Elimination round was good & so was Chef Shai’s appearance in the show. She really lit up the kitchen with her presence & more importantly her positive attitude & the encouragement she extended to the contestants BUT, the best moment of this episode for me was when Saad said as far as Zubaida Apa ain’t the guest judge, he’ll be fine. LOL! I couldn’t stop laughing at that.

Once again we got to see some great dishes but I have an issue like they do tell generally as to how a contestant is chopping the veggies or how are they using the machines but I am kind of missing out on the ‘techniques’. I want to see what techniques they use & how do they plan the execution of the dish. I am missing the while-cooking conversations of the contestants where they talk us through to their thinking process & how are they planning to work on a dish, what problems are they facing & stuff like that. It seems that the contestants only speak when the judges question them but other than that I kind of miss knowing the techniques they are using in their dishes & the talk-throughs.

First challenge was to create a salad in 20 minutes which only Chef Shai would taste so that she could pick a winner. Those salads looked delicious & I am sure any salad-lover like me would’ve drooled over the sight of them. The list of the salads is as follows:

Bean Sprout Fish Salad – Maryam
Ceasar Salad w/ Prawns – Amna
Rocket Leaves Salad – Rayyan
Prawn Salad w/ Honey Glazed Veggies – Khurram
Greek Salad – Gulnaz
Ceasar Salad – Azam
Lettuce Salad w/ Bell Pepper Dressing – Sidrah
My Fresh Salad – Zain
Deconstructed Ceaser Salad – Iqra
No Fat Salad – Mudassir
Italian Dressed Salad in a Nest – Madiha
Walnut Bacon Salad – Ammarah
Mango & Avacado Salsa – Saad.

The winner was Saad because Chef Shai felt that the portion size was just perfect for the entrée as well as the presentation & the grilled prawns. Saad won the advantage of getting a help from Chef Shai that too for 10 minutes in the upcoming challenge.

The last & the elimination challenge was set by Chef Shai where she brought a dish created by her & it was more like a recreation challenge where she provided the contestants with the recipe & they had to come up with a dish exactly like hers but it could vary in the presentation. The dish was Tenderloin Medallion w/ Lemon Chilli Prawns & Curried Quinoa. The contestants got 90 minutes for it with an open pantry & the resulting dishes were good to see. Chef Shai did make it clear that in the culinary world people follow a KIS rule which refers to ‘Keeping It Simple’, so she advised everyone to follow it throughout.

Maryam was the first one to get the feedback from the judges. Chef Shai felt that the Quinoa was under-cooked, the curry was a bit spicy, cheese bowl was a bit thick that’s why it turned soggy but the prawns were good. Chef Mehboob commented that the prawns were good but the sauce was overpowering. Chef Khurram didn’t like the presentation & Chef Zakir felt that the steak had a burnt flavor to it.

Amna got her feedback were Chef Mehboob said he couldn’t eat the under-cooked prawn. Chef Shai also commented that the cheese bowl was too thick & soggy but she liked the steak & felt that the sauce was well seasoned. Chef Zakir commented that raw food is a big no no & it a massive problem.

Rayyan was the next in line for the judges’ remarks. Chef Mehboob liked the prawns, the beef but felt that the sauce was a bit too strong but when combined with the whole dish, it worked really well. Chef Khurram told him that he could do well with the presentation.

Sidrah got the comments where Chef Shai felt that the steak was dry but prawns were good. Chef Mehboob commented that she tried to do well on her part & she succeeded, he told her to keep up the good work. Chef Khurram felt that the sauce was a bit more sour & spicy but if she had improved she was the only one who would’ve gotten closer to the actual dish.

Khurram came in to get a feedback on his dish. Chef Mehboob said that the quinoa was raw, prawns weren’t good as they were overcooked but the sauce & the cheese bowl were right. Chef Khurram didn’t like the presentation. Chef Zakir was as usual stern & said that this sort of food won’t earn him respect (!?!?!?!).

Azam got some great remarks as Chef Shai liked the sauce & Chef Mehboob commented that the beef was well cooked & well-seasoned.

Gulnaz got appreciated as well. Chef Mehboob liked the plating & felt that the dish was ideal because the prawns, the steak, the sauce were cooked perfectly. Chef Shai liked the seasoning of the prawns & commented that if she seeks knowledge of this art, she can become a great chef herself. Chef Khurram felt she gave a good response to her competitors. Chef Zakir named the cheese basket as Chitrali Basket.

Zain was next in line. Chef Shai felt that the steak was dry. Chef Khurram didn’t like the sauce. Chef Mehboob said that the sauce was over-reduced that’s why it lost the flavour & the beef as well as the prawns were over-cooked. Chef Zakir commented that the beef was so over-done that it had no flavour.

Mudassir came to get in his remarks. Chef Mehboob said his beef was a disaster as it was over-cooked. Chef Zakir said because the steak was so thinly sliced it easily got over-cooked & was giving a burnt flavour too & the sauce had a totally different flavour.

Saad was the last one but he got some great comments. Chef Mehboob felt that he chose a wrong plate for the presentation but other than that the steak, the prawns & the quinoa were good perfectly. He felt that by far this was the best dish he had tasted. Chef Khurram commented on the choice of plate to but liked the flavours of his dish. Chef Zakir said he enjoyed eating the dish a lot & also said he has high expectations of him.

So, these were the comments & now it was time for the bottom 5 & someone’s journey to end. Zain, Maryam, Mudassir, Amna & Khurram were in the bottom & Mudassir was eliminated from the competition. Every contestant had some great things to say about him & we wish him good luck too. & once again I feel the judges remarks didn’t do justice to how weak Mudassir’s dish actually was that he was eliminated because going by the remarks that were shown, Khurram had the weakest dish where the 3 main ingredients were bad but Mudassir had only stuffed up the beef component. Not too sure what were they thinking.

On a personal note, I liked how Chef Shai was pointing out the positives in all the dishes even after the contestants had made some massive mistakes. She was being positive about everyone’s attempt & was impressed too. I feel she contributed greatly as a guest judge.

& yes, the thing we all dreaded was covered in this episode & that was the politics & the rift between the contestants. I so wish they had settled it off the camera & had kept the dignity of all the contestants intact. No doubt Gulnaz got some great comments & she won the challenge but that doesn’t mean she comes up with her personal behind-the-scene issues in front of the judges. I think the editors should have edited the whole thing ‘because’ we’re more interested in seeing the cooking & not the drama. I really like Gulnaz & also I like Saad, not too sure about Amna though but then to see Gulnaz taking names of the people involved & later getting the remarks by the judges on them wasn’t something good to see. The judges based Gulnaz’s dish remarks on the rift too where Chef Khurram said ‘this dish was an answer to her competitors who had questioned her’. I feel it’s a cooking competition & it should remain that way. The judges tried really hard to fetch something by stirring Rayyan-Madiha controversy but when they saw that Rayyan & Madiha tackled it brilliantly & didn’t give away much, they picked just the rightly naive person for it. I hope we don’t get to see more such issues that the contestants may be experiencing off the camera because this is MasterChef we’re interested in.

I am kind of curious as to why the clip of Chef Zakir was removed from the previous episode where he was being rude to Madiha when she asked a question. In the preview last week they did show something but when the actual episode went on-air I think that clip was deleted purposely. If they didn’t intend to show it then they shouldn’t have shown Chef Zakir’s remark in the preview too. I hope they don’t do such things for the ratings as they are getting enough already.

Can’t wait to see the upcoming episodes. Share what you felt about the elimination round & then the elimination.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Once again I enjoyed watching Marasim. This episode was based on what Nayab was going through & I think they’ve done a brilliant job in portraying her feelings. The editing seemed a little off like a lot of scenes were shot in same dresses & were put together as a continuation of another scene, but then once again in the next scene they were in the previous dresses. It kind of targeted the continuity of the scenes but never mind, it can be ignored. :)

Nayab’s nightmare has begun where she has pretty much understood that she is a nobody in this house. She was just brought into this house for the sake of filling the empty space next to Daood & to add more to her woes, her husband has made it pretty clear that she is an unwanted person in his life too.

The best scene of this episode for me was the day-dreaming moment between Nayab & Zaid. It was touchy yet beautiful. I think they kept it just as realistic that Zaid did cross Nayab’s mind & she just didn’t move on because she got swamped with fulfilling Daood’s chores. In the hard times, the only thought of Zaid was enough to bring a smile on her face but it all slipped away when the reality struck & she had to come back to her senses for what her life was now.

Daood has been juggling between the feelings of hatred & sympathy for Nayab but I am sure he’d be able to surpass it very soon because Nayab has started to do things as her MIL fancies. She may not be interested in what her duties are as Daood’s wife but for now she is making sure to not upset her MIL because she gets to spend time with Gaitiara & then Deeba.

I kind of liked the fact that even though Gaitiara was sounding stern & mean but she was persistent on bringing Daood & Nayab closer. She might sound harsh while interacting with Nayab but not even for a second she tried to brain-feed Daood against her & instead, unlike a typical MIL she was trying to rationalize Daood’s behaviour & tried to make him realize that he had certain responsibilities towards Nayab & she had some rights as his wife too & I really liked how they made it visible through her selfishness. Even though at a first thought Gaitiara might look like a typical mother-in-law but she wasn’t acting like one. All she needs is her son’s happiness & wants him to snap out of his love for Momenah.

I cringed a lot when I heard Deeba talking. I think she is better off as a silent show-piece to compliment the family picture because whenever she speaks, she makes no sense at all. All of a sudden she goes like mera bhai, mera bhai so where was her sympathy when she was hell-bent on calling off his engagement to the love of his life, that too for her own revenge? All her eye-rolling & teeth-grinding doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.

Nayab has sacrificed a lot on her self-esteem & is trying hard to earn a place in everyone’s heart. Even though she may not want it but she does make an effort because she has understood that there’s no backing out now, so it’s better to do what’s expected of her & for that her character earns all the points.

I am glad Sherbano’s elder sister has some wisdom & she tackled her brilliantly. Sherbano seems fixated too & she is acting exactly like how she used to be with Gaitiara. She needs to forget & move on & most importantly, she needs to understand that her sister is now Momenah’s MIL, so her fixation to Daood & Momenah’s past relation doesn’t help much in front of her sister.

I can’t wait to see how Daood gets attached to Nayab because for now they have do some strong chemistry going on. I have never said this before but I think Ahsan Khan looked really presentable in the white jacket in this episode. I think he should go for more whites in the dramas because he certainly can pull the colour off. Sonia Hussain looked like such a doll & even Urwa Hocane looked nice & simple. Can’t wait for the next episode; share your thoughts on this, please. :)

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Hmmmm, did you guys feel a thing for any of the characters? Nope, me neither. Apart from the crisp quality, vibrant colours & the artistic camerawork, this play hasn’t offered anything as yet. I am still waiting to be wowed but not sure if it’s going to happen in the near future or so.

I don’t know why but I felt all the characters except Bee Jaan’s seemed too forced to be true. As much as Hina Bayat looks timelessly beautiful, I feel her character of Shireen is like one of those relative aunties who we all dread interacting with. Her concern (read fixation) with Zawaar was kind of unusual. Bee Jaan being his bio-mom was laid-back & relaxed when it came to Zawaar but Shireen Apa’s unnecessary brow furrowing was uncalled for. It was like she got the most awaited opportunity of bashing Zawaar left right & centre, so she was making the most of it. I kind of lol’ed when Shireen Apa held Zawaar irresponsible. I am sure his sense of responsibility could be measured by the number of bank drafts he must be sending from USA. I found the character of Bee Jaan a lot better. It’s like Saba Hameed has been able to convey the feelings of a mother who is worried about her only son & has high hopes of him, perfectly.

I want to congratulate all the viewers because we have another weak man, who has made it to our screen successfully. I feel Zawaar is a depiction of those weak mama’s boys who just can’t take a stand for the choices they make. I mean it took him only a single flight back-home & a couple of tears from his mother to forget he has someone waiting for him & that someone is no one else but his lawfully wedded wife. I think people like Zawaar should never really go for love marriages because it takes a spine to stand by the side of your love. Very easily he submitted to Bee Jaan’s wish of getting married to a girl half his age & I really couldn’t feel a thing for him even after seeing him frown.

Does anyone get the nature of Haya’s character so far!?!?! All I know about her is that she shrugs her shoulders, cries as if she’s neighing & yes when she is in a happy mood, she plays games with the kids of her mohalla. Her scene in this episode once again began with her whinny face & it was enough to put me off. I actually hope that before the drama-makers start showing the emotions that the characters are going through, they should actually take some time out & establish the characters & their natures so that we can understand what they might do if they face a certain situation. Just so, I feel this drama started just like that; where we only can understand the characters based on the dialogues they deliver & there’s nothing more to it, no depth, no insight whatsoever.

Yes, I did feel that Sarwat Gillani has conveyed her feelings beautifully. She was frustrated, she was agitated, she was helpless & all she could do was scream at her husband who was too busy washing his hands to chuck on some mehandi on his hair & hands for his new marital adventure. I didn’t understand why Zawaar told Sofie to be a bit more understanding. It’s like he knew she was his wife & she wasn’t going anywhere so he could take her for granted. Zawaar’s demand of her being considerate was wrong because he is the one who has gotten married to her without even thinking for a second about his mother, so how can he expect his wife to feel for Bee Jaan? Zawaar’s outburst on Sofie for being too inconsiderate was wrong. If there was one person he should’ve been angry at, it was he, himself. He should’ve been disappointed at himself for not being a man enough to protect his love, his wife in front of his just fine & healthy mother & also for being a devious son.

It was just an ohkay episode & going by the conversation all the viewers had in the last review, I couldn’t help noticing the sagging eye bags of Adnan Siddique which actually told me the tale of his age. I feel someone’s in a dire need of either a botox or a filler. I must say whoever is responsible for Mawra’s styling has done a petty job. Those leggings & short shirts do not do justice to her physique & she looked like the famous Olive (Popeye The Sailor Man’s Girlfriend). Her styling might change in the next episode & looking at the preview I think she does look amazing. Share what you felt about tonight’s episode.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Ohkay, I must say, this episode was a complete MasterChef package for me because it was perfect in terms of cooking, perfect in terms of execution & most importantly it was perfect in regards to the judges too. I am glad we got to see a lighter side of the judges this time around & as the episodes are progressing I feel that the judges are getting candid & comfortable in their seats & are actually making an effort in understanding the contestants & their mental pressures more. This episode had absolutely no drawbacks whatsoever & I thoroughly enjoyed it this time around.

The challenge itself was really interesting where the contestants randomly got the cuisines they had to work upon. They were told to check the drawers & their reactions were honest, where some were excited & the others were lost.

Azam & Saad got Pakistani Cuisine.
Iqra, Rayyan & Madiha got Chinese Cuisine.
Gulnaz, Ammarah & Sidrah got Thai Cuisine.
Khurram & Amna got Italian Cuisine.
Maryam, Zain & Mudassir got Arabic Cuisine.

It was once again a 60 minute challenge with a semi-open pantry. The dishes that the contestants came up were amazing & the judges were a bit more elaborate in explaining which dishes they liked & what they didn’t in certain dishes.

Amna presented Fettuccine Alfredo w/ Bruschetta. Chef Khurram liked the dish & felt that the chicken was tender, sauce was flavoursome but it was a little too creamy. According to him the dish wasn’t what he expected from Amna at this stage. Chef Zakir felt that the pasta was too thin to fit the mark of fettuccine & also told her that fettuccine is not supposed to be cooked with the sauce & just because she did it, the pasta was over-cooked. Chef Mehboob also commented that the pasta was thin & the sauce was too creamy with no accurate ratios.

Khurram made Beef Lasagne w/ Garlic Cheese Bread. Chef Mehboob felt that too much was going on in the dish & a lot of ingredients were used unnecessarily. Chef Khurram also felt that he could taste a lot of flavours & told him to stick to the basics. Chef Zakir felt that the sauce was too rich & the marination of the beef wasn’t great too.

Gulnaz came up with Thai Green Curry. Chef Mehboob loved the dish because as per him the flavours were in perfect harmony. He felt that the curry had a very mild but a great flavour. Chef Khurram also liked the dish & said that the flavours were balanced & the chicken was great too. Chef Zakir commented that this was so far the best dish that she has cooked in the competition. He also liked the fact that she kept things simple & pointed out that especially.

Sidrah made Thai Red Curry w/ Sautéed Rice. Chef Mehboob appreciated her especially because this was the first time she attempted a Thai dish. He said it was a little bit on the spicier side but perfect for him. Chef Khurram liked the presentation & also the dish because it was flavoursome.

Azam came up with Zaffrani Qorma. Chef Zakir felt that the onions were giving a little sweeter quotient to the dish & said that if the flavours aren’t balanced, the dish doesn’t taste good. Chef Khurram said that the chicken was a little undercooked but he liked the curry & said that he could still taste the saffron which was a good sign.

Maryam presented Mandi as an Arabic dish. Chef Mehboob felt the whole dish was too dry. Chef Khurram thought that the dish tasted like Pakistani Pulao & not at all like Arabic Mandi. Chef Zakir questioned her choice knowing that she was attempting this dish for the first time.

Rayyan made Charred Beef w/ Veggies. Chef Zakir didn’t like his cutting techniques. Chef Khurram liked the flavours but found it too dry.

Irqa made Dry Beef Chilli w/ Garlic Rice & Beef Mince Filled Cabbage Rolls. Chef Mehboob commented that the rice tasted good but the beef was a letdown of the dish.

Madiha presented Cashew Chicken w/ Raisin Fried Rice. Chef Khurram felt that too much flavours made her dish into something else & it wasn’t a proper Chinese dish. Chef Mehboob said that the dishes should be simple. Chef Zakir asked her again if she didn’t get what was asked of her.

Zain presented an Arabic platter of Parsley Chicken with Hummus, Tabouli & Peta Bread. Chef Khurram felt that the Hummus was a bit too thick & he thought his dish wasn’t Arabic enough in terms of the flavours. Chef Mehboob told him the right way of making Tabouli & commented on his cutting skills too.

Mudassir made a Deconstructed Chicken Shawarma. Chef Zakir felt that the chicken had no flavour & also the cutting wasn’t right. Chef Khurram felt that the chicken lacked the shawarma-like taste. Chef Mehboob commented that the chicken should’ve been sliced thinly & also the sauce had no right flavours.

Ammarah made Thai Red Curry w/ Prawn Soup. Chef Mehboob commented that the balance wasn’t right & just because she tried to balance it out, the flavours were lost completely. Chef Khurram liked the presentation but he said that the overall taste of the dish wasn’t that impressive.

Saad made Shahi Badaami Qourma. Chef Khurram loved his dish too & felt that there was no need of changing the name because the flavors were spot on & this dish was the best one in Pakistani category. Chef Zakir shook hands with him & appreciated his effort. Chef Mehboob said that he has picked up a pace & has started to perform ever since the last team challenge & this dish was amazing too.

So, these were the dishes & I am glad they covered everyone’s cooking, dishes & then the tastings in this episode. Zain broke down because he couldn’t perform & we got to see a friendlier side of Chef Mehboob because he made Zain understand how he shouldn’t take these comments to his head & rather take them as a guideline for improvement. Chef Mehboob also told him & the other contestants about a story of his struggles & he said that the contestants will be put up with physical & mental pressures & whoever will survive till the end by putting the act together will become a MasterChef.

The judges had to select the top 5 & said that the one who will win the challenge will get the immunity. The winner will perform in the next elimination round but will be safe. The top 5 were Azam, Amna, Saad, Sidrah & Gulnaz. I feel for the very first time the judges did a justice to the winning dish with their remarks because they didn’t hold back & didn’t fish for unnecessary flaws in the dish. Going by their remarks it was pretty evident that Gulnaz will be the winner & she actually was. She was ecstatic, happy, humbled & overwhelmed & the judges praised her wholeheartedly to boost up her morale & encourage her to perform similarly in the upcoming challenges. I feel this is the exact vibe that we; the viewers were expecting from the judges & I am glad it wasn’t too late & they have redeemed themselves.

On a personal note I really like how Madiha always adorns her scarves with matching girly accessories, it looks really really cute. :) I enjoyed seeing the personal VT’s of Mudassir & Ammarah. It’s good to know that the ladies do get support from their families to work on their passion. Gulnaz is a sweetheart & her innocence is a treat to watch. I am actually really happy that Gulnaz proved herself & Saad is also working towards a winning streak.

So, for the first time in MasterChef we’re expecting a guest chef in the elimination round. I don’t know why but I have a strong feeling that the guest chef would be none other than Chef Rahat, I may be wrong but I think it might be her. Any guesses who the guest chef might be? :) Share what you felt about tonight’s episode.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aap ka mali buhat mature hai mommy kyunke vo poodu se pyar krne mei believe hi nahi krta!

Well said Laila! But guess what? Your mom’s not listening! It is amazing how the writer has shown heaps of expectations that are attached to the bride after marriage and how easy everything is for the man. As long as the man is earning enough money and is good looking no one questions his mysterious behavior. In fact his behavior is justified by calling him mature, serious and stable – attributes that set Mansoor apart from other men! Only Laila knows that there is something just not right because no matter how hard she tries her husband shows little interest in her. Laila will never be good enough for Mansoor because he already has her where he wants her. He is more interested in Kukoo because she is not giving Mansoor the attention he wants. Kukoo finds it difficult to have a relationship with Mansoor especially after getting to know Laila so well. I love the way Kukoo’s character has been etched out. Iffat Omer was the perfect choice for playing this character; she brings out the best in Kukoo’s character.

Mansoor and his mother’s reaction to the news of Laila’s pregnancy was shocking for Laila. She was obviously expecting something very different. On one hand her father pampers her to the fullest and on the other her husband does not even hold her hand to assure her of his support and love. Alishba Yusef looked stunning today in all the scenes; she plays the naive, sweet and confused Laila with perfection. Laila’s frequent visits to her parents’ house show that she needs a dose of her father’s love every day to keep her going. She would want her father to come rescue her but she also knows that she must pick herself up every time and give this marriage her best because she has to make it work. Laila does not ask for more than a wife should from her husband but Mansoor finds it very difficult to even exchange a few words with her.

The way Laila and Kukoo had a heart-to-heart conversation tonight was actually very ironic. While Kukoo knows exactly who Laila is and where she stands in Mansoor’s life, Laila has no idea what relationship Kukoo once had with her husband. She cannot even imagine that Kukoo is the reason why Mansoor keeps his distance from her. I really liked this new turn in the story, I was most definitely not expecting the two families to get closer like this. Kukoo is nothing like the other woman that we see in our dramas a little too often. There was a time when Mansoor made a commitment with Kukoo but she is not going to punish Laila for something that Mansoor did. She understands that Laila is not at fault. Mansoor made a choice and she wants him to stick to it. Keeping a distance from Mandoor is not easy because he understands her the way Khurram never will but she is trying her best.

Mrs. Khan and Kukoo’s conversation was very interesting indeed. Was Mrs. Khan really talking about the delivery boy? I think not! I felt for Laila every step of the way in tonight’s episode and the other woman in this play has to be one of the most likeable characters in that particular category. Sohail Sameer has nailed his character; honestly speaking I did not expect him to do this well. I would give full marks to team Pehchan for giving a brand new treatment to a very old story and turning it into something very different and entertaining. This drama has a whole new feel to it and I can’t help but appreciate the way the story is being taken forward.

Fatima Awan

Last thing I wanted to see in this drama was the quivering lips of some uncle we don’t even know nor even have sympathy with. Do they really think that by throwing in some more characters they’ll be able to pull off a well-packaged drama? I say they’re mistaken because what would be better is them concentrating more on the main characters of the drama & etching them out appropriately that by the end of the episode or even the drama we feel a thing or two for them.

Dua has finally taken responsibility of the kids & she is doing her part really well. Khala Masooma had a say in this episode too where she goes like ‘hum damaad pe bojh to nahi ban saktay’, whereas Dua only asked about what her future plans was seeing the physical condition of her father. Khala Masooma knows how to toss things in her favour because she gave clear hints to Dua in a hope that very open-heartedly she’ll invite her mother to stay with her. I feel this is why Khala Masooma spoke about her son-in-law or else why would she do that? I kind of feel that Khala Masooma is a bipolar patient because one thing she says pretty much doesn’t match the other.

Sofia has started to open up a bit & she is seeing Dua past the facade of she being a step-mom. Dua has played her part really well in making the kids love her because she understands their mind frame as she herself has experienced what the kids go through when their father get married to someone else. Luckily for Dua, this lesson helped her in cracking the code of how she can connect with Sofia & Tabrez. Tabrez being too young was already smitten by her but it was Sofia who needed to be worked upon. This little getaway to Sialkot has does a trick & Sofia is now relying on Dua & also has a shift of tone too.

Zara finally had a procedure & I am not sure if a patient feels really so well to chuck on a red lipstick & some shimmery eye shadows just the very next day. Zara has opened up to Dua because she has understood the reality & is now facing the facts. She knows that time’s slipping away & she has no other option except of relying on Dua because Dua has time & again reassured her of how much she loves Jazib’s kids. I think the ending scene of the phone conversation between the two ladies was done really well & Dua’s confession helped in easing the pain of Zara which she might feel in a concern of her kids. Jazib Jee was definitely missing while so much was happening but I think now the secret’s out & he will go into a shell where he’ll detest himself for not taking care of Zara, or that might never even happen because that’s Jazib Jee we’re talking about.

The characters of both the ladies in this drama are definitely good, they aren’t like the typical ones we’re coming across these days. Very easily they could’ve turned Dua’s character into that of a young snot who is taking advantage of her husband’s love but I am glad they showed Dua as someone who understands the complexity of the circumstances around her, acts accordingly & responsibly without demanding anything in return. No doubt at first, her character seemed annoying but I think her wisdom is appreciable. Share what you felt about tonight’s episode.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

I must confess that I wasn’t very sure if Tanhaiyan would have the same effect on me which it did when I watched it the first time it went on air. I was not even ten years old when Tanhaiyan aired. That time was very different from now, even little kids used to sit with their parents and older siblings to watch the 8pm drama on PTV. It was like a ritual in every other household because dramas back then had something for everyone. I remember not understanding much about Zara’s trials and tribulations but Qabacha and Sanya were the highlight of the show for me. Watching Tanhaiyan once again brought back sweet memories of the days when PTV dramas guaranteed wholesome entertainment; the days when our drama writers were not obsessed with marital problems. The writers believed in experimenting and the producers were not afraid of trying something new. There was no race for TRPs but only talented people who did their work responsibly.

Tanhaiyan is a classic which needs absolutely no introduction but I will write a brief summary of the play to refresh the memories of those viewers who watched it a long time back. The play has been written beautifully by Haseena Moin, it has been directed by Shehzad Khalil – one of the best directors of PTV at that time who discovered many new faces and the play has been produced by Shalimar Recording Company (SRC). The cast of the drama includes Shehnaz Sheikh (as Zara), Marina Khan (as Sanya), Behroz Sabzwari (as Qabacha), Qazi Wajid (as Faran), Asif Raza Mir (as Zain), Durdana Butt (as Bibi), Badar Khalil (as Zubi/Aani), Jamshed Ansari (as Buqrat), Amir Hatmi (as Saad Salman), Yasmeen Ismail (as Vida), Azra Sherwani (as Appa begum), Sultana Zafar ( as girls’ mother), Subhani Ba Yunus (girls’ father) and Imtiaz Ahmed (Aani’s servant).

Tanhaiyan is the story of two sisters Zara and Sanya whose life takes a terrible turn when their parents die in an accident. Both the girls are very close to their Khala Zubi who they call Aani. They wish to continue living in their parent’s house in Lahore but soon after their death the two sisters find out that their father had taken a big amount of loan to make the house. The people who had given him the money wanted the house now because there was no other way to pay them back. Initially both the girls try their best to convince the people concerned that they will return the money in a few years but finally they come to the conclusion that there was no other way out. Both the girls move to Karachi and start living with their Khala. While Saniya moves on because she believes that she still has many people around her who love her. Zara feels that she has let her father down, her sole purpose in life is to earn enough money to buy her parents’ house back. She loses her faith in people because the people her father owed the money to were very close to him so she expected them to understand. The title of the drama refers to the loneliness which Zara feels after her parents pass away and the way she isolates herself from the world because nothing matters to her anymore. In her quest to earn money, she forgets that people who were once close to her were moving away from her. She was misses out on all those beautiful moments which Sanya, Aani, Bibi and Zain were cherishing. The drama ends on a happy note, the viewers have the satisfaction of knowing that Zara got her happy ending even after making so many wrong decisions.

The beauty of this drama lies in the beautiful relationships that all these characters have with each other. Even after so many years watching this classic was actually like a breath of fresh air because there were no mazloom women in the play, no family politics and most importantly no villains or heroes. The play is full of characters who you can fall in love with over and over again. I couldn’t help but connect to all the characters because there was nothing over dramatic about them. Zara’s character has been etched out brilliantly. Zara was always very insecure and lacked confidence. The reason behind that was explained wonderfully by her father. It is actually very true that every grown up is a product of the surroundings and the circumstances under which he was brought up. Zara decides to be strong after her parents’ death but deep inside she is still the weak and vulnerable girl that she once was. What she really needs is love and family but she is too busy proving that she doesn’t need anyone at all.

Zain’s character is charming and very likeable. He has feelings for Zara but he also does not want to let Vida (his fiancé) down. Vida’s character is one of the many characters in the play which you can’t help but fall in love with. All the women in the play are positive and enlightened unlike the conniving and desperate women we see on our screens nowadays. We see women fighting over men all the time in our dramas but how often are we shown these love triangles the way it was shown in Tanhaiyan. Zara never schemed to win Zain over, in fact she got engaged to Saad Salman just because she didn’t want Zain to think she was waiting for him. Vida broke the engagement herself without any grudges because she knew Zain did not love her. She did not play mind games like we see many women playing in our dramas.

Aani’s character is another one which I would really like to see on our screens more often. Apa Begum actually liked her boldness and bluntness; how refreshing is that! Marina Khan completely nailed Sanya’s character. It wasn’t an easy role to play because it could be quite annoying if it wasn’t done well but that was most certainly not the case. Sanya, Qabacha, Bibi and Buqrat added the comic element which this play really needed. If Tanhaiyan was about Zara’s struggle alone then it could have been very dull and too serious. Behroz Sabzwari is outstanding as Qabachi. All the actors fit in perfectly in their respective roles. Bibi’s lines made me laugh over and over again. A big thank you to all the pretty and very well dressed ladies in the play. I loved the make up and the dresses.

I know that not too many people liked Tanhaiyan Naye Silsilay but I must say that after watching this prequel, I am even more convinced now that the sequel was totally in line with the prequel. Also, the ending was like the one in the prequel. I loved how they made a beautiful OST based on Tanhaiyan’s original background music.

I also agree with people who were saying that the play Ranjish Hi Sahi was inspired from Tanhaiyan. Honestly speaking, I don’t mind it at all if more writers get inspiration from these classics. Our writers should watch this play over and over again and take notes. Yes, it is possible to make a classic without degrading men or women! Have humans really deteriorated so much or the writers nowadays feel that portraying people in a negative light is the only way to get people’s attention? There is a very good reason why Tanhaiyan is a classic and it actually makes me very sad to see where our drama industry is headed now.

It wasn’t easy watching this play online but I decided to take up the challenge because so many of our readers wanted the play to be reviewed and I must say it was totally worth it! Do share your thoughts about the play and how different it is from the dramas we see on our screens nowadays.

Fatima Awan

I must say today’s installment was not that bad as previous one. Story has taken a completely different turn  and we should get used to call him as “Afzal Bhaie” rather than “Pyarai Afzal” .

Tum bhi bohat bara subject ho Farah..Lubna was so right,Farah has no freaking idea that how madly she is involved in Afzal – she has started watching movies related to underworld and gangsters now.I have finally admitted that Indian movies leave a great impact on Khalil ur Rehmaan Saheb that reflects in his writing too. So , when our Farah was watching Vastav, she came to know that her very own psychiatrist is dying to marry her.

Beti hona tamaasha nahi hai, iss lyai abba ko ye matt sikhao k 2 betiyoun par khush honai k jurm mai unko baar baar saza milay ge. Lubna knew that her father is mentally disturbed because of Farah and Farah always kept herself first in-front of everyone in her family; Farah’s selfishness lead her too far that she ,herself, forgot to realize that her parents are badly suffering due to her self-centered attitude. It was the time when Farah should be given a wakeup call and Lubna did just the right thing at the right time. She clearly told Farah that this time around, she is in no way going to help her. Plus Farah has no reason to refuse the proposal because he is not “waila” like Mehtaab..3 clinics hain bhaie uss k..

Farah was confused but concerned too. At one side, she was thinking about Afzal and at the other, she was wondering about the situation she put her father in. I must say Vasay Chaudry has completely outdone himself in this doctor role. I mean  sometimes, in real life, psychiatrists act like as if they are patients themselves and he did just the right thing :P .

Psychiatrists kabhi ghussa nahi kartay…(pause).. Aunty.. !..After watching his expressions in that particular scene, I literally laughed like hell. As expected, Farah clearly told him that she is no mood of getting married to him but Docy was in no mood of leaving Farah.

A man never gets closer to Allah till he faces hardest times of his life. And for Yasmeen, now is the time to pledge in front of Allah, not for her sins ,but for a man – typical human psyche.

Coming towards completely different side of Afzal Bhaie, I enjoyed watching it. Najju Bhaie was the victim this time because he murdered 4 innocents and Afzal Bhaie can never ever spare those who kill innocents. Also since, Najju Bhaie was 35, so as Afzal Bhaie said,  it was his time to say “good bye”.

I was glad to see that our Pyarai Afzal is not completely lost, he still recalls his good old times and by observing that, I can say that there is a hope that we will get our very own Pyarai Afzal back soon. I really liked Farah’s visit to Arfa today; Farah wanted to meet Rukayya but Arfa was a girl of dignity, she never wanted her mother to get sympathized by others so she didnot let Farah meet her.

Sole purpose of Farah’s visit to Arfa was to ask about Afzal ; She wanted to talk about Afzal more and more – Afterall, Arfa was the only with whom she can talk about Afzal openly. Farah was given another wake-up call by Arfa today and after that Farah even informed her that she is going to get married soon and with mixed feelings, she left.

Afzal bhaie’s twist got revealed when we came to know that he is working for Police and they want him to be a part of country’s politics as without being politician, no one will let him survive.

Like I always say, this show is so unpredictable that in every episode we encounter with a new twist or turn.  What will be the next turn in “Afzal Bhaie” ? Share your thoughts about this episode.

Rabia Basharat.