It is a well-established fact now that Pakistani producers follow popularity trends more than anything else. If a drama with a certain storyline manages to grab people’s attention, the concept will surely be copied by other producers as well. Therefore, we often see many different versions of the same story on television. There are certain stories that we have seen so many times on television yet they are being re-made over and over again.
Love Stories Based on Class Differences
It can be safely stated that the producers are convinced that people love stories based on class differences. We have watched innumerable dramas in the recent past showing a rich man falling for a girl from a poor background. We have also watched many dramas in which poor girls leave their husbands to marry affluent men. Mohabbat Tujhe Alvida gave a different spin to this concept by showing that a rich woman who fell in love with a man decided to strike a deal with his wife so that she could marry him. This drama serial was clearly a copy of the Bollywood film Judai. While Mohabbat Tujhe Alvida was criticized, it also got the ratings, that the producers were aiming for.
Ehraam e Junoon vs Mohabbat Tujhe Alvida
Since showing a rich young lady falling for a poor man was a new spin on an old story and it worked well for the producers, this idea was bound to be copied. Obviously, when production houses copy script ideas, they do not copy them altogether, they do make certain changes. Ehraam e Junoon producers did just that! They made certain changes in the storyline but the main plot of the drama is definitely the same as Mohabbat Tujhe Alvida. Since Mohabbat Tujhe Alvida showed such a ‘specific’ situation for the first time, there is no doubt that the producers of Ehraam e Junoon requested the writer to copy the story without making it too obvious!
Here are some of the most obvious similarities in the dramas which clearly show that the premise of the story and the main characters in Ehraam e Junoon has been copied from Mohabbat Tujhe Alvida.
Papa Ki Pari
Shafaq vs Shanzay
Is it a coincidence that the names of the leading ladies in both these dramas are similar? We think not! Not only are the names similar but the character traits are more or less the same too. Here is why:
Similarities:
1: Shafaq and Shanzay both have an abundance of wealth but crave love.
2: They are both papa ki paris. Even though Shafaq’s relationship with her father was more loving, Shanzay’s father may not be available like Shafaq’s but he will do anything required to please his princess.
3: Shafaq fell for Shahaan instantly and for no obvious reasons. Shanzay is no different. Even though Shani told her off so many times, her junoon lacks reasoning.
4: The attraction both these rich, educated women feel towards these men comes across as illogical and desperate. The only reasoning is that they are desperate for love and somehow they are convinced that only these men can give them this love.
5: Shafaq was Shahaan’s boss and Shanzay is Shani’s boss.
6: Both of them think there is more ‘sakoon’ in those underprivileged houses than in their grand mansions.
Differences
While Shafaq’s love for Shahaan was shown as ‘true love’ (even though it was unconvincing), Shanzay’s love for Shani can easily pass as madness. The more he insults her, the more she is convinced that he is “amazing”! Shahaan never insulted Shafaq or told her off the way Shani has right from the start therefore the attraction made ‘ a little’ sense.
The treatment given to both these characters is poles apart as well. While Shafaq was convincing as the rich woman who had it all, Shanzay’s character lacks class and is a little too over the top. Mansha Pasha added the kind of class which made Shafaq’s character likable even with all its flaws. Neelam Munir’s caked-up makeup and fake acting definitely promote madness more than class. Sometimes we find ourselves wondering ke naye naye ameer hui hein Shanzay baji.
Shafaq lost her mother, Shanzay’s mother is alive but not present in her life. Therefore, the reasons why both these women are lonely and desperate for love are completely different. Overall, although both these characters have their weaknesses, Shanzay is definitely more annoying than Shafaq maybe because of her khaa janay wali nazrein.
Greedy and Materialistic Wife/Fiancé
Pyar nahin Paisa $$$$
Ulfat vs Sajeela
Ulfat from Mohabbat Tujhe Alvida was an unforgettable character for many reasons. She had a presence and the overdramatic manner in which Sonya Hussyn translated this character on-screen made it the talk of the town. Also, the fact that many viewers felt Sonya Hussyn copied Sri Devi’s style from the Bollywood film Judai made it the topic of debate as well. Ulfat sold her husband for money and later on regretted her decision. Sajeela from Ehraam e Junoon is basically playing the same role as Ulfat in Shayan/Shani’s life.
Similarities
1: Ulfat and Sajeela share a fascination for wealth. Both of them equate happiness with materialistic gain and luxuries.
2: Both of them are male leads’ cousins. Shahaan was Ulfat’s bachpan ka pyar and Sajeela is Shani’s.
Differences
While Ulfat’s love for Shahaan was more genuine and despite her materialistic nature, this character was not flat. It was a layered character with some degree of entertainment value and appeal. Sajeela on the other hand does not seem to love Shani at all and there is nothing likable about this character. She is more like Mehwish from Mere Pass Tum Ho. Also, Sonya Hussyn acted out her character impeccably, while Nimra Khan’s performance makes her character even more annoying.
Becharay Ghareeb Male Candidates
Shahaan vs Shayan
The Sh factor continues as the names of the male leads are just as similar as the female leads in both dramas. There is much more that they have in common. Here is the proof:
Similarities
1: Both these men belong to the lower middle class and are constantly trying hard to make ends meet.
2: They are the sole breadwinners who are continuously under pressure to provide for their families.
3: Both of them are committed and deeply in love with their partners.
4: Shahaan and Shayan both are not attracted to wealth. The fact that their young, beautiful, rich female bosses are in love with them does not excite them!
Differences
While Shahaan from Mohabbat Tujhe Alvida was married, Shayan is only engaged. Shahaan was open about his marital status but Shayan is still hiding the truth from Shanzay. No matter how annoyed he is with her, he does not tell her that he is committed. Shahaan was a more playful, light-hearted character while Shayan is a serious man with rigid principles. Other than that everything else about these characters is pretty much the same.
Supporting Characters in Both Dramas
Some of the supporting characters in Ehraam e Junoon are also a little too similar to the ones we already saw in Mohabbat Tujhe Alvida. These were important supporting characters that helped change the direction of the story.
Here are two of these supporting characters from Ehraam e Junoon which remind us of the characters from Mohabbat Tujhe Alvida.
Sweet and Simple Mothers of The Male Leads
Not only are Shahaan and Shayan mailay mein bichray hue bhai but their mothers are also quite similar. Shahaan’s mother’s character always stood out because she was a gentle, loving, simple, and sensible single mother. Shayan’s mother is the same as well and we feel that Ismat Zaidi was specially directed to portray this character on screen, the same way Sajida Syed did in Mohabbat Tujhe Alvida.
Best Friend With No Story of His Own
Shahaan had Mansoor as that one friend who could see that the rich boss had fallen for his friend way before Shahaan had a clue. He was always there to put certain ideas in Shahaan’s mind and played an important role in the story. Usually, such supporting characters do not stand out but this one did only because Mansoor was a very important part of Shahaan’s life. The same is the case with Shayan, his friend is always there, he knows exactly what is going on and he keeps on reminding Shayan about the importance of Shanzay’s interest in him even though he has told him off repeatedly! Both these characters have no track or story of their own which is rather a peculiar similarity.
Final Thoughts
It is crystal clear that Ehraam e Junoon producers definitely copied the main plot of Mohabbat Tujhe Alvida, which itself was not an original idea. Mohabbat Tujhe Alvida was over-dramatic as well but Ehraam e Mohabbat took this dramatic effect to the next level by making all the characters look like ghosts because of the white foundations and heavy make-up coupled with filters. Not only this, the writer of Ehraam e Mohabbat did not even try to make the characters appealing. Even with all its illogical situations Mohabbat Tujhe Alvida’s characters were grey and there was something likable about each one of the leading characters.
If you are watching Ehraam e Junoon and have not watched Mohabbat Tujhe Alvida, we would suggest you give it a go because it is ‘better’ than the copy. Although, the storyline of both dramas does not deserve appreciation Mohabbat Tujhe Alvida is better executed and far more entertaining. Ehraam e Junoon is already banking on flashback scenes. Also, the makeovers and performances of the actors in Ehraam e Junoon come across as fake and you just cannot take the drama seriously. Even some of the best actors are acting like they don’t know the craft in Ehraam e Junoon. It also has the worst supporting cast.
It remains to be seen whether Ehraam e Junoon will take the same route as Mohabbat Tujhe Alvida in the upcoming week. Will Shanzay try to take her own life like Shafaq and that will turn out to be the determining factor? Will Sajeela also ‘sell’ her fiance off like Ulfat? It seems highly likely that all of this could happen in the next few weeks!
We hope that there will be no more copies of this storyline because there is enough toxicity in our dramas as it is!
