The story took a few unpredictable turns tonight especially because most of the viewers were expecting the play to wrap up soon. Arif lost all his money but did he learn his lesson? Most certainly not! Many of us were expecting this development to bring about the change in his personality which would have ultimately led to an apology but what happened totally was completely different. Arif lost the money, Rania forced him to leave her house and Zarbab is the only family he has now but unfortunately he has learned nothing from all this. He is still the negative and manipulating person he was before. This latest development suggests that the drama is not going to end anytime soon. Yasir Shoro is a very gifted actor who has breathed life into a rather complicated character. He was the perfect choice for playing this role.

Until now Ramish had never intervened in Elma’s married life directly but after finding out that Zarbab and Javeria are having an affair he felt the need to get involved so that he could stop Zarbab from going ahead with his plans. Zarbab’s reaction was shown very realistically. He has always been shown as a very selfish person who finds it impossible to respect people when he does not need anything in return! He never doubted Ramish or Elma before and could not even think about talking to him in the tone he talked to him today but now that Javeria is settled, he has another job and a house he can move in, he feels that he does not need Ramish or Elma like he did before. Elma’s declaration that like a good woman she was going to wait for Zarbab no matter what, was disappointing to say the least! Right now it seems like Elma is destined to be with Zarbab right till the end irrespective of his behavior and actions.

Once again Sunbal and Ramish have decided to get married. This time around Ramish is more “interested” in this marriage than he was before. The scene in the car went to show that even now Sunbal would have to be flexible and understand that Elma and her sisters will be a constant part of Ramish’s life. The enthusiasm with which Sunbal made plans for getting Neha married also showed that she understood Ramish’s relationship with these sisters.

One of the best things about Tum Kon Piya is that even with slow character development, all the characters always make perfect sense. Arif was always shown as the middle child with an inferiority complex and someone who was always looking for shortcuts. Ramish was always the wise one who made his decisions himself. Zarbab was selfish and a coward. Javeria’s character is the only one which keeps you guessing. Since the viewers do not get an insight into her thoughts therefore no one can be sure whether she is genuinely madly and deeply in love with Zarbab or is playing games.

The preview of the next episode promised more drama! Tum Kon Piya is still a decent watch even after 26 weeks and keeps you looking forward to more. This was another interesting episode with some very good performances to its credit. So far Tum Kon Piya does not have a lot of messages but it continues to be entertaining.

How many of you watched this episode? Do share your thoughts about it.

Different tracks of the story are gradually heading towards their end with every passing episode and although some parts of the story are somewhat predictable like how Arif will eventually get a reality check but Elma and Zarbab’s track is very unpredictable so far. This episode focused more on Elma and Zarbab with Ramish getting some screen time. Ramish’s parents were completely missing from this episode but it made perfect sense. When Javeria exited from the story after saying goodbye to Zarbab, warning him about his mother, when he was about to get married she left the viewers with a completely different impression of her character. She was no longer an opportunist but a girl who genuinely loved a man and was willing to move on even though she was not happy with the situation. Unfortunately, the latest developments have turned Javeria into one of those many women in our dramas who somehow want to hold on to a man even after he gets married, for God knows what reasons!! Javeria’s character might have done-to-death written all over it but Kiran Tabier is a very talented new actress who has translated this character superbly on screen. Ali Abbas has also performed his role brilliantly. His dialogue delivery in particular is very impressive. Hina Bayat is another actress who always gives her best. She made the viewers love and hate her character because of her brilliant performance.After watching this episode there will be very few viewers who would want Elma to forgive Zarbab in the end because he is not only cheating on his wife but even after everything she has done he does not have an ounce of respect for her. With Sharafat begum dead Zarbab does not “need” Elma for emotional support and for looking after his mother therefore his attitude towards her in this episode was completely different from his attitude in the past few episodes. After everything Zarbab has done, he does not deserve to be forgiven. This episode showed that Zarbab was still the same person he was before which was actually quite shocking because I am certain that at this point many of the viewers were looking forward to a positive development in Zarbab’s character but it was not meant to be. There must be a good reason why Zarbab and Javeria are being given so much screen time, I am waiting to find out what it is!! Zarbab is a coward, he always was. He is someone who hides behind his lies and deceit but in the process manages to get what he wants!

Elma’s inability to deal with the situation is completely in line with her character but it is very frustrating watching her put up with all this when she has other choices!! In all these years Zarbab did not give Elma the right to question him and she is not the kind of person who would fight for her rights! Will Elma ever learn to question people who manipulate her and demand respect? Most importantly, will she ever walk out of a relationship which has given her nothing but hurt? Elma’s dialogues clearly suggested that she is not naive which was a consolation. The scene in which Elma’s sisters come to see her was too slow, other than all the scenes in tonight’s episode added something to the story. Ramish’s dialogues once again were the highlight of this episode. I am waiting to see how he will react to this recent discovery. Even with Imran Abbas’ rushed dialogue delivery Ramish’s character is very likeable and he is well-suited for the role.

The preview of the next episode showed Elma finally questioning Zarbab. The preview made it quite clear that Zarbab is not going to change anytime soon.

So far Tum Kon Piya has been very logical. It is not an outstanding story but the fact that everything has been shown logically definitely helps. Although the lack of character development can very often test the patience of the viewers but it definitely passes for a very decent guilty pleasure!

How many of you watched this latest installment? Please share your thoughts about it.

This episode had quite a few developments to its credit which are gradually leading to what seems like a gratifying ending. Apart from Zarbab and Elma’s track all the other developments were very convincing. Although Sharafat begum realized her mistakes and was remorseful even in the previous episode but she did not have the courage to ask Elma for an apology. Hina Bayat’s performance tonight was very powerful and she most certainly was the star of the show tonight. When you are willing to forgive someone like Sharafat begum then it means that the actor, the writer and the director have managed to achieve their objective. I wasn’t only willing to forgive Sharafat Begum but her scenes were also very emotional. The credit for this goes to Hina Bayat more than anyone else. The son she always protected and looked out for the most is not willing to spend a penny on her and would much rather see her die. She wants to see her daughter more than anything else in the world but that is also not possible. The scene in which she hugs Elma was the best scene of this episode. Elma didn’t instantly hug her back until Sharafat Begum asked her to forgive her.

Even after everything Elma went through because of Zarbab’s irresponsible behaviour, he is still not willing to take responsibility for his actions. Although Elma has stood by him through thick and thin yet he still thinks she is not good enough. Elma aik buhat achi lrki hai sounded more like approval of her character and personality than a compliment. Also, he is still meeting Javeria on regular basis – she is his escape – and he didn’t say much to her when she said all those things about Elma. Although I have forgiven Sharafat begum but it will take a lot more to make me forgive Zarbab. He does not value Elma and is cheating on her too, that is unforgivable! Elma is too nice for her own good therefore I don’t see her leaving Zarbab. I am wondering how he will redeem himself. Zarbab’s affair (or whatever it is) with Javeria was quite unnecessary since  it is never a good feeling when you have to watch wives’ on screen forgiving their husbands for cheating on them. Zarbab is already flawed to the core therefore this extra-marital affair wasn’t needed to show he was not committed to this marriage.

Arif is gradually headed towards a disastrous ending which is quiet predictable unless the writer has something different in store for us. Yasir Shoro is another actor who has been brilliant as Arif. Also, his character is very well etched out. You understand Arif’s complexes through his actions and dialogues.

Although Neha was my least favorite character in this play but it was good to see her steering Ramish’s life in the right direction and for a change not complaining about how terrible her apya’s life was! Sunbal and Ramish both deserve a happy ending.

Overall, Tum Kon Piya continues to be very entertaining and each week it gives me something to look forward to. It isn’t very often that you enjoy reviewing a drama which is more of a guilty pleasure but I am thoroughly enjoying reviewing this play because there are no loopholes in the story. The preview of the next episode showed Javeria playing the shadi card again and a confrontation between Ramish and Arif.

How many of you watched this latest episode? Don’t forget to share your thoughts about it.

This had to be the most clichéd episode of Tum Kon Piya. The problems faced by Elma in her new house were quite predictable with the exception of Arif’s behaviour which was a little too outrageous. Arif is clearly jealous of his brother and he knows only too well that his mother is insecure. He knows that deep inside Sharafat begum is fearful that Zarbab might get closer to his wife – a very typical insecurity which is actually quite common in our society! Everything that Arif says does have an effect on Sharafat begum especially because she can see that Zarbab genuinely likes his new wife. It was good to see Zarbab giving Elma the kind of welcome she deserved. Like any other seedhi sadhi mashraqi lrki Elma has decided to move on. She is married now and she wants to make this marriage work. Zarbab was always a coward, that is something which won’t change overnight.

So far I had no trouble relating to the different scenarios in this drama but tonight everything that happened with Elma on her first day in her new house did not make me feel for her at all! Elma’s sister’s behaviour was annoying to say the least. They shouldn’t have burdened their father by crying in front of him because there is absolutely nothing he can do now. Also, announcing that Aapi was making the kheer in front of him was very childish. Even if Elma is expected to run the kitchen in that house, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise to any of her sisters since she always did everything when she was in her father’s house. Last but not the least how did these two manage to make such a lavish breakfast!! Now that really was a surprise!

The only person I felt for tonight was Ramish. It looks like Elma is much stronger and she will be able to cope with this situation but Ramish is heartbroken now because the only person he ever loved is someone’s wife. The scene in the hospital was shot really well, these two did not even look at each other, which was definitely very realistic. It was almost as if they never shared all those moments and feelings.

Muzaffar Hassan continued to be as stubborn as before. While Ramish’s mother was concerned about her son, her father was very sure that he will be able to have his own way. Although Muzaffar’s character is clichéd to the core – a business tycoon with a heart of stone! But even then I think Mehmood Akhtar has done complete justice to his character. It is great to see him in so many serials nowadays. He was equally convincing as a caring and sensitive father figure in Gul-e-Rana although his character stopped making sense after a while.

Like all the previous episodes of Tum Kon Piya, this one too was a visual treat. Every single shot was flawless and beautifully captured. The director has managed to make the sets look pleasing without making them too grand. The susral ki politics however had to be the biggest off-putting factor in tonight’s episode. Sharafat begum’s character is one-dimensional; right from the beginning we have only seen one side of her character, the side which wants to control. It would have been nice if there was more to her character since we will be seeing a lot of her.

The preview of the next episode suggested that Muzaffar Hassan’s heart attack will prove to be a game changer. This new development will certainly change Ramish’s decision and he will end up marrying Sunbal.

How many of you watched this latest episode of Tum Kon Piya? Do share your thoughts about it.

Fatima Awan

This episode was extremely emotional; it was heart-wrenching to see a beautiful love story come to an end. Even though the OST was used very generously in this episode but except for one scene in which Ramish was sitting on the bench mourning his loss, I did not feel the need to forward any other scenes since they added the right kind of emotions to this episode. It is very difficult to make a simple love story work because we see them on television all the time but so far Tum Kon Piya team has managed to make this particular love story very relatable. It evokes the right kind of emotions in the viewer and you understand the sense of loss Elma and Ramish feel. The primary reason for this is that the characters are likeable, the direction is superb; especially the fantasy scenes are exceptional and the sizzling chemistry between Ayeza Khan and Imran Abbas make you connect to the way they feel about each other without doubting their feelings for a second even though this too was a classical case of love at first sight.

Elma’s wedding was covered in detail in this episode. There are very few dramas which cover all the details. I am glad this episode was dedicated to the wedding alone because all the aspects were covered nicely. Just like all the previous episodes, this one too was visually very pleasing. Waqar Ali failed to see the differences between the two families which should have been apparent therefore when he heard Zarbab’s mother and sister criticizing the food and the arrangements he was taken aback. Although Ramish’s father employed all the wrong methods to have his own way but it was good to see him ‘acknowledging’ what Waqar Ali and Elma had done for him.

Sharafat begum’s insecurities were further highlighted in tonight’s episode but Zarbab didn’t exactly follow his mother’s orders. The one thing weighing on Zarbab’s mind more than any other is the fear that Javeria might attempt to create problems for him, therefore he addressed that issue first and everything else came later on!! It was funny to watch Zarbab saying all those things to Elma about forgetting the past, it went to show how scared he was of Javeria even now. What he said after that about his family and how Elma might have to put up with a few things she is not used to dealing with went to show that his heart was in the right place. Zarbab likes his new wife and he wants to make his marriage work but the fact is that it doesn’t really matter what he wants because at the end of the day he is completely helpless in front of his mother. He will never be able to take a stand for Elma.

Arif’s character might prove to be a bigger problem for Elma and Zarbab than Sharafat begum. The preview of the next episode suggested that Arif was not willing to give Elma the respect she deserved because he already looks down upon her.

Ayeza Khan was exceptional in tonight’s episode, she managed to translate Elma’s feelings on screen without overdoing it although those scenes were very long. The director made use of the OST and imagined conversations to break the monotony. Imran Abbas also performed really well in all the scenes but he was brilliant in the scene in which Sunbal and Ramish meet. He looked detached and lifeless. Sunbal finds Ramish interesting which I guess is fair enough because he really is one-of-a-kind! Sunbal is interested in Ramish but so far she is not desperate to have him in his life.

The best thing about this episode was that it made me feel for all the characters. Ramish and Elma’s loss was heartbreaking – they could have been so happy together but they are being forced to live a life they didn’t choose for themselves. Waqar Ali’s concerns after overhearing Sharafat begum and her daughter’s conversation made me feel for him too – it was too late now and there was nothing he could do except hoping for the best for a daughter he loved so much. Elma’s sisters felt lost without their Aapi, something that was conveyed well in a short scene.

I would give full marks to the director for making this episode extremely poignant. On the surface this episode didn’t have much to offer but it was special only because of the feelings it managed to evoke. Also, the decorations in this episode were phenomenal. Whoever was responsible for those flower decorations and also the decorations in the wedding function is an extremely creative person. I especially liked the decorations in Elma’s room, the flowers hanging on the ceiling were eye-catching. Elma’s room reminded me of Haadi’s room on the night of his wedding from the play Alvida.

How many of you feel sad after watching this episode? Do share your thoughts about this latest installment.

Fatima Awan

This was another interesting episode of Tum Kon Piya which changed my opinion about some of the characters. Ramish’s character is like a breath of fresh air. It has been a while since I watched and reviewed a drama in which a man thinks that the feelings of the girl he loves are just as important as his. Ramish is not a ghunda or a spoiled brat who is after a girl who does not want to be a part of his life or someone who forces her to marry him, Ramish did not think that because he was rich and good looking he could get any girl at all but he asked Elma before he went to her father with the proposal. Also, he is not a coward who lets the girl he loves get married to someone else because he does not have enough confidence in himself and neither is he someone who is going to believe whatever lies his parents tell him and spend the rest of his life blaming the girl instead of trying to figure out what actually happened! Ramish is sensitive, intelligent and he is also very brave. From the very first episode we have seen him taking a stand for the right things and this time around too he is right in taking a stand.

If this was any other drama Ramish would have fallen for his parents lies, the conversations between him and Elma would never have taken place and as a result he would have married Sunbal out of ‘retaliation’. What we got to see today was definitely not done-to-death – Elma told Ramish that his father was behind all this. I am glad that the writer did not bank on a never-ending misunderstanding to take the story forward. All of us already knew that Elma had all the characteristics to be the ultimate scapegoat, therefore the way she is acting on her father’s orders did not come as a surprise at all. It was however good to see Elma’s sister talking to her father. This was the first time that we saw one of her sisters doing something ‘useful’. Waqar Ali of course did not listen to her.

My opinion about Waqar Ali’s character has changed completely after watching this episode. He is willing to sacrifice his daughter’s happiness in order to make his boss happy – showing he is namak halal – which unfortunately is sad!!  At one time it was all about his integrity but now that is no longer the case, it just looks like he is going out of his way to please someone who never gave him an ounce of respect. He needs his job of course because he has a house to run but then this is more about keeping his job, making sure the boss gets exactly what he wants instead of looking out for his own daughter. The conversation which Elma’s sisters had about Zarbab’s mother and family made Waqar Ali’s character look even worse because if these girls could see that Zarbab’s family was greedy and his mother was a very controlling person than why did Waqar Ali not see all this?

Javeria and her mother’s confrontation with Sharafat Begum and later on Javeria’s encounters with Zarbab were spot on. They went to show that Zarbab’s fears were real – Javeria wasn’t going to leave him alone or forgive him anytime soon. Arif has always been jealous of his brother because he gets more attention and respect in the house and now he has a problem with Elma’s status too. Something tells me that Arif’s jealousy will have a bigger role to play in the story because it has been highlighted in almost all the episodes.

Sunbal’s track has to be my least favorite one in this drama. She is pretty, intelligent enough, educated and comes from a good family then why is she letting Ramish walk all over her? I am sick and tired of watching these desperate girls who run after the hero like he is the last man on earth!

Although I expected this drama to be slow and dull but so far Tum Kon Piya has been much better than many other plays on HUM especially which I have watched and reviewed lately. The credit for this goes to Maha Malik for giving us some interesting characters and for writing beautiful dialogues which show that you can say something that has been said a million times before in a brand new way. Yasir Nawaz has proved that he is a very creative director who knows how to make a drama with a very smooth screenplay. There is excessive use of background score in the drama but other than that the direction is top notch. All the actors are doing a commendable job. It is one of those very few dramas in which even the supporting cast is doing complete justice to their roles. Although Imran Abbas tends to be in a rush while delivering his dialogues sometimes but he has definitely made me connect to his character and feel for him.

Elma will get married in the next episode and the preview of the next episode showed a very insecure Sharafat begum making sure her son laid down the rules of the house for his new bride instantly. What Javeria said to Zarbab will probably turn out to be true! I did not like the part in which Waqar Ali tells his daughter that they were ‘paraye’ for her now – don’t like these dialogues or scenes at all!!!

How many of you watched this latest installment? Do share your thoughts about it. If you missed it, watch it on http://www.dramasonline.com

Fatima Awan

Muzzafar Hassan’s plan worked like a charm only because he knows Waqar Ali too well. Yet again the developments in tonight’s episode were quite predictable with the exception of Zarbab’s track. I am glad there won’t be a two nikkahs scenario in this drama. For the first time since this drama has gone on air some of the scenes in tonight’s episode seemed forced. So far every single scene fits right into place but this time around there were a few conversations which were just used to kill time. Elma’s sisters day dreaming about their sister getting married in a rich house and sharing every detail as if it was too good to be true was the most disappointing filler scene of this episode. It made it look like they were fascinated by Ramish’s wealth and not his personality. I find it funny the way all these sisters stand in a line to say hello or goodbye to guests. They stand according to their heights in a way that all of them can be seen properly:) This goes to show that Yasir Nawaz made sure that every scene was picture perfect but sometimes too much perfection seems unreal. I actually found this funny because in the last episode too they were standing like this when Muzzafar Hassan came.

The dialogues in tonight’s episode yet again were very well thought out. The story is most certainly done-to-death but the dialogues are not ghisse pitte and Yasir Nawaz has directed the drama with dedication. Tonight for the first time it seemed like someone took advantage of Waqar Ali. Although whatever he did was completely in line with his character because he will never let his daughter get married to someone whose parents look down upon them but even then Waqar Ali shouldn’t have let Muzzafar Hassan ‘use’ him like this. It was good to see that Ramish figured out that his father had something to do with this sudden change in Waqar Ali’s decision. Elma trusts her father with making the right decision therefore she is willing to go along with anything he decides for her. Although Waqar Ali is clearly doing all this because he loves his daughter but even then it was sad to see someone like him sacrificing his daughter’s happiness in order to save his own dignity. Ramish’s mother tried her best to blame Waqar Ali and Elma but the trick did not work.

Zarbab’s mother knew that once Zarbab saw Elma he will not object to this proposal. At the same time Sharafat begum wants to make sure that her son does not fall for Elma. She knows her son too well, she knows that he is quite capable of taking orders from anyone at all! Zarbab’s character is actually turning out to be an interesting one! He and Ramish are complete opposites. I am enjoying watching these two completely opposite characters in the same play. Zarbab’s mother has such a strong personality that he never really developed a personality of his own. Ramish on the other hand is intelligent and he has a strong personality. The scene in which Zarbab’s mother snatched the phone from him and says ‘ pata nahi yeh majnoo hamare khandan mei kahan se paida ho gaya’ was hilarious!! Sharafat Begum adds some much-needed light moments to this drama. Hina Bayat owns her role and I am looking forward to watching how Sharafat deals with Javeria and her mother.

Ayeza Khan was the perfect choice for playing this role because of her looks in particular. Usually when we see people praising a girl like she is the most innocent looking girl alive, sometimes the actress playing the role does not fit the criteria or her character or portrayal is so annoying that her beauty is relegated to the background but in this case Ayeza Khan completely makes everything about Elma’s character believable. Qavi Khan has played his part brilliantly and gives the viewers a reason to fall in love with and feel for his character. Mehmood Akhtar also deserves due credit for doing complete justice to his role. Imran Abbas is always a perfect fit in these characters but since the last episode his dialogue delivery has not been up to the mark. Azra Muhiuddin is very convincing as the elitist aunty who has a very materialistic approach towards life. Ali Abbas deserves tons of praise for nailing his character – he has made his character very interesting.

With this episode Elma and Ramish’s love story came to an end. In the next episode Ramish will say goodbye to Elma in person. The preview of the next episode also suggested that he will make sure that his parents do not force him into getting married to Sunbal. This drama is full of clichés but Ramish’s character is definitely not one of them. The preview also showed Muzzafar asking Waqar to marry Elma sooner than planned.

How many of you watched this latest episode of Tum Kon Piya? Don’t forget to share your thoughts about it. If you missed it, watch it on http://www.dramasonline.com

Fatima Awan

This was another interesting episode of Tum Kon Piya which did have a few developments to its credit which were not very predictable. Every episode of this play is entertaining and it makes you look forward to more even though most of us know only too well how the story is going to unfold in the future. There wasn’t a single filler scene in tonight’s episode which is nothing short of an achievement! The pace of the drama is steady and it isn’t over-dramatic.

This episode opened with Ramish’s visit to Waqar Ali’s house. He told his father in the previous episode that he was going to do whatever it took to let Waqar Ali know that he was truly sorry for what had happened. His chacha welcomed him and the meeting between the two was shown very nicely. I must say that Qavi Khan has made Waqar Ali’s character memorable because of his brilliant acting. He has great chemistry with all his co-stars and his acting is very natural. You feel for Waqar Ali more than any other character in the play and watching him being ‘cheated’ and ‘blackmailed’ is very upsetting. Mehmood Akhtar has also proved that he was the perfect choice for playing this role.

Waqar Ali is a very honest person therefore he expects everyone else to be equally sincere with him. Although he knows that Muzzafar Hassan has never given him the status he deserves but even then he does not think twice before forgiving him and moving on. The step that Ramish’s father took was unpredictable and an interesting development in the story. He knew that he could never force his son to change his decision but it would be far easier to convince Waqar Ali to marry Elma to someone else so that Ramish does not have that option anymore.

Ramish and Sunbal’s track has to be the most clichéd and the only annoying part of this story. Ramish told Sunbal that they were not compatible which obviously meant he did not want to marry her. Is Sunbal’s IQ level so low that she didn’t get the message because it was pretty loud and clear!!! It was however good to see Sunbal’s father giving her a choice to refuse this proposal if things did not work out but something tells me that this marriage is bound to happen.

Zarbab finally revealed his true feelings when he talked to Arif. He does not even love Javeria but is only going along with this relationship because he is scared of the repercussions if he leaves Javeria. Like every other character in the play I have absolutely no trouble relating to Zarbab’s character. He is a coward who will never take responsibility for anything in life but at the same time he is too scared of leaving Javeria because her mother or father might turn up on his door step. Arif gives Zarbab the wrong suggestions but at the same time he informs his mother what he is planning to do. Sharafat already likes Elma and now she has an even bigger reason to speed up the process! Ali Abbas’s performance has been flawless right from the first episode. His dialogue delivery is always perfect. Yasir Shoro is also playing his part really well.

Ayeza Khan is very convincing as the bholi bhali Elma who is in love with the man of her dreams. Usually such characters are annoying but Ayeza Khan makes Elma very likeable. Imran Abbas’ dialogues in tonight’s episode were written beautifully but his dialogue delivery was very rushed. He did not pause at all when he was talking to Sunbal, maybe because he was angry but even when he was talking to Waqar Ali, it seemed like he was reading the dialogues and not delivering them with proper emotions and pauses. Yasir Nawaz has made this play a visual treat; his direction has made all the difference and the cinematography is captivating. The scenes in all the episodes so far in which Elma and Ramish are day dreaming about each other are beautifully shot. The script doesn’t have anything new to offer but so far it is very logical and the dialogues have been written very beautifully too.

The preview of the next episode showed Zarbab’s mother convincing him to go to Elma’s house and Waqar Ali asks his daughter for the big sacrifice!

How many of you watched this latest episode? Do share your thoughts about it. If you missed it, watch it on http://www.dramasonline.com

Fatima Awan

The only thing missing from this over-dramatic yeh shadi nahi ho sakti episode was a heart attack ;) It was a pleasant surprise when no one landed in the hospital by the end of this episode! All the recent developments were predictable but even then Yasir Nawaz has made this very simple story visually pleasing and engaging enough by giving it a very smooth narrative and making sure that all the characters involved get the screen time they deserve. Although Tum Kon Piya’s story is an ancient as the sun and the stars but the well written dialogues (good Urdu), superb direction and a talented cast make this drama a decent watch.

This episode focused on Ramish more than Elma. Ramish finally told his parents that he wanted to get married to Elma but his parents who let him choose his own path all his life were not willing to let him choose his life partner. Ramish took pride in the fact that his parents’ training was behind his confident personality but somehow he failed to see what was coming ahead. Although this episode was full of clichés but the only thing that annoyed me was the way Sunbal showed her interest in Ramish. Yes! Ramish is a rich educated and well off guy but Sunbal is also a very attractive, educated girl who comes from an equally rich family therefore she has absolutely no reason to go after a man who is making it very clear that he is not interested in her. I just hope that Sunbal is not shown as a desperate girl who will do anything to get married to Ramish.

After Ramish’s father insults him Waqar Ali is shaken and he forbids his daughters from calling Ramish. It was good to see Elma telling Ramish that his father had done something to upset Waqar Ali. Ramish’s confrontation with his father showed yet again that he was just as stubborn as his father. Imran Abbas has done complete justice to his character so far. The on screen chemistry between Ayeza Khan and Imran Abbas makes me look forward to their scenes. Although their scenes together are very romantic but I like the way they are being shown. Most of the times they are seen imagining these meetings which in my opinion was a brilliant idea.

Zarbab’s submissive personality has put him in a tough spot. Unlike Ramish he does not have the guts to tell his mother what he wants and at the same time he does not have the courage to tell Javeria that he cannot go along with her plan. I am dreading a dusri shadi scenario at this point. The fact that Elma won’t get married to Ramish would be upsetting enough but if Zarbab goes ahead with both these nikkahs – one with Javeria and the other one with Elma – then it will be the worst turn in the story. Javeria’s mother wants to get back at Sharafat that is the only reason why she is forcing Zarbab to go behind his mother’s back and do something that will hurt her badly. Zarbab’s brother who is already jealous of him also makes sure that he says a few things which will further convince him to go ahead with the nikkah with Javeria. At the same time he tells his mother what might happen which gives her even more of a reason to rush to Elma’s house with the proposal.

Overall, Tum Kon Piya is the kind of play which does not have anything grand to offer but at the same time in my opinion in some ways it is much better than many of the overrated plays. It reminds me of Dil-e-Muztar which did not have a very unusual story in the beginning but it was happening and directed well. Imran Abbas and Ayeza Khan make a good looking and refreshing on screen couple. The supporting cast is also well-suited for their respective roles. Although the events are over-dramatic but the acting is always topnotch.

The preview of the next episode showed Ramish apologizing to Waqar Ali and Sharaft begum ‘interviewing’ Elma.

How many of you watched this latest episode? Do share your thoughts about it. If you missed it, watch it on http://www.dramasonline.com

Fatima Awan

The developments in tonight’s episode were quite predictable but at the same time they were very believable. Yes, the script has done-to-death written all over it; rich boy falls in love with not-so-rich cousin and the zalim samaj won’t ever let them be together. But to be honest there are no glaring flaws in the script, the characters are typical but still likeable and believable and the direction of the play so far has been very smooth. All these factors make this drama enjoyable. Unlike many other plays so far none of the characters or the developments make you wonder why and how everything happened. The script is clichéd but the execution is not over-dramatic. The writer has played it safe by keeping the story and characters simple. The fact that all the actors in this drama are standing out in their respective roles also gives this drama an edge over others with similar stories. The production values are impressive and the overall feel of the play is refreshing too because different locations have been used to shoot the scenes.

This episode opened with Javeria and Zarbab’s meeting which once again showed how incapable Zarbab was of taking a stand for himself. He cannot take the pressure from his mother and siblings but Javeria on the other hand is very confident about what she wants and she will go to any extent to get it. The primary reason for this difference in their personality is that Javeria’s mother supports her but Sharafat has made it very clear that she will not allow Zarbab to marry Javeria. Zarbab is clearly someone who cannot rebel against his mother therefore it is highly unlikely that this marriage will ever take place. Sharafat knows that her son runs the house therefore she wants a sidhi sahi lrki who will not cause any trouble which is why Elma is the perfect candidate!

The difference between Ramish and his father’s thinking was once again highlighted in the conversation (argument) they had next to the pool. Ramish’s father has absolutely no respect for Waqar and he wants his son to stay away from him. Even after this conversation Ramish still thinks that he can somehow convince his parents to go to Elma’s house probably because in the first episode we saw him convincing his father of doing something he did not want to do at all. For a change one of our heroes was intelligent enough to talk to the girl’s father first before talking to his own parents. Also, for once the girl’s father could tell that this boy was interested in his daughter and had the courage to say everything he felt in front of him although he has great regard for Ramish. This was the best scene of this episode mainly because of the brilliant acting by both the actors involved and the dialogues. Even after Ramish assures Elma’s father that his parents will come to ask for her hand Waqar Ali is still not very sure how he feels about it. Later on the conversation he had with Elma went to show that he was also happy and optimistic that Ramish might be able to convince his parents. . Muhammad Qavi Khan is an exceptional actor who has made his character extremely likeable, you feel nothing but respect for Waqar Ali. Hira Tareen plays the character of Sunbal in the play; she is the one Ramish’s parents want him to get married too. Her character and family was introduced in tonight’s episode.

Quite a few scenes in this episode were dedicated to showing Sharafat’s ‘strong’ personality. Although Sharafat’s role doesn’t have a lot to offer but Hina Bayat never fails to make her presence felt. You understand why Zarbab would be so scared of her mother and why someone like her never let her son grow into a more confident individual.

You don’t realize this while watching the drama but when you sit down to write your thoughts you realize how many times marriage/rishtas are mentioned in this drama! Both the stories revolve around the boys finding the right suitors. Imran Abbas and Ayeza Khan have incredible on screen chemistry which comes naturally. Normally these love at first sight situations in dramas are very difficult to relate to but Ayeza Khan and Imran Abbas make this whole scenario very believable. I honestly believe that the kind of chemistry the leads share can make or break a drama. The overuse of the OST in the background every time Elma and Ramish meet is distracting and it is getting highly repetitive. The visuals, like the dreams they see and the way they look at each other definitely help more than the background score.

So far, so good is the best way to sum it up. Tum Kon Piya is not a masterpiece, we didn’t expect it to be one so that helps!! But overall it is a decent play which keeps on giving you something to look forward to. The preview of the next episode suggested that Ramish’s father might give Waqar Ali a good reason to marry Elma elsewhere since his dignity is very important to him.

How many of you watched this latest episode? Don’t forget to share your thoughts about it. If you missed it, watch it on http://www.dramasonline.com

Fatima Awan

This episode just like the last one was definitely not free of clichés but even then I enjoyed watching it. The story has nothing new to offer either since we have seen a rich boy falling in love with a seedhi sadhi not so rich girl so many times before too. Although this drama has all the ingredients which would normally put me off but the actors, use of good Urdu and the direction of the play makes it worth watching. The characters are black and white but so far they are realistic and therefore believable. There is definitely an undeniable chemistry between Imran Abbas and Ayeza Khan which makes this love at first sight scenario more convincing than it usually is. I must add though that it would have been much better if the OST, especially the “tum kon piya” part was not played every time Elma and Ramish had an encounter.

All the characters were introduced with precision in the previous episode therefore this episode was all about taking different tracks forward. Ramish is in love with Elma but unlike many of our heroes he wants to know whether Elma feels the same way or not about him before sharing his feelings with his parents. Elma clearly finds Ramish attractive, we saw her day dreaming and reciting poetry which went to show that she was thinking about him. Ramish’s visits to Elma’s house became more regular and he made sure that he got a chance to talk to Elma while he was there. Elma’s father holds Ramish very dear to him therefore he showers him with love every time he pays a visit. He even covered up for Ramish in the office even though he knew the consequences. I am sure many viewers like me are waiting to find out how he reacts once he finds out how Ramish feels about Elma.

Ramish’s parents want him to marry someone rich, preferably someone from a business family so that she can change his thinking!! So we have another set of parents who think that getting their son married will solve all their problems! The viewers got to see clearly the vast difference in the thinking of Ramish and his father in the previous episode. In this episode too Ramish’s father was frustrated by his attitude and compared him to his older brother who is the perfect role model. Honestly speaking, the conversation between Ramish’s parents about his wedding was so clichéd and done-to-death that it made me laugh!!

Zarbab and Javeria’s track got almost as much screen time as Ramish and Elma’s track. Javeria is apparently as chalak and makar as Sharafat thinks she is! Sharafat however is not going to give up easily and this episode showed that Zarbab is quite incapable of taking a stand for himself. The preview of the next episode showed how this track will be connected to the main leads especially Elma. Although Elma’s character is that of a perfect girl who can do no wrong  and she has an overactive imagination, two traits which aren’t always appealing but somehow Ayeza Khan makes this character likeable. You don’t get distracted by the bangles or the made-up look but it adds to the overall impression this character has on the viewers. Ayeza Khan looks pretty and she has breathed life into a character which doesn’t have much to offer. Imran Abbas is equally convincing as the sacha ashiq! I must say that the supporting cast is doing a commendable job as well. Ali Abbas has really grown as an actor and it is great to see Yasir Shoro in a play after a long time. Hina Bayat is perfect as the not-so-sharif Sharafat! I must give the writer credit for using some beautiful words of Urdu in her dialogues. Although the story is typical but the dialogues are like poetry. Urdu is a beautiful language but not too many writers put it to good use while writing their scripts, Maha Malik has definitely done complete justice to our language in these two episodes. Yasir Nawaz and the production house deserves credit for making this play visually pleasing.

Overall, this episode was a good watch. If you are looking for something decent to watch, you should definitely tune into Tum Kon Piya but if you want something different and extraordinary than tuning into this drama might turn out to be a frustrating experience. How many of you watched this latest installment? Don’t forget to share your thoughts about it. If you missed this episode, watch it on http://www.dramasonline.com

Fatima Awan

The story is moving ahead at a snail’s pace at this point and the writer used eavesdropping generously in this episode to take the story forward. Having said that I must also add that this is one of those very few dramas which can easily be passed as a family drama. Although it deals with the usual shadi shuda zindagi ke masail and have a very bechari aurat  as a lead but the director and the writer did not cross any lines which would make this drama into one of those which make you cringe every step of the way. Elma and Ramish were emotionally involved with each other at one time but even then when they met in this episode or earlier it was clear that both of these people shared nothing more than utmost respect for each other now. Also, Ramish kept on asserting the fact that Elma’s father wanted him to look out for them therefore this was something he was doing to keep a promise he made to a dying man. Zarbab’s affair with Javeria has also been given just as much screen time as was necessary. Unlike many other dramas, the negative character isn’t shown plotting and planning all the time which is also a plus.

Neha’s conversation with Ramish and later on everything she said to Zarbab was completely in line with her character. There were however a lot of dialogues and situations which were highly repetitive. This has been the biggest negative point of this drama – the characters, dialogues and scenarios which haven’t changed at all in all these episodes. Zarbab’s sister’s marriage could have been a turning point but she is happily married. Also, Elma’s father’s death and the way her in laws acted in the situation could have been one of those situation which serve as a wake up call but Elma’s character shows no signs of changing. Zarbab’s character is the only one which has changed from bad to worse otherwise all the characters are pretty much the same since the beginning. Lack of character development in my opinion has to be the biggest flaw in this drama, other than that it is still a play which keeps on giving you something to look forward to.

Arif’s track is getting interesting. His character is negative but it holds your interest. He told Rania, he didn’t want anything to do with his family and at the same time he told his mother that she can come stay with them after a while. He is a very clever person who does not believe in burning his ships. Neha explained Zarbab’s family in a very apt manner; they are insensitive and selfish. The confrontation between Zarbab and Elma however was not very gratifying. When Zarbab told her she was getting everything a gherulu aurat needed she should have told him she wasn’t get any affection – something which a person, any person needs more than anything else. Unfortunately, Elma is no match for Zarbab or his family and what is even more unfortunate is that even with the present circumstances  she feels a sense of belonging towards these people. It is also strange that she chose to ignore the fact that her husband is cheating on her. Sharafat begum’s rants are getting monotonous. It has been very well established by now that she is very insecure and self-centered therefore showing scenes which reinforce this side of her personality are unnecessary. It is always a pleasure watching Hina Bayat on screen but I do feel that she is being wasted in this role.

Tum Kon Piya has been directed really well and it has been written well too but the dialogues and scenarios were quiet average in tonight’s episode. All the actors have done complete justice to their characters. It is one of those very few dramas in which every actor has given immaculate performance but the characters are mostly black and white which makes this drama a decent watch but nothing outstanding which gives you something to reflect upon. We do need such dramas because the viewers need something logical yet not very heavy duty to watch during weekdays.

The preview of the next episode showed Arif accusing Elma and Ramish, something which was expected from him.

How many of you watched this latest installment? Do share your thoughts about it.

Fatima Awan

Elma finally “sort of” took a stand for herself in this episode mainly because of her sister but also because she knows that she does not have anyone to look out for her any more. She is the older sister who is expected to take care of her sisters now that her father is no more therefore the slight changes in her personality were definitely easy to connect to. For once she did not care whether Sharafat begum approved of her actions or not but she demanded something from her husband because she thought she deserved it. It was also good to see her talking about her status in the house with her sister and her husband. She understands very well how much she was doing for this family and she expected something in return now. While it was good to see Elma expecting a little more from her husband, it was definitely very strange watching her put up with her husband’s infidelity without confronting him. Unfortunately Zarbab is so full of flaws that Elma cannot really make him come up to her expectations even if she wants.

Zarbab was always shown as the sort of person who would much rather pay his mother to stay out of trouble then take a stand for anything at all. Zarbab might run the house but that is not because he is very responsible but only because he hates confrontations. He knows that he can only live a peaceful life in that house if he continues giving her money. He has never shown any kind of affection towards any of his family members who are just as selfish as he is. Zarbab wants an easy life and anything or anyone who will make his life complicated will not get his support. He gladly had an affair with Javeria and was even willing to marry her because he was scared of her parents!! But when his mother found out and was willing to bail him out of this situation, he let her do that. Zarbab is a coward who will never be able to take a stand for his wife but who even now would much rather find an escape than address the issues at hand. Until now Sharafat Begum was the only one pressurizing her son but now that Elma wants him to take a stand for her, he will have even more of a reason (excuse) to get closer to Javeria.

The scene in which Sharafat Begum and Zarbab were talking about Arif must have some kind of significance because it got plenty of screen time and there was no other apparent reason for Arif to bring her office friend home. The rona dhona in this episode was a little too much for my liking. It was funny how Zarbab had to bear with everything Ramish said to him because Ramish is rich! Imran Abbas yet again seemed disinterested and his dialogue delivery wasn’t very impressive. I have never really liked Elma’s sisters because their scenes were always a little too ‘decorated’ but in this episode Neha’s relationship with her sister was shown really well. Elma finally has someone in that house who she can call her own – something which was badly needed.

Sunbal has managed to stay positive even after Ramish did not turn up for the engagement. The reasoning she gave for holding on to the relationship was impressive but it seems highly unlikely that Ramish will get over Elma anytime soon. The preview of the next episode showed Zarbab regretting his decision to get married to Elma and Neha talking to Ramish in a way which would be a cause of concern for him.

Tum Kon Piya is one of those dramas in which the production values, performances and the direction makes up for an average script. Like I said before the script is average but it is logical therefore the drama is watchable and does not have any glaring flaws.

How many of you watched this latest episode? Don’t forget to share your thoughts about it.

Fatima Awan

This episode of Tum Kon Piya was extremely depressing and somewhat overdramatic at times. Elma’s mother in law and even her husband proved that they don’t even have an ounce of sympathy for Elma. I said this before and I feel the need to say it again, it would have been so much better if Zarbab wasn’t flirting with Javeria because now there is absolutely nothing good about his character. He is a complete loser who blamed his wife for his flirtation with Javeria. It was sad to see a girl like Elma wasting herself trying to please people who don’t and will never value her. Ramish continued to take a stand for Waqar Ali in front of his parents and now that he is gone, he has an even bigger responsibility on his shoulders. Someone needed to say all the things to Zarbab which Ramish said to him. Zarbab knew what he had done was very wrong therefore he had nothing to say in his defense, also, since he is so impressed by Ramish, he would have tolerated anything at all as long as it was coming from him. It seems like Ramish’s marriage isn’t going to take place after all.

Once again the fact that everyone related to Zarbab whether it is family or friends (Javeria) are out to destroy Elma stood out like a sore thumb. There was a time when Zarbab in his own cowardly way used to support Elma but now even that support is gone. Zarbab wants to stay out of the house for as long as he can since he has someone who is willing to give him company outside the house whenever he needs it. Although I am not too happy with this latest development but I must say that it is in line with Zarbab’s character. He is a coward who has always tried to run away from problems instead of confronting them. He is the oldest son who runs the house, if he had the guts to tell his mother where she was wrong, the whole household would have had a completely different set up. It goes to show that a son and husband’s responsibility is not limited to earning for his family members alone but he also needs to draw the line when someone is being unfair even if it is his own mother. Someone like Zarbab of course is incapable of taking up such a huge responsibility. Sharafat begum is clearly the supreme authority in that house and like a dictator she only looks after her own interests.

Sharafat begum found out about Elma’s father’s condition when Arif went to deliver the card but she hid the truth from Elma. The worst part was when she didn’t even let Zarbab tell Elma that her father had passed away. The preview of the next episode suggested that Elma asks Neha to move in with her. How can Elma forgive Sharafat Begum like this? I can’t imagine Elma living in that house now like nothing ever happened. Elma unfortunately has one thing in common with her husband – she too is incapable of taking a stand for herself. I hope there is a good explanation for Neha staying with Elma since staying with her other sister would have been a more logical thing to do since her mother in law is her khala as well. The preview of the next episode also suggested that Sunbal and Ramish might not get married after all – I really hope that Sunbal supports her brother’s decision otherwise this drama has two very foolish women who do not know what is good for them.

Waqar Ali’s funeral scenes were a little too dramatic for my liking. Elma’s sisters’ over emotional dialogues start getting annoying after a while. Elma’s illness has been relegated to the background for now. How will someone like Neha live in a house which is very different from her father’s house? Will her presence effect Elma’s position in the house in a good way?  How far will Javeria go and will Zarbab go along with everything she wants to do? Although Elma too is an ultimate bechari but there are definitely times when I truly feel for her. Ayeza makes this role tolerable (if not likeable) and the fact that every now and then we see Elma complaining make her more human.

How many of you watched this latest installment? Do share your thoughts about it.

Fatima Awan

Tum Kon Piya continues to be as clichéd as always but the direction of the drama makes it a watchable play even with the slow pace. After watching bechari Mannu on Mondays, one does not have a lot of stamina to watch another story which revolves around shadi shuda zindagi ke masail but thankfully this drama has characters which make sense even with their flawed personalities. The scenarios have not been complicated to the point that the story goes off track therefore it is definitely a better watch than the most watched drama of the season even with a very typical storyline, the viewers are left wondering what will happen next. Every episode has one or two unexpected developments and a lot of twists and turns which are done-to-death, all of which I will try to discuss in this review.

This episode opened from where the last one ended. After Sharafat begum told Elma’s father off, he left with a heavy heart even more certain than ever that his daughter was never going to be happy in her new house. Elma also remembered why her father asked her to leave Ramish – he put self-respect before everything else. Unfortunately getting married to Zarbab, just like expected, did not help in keeping Waqar Ali or Elma’s self-respect intact. Waqar Ali could not see the obvious – something which even Elma’s sisters could see when Sharafat begum came with the proposal, only because he was in a difficult situation and had to make a quick decision. Waqar Ali thought that people who belonged to the same class as his would be able to give Elma more respect than those who were very affluent. This particular part of the episode was very convincing but it was dragged. This was the first time however when Elma talked to Zarbab about how she felt but Zarbab of course didn’t have much to say about it.  I was expecting Waqar Ali to die but that did not happen – which is good because then Elma would have blamed herself for his death.

Sharafat Begum managed to have her way yet again without giving Elma any credit. The only new development in Elma’s track was her finding out that there was something going on between Zarbab and Javeria. The way these two flirt with each other goes to show that Zarbab won’t think twice before cheating on his wife. This particular part of the story was not something I anticipated and definitely not one I like. Zarbab is already a coward which is bad enough, it would have been good if he stayed loyal to his wife – that was the only likeable quality about his character and that too is gone now. Therefore now there is absolutely nothing about his character which makes him different from many other such husbands we have seen in dramas. It was sad watching Sharafat Begum endorse her daughter’s point of view about Javeria being around Zarbab.

Watching Waqar Ali lean on Ramish yet again for support was endearing. Although this particular situation is somewhat like Mann Mayal too but what makes it more acceptable is the fact that all these scenarios are linked to what has happened already. Waqar Ali has always liked Ramish and even when he refused to marry Elma with him, their ties were never effected by it. There is a solid relationship between Ramish and Waqar Ali, he is not using him.

Sunbal’s character has never been likeable, while she is not as desperate as Jeena but she is very willing to go along with a marriage which is clearly based on one-sided love. Sunbal wants to know more about Elma but no one is willing to tell her who she was and why can’t Ramish forget her. Waqar Ali has given Ramish a huge responsibility and if he passes away then Ramish will be more involved with his family than ever. Imran Abbas’ acting was flawless in tonight’s episode.

Arif’s track has to be the most unpredictable of all the tracks. Something tells me that his relationship with this girl in his office will effect Elma more than anyone else at some point. What the story of this drama lacks is absence of someone Elma could confide in and trust in her new house. She is surrounded by people who do not even acknowledge her presence. Zarbab and Javeria’s track has to be the most disappointing development in the story. Somehow I always wanted to believe that even with all his flaws Zarbab was capable of loving Elma and would not cheat on her. I am very impressed with Ali Abbas’ acting right from the first episode. The director Yasir Nawaz has definitely tried to do the best he could with the script. While the script is typical but the way it has been written is impressive – excellent Urdu and a logical story line. Also, every episode does give you something to look forward to.

How many of you watched this latest episode? Do share your thoughts about it.

Fatima Awan

My favorite part of this episode was the way a damaad’s status in our society was questioned in this episode and at the same time Ramish’s character was used to show what a damaad should really be like. On the one hand there was Zarbab and his family who expected protocol and attended the functions like guests. While Zarbab’s mother is so sure what Elma’s duties as a bahu are, her son somehow has absolutely no duties towards his in laws. He is only expected to serve his own family and the biggest favor he can do for his in laws is letting his wife stay another day with her father. Ramish’s behaviour was completely different, he participated in the wedding like a family member and tried to do whatever he could. It also went to show once again how different Elma’s life would have been had she be married to Ramish. Everything that happened tonight sent the message loud and clear therefore when Neha complained about Zarbab’s behaviour, it was unnecessary. All Elma’s sister have done so far ever since she got married is complaining about marital problems and Elma’s in laws and husband!

Zarbab thought about what he saw when he walked in Elma’s house but thankfully the story did not take a typical turn. Javeria seems to be making her way back in Zarbab’s life and Arif’s new friend might cause problems for Elma by sharing details about Elma’s past. Sharafat Begum did not get as much screen time as she did in the past few episodes therefore her character was more bearable in tonight’s episode. She wants the things Elma brought with her when she got married and in the preview it was actually surprising to see Zarbab asking for Elma’s permission because I expected someone like Sharafat Begum to take these things without asking!! Elma’s doctor’s appointment has been delayed once again because Zarbab didn’t think it was important enough.

Sunbal is slowly turning into another one of those good looking, well educated, modern girls who come from a good family but somehow they are okay with getting married to a man who makes it very obvious that he is not interested! Sunbal is getting married to Ramish and not his mother, they don’t have anything in common but even then she does not think it might be a problem. This is the only track which isn’t very convincing otherwise although the writer has played it safe but the developments in the story are always convincing.

Considering that this was the 15th episode, this drama is doing better than many other dramas we have seen recently. Although, some episodes might not have anything exciting to offer but the characters make sense and so does the story. The acting by all the actors has been up to the mark and it is a decent play to watch on a weekday because it keeps you looking forward to more. Ayeza Khan, Imran Abbas and Ali Abbas in particular have breathed life into their characters and they make their presence felt every time they are on screen.

Fatima Awan

Elma’s father finally decided to put his foot down, Sunbal started ‘questioning’ Ramish like a typical fiancé, Zarbab decided it was time to give Elma a break, Javeria continued to pretend like Zarbab wasn’t married and the episode ended with the scene everyone was looking forward to the most! Sharafat Begum’s typical zalim saas behaviour got plenty of screen time yet again in this latest episode. The writer has managed to send the message across loud and clear therefore showing more of Sharaft Begum’s unreasonable attitude towards her bahu is making this particular track extremely monotonous. It would be nice if Sharafat Begum did not get so much screen time and didn’t have so many dialogues in every episode. She is a zalim saas who will never respect or love Elma – point taken and noted – can we please move forward now!

Zarbab clearly felt for his wife therefore he decided to give her sisters a call but he did not feel for her enough to take a stand for her in front of his mother. It was however good to see Waqar Ali saying the obvious – Elma was still his daughter and nothing could change that. The scene in which all these sisters were lying in the same bed with their father was really cute, went to show how close they all were and how different they were from Zarbab’s family. Elma hasn’t been to the doctor yet, something which I hope will be taken care of soon!! Zarbab supported Elma when her father came to pick her but at the same time he made sure he gave his mother a good ‘explanation’ for letting her go so that his mother did not feel insecure. The difference between the kind of life Elma has in her father’s house and the one she has in her new house was highlighted yet again. After every meeting with Sharaft Begum Elma’s father is even more convinced that he made the wrong decision for her daughter.

Ramish was shown preparing for his wedding but like he said earlier this is merely something which he is doing to please his parents and his heart is not in this decision. Sunbal questioned about Elma for the first time and now that she knows Ramish is going to be her husband, she is more interested in what is going on in his mind and would naturally want some things her way too once they get married. It is sad to see someone like Ramish who was so passionate about his likes and dislikes giving up like this.

Unfortunately, this episode did not have anything new to offer. While all the tracks were covered in this episode, the story is moving forward at a very slow pace. Most of the conversations revolve around shadi shuda zindagi and every conversation in Elma’s house revolves around her life after she got married. It is impossible to find flaws in the story, the direction, acting and production values are top-notch too but the must-watch factor was completely missing from this episode. It is time to add something brand new to the story, these conversations revolving around life before and after marriage and Sharafat begum’s never-ending rants are getting monotonous.

The preview of the next episode showed more of the same! How many of you watched this latest installment? Do share your thoughts about it.

Fatima Awan

There was plenty of focus on Elma’s ‘maid status’ in the house in this episode. Sharafat Begum’s unstoppable rants and her failure to see her daughter-in-law as a living and breathing person who has another family too is getting annoying with every passing episode. Zarbab’s ‘attempts’ to take a stand for his wife continued to fall on deaf ears and he also showed those sides of his personality which went to show that even with all his niceness he is after all a part of this household in which there is no concept of caring for each other beyond a certain limit. Arif’s selfish and thankless attitude was also highlighted in this episode. Javeria’s re-entry in the house was shown in a brief scene but it went to show that she will be making an appearance every now and then to influence Zarbab. The change in Muzzafar Hassan was the only positive development in this episode but Ramish has decided to marry Sunbal even though he made it clear that he feels nothing for her. Sunbal’s attitude yet again was disappointing and somewhat confusing. In the last episode she said that Ramish’s mother had made it clear that he was in love with Sunbal but in this episode it seemed like she knew that was not the case. Unfortunately, this marriage is bound to take place or so it seems at this point.

Elma yet again was unable to make it to an important family function, this time it was more important than anything else she has missed so far. The fact that these situations have been shown so many times in the previous episodes as well did not make me feel for Elma’s character this time around too. She knows her mother-in-law well enough to know now that she will not allow her to leave the house for so many days therefore expecting something like this was wishful thinking on her part. Sharafat begum has conveniently stopped doing any housework at all therefore if Elma is sick or not at home then no one gets fed!!! A very typical situation indeed and probably something which is faced by every other married woman but definitely nothing new or enticing. Elma continues to be Allah mian ki gaye! Elma used to take care of everyone in her house too therefore this status is not new for her. The only big difference is that she used to do all this housework out of love before and she received love in return but now she does not get any appreciation for the work she does – like I said absolutely nothing new about this situation. Just like all the previous episodes it seemed odd that Elma could not even answer her sister’s call, call her back or message her to tell her she could not make it to the function. Instead, just like always an imagined conversation with Ramish was the only way for her to ‘vent out’!!

Zarbab’s behaviour towards Elma after Javeria left went to show what kind of a person he was. He likes Elma, cares about her but for him it was really important that his wife looked pretty and dressed up in front of his ex-girlfriend. At the same time when Elma fainted, he was genuinely worried for her. Zarbab’s character is nicely etched-out, he is not all black. He can be nice but he wasn’t raised in a way that he can care for other people beyond a certain point! The fact that there are different shades to this person’s personality make him better character than other zalim husbands we see in other dramas. Ali Abbas has impressed me with his acting right from the first episode. His dialogue delivery is very impressive and his acting is always effortless.

Ramish’s decision to get married to Sunbal was more like surrendering than anything else although even then it wasn’t a very convincing development in the story and I am still hoping that this marriage will not take place. Arif’s new job at Ramish’s office will only create further problems for Elma. The preview of the next episode however showed an entirely different scenario which has done-to-death written all over it but hopefully Zarbab will not start doubting his wife right away. He might however find out details about Ramish and Elma’s background story from other sources. What makes this certain track different is that Elma and Ramish never really had a relationship as such; all their conversations and meetings were not real, they were all imagined therefore the only truth here is that Ramish proposed to Elma and she refused the proposal. Arif might however twist the truth to make things complicated for Elma since he is jealous of her. Elma’s sister’s track got a lot more screen time tonight than it deserved. Ramish and Elma’s father’s relationship is heart warming; it is always good to see these two characters interacting with each other even when the context is not always cheerful.

This episode laid down the foundations for what is coming ahead and it was a relatively slow episode. The direction was top-notch as usual and just like every other episode there was plenty of repetition in some tracks, zero development in the characters except for Muzzafar Hassan and tons of clichés. Even with all these weaknesses Tum Kon Piya continues to give you something to look forward to, it can pass as a guilty pleasure which so far does not have any glaring flaws in the story. The writer has played it safe and the drama is directed well too.

How many of you watched this latest installment? Do share your thoughts about it.

Fatima Awan

Thank God!! This is not going to be another one of those dramas in which the viewers have to witness not one but two dysfunctional marriages. The best part of this episode despite all the ghisse pitte saas bahu issues was the fact that the writer saved the viewers the trouble of watching another marriage on screen which was bound to be a failure. Ramish’s character has been my favorite character right from the get-go. He is an unconventional person in a family of stereotypes who has some principles but he is not someone who will do anything and everything to please the people he loves. He holds his own likes and dislikes very dear to him which makes his character even more human and likeable. Although there are many times when Imran Abbas’s acting isn’t up-to-the-mark but Ramish Hassan’s character has always been very logical and balanced. It is good to see a hero on screen who can take a stand for himself when it is needed with creating unnecessary drama.

Tum Kon Piya has to be one of those very few plays which is a mixture of clichés and some very pleasant surprises which are basically the reason why the viewers have reason to believe that while the writer banked largely on the good girl stuck in a bad situation scenario but she also made an effort to ensure that some of the characters and situations are brand new. Javeria’s re-entry in Zarbab’s life will give it a new twist. Also, Ramish’s father now has a good reason to tackle this whole situation in a different way.

Arif’s track is headed exactly where it was expected to go. If he really does end up working for Ramish then there will be constant contact between Ramish and Elma. I also like the way the relationship between Elma and Ramish has been shown after she got married. Unlike the most famous drama of the century Mann Mayal these interactions are more real. Although Elma still thinks of Ramish especially when she feels lonely or needs a friend to talk to but at the same time her efforts to make her marriage work are genuine. Also, Ramish truly does want Elma to be happy although he never wanted a life without her. His concern and love for Elma is genuine and he doesn’t think he needs to intervene in her life unnecessarily in order to make her happy.

Zarbab seemed like a harmless person in the beginning. He was always shown as a coward who was scared of every woman in his life who was intimidating or dominating enough. Now that he has a wife like Elma who is neither intimidating nor dominating, he is the one who wants things his way. He knows that his mother makes sure Elma does not get the time to get ready before he comes home but he made an issue out of it tonight which went to show that he is a selfish person. Also, he is one of those people who can’t always respect and love people who don’t demand his love and respect with the sort of pressure tactics his mother uses and the ones Javeria used to use. Had he been married to Javeria he would have been a perfect husband. While I hate Zarbab’s character I absolutely love the way Ali Abbas has translated this character on screen effortlessly.

Sharafat Begum has the same issues with his bahu in every episode and it seems highly unlikely that she will change. Unfortunately this character is clichéd to the core and one dimensional.

The fact that this drama is about much more than just Elma’s journey makes it interesting enough. There are characters which are black and white like that of Elma and Sharaft Begum but there also those which have more to offer like that of Ramish and even Arif.

How many of you watched this latest episode? Do share your thoughts about it.

Fatima Awan

Tum Kon Piya continues to be a mediocre play in terms of storyline but the sleek direction and well written dialogues make it a decent watch. Although there is nothing extraordinary about the story but like I said before the fact that there are no glaring flaws in the script make it interesting enough. This episode focused on Arif’s growing frustration, gradual realization on the part of Elma’s father that he had made a big mistake, Javeria’s re-entry in the show, Ramish changing his decision and Elma’s failed attempts to win the approval of her mother-in-law.

Ramish’s father felt like a victorious man whose ego and pride both had been satisfied because his son had finally accepted Sunbal as his future wife. Muzaffar Hassan obviously must have something to gain from this marriage otherwise he would not have tried this hard to make it happen. After his father’s heart attack Ramish did not want to do anything to upset him further and ended up doing what he wanted him to do. Watching Muzaffar Hassan analyzing his son like he knew about life and relationships more than anyone else was rather ironic! He is a very narrow-minded man who thinks that the world is exactly the way he sees it when actually that is not the case. For the first time today it seemed like Mehmood Akhtar was not into his character and was just reading his lines out loud.

Arif’s confrontation with his mother went to show that his anger and frustration is growing with every passing day. And like any other man who has achieved nothing in life he is not willing to own his failures. Yasir Shoro was beyond impressive in this scene, his acting was spot on and powerful. He has portrayed different shades of Arif’s character so well that you have no choice but to wonder how his track will develop in the upcoming episodes. Arif is the middle child who never got the attention he wanted, because of his complexes he was never able to achieve anything in life and now with a new person in the house he feels even more suffocated.

Javeria mentioned that she had been meeting Arif very casually but it implied that she might be the one who has been adding to the way he has been acting lately just to cause even more trouble in the house. Watching Zarbab’s sister talk about her bhabhi like she was a very negative person went to show that although she is always complaining about the way her mother is with her son and daughter in law but deep down she has the same thinking too. Javeria is back in the picture and it remains to be seen how she will effect Zarbab’s life now.

The scenes in which Elma’s mother in law told her off over and over again and the way Waqar Ali told lies to convince Seema’s khala that Elma was very happy in her life were the most clichéd parts of tonight’s episode. Although Waqar Ali had no idea that Sharaft begum could be so rude and insensitive but he always knew that Elma’s in laws weren’t so welcoming either. The confrontation with Sharafat begum was unexpected and hurt Waqar Ali, something which made him regret his decision. Although there is nothing new about these developments, we have seen them over and over again in dramas but even then they were shown nicely without stretching these scenes. The only part that is getting annoying are the same kind of issues – Elma not turning up for dinner and chai engagements!

Elma always looked trim and proper before she got married and in the first 2 or 3 days of her marriage but now it is good to see that the director and Ayeza Khan both decided to compromise on her looks because that is what the situation demands. Otherwise we have seen women who go through the worse phase of their life with their hair perfectly curled and styled and without making any compromises on their make-up. These realistic touches make the story and characters easy to connect to. Ayeza Khan has a pleasing personality and an innocent face which has so far made Elma’s character likeable even though it doesn’t have much to offer.

Although Sharafat begum’s role is very typical but I am certain there are many women out there who can relate to her character. Zarbab wants to keep peace in the house and if he has to compromise on a few things in order to do that he doesn’t mind it.

The preview of the next episode showed Arif and Javeria scheming to break Zarbab’s marriage and most importantly Ramish overhearing his father saying that he faked a heart attack (surprise surprise!). This proves one thing that Tum Kon Piya definitely does not bank on never-ending misunderstandings to take the story forward.

How many of you watched this latest episode of Tum Kon Piya? Don’t forget to share your thoughts about it.

Fatima Awan

This episode of Tum Kon Piya wasn’t extraordinary but even then it is a decent play to watch on a weekday. The story is simple but some of the characters keep you guessing and there is a scenario in every episode which surprises you. The most intriguing character right now is that of Arif, there is a good reason why there is so much focus on this angry young man who is surely not capable of much. He has a low self-esteem and tries to cover it up by putting the blame on his family. He wants attention but is not willing to do anything to get somewhere in life. The last scene of this episode was also very significant. Zarbab found out how rich and influential Ramish was and he wants to keep in touch with him. Which makes me wonder if Arif will end up working for Ramish and this would lead to a constant connection between Elma’s in laws and Ramish. This of course is just a wild guess because for now I can’t think of any other reason why Arif’s failure in life is being given so much attention. The last scene was also very important because it showed how different Zarbab was from Elma and even Ramish. Money or status never mattered to both these people but for Zarbab it is everything; he thinks people who have these two should be treated with more respect!! Wasn’t this the kind of thinking which Waqar Ali was trying to escape when he married Elma to Zarbab?

Unlike the last episode Elma was shown thinking about Ramish. I found those scenes funny especially because it seemed like Ramish was an imaginary fairy god mother who appeared whenever Elma shed a tear – a tear drop away!!! It is however natural for Elma to think about Ramish. He is there in her thoughts when she is lonely or sad. Zarbab likes Elma, he tries his best to care for her but he is not as sensitive as Elma. Even when Waqar Ali talked to them about Elma’s sister’s marriage he was too busy looking at his phone and wasn’t interested in the conversation. A boy who has been raised by Sharaft Begum and has been brought up in such a household couldn’t possibly do better than that! I liked the fact that like a typical shaki husband Zarbab did not question his wife as to why this man would gift her such an expensive watch.

So far every development in this drama has been very convincing but Elma’s majburis and problems seem forced which makes it difficult for the viewer to feel for her. Elma never informed Zarbab that they were invited for dinner and she did not call her father and make an excuse. The whole thing was blown out of proportion, yes these small things hurt but then someone like Elma should have been able to handle the situation more decently. All of Elma’s sisters’ conversations revolve around their aapi right from day one which is why their characters are dull and boring.

My favorite scene in tonight’s episode was the one that lead to Muzzaffar Hassan’s heart attack (which it looks like was real). Ramish wasn’t arguing with his father when it happened but he was actually trying to tell him that there were other ways in which he could prove that he was a good son. This marriage with Sunbal is like a business deal for Muzzafar Hassan and he will make sure that this deal is done because he does not believe in losing.

This episode was quite predictable but even then it was engaging enough. Apart from the problems Elma is facing in her susral everything else was covered well. Ramish’s next step was also a nice change since the same conversations revolving around money and status were getting repetitive. Imran Abbas acted well in tonight’s episode except for the scenes in which Elma imagined he was there, once again his dialogue delivery seemed rushed in those scenes. Ayeza Khan is brilliant as Elma, she makes her character more likeable. Yasir Shoro has managed to grab the viewers attention by making Arif’s character come to life and for now I am definitely more interested in his track because I have a feeling he will have an important role to play in the story. Ali Abbas is a natural; his effortless acting and clear dialogue delivery have truly impressed me. Hina Bayat is definitely doing justice to her role but I want to see a softer side of her character too or maybe a different side!! All the shouting gets to you after some time. Yasir Nawaz deserves credit for directing this play really well. It was good to see Elma wearing a simple dress and with a pony tail when she was cooking unlike many actresses who insist on looking like divas even when they are rotting in the kitchen! Yasir Nawaz has definitely paid attention to detail.

The preview of the next episode showed Muzzafar Hassan playing his last card which would mean that Ramish and Sunbal will eventually get married. Elma promised her father that she will help him out but Sharaft Begum will of course make sure that doesn’t happen!

How many of you watched this latest installment of Tum Kon Piya? Please share your thoughts about it.

Fatima Awan

Writer: Maha Malik
Director: Yasir Nawaz
Produced by: Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi
Channel and timings: Urdu1 – 8pm – Every Wednesday

Even after being warned over and over again that the novel this drama is based on was quite slow and depressing I still decided to give this drama a go mainly because of Ayeza Khan. It has been a while since Ayeza Khan was seen in a play and I must say that I was not disappointed with her performance or her character. For the first time a scene involving love at first sight seemed very convincing only because of Ayeza Khan because the first thing that attracts a man towards a woman are her looks and Ayeza is most certainly very pleasant looking.

This drama has a lot of characters and different tracks which I suppose will be connected to each other in some way or the other. Elma (Ayeza Khan) is Waqar Ali’s (Qavi Khan) oldest daughter. She is the one who looked after her sisters Neha (Shameen Khan), Seema (Faria Sheikh) and her father after her mother passed away. This episode started with Elma’s father telling her that he wanted her to get married. There was a lot of talk about marriage throughout this episode after that!! Although Elma’s character is one of those characters which we have seen in different dramas very often – the ideal daughter and sister – but even then Elma’s character definitely left an impact after this episode mainly because of the way it was portrayed on screen. Waqar Ali is a very dignified man who holds his self-respect above everything else. Although Mazaffar Hassan (Mehmood Akhtar) , the owner of the factory Waqar Hassan works in is his own brother but even then he knows that he is no more than an employee to him. Elma is finding it very difficult to start a new life and does not want to leave her family.

Ramish Hassan (Imran Abbas) is poles apart from his father and he is someone who will do anything to have things his way only because he knows that he is right. Unlike his father Ramish Hassan gives his chacha the respect and love he deserves. He is also a very kind person who thinks that he has certain responsibilities towards people who are less fortunate than him. Ramish Hassan is not willing to compromise on his principles.

The other track in the story is that of Zarbab (Ali Abbas) and Javeria’s love story. Hina Bayat plays the character of Zarbab’s mother who does not like Javeria because she can see that she is after her son. Honestly speaking this particular track did not appeal to me at all in this first episode, it remains to be seen how it unfolds in the upcoming episodes. The only good thing about this track for now is Hina Bayat’s presence since it is always a pleasure watching her on screen.

The dialogues in this first episode were crisp. The story however might not have anything new to offer- class difference is going to be the main focus of attention. Elma’s character also has the tendency to turn into one of those characters who love to sacrifice and end up being annoying but it is too early to say anything. This episode was directed really well therefore I must give Yasir Nawaz, the director and Naeem Mustafa, the director of photography credit and full marks for a job well done. It was a visually pleasing episode not just because of the way it was shot but also because of the actors playing the lead roles. Both Imran Abbas and Ayeza Khan made their characters quite likeable. All the supporting actors are very talented individuals as well and I liked Qavi Khan’s character in particular. Almost everyone in this episode talked about marriage in some context or the other!! Like I said the story will probably have nothing new to offer and the play has too many characters in it but this first episode did give me a reason to look forward to the next one. I must add that the logos of the sponsors on the title picture of the drama seemed quite odd.

How many of you watched the first episode of Tum Kon Piya? Do share your thoughts about it and if you missed it, watch it on http://www.dramasonline.com

Fatima Awan