. I do wonder though how she will deal with her own sons who are clearly not thrilled at the thought of Zaryan and Zaina living under the same roof. I understand wanting to do right by Z and Z but not at the expense of ostracizing herself from her very own sons. I am so not looking forward to Haider having a go at Zaryan which by the looks of that scene, may happen more than once.

Will Hamza or Zaina disclose to Mehr that they know each other from university? Or will the internet miraculously and finally begin to work again and Alia will make the discovery herself? Shudder!

How many of you watched tonight’s episode? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Kunwal Javid

Baby, baby!
Yes mama!
Crying baby?
No mama!
Marry baray saeen?
Yes mama!
That’s like my baby!

Uff! Double uff! Triple uff! Mountains of uff! Oceans of uff! Galaxy of uff! I paused this episode a few times while watching it just to get a break from it because it was such a yawn! And what in the world is this ‘lucky charm baby’ business?! So Mushq has landed herself a place in the ‘home’ of this very colourful madam who so far has kept Mushq away from her shady dealings. She considers Mushq her lucky charm and does not want to impose anything on her but at the same time does not want her to leave. Mushq has befriended a girl who visits Madam’s house and is apparently a seamstress (or is she the friend of the seamstress?). Her constant references to her father and then Jumman Chacha insisting Dabbu attend his daughter’s wedding gives the impression that this girl is Jumman’s daughter.

Fahd is moping around like a lovesick puppy. He really did not have much to offer today except he is adamant he can not live without Mushq and his mother is adamant he will live without Mushq. Finit. There was so much speculation last week over that scene where Mushq is running with someone and two goons in their pursuit – was all just a dream. A nightmare. Whatever – but was not real. Like I said – uff!

Zeba’s issues in life ka ek he solution hai– Ali’s expulsion from school. Na Ali school jaye na sara waqt Zeba uss ka uniform dhoti rahay, iron karay aur shoes polish karay. Seems like even the obedient daughter is being dealt a harsh hand in life or is it because of Mushq’s actions that her sister is suffering. I would not be surprised if that is what the writer is trying to show here.

Dabbu and Striker have turned into Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson and are trying to find Mushq and Fahd. It amazed me when Fahd set out to look for Mushq in Karachi without an address and now Dabbu is doing the same, heading off to Lahore to find Fahd – without any address. Surely it is not that easy to just ‘find’ people! Seems like they will be spared the journey though as the episode ends with them deciding to head to Nooriabad to Jumman Chacha’s daughter’s wedding where I believe they will come across Mushq.

Mushq’s track record of consenting to ‘old men’ marriages is disturbing. I know, I know – koi aur bhoolay na bhoolay, I have not forgotten that wretched Qureshi. Is she truly consenting to marry baray saeen based upon her faith in Madam? Does she really trust Madam that much? Or is she gaining her trust so she may form an escape plan.

I honestly do not have much to say about today’s episode. This drama is beginning to bore me a little now especially with this ‘madam-baby’ track now. Dabbu’s supposed meeting with Mushq that we are all anticipating to happen at the nikkah event should have taken place last episode or at least definitely in today’s – but no! I am finding it very hard to keep my interest alive here and would prefer to just stop watching and then watch the remaining episodes in one go – I am sure I would be far more entertained that way!

I will say that the writer did make an extra effort with the names of the characters though. Dabbu, Mushq, ‘baby’, Bebo (that is what baray saeen called the ‘Madam’ didn’t he?) and Orya! Orya! Haha. Oh well, at least his name reminded me we have run out of Oreos at home so should add that to my grocery list! I do not even want to sit and wonder what will happen next because I spent the last few episode reviews wondering that and the story is sitting stagnant.

Is it just me or is this drama losing the little charm it had? Even Faisal Qureshi’s scenes are failing to make an impact. Would love to hear your thoughts! Will Dabbu finally meet Mushq and help her escape – till next week then, baby!

Kunwal Javid

“Faris sambhaal lega”…This month’s episode was very interesting and the story progressed further with many filmi things. The chosen poetry was added with relevant tracks.

Saadi-Faris Reunion

So, first things first, it was heartbreaking to see Saadi being beaten up by his own Mamu but yes, Mamu ki kya baat hai, Saadi ki achayi uskay khilaf use ki…too bad Mamu! it was horrifying yet depicted true love of her Mehbooba ( sounds really funny when Saadi calls Faris Mehbooba) I guessed it right as the writer tried to instill the idea that Saadi was captured by Hashim Kardaar’s man but I felt somewhere that he was Faris.

It was really emotional when Faris tried to realize Saadi that his family comes first and he should be concerned about them by saying “Fiyona aur uska bucha zyada eham hain” the way Saadi broke and started crying was so sad to read.But it was a good re-union.

Miss Red and her so called innocence!

Miss Red ka dil torr diya Faris ne, as the previous episode ended at the very heartbreaking note but this month’s episode pays it back so Aabdaar was heartbroken and felt devastated as Faris proved to be loyal to Zumar and he used Aabdaar only to get her goals accomplished. Faris’s character seemed selfish at this point but Miss Red is purely wrong and I am glad Faris told her what was needed.

Haneen and her verge towards good!

Haneen is on her way to a positive change in her life. She started memorizing Quran so she is not a Hafiz-e-Quran in a criterion we usually call someone hafiz but Nemrah Ahmed through her wisdom managed to convey that even if you know a verse you should revise it and that is also a part of hifz. Loved all her conversations with Memoona, she is such a nice lady and her conversation left a calm and tranquil impression on the reader. I was surprised to know that Haneen didn’t had an ounce of sympathy for Hashim Kardaar but I was glad that she is out of that Ishq I presume.

Zumar…Maakir

Zumar Faris…She managed to get through the trauma of Aabdaar and Faris when she started to think logically and tried to read between the lines. Zumar is Maakir that sounds bad but it was actually quite satisfying to see her this way saving her family because Hashim and his family has left no other option for her. Zumar managed to get into the laptop of Hashim when he had an Anxiety Attack which she took it as a heart attack.

Zumar started the tafseer from the Surah ( Al-Naml) which Saadi left and it was refreshing to see her heart getting soft, Indeed with the remembrance of Allah the heart softens.

Jewelry Aunty and her Budha dil!

Jewelry Aunty, Mrs Javahirat…..Allah bachaye isse! So no matter how many plastic surgeries you do to hide your real age but you can’t really stop feeling old and weak from inside. It was so selfish of her not having any genuine sympathy for his beloved son Hashim Kardaar. She deserved that reality check from Haroon Obaid. He with his words crashed her Ego and has set the grounds for her failure which is not a good sign for Mrs.Javahirat.

Nausheervan…Now tou you are gone!

Nausheervan ka bura waqt shuru hochuka hai because he is dumb and Zumar is playing mind games with him and ab tou Saadi bhi nahi chorega Nausheervan ko! Bringing back Alicia and conspiring against Hashim and his family Zumar is playing her part wisely.But why on earth Alicia wants her key chain back? Ants Ever-after.

Nausheervan was surprised to know that Saadi is not innocent at all. Well, at this point no one is innocent but Yes, Yusuf’s still are innocent and they are conspiring but for their justice and that’s okay.

Ahmer Shafi….. A disappointment!

Ahmer Shafi is proving himself to be loyal to Javahirat and threatens Haneen by investigating all about her past. He was not a black character, I liked him but he disappointed me. I didn’t expect this level of cheapness from him. He is on a wrong path and completely blinded by the power show of Kardaars.

Hashim kardaar…. Has moved on…hmmm!!

Hashim Kardaar has moved on…really??? It was good to see this because I really want him to repent and turn into a good person obviously after getting his due punishment. He got his oil company all turned to ashes. Did Faris planned this as well?

Hashim Kardaar had an Anxiety attack and I think its Karma time.He is getting back what he has given away.
Lol… that speech really showed how politicians talk about their “Good Plans” and I would be glad to know if its all true!

Ending and Predictions!

The episode ended with some tracks which were a bit scary. Saadi is captured by Faseeh and he murdered him. I don’t know for how long Saadi have to deal with such people and by using her Haq-e-Difah would kill these criminals. Sigh!!! The happiness of re-union were crashed by this incident.

Aabdaar is suffering from depression and Hashim needs someone to be around him because he knows now he is alone. Hashim would soon propose Aabdaar and let’s see what will be her answer.

I will have to wait to know the answer because now I could not figure it out how Aabdaar will react further but one thing is sure …Zumar-faris relationship is not that weak but it is quite strong.

Any predictions?

Do share your views and predictions about Naml’s episode.

Asma Jamali

Haye, so where do I start? Last week, a reader commented on how much misery there is in this drama, how one tragic event after the other occurs and while I did not deny the fact, I still thought Bhai was working for me. But these four episodes left me feeling almost physically sick with the depths of misery and despair being portrayed here!

Hammad’s death, in my opinion should have been the pinnacle of tragic events. It was shocking enough, the death itself and the way it came about. Ashraf too was shocked out of his madness and that should have been enough. But, no. I gaped at the introduction of this Shibli character (Shafqat Cheema). What in the world is Shafqat Cheema doing here? And then it clicked what had been niggling me all along – Bhai should have been a film, a movie – not a drama serial. When I saw him in his banyan dragging I -don’t- know- what heavy stuff along I thought Mamma Mia! Now what! I have never watched any of his films, ever! And after seeing him in Bhai and the ugliness of his role – I am glad.

So, it seems Shibli has a bone to pick with Ashraf. Shibli used to work for Ashraf’s father and when he fell ill, Shibli tried to take over his business and assets. He is however bullied into stepping back by Ashraf who was also redeemed in his father’s eyes and how he became in charge of the family business. Shibli finds with Ashraf locked up, this is the perfect opportunity to settle the score with him.

The whole Ifrah-Shibli scene was so awful and distasteful I could barely make my listen to whatever he was saying to her as I moved my earphones away. I could barely bring myself to watch it – let alone listen to the screams and what they were yelling about. Was it really necessary for Ifrah to be shown to go through all that? When he kicked her, I really felt physically sick. So Ifrah has lost the baby now too and Shibli has run away and can not be found anywhere.

Hammad’s death has left me confused now. The constant ‘ Ashraf nay dhakka nahin diya’ and ‘Hammad ka paoon phisla tha’ has left me confused too. Were the two not linked together? Ashraf did not push with the intent to push down the roof but well he did push, did he not? And the push did throw Hammad off balance so yes he slipped but are the two not linked together – without laying the blame on Ashraf or Hammad. Anyways, seems like Professor Sb was as confused as I am and dropped charges against Ashraf and he is released from jail.

Writer nay tau Professor Sb ko bhi nahin chora. Ifrah and her mother are truly truly alone in the world and in danger as Shibli is still on the loose. Bas, to establish this the writer threw in the awful Shibli character and scene and wrote off Professor Sb. I get Ifrah’s grief and also how people react in grief and I was relating to it but her confrontation with Ashraf seemed so bizarre the way Maha Warsi was shrieking. Grief makes you do crazy things but Ifrah is an educated girl – seeing her yelling ‘tu’ and shrieking hoarsely and then when she pushes Ashraf it seemed like she was going to collapse in his arms when he was holding her hands and I thought what the hell?!

I do not know what to make of Ashraf’s feelings for Ifrah. Even in jail he was recalling the moments when he first met her. I can not blame him for his feelings for if I am being fair he did fall in love with Ifrah before Hammad came in on the scene. So it is not as if he developed feelings for his ‘bhabhi’ – rather his lady lurrrve ended up being his bhabhi. But after Hammad’s death, hhis concern for Ifrah is not in the light of a bhabhi. He acknowledges her grief and how wronged she feels, he mourns the death of Hammad but his feelings and concern for Ifrah are purely his own.

Ashraf’s mother has channeled her grief into hatred towards Ifrah. Well, maybe not hatred but she believes Ifrah has cursed the family and has only brought misery ever since she came into their lives. However, I find this change came about after Ifrah loses her baby. I could totally relate to her relief over having Ashraf back home and Ashraf has returned a subdued Ashraf making it even easier for his mother to reach out to him and take care of her first born who she almost lost too. His parents seem to believe Ashraf is not responsible at all for his brother’s death whereas his sisters feel differently. His mother’s behaviour while sad, is not new. Now that the final link with Ifrah has also been taken away, she wants nothing to do with her.

So really what is left now? Ashraf trying to win over everyone’s hearts. Although to be honest, he has shown no concern for his sisters since his return. His only concern is Ifrah and finding Shibli. Does he really intend to kill Shibli when he can lay his hands on him? How would that help? He would end up in jail again – but hey, he would have avenged Ifrah’s ‘honor’. Uff – I hope this is not the way this drama is progressing now.

While I could relate to Ifrah’s grief earlier but Maha Warsi’s constant screaming and wailing is beginning to give me anxiety now. Thankfully there was very little of Saboor Ali in these few episodes. I actually missed Noman Ijaz in the earlier two episodes and it only reinforced my belief that this drama’s saving grace really is Noman Ijaz. The subtle changes in his character and how the harshness has slipped from his personality for now is totally believable.

Suspense, murder, mystery, thrillers – I have no lain dain with them. I prefer light, easy on the mind and romantic stuff. Bhai is getting so dark now. The twists and turns were still watchable because the pace was fast and I felt adventurous watching something different but I felt like I literally had to shrug off all this misery from myself after I watched these episodes! I wish the director and writer had turned this into a movie instead of a drama – God knows it has all the masala with gundda bhai, beatings and shouting in the family, brothers falling for one woman and then one brother dying because of the woman and then uggh, Shafqat Cheema!!!! I hope this drama gets wrapped up in a few more episodes now and please I will not and can not digest an Ifrah-Ashraf union. I hope it does not happen. My apologies, Ashraf!

On a lighter note – what’s with these baby named gunndas in our dramas?! There’s Dabbu in Mera Yaar Miladay and then when you hear the name Shibli you think this:

But you get to see this:

Not nice!

Is anyone still watching this drama? Please share your thoughts!

Kunwal Javid

I think I might be on to something here. Seriously. A career in psychiatry. If the psychiatrists and diagnoses in our dramas are anything to go by – I think I may do a better job than most of the ‘top’ psychiatrists in the city! Unsunni, Sangat, Kisay Chahoon and now Tum Yaad Aye. Zainy is getting therapy done and apparently she is depressed! Depressed, ha! Spoilt and ‘na shukri’ as Mamoo correctly puts it is what she is! Ab apni diagnosis ka bill kis ko bhaijoon?!

Anyways, my career can wait a while. Back to Zainy & Co. Mehtaab shaken by Zainy’s suicide attempt vows to give Zainy whatever she wants – in this case, Ahmer. She goes to her old house and speaks to Tayyi who very clearly tells her that she and Ahmer have no such intentions of taking Zainy into their fold. Poor Mehtaab, it was clearly very difficult for her to go back to that house and additionally to ask for the rishta of her own daughter but she felt she needed to do that for Zainy’s sake. However, she does not share with Zainy what really transpired at Ahmer’s house. I thought we may finally learn Mehtaab’s ‘story’ but all we get to know is that the house in which Ahmer lives is really Zainy’s biological father’s house.

Zainy seems to think all is well with her and Ahmer but is given a rude awakening when she sees him and Beena on tv. Her screaming on the phone was cringe worthy but I am fast learning it was definitely in line with her character. Okay, I may understand feeling cheated in love and upset but why lash out at her mother now? Especially since they have given in and given their blessings for this match, grudgingly but given nonetheless. Ab Ahmer is a fellow brat like Zainy then how are Mehtaab, abba and Sherry to blame?!

Sherry’s comment to Zainy about her being like a bander hanging out the car window made me laugh. That scene was very odd I thought and I noticed the same again when Zainy is coming back from her phuppo’s house. The impression is given of a moving car but it seems more like a boat sailing and the background playing separately especially as there was that moment when Sherry was driving and a lorry was coming at him from the window and he swerved the wheel directly in the direction of the lorry which would definitely have resulted in a crash! No, I do not normally notice such minute details but the whole effect was so poor that having established Zainy as a bander hanging out the window my attention was then diverted to the background instead and that was when I noticed the lorry.

Now that Zainy knows what Ahmer really is, he can not care less and does not put up any show. Zainy is wallowing away in self pity, correction depression and I wondered at the whole typing scenario Abba put Zainy up to. However, when he catches her trying to pop pills again I really liked his conversation with her. I liked how he explained to her that things happen in life and he felt he has raised her to be a strong individual. Now that is a separate debate whether he really had raised her that way for he and Sherry had pampered her a lot and kept her quite hidden from the outside world. That does not clear Zainy of the blame of being immature and ungrateful though. I do not get this constant ‘why is everyone so bad to me’ whine. She even said it to Abba in that conversation. He tries to make her see there is more to life than letting one event drown you and encourages her to focus her thoughts and energy elsewhere and she takes on running and sports.

Which lands her at Ahmer’s house with that racket. That whole scene was a little overly dramatic but I still thought alright at least she has perked up and will hopefully begin to rid herself of Ahmer and any feelings she has for him. Alas. Zainy walks out triumphant with the house documents (which we later learn Mehtaab returns – what a fuss over nothing!). When Ahmer runs after her and she spits out how she hates him I thought how unconvincing she sounded but I suppose that is what we were meant to feel for even Ahmer says to her that he can still see she loves him.

So Zainy knows Sherry loves her. And brat that she is, she made a spectacle of him by using him to make Ahmer jealous. How does this girl’s mind work? I thought after the eye opening conversation with Abba and the racket scene she was ready to move ahead. But she has sunk to ‘I will show him I can get married first’ and dragging Sherry into the whole mess. I like how Sherry tells her off and puts her in her place at times but maybe they all need a much more firm hand with her. Pyar, reasoning, everything seems to fail with this girl! I really felt for her parents and Sherry because they really are trying to help her out in every way they can but to no avail. I even gasped when Mehtaab grabbed her arm and glared at her when she discovered the pills. Behind the ‘aap baitay’ , seems like even Mehtaab is beginning to lose patience now.

Zainy agrees to get married but on the condition that is engaged next week. It is quite obvious that she wants the engagement so that Ahmer can know she is engaged. Is she thinking that will make him want to come back to her? Phuppo and Mina apparently are not evil as I thought they may be. They were however aware of Ahmer’s nature and Beena’s existence and although Mina did warn Ahmer to stay away from Zainy, how much could they really do?

Next week’s preview shows Ahmer back in Zainy’s life. Is it just me or does anyone else think that he may try to get close to Zainy to get back at her for that racket she smacked on his face – or have I been watching too many dramas? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Kunwal Javid

Well, well, well. All’s well that ends well. Ameer ko mil gayee Mehru and Hamza ko mil gayee Mareena – no, let me rephrase that. Mareena ko mil gaya Hamza. The past few episodes had me wanting to see this drama end and not be dragged out unnecessarily so I was relieved to learn the last episode would air on Thursday. Armed with that knowledge though when I sat to watch both episodes, I was reminded why I liked this drama in the first place and except for a few yawn Mareena-Dad-Hamza moments I did quite like the last episode.

Can I also please take credit for having guessed that Maryam was putting on an act? Up until these episodes I really liked Maryam’s character and she seemed so sensible so this sudden desire to marry Ameer knowing he loved Mehru was really odd and awkward. However, her expressions at times suggested she really was happy to marry Ameer so I was slightly confused. Slightly.

Mehru’s pained expressions, tears hovering at the brink of her eyes all made it quite obvious how she was feeling. But then her mother rightly said when her phuppo pointed out that Mehru looked worried keh agar woh pareshan hoti tau yeh naubat he na aati. Even though it was obvious she wants to be with Ameer I do wish we were shown a scene where she realizes that she can not ‘live’ without him as she says to him in the final scene. I know there were thoughts running through her mind when she signed the divorce papers but I don’t know, I wanted a bit more.

Mareena. She finally goes to see a psychiatrist who starts dishing out advice to her and I sat listening with an open albeit wary mind and thought okay not bad when he says to her that she should learn to control her anger. And then he throws in the trump card – have a baby! Professional psychiatrist hain yeh ya phir koi saas?! I am not sure what our drama writers think psychiatrists really are and what research goes into their ‘diagnoses’ and conversations when these dramas are penned. The psychiatrists in a few recent dramas such as Sangat, Unsunni and now this one failed to impress me.

Anyways, Mareena finally admits defeat but not before a final confrontation with Mehru. The scene between Mehru and Mareena was so awkward – poor Mareena truly did look psychotic. Meow! Mehru manages to convince Hamza that Mareena really does love him and he ‘forgives’ Mareena although I snorted out loud when he says to her please do not change the way you love me and aisay he pyar karti rehna. I thought okay, bring out the guns. Literally!

Hamza’s return to Mareena seemed much less believable than Mehru and Ameer’s reunion. But nothing really makes sense about Hamza and Mareena so I suppose this was a fitting end to their story. Finit. The look of incredulity on Ameer’s face was spot on when Mehru asks him not to leave her but Soniya Hussain’s brimming eyes and on the edge asthma were very distracting. I felt her scene was overly intense to the point that it did not seem genuine and although their scene together was sweet it did not have as much an impact on me as I thought it would. Or maybe I am being over critical.

I did find one thing a bit odd. Hamza and Mehru both do not declare they are in love with their spouses. Fair enough, Hamza was hell bent on marrying Mehru till the last minute. And Mehru does say she does not know how to live without Ameer anymore. But Hamza says to Mareena that he needs her to keep loving him the way she does and Mehru also says to Ameer that I do not know where I would ever find anyone who can love me as much as you do. Ameer and Mareena’s love seemed to draw both Hamza and Mehru back to their respective spouses – I suppose it would take time for them to fall in love themselves too.

Ali Abbas has been the star of this drama. Kisay Chahoon itself was a very ordinary story but it made for a pleasant watch especially the first 10 episodes or so with Ameer’s comic moments. But when Ameer became a heartbroken bechara, the drama began to lose its charm which is why I am glad that it was not dragged out further and ended leaving me with the feeling that it was a decent drama. Iqra Aziz and Noor Hasan seem to be paired in a lot of dramas and frankly I do not want to watch any other drama which has these two in it. Soniya Hussain is a good actress but like I have mentioned before – her crying puts me off. Firdous Jamal and Pari Hashmi fit really well into their roles too.

This is the first drama I have been reviewing from the first episode to the last yayy. I would like to thank all the readers who took time out to comment and appreciate my reviews and shared their thoughts here. One thing is for sure – I will definitely not miss Ameer’s white kurta (how many did he have anyway?!) nor Mareena’s white clogs (I think it was the same pair throughout!!).

How many of you liked how the drama ended? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Kunwal Javid

P.S. Any ideas which drama is replacing this one?

Each of the previous four episodes had me wiping tears and sighing. Now whether I am getting senti in my old age (ooops, did I say old?!) or whether this drama really does tug at your heartstrings – I think I would opt for the latter. And not because I do not want to be called ‘old’. Haha. I was on the fence about this drama initially. It was interesting but just about. Cast good, production values good, OST great – but it did not lure you in. Yet out of curiousity to learn Hassan’s secret and how the characters were in turn related made me watch – until the 9th episode. Then, pure interest took over.

Gaiti’s (Saima) death totally took me by surprise. I had sort of written off the serial to be about the relation between the two widows and their children hence Gaiti’s death and therefore disappearance from the drama was surprising. Mehr has always been shown to be a compassionate woman. After her initial outrage over learning of Hassan’s other wife, her anger begins to dissipate as she uncovers the actual facts that led to the marriage and the nature of the marriage itself. She sees Gaiti and her children are not the gold diggers she may have at one moment imagined them to be or as Haider believes them to be. When Junaid informs her of Gaiti’s death, she does not waste a minute and flies to Lahore to meet Zaryan and Zaina.

Zaryan is awed to meet Mehr but Zaina has always been bitter about Hassan and his other family and wants nothing to do with Mehr. Mehr feels Zaryan and Zaina are the victims in all this and should be given their rightful inheritance which Hasan left them. Also, she feels upset that Gaiti had reached out to her before her death for her childrens’ sake. She wants to help them but Zaryan politely refuses any offers of help and manages to get a job which does not pay well and eventually loses both job and the rented house they lived in.

Zaina has grown closer to Hamza and he proposes to her which she accepts. Hamza has told Haider about his lady lurrrve but he has not seen or met her yet. Haider, Alia and the crickets are up to no good as usual. Haider’s character while selfish is not uncommon where he feels he and Hamza are the only rightful heirs to his father’s wealth. At the times he expresses to Alia he may have been a bit rude to his mother etc, she makes sure to erase any nigglings of doubt in his mind. Sigh. In the latest episode, Hamza who had been kept in the dark about his father’s second marriage also learns the truth and his stance and thoughts are the same as Haider’s until Minahil speaks to him and makes him see everything from Mehr’s point of view.

Not an extraordinary story? Doesn’t have you jumping to catch up on the episodes or decide to watch it next week? I agree. While the story is still different because it focuses on a woman’s quest to do right by her husband’s ‘children’ or ‘responsibilities’ it is the way the whole situation has been dealt with and Samina Peerzada and Imran Aslam’s acting above everyone else’s that makes this drama so interesting. The two wives, saas-bahu plots, two brothers’ ka one love – have all been done to death and this drama throws in its two cents’ worth of the evil bahu and interfering in laws etc too but it offers so much more.

I have never been in awe of an actress as much as I am of Samina Peerzada. She was always an amazing actress but for me she stood out in Durr e Shewar probably because that was around the time I started watching dramas on a more regular basis. But here, I liked her in the initial episodes because it was so nice to see her as a graceful, compassionate woman and then how she reaches out to Zaryan and Zaina after Gaiti’s death. One may wonder does this really happen in real life? Does a woman really care about the children her dead husband chose to take under his protection? But when you look at the whole situation from Mehr’s point of view you see how she has a big heart and accepts that Hassan although was wrong to hide this from her, he did it with good intentions and scrap that, these children are guilty of absolutely nothing. They did not feed off Hassan’s wealth except to meet their needs and education and now with their mother gone and no financial assistance anymore they are truly alone in the world.

 
Zaryan and Mehr’s conversations were so heartfelt. I really like Zaryan’s character and I love how Imran Aslam has portrayed it. He has just the right amount of pride, gracious to accept Mehr wants to help but wanting to be self sufficient. Yet when the landlord throws them out, I was relieved when he left with Mehr and did not say something silly like ‘we will manage’ when clearly they could not! Zaina comes across as bit of a brat with Mehr but I like how Zaryan chides her each time and we realize that she is like this because she is bitter for she felt Hassan was her father although an absent father and well as long as she does not become an ultra brat or malicious – I can digest her character for now.

Samina Peerzada’s expressions, her mothering instinct, how she would touch Zaryan’s hand or arm and treat him like he were really her own son were so natural and so spot on, I can not praise her enough. It is safe to say that Samina Peerzada and Imran Aslam are the stars of this show and had someone else tried to portray their characters I doubt they would have done justice the way these two have and neither would have Judai seem so interesting to me to watch. Faryal Mahmood as Minahil is surprisingly not annoying in this drama which is such a relief. I am quite fed up with Affan Waheed’s quivering voice in his emotional scenes and although Neelum Munir’s scenes with Imran Aslam are at times touching, she and Affan Waheed together almost put me to sleep. Even the seemingly romantic moment when Hamza proposes to Zaina did not have any impact on me. Thankfully the focus of this drama is not their story nor Haider and his wife rather of Mehr and how she tries to do right by Zaryan and Zaina while at the same time risking being criticized and facing opposition from her own sons.

I hope I am not meant to regret my words later as the drama progresses but at this moment I feel Judai is one of the underrated dramas on air. If the drama continues the pace at which it is now and does not drag out any unnecessary tracks, I am definitely interested to see what happens when Zaryan and Zaina come to Karachi with Mehr – if they do, that is. Haider hates the thought of them and I do not expect him to welcome them with open arms but how will Zaryan’s pride take Haider and Alia’s insults and jibes? How will Mehr manage to do right by all four of them.

Has anyone else been watching Judai and find it as good as I do especially after Gaiti’s death? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Kunwal Javid

For all Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s crooning kissi daaaaaaa yaar na bichrayyyyyyy through 25 episodes was worth – I am not sure whether kissi da yaar actually did bichar in the end! Who was really who’s yaar and did one particular yaar actually survive in the end? Produced by Six Sigma Plus, directed by Ovais Khan and written by Sanam Mehdi, Guzarish aired it’s last episode on ARY Digital last night. I have been following the drama from the start and if I felt at any point that the drama was dragging – I can not seem to recall that feeling now. A story with nothing extraordinary to offer yet somehow different, Guzarish made a pleasant watch due to the natural acting of its cast, decent storyline and direction.

Guzarish is the story of two young people, Zain (Ahmed Ali) and Zara (Yumna Zaidi) who are in love and engaged to be married. Zain’s older brother Jaffar (Ali Khan) is also engaged to be married to Zara’s sister Sara (Sara Ashraf), although theirs is an arranged match. The girls live with their father Aalam (Javed Sheikh) and although their widowed Phuppo (Saba Hameed) lives separately, she and her son Saad (Affan Waheed) are often at Aalam’s house. Phuppo apparently was never fond of her bhabhi and neither is she particularly fond of her nieces. Saad is in love with Zara but accepts she and Zain are in love and meant to be together and his mother is very adamant too that her son must never marry either of her nieces.

Anyhow, a misunderstanding on the night of the nikkah causes Jaffar to break the engagement with Sara and despite Zara’s pleas to not create a scene nor cause problems in her relationship with Zain, he makes a huge fuss and makes his mother and Zain leave without having any ceremony done. Aalam is outraged too over Jaffar’s insults. Zain’s mother (Saba Faisal) has an accident and while she is in the hospital hovering between life and death, Zara tries to reach out to Zain. Upon Aalam’s insistence (read hukkum) and with Zain unresponsive due to worry over his mother’s condition and Jaffar’s unmoving stance, Zara is married to Saad, much to Phuppo’s despair.

What follows, is disappointingly a typical evil saas all out to make sure her son turns against the bahu and has her thrown out of the house. Despite Saad’s love for Zara, but with Zain’s constant presence somehow or the other in their lives, Saad succumbs to jealousy and suspicions and turns on Zara who finally has had enough and walks out of the house. She collapses and ends up at the hospital where Jaffar sees her and takes her home and Saad believing that Zara has gone back to Zain, wants nothing to do with her. All seems to have worked out how Phuppo envisioned except that Saad is then diagnosed with a brain tumor and by now he has learnt how his mother has played him and seems like the brain tumor has truly affected his brain because he feels the most fitting punishment for his mother would be to deprive her of the one person she loves the most – him. He refuses all treatment and shuts her out and Phuppo realizing how wrong she had been seeks out Zara for forgiveness and to bring her back to convince Saad to fight for his life.

A few other tracks play simultaneously in the drama and add to the story. However, thankfully their tracks did not take the focus away from the main leads which was a relief. Hina (Maha Warsi) is Zain’s khala ki beti and comes to Karachi for Zain’s wedding. She and her mother stay on when Zain’s mother is ill and then she begins to develop feelings for Zain which she openly expresses to him. I am often quite curious about this kind of love where you know the person you love madly loves another yet you claim your love is so deep you feel fulfilled just to know you can be with that person. Anyways, Hina and Zain are engaged and then not engaged and then umm, I lost track.

Jaffar apparently has been in love with a woman abroad for many years who falls for the charms of a younger man, Khurram. Khurram marries her as she is rich and he has financial troubles back home but he does not love her. Khurram however hides this part of his life and marries Sara. Khurram and Sabina have a son who ends up with Jaffar who has made it his purpose in life to protect this child.

What appealed to me the most about this drama was the refreshingly normal attitude of Zara. She was in love with Zain, true. But once she was married to Saad, she accepted the turn her life had taken and made an effort to make her marriage work. Normally the girl in this kind of situation in our dramas becomes a robotic person who erupts from time to time at the understanding new miyan, declaring her love for her old flame. Or, when the understanding miyan vows to deliver her to the love of her life, she realizes her understanding miyan was her true love. Yawwwwn! And Gaggg! I liked Zara’s positive attitude, how she did not whimper and weep over each of Phuppo’s insults and tried to bond with Saad. Also, in the scene when she leaves the house I liked how it did not become a meri baat tau sunain and at one point Zara took control and walked out herself. The fact that she collapses right after is a separate story uggh!

Zain however finds it harder to give up on Zara and I found myself relating to his character and his confusion too. He made a few silly decisions especially jumping into Zara’s life time and again when she made it clear that would only ruin things but given how he was in love with her I could see how he was not ready to give up even though she was married now. However, his immature actions did only end up making life difficult for Zara.

I rarely watch a drama which has Yumna Zaidi in the cast. Something about the way she talks and acts just does not sit well with me. But I will admit she has performed really well in this play. I felt for Zara. However her dialogues at times were a bit too preachy and made me cringe but overall I could not fault her acting. Ali Ahmed, Affan Waheed and Maha Warsi fit their roles perfectly but did not stand out. My favorite however had to be phuppo. Saba Hameed is an actress who fits into her characters so well you believe you are watching the character and not Saba Hameed. Her skeptical and scornful expressions and then her desperation as a mother were so spot on. When she reaches out to Zara I did not find it unreal or artificial and could totally relate to her personality change.

I also liked how although the ending is a happy one (I think), it took a few episodes to come to the point rather than dragging out the drama and then doing an about turn and turning everyone’s lives and personalities upside down within the last 40 minutes and lo and behold, all is well again. The viewers were kept wondering till the very last episode though who Zara will end up with eventually – Saad or Zain. Although not a masterpiece, Guzarish was a decent watch for me.

How many of you were watching Guzarish and rooting for Zara-Zain or Zara-Saad? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Kunwal Javid