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Aangan Episode 9 Review – Amazing Episode!

Ohkay so, another week, another happening, entertaining & very sweet episode of Aangan. What I love about Aangan is that even before the episode begins, you just know that you are going to have a good time & the best part is, team Aangan doesn’t disappoint you, so big thumbs up for the entire team, especially the writer, the director & last but definitely not the least, the actors!

So, Anila did what she wanted to & Zaitoon obviously took things seriously. Obviously, before being mother in law, Zaitoon is a mother so it is natural that she is going to listen to Anila to make her feel valued & important. The way Zaitoon told Anila that this house still belonged to her was an implication that she was saying exactly what Anila wanted to hear!

Sajjad & Asim obviously came up with a plan to get Zahid involved in something so that he earns a few bucks for his family but even before any of it was materialized, Laila exactly knew how Zahid would react because firstly, he would never approve of Laila’s business & secondly he would never bring himself to work under a woman because his ego along with his staunch concepts won’t allow him!

My favorite part of this entire episode was the conversation between Aqdas & Zoya. It was so effortless how Zoya ended up confiding in Aqdas as she could see that he wanted to understand her & was trying really hard to get to know what was bothering her. Since Aqdas has spent enough time with everyone, they all feel comfortable around him, that is why in stead of keeping things to herself, Zoya told him everything. What I said in the previous review was elaborated in this episode, Zoya obviously was disappointed seeing everyone’s reactions because she knew things would’ve been totally different if they had found out that the story was written by Zoya. Also, Zoya was hurt because she knows how many sacrifices she had to made in order to keep everyone happy. Aqdas always found Zoya interesting but this was the first time he could see how talented & capable she was, he could see that she needed little encouragement & support to chase her dreams because she gave up plenty of them to meet her family’s standards & that’s when he knew she was the one for him. Just because of this conversation, Zoya ended up understanding that whatever happened wasn’t Shaina’s mistake & she wasn’t at fault that everyone had different standards when it came to her. It was good that they both sorted things out & Zoya realized that there was no point in keeping grudges against Shaina!

Aqdas obviously told Faseeha to come so that he could introduce her to Zoya but even his mother along with Hajra assumed that he liked Shaina. Shaina also seemed happy with what Hajra told her because just before that, she saw how Aqdas was trying to advocate her in front of Zoya, so it was natural of her to misunderstand that he was doing all of that because he was interested in her! But I must say, out of all the people, the best misunderstanding was the one that Zaitoon had where she thought just because Aqdas was shifting to his own apartment & he was calling Faseeha, he’d be needing cultery & crockery like his mother, lol! Hahah!

The funniest bit was how because of Laila’s diet Zaitoon’s hardwork went down the drain. This entire scenario is basically a depiction of 2 things which are prevalent in our society, where ladies fall prey to the claims that are made by Baba jees & lack of faith in Allah’s Decree. Even though they gave it a humorous spin but the message was loud & clear that even if an immediate family has no issues, one relative or the other will force you to do things that you have never thought of before. Zaitoon advocated & defended Laila in front of Anila but she somehow convinced Zaitoon to give in!

Overall, it was a fun episode & now it feels I have formed a connection with all these characters so much that they just warm my heart. I will once again thank Faiza Iftikhar for coming up with such a brilliant story with such beautiful characters. It is amazing how it has been shown that despite their differences, all these family members live together because their courtesy & respect for one another outbids their differences – a beautiful message. Needless to say, all the actors are doing a wonderful job but in my opinion, this has to be Irsa Ghazal’s best performance so far. It is so refreshing to see her play such a loud & rightfully opinionated character. I lol’ed at her jhooti tareef of badmaza kheer, haha! Please share your thoughts about this beautiful episode of Aangan!

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 8 Story Review – Much Better

Tonight’s episode of Aangan was much more engaging because it focused on all the tracks instead of focusing on only one and there was considerable progress in the story. The first half was also emotional since it covered Safdar’s exit from Mazhar’s house.

Safdar Decides To Break Free

Ahsan Khan translated Safdar’s helplessness and his sadness exceptionally well on screen. His body language clearly indicated how tired Safdar was and that he did not have the energy to put up with all the hatred and rejection any more. Even when he was leaving, his expressions and body language clearly indicated that he might never come back. Tehmina’s changed attitude after the story moved forward a few years indicated that she too was equally fed up of the restrictions. The conversation between Alia and Tehmina after Kusum ran away showed a different side of Tehmina. Tehmina supported Kusum because she felt that the parents put undue restriction on women in particular. For the first time there was an underlying message regarding how restricted women were in these households. Safdar’s partying words also suggested that perhaps he blamed Tehmina a little too for not being able to take a stand. Even though Mazhar wanted Tehmina and Safdar to get married but Safdar knew only too well that his mamu’s support will never be enough. There was considerable progress in this particular track and it seems like it will be coming to an end really soon. Hira Mani and Ahsan Khan’s on screen chemistry made their scenes and their track easy to connect to. Hira Mani’s performance has been average throughout especially when you compare it to Ahsan, Sajal, Ahad and Mawra’s acting. The sketch Safdar drew however looked more like that of Salma than Tehmina!

Aangan Episode 8 Story Review - Much Better

Jamil & Chammi

Sajal Aly never ceases to impress, she makes Chammi’s scenes an absolute treat to watch. I feel for Chammi already since it looks like she is ‘investing’ in someone who loves his own self more than anyone else! The way Jamil accepts Chammi’s favors but so far has not done anything other than flirting with her suggests that he is a young man having a good time – nothing more and nothing less. Ahad Raza Mir owns his character completely. Dadi’s dialogues about the men in this house were right on point! The younger brother was completely out of the picture in this episode which was somewhat odd. There are few people in the house therefore all of them should be shown just like everyone in Mazhar’s house is shown when that track is covered.

Aangan Episode 8 Story Review - Much Better

Overall Impression

I didn’t have high hopes from this episode but it worked for me. Alia and Tehmina’s relationship, Tehmina and Safdar’s romantic track and all the conflicting opinions in Mazhar’s house have added some depth to this particular track. These sisters share everything and they are greatly affected by their parents’ constant fights. Mawra Hocane’s performance has turned out to be a pleasant surprise and Ahsan Khan definitely made his presence felt in this episode. Mazhar’s relationship with Tehmina and his support for Safdar also makes his character more likeable. Omair Rana is such a fine actor. Madiha Rizvi has also played her part well. The holi scene could have been far more effective and meaningful but it wasn’t utilized properly. Rabia Butt’s dialogue delivery in this scene was also too confusing and fast. So far, Chammi and Jamil’s track has not moved forward but their scenes tonight were definitely entertaining. I absolutely love Sajal Ali’s confidence and the x-factor she adds to all her roles. The focus on visuals in this play however can most often be distracting. I am definitely looking forward to the next episode this time since the preview of the next episode showed that Jamil’s mother will send his proposal for Tehmina.

Do share your thoughts about this episode.

Aangan Episode 8 Review – Entertaining!

Ohkay so, it was yet another entertaining episode of Aangan. A lot happened & once again, a lot of details surfaced about different characters. Watching Aangan is like watching your own family because the societal pattern & the thought process remains the same, that is why you always relate to what is being shown in this drama!

Anila obviously couldn’t mind her own business, so she reappeared to try her hands on ruling her bhabhis once again. Even though Anila knows that she has no say in this household whatsoever, but she still keeps on trying thinking she will be able to change things that bother her. Since Anila has everything sorted in her life & now that she has nothing else to do, she has assigned herself a duty of reminding her parents that their daughters in law are doing what they deem fit.

The most interesting bit was Aqdas teaching Abba Jee the usage of social media. It once again struck a chord because in this day & age, we all get to connect with our senior relatives because almost everyone is now getting used to YouTube & Facebook. The conversation where Zaitoon described American presidents was not only hilarious but spot on as well because it is a fact that the ladies of our families usually have nothing to do with foreign affairs or international politics but yes, it was also suggested that Zaitoon did know about the former & the current president, like she had an idea because the men of her family watched the news channels, so she was well informed!

So, Shaina got the undue credit for Zoya’s hardwork. Zoya wasn’t jealous but she was actually hurt seeing everyone’s reaction to Shaina’s publication because she knew that things would’ve been totally different if everyone had known that it was Zoya & not Shaina who wrote that story. Zoya could see that just because Shaina had her parents’ support, everyone else was encouraging her too whereas just because her own parents didn’t encourage her, she never got a chance to pursue her passion. Zoya’s heartbreak was nicely covered because she could see that she wouldn’t have gotten such encouragement from all of her family members because when it came to ghar ki betis, they had a pretty old school thinking!

So, Zahid finally came back, as staunch & as stern as ever. This entire aspect told how everyone has an issue with everyone in a joint family system, but some stay quiet out of courtesy whereas others blurt out anything that comes to their minds because they think they’re entitled to voicing their opinions. Hajra’s reaction showed that by the end of the day, she was a mother who put her children above everyone else. It was the same Hajra who scolded Sadaan in front of Asim & Zoya when he brought Afrah home but now when Zahid did the same, she couldn’t tolerate it. Zaitoon also chose to be a mother & that is why she didn’t see anything wrong with what Zahid did & she also chose to let Hajra know that she didn’t appreciate the way she reacted. These subtle family politics & family dynamics make Aangan a very interesting watch where you get to understand everyone’s perspective.

So, Abba Jee got to see his grandson’s university pictures, it was actually quite sweet that he hid those pictures from Zaitoon because he knew that she won’t like them as well. Abba Jee chose to do something about those pictures on his own because being a grandfather, he was actually & genuinely quite concerned. I must say I laughed a lot when Zaitoon chose to go with Anila, basically trying to send Hajra a message that she is not alone, she puts her children above everyone else as well & that she is not dependant on her. It was quite funny yet sweet!

Overall, it was a very interesting & entertaining episode of Aangan. Just when I was thinking that things should progress in Zoya Aqdas track, the precap of the next episode promised just that. Things are obviously going to get more interesting when Hajra will have a misunderstanding & Aqdas will actually be asking for Zoya’s proposal. I can’t wait to see more. Loving the acting, the direction & the script of this drama so far. I must say the background music as well as the OST is amazing too. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Aangan & oh I will say, I legit missed Aalu & his sarcasm in this episode, lol!

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 7 Story Review – Highs & Lows

Tonight’s episode of Aangan, just like the previous one, focused more on Mazhar’s household. The writer is clearly laying down the foundations for something important and dramatic.

Tehmina & Safdar’s Love Story

Tehmina and Safdar’s love story took a tragic turn with this episode. Although Mazhar wants them to be together but his wife will never let that happen. This entire development was quite predictable since the promo of this episode showed how Tehmina’s mother was going to react to finding out what Mazhar was planning. You can’t help but feel for Safdar primarily because of Ahsan Khan’s faultless portrayal and the treatment meted out to him by his maami. The writer has already well-established the fact that Tehmina can and won’t take a stand for herself but Alia has continuously been reminding her to look out for her own self too. Tehmina and Safdar both are docile therefore there is very little chance that they will fight for their love.

Aangan Episode 7 Story Review - Highs & Lows

Favorite Scene

The scene covering the affect Mazhar and his wife’s continuous fights had on their children was my favorite scene from this episode. Mawra Hocane’s acting in this scene was superb and the way Tehmina and Alia’s expressions were covered made it really easy to understand what these girls were going through.

Overall Impression

In this episode, the scenes covering Alia and Jamil’s track were repetitive. While Sajal Aly is exceptionally cute in this role and her energy is worth appreciating, this track and her character so far has nothing grand to offer. Ahad Raza Mir and Sajal Aly share great on-screen chemistry but whatever we have seen so far in this play is nowhere near what we saw in Yakeen Ka Safar. Ahad Raza Mir’s dialogue delivery has been beyond impressive in this play but the viewer’s are not getting to see more of Jamil. Mawra Hocane’s portrayal of a girl who is wise beyond her years is turning out to be the most appealing factor in this drama so far.

Aangan Episode 7 Story Review - Highs & Lows

The writer has been constantly focusing on a single aspect of every character’s personality which makes these characters one-dimensional. For example, Mazhar’s hatred for the British is the one thing which is constantly reinforced in every other scene. His wife’s love for everything British is also emphasized in all the scenes. Jamil’s younger brother’s second appearance was the same as the first one. Chammi’s scene tonight was more or less the same too. After watching Chammi and Jamil’s track, it isn’t difficult to guess why Ahad Raza Mir and Sajal Aly were not excited about this project. The political references and backgrounds are not working for me at all since they have added very little to the actual story so far. Aangan still needs to pick up pace and the overall feel of the play is dull, it does not get you excited. Safdar and Alia are the only two characters you feel something for. Even the opening scene of this episode was not as amusing as it could have been. The situation (Alia’s mother’s meeting the ‘British’ principal) was interesting but it could have been more comic. Even after all these weeks, Aangan has not really taken off just yet. Some of the developments tonight were interesting but there were also quite a few scenes which were unnecessary. The preview of the next episode once again suggested that Tehmina’s track might have an ending similar to that of Salma’s love story.

Do share your thoughts about this episode of Aangan.

Aangan Episode 7 Review – Entertaining!

Ohkay so, another week, another interesting episode of Aangan. The best part about watching this drama is that since there are so many characters & almost all of them get a coverage in every episode, you never get a chance to get distracted as you are always getting to know one thing or the other about every single one of them which makes all the episodes quite happening & entertaining!

So, Saadan took a big step & introduced Afrah to his family as a ‘friend’, the thing which obviously didn’t sit well with both Hajra & Afrah for different reasons. It was quite intelligent of Zoya to take charge of the situation & it was amusing that she used Anila’s name to convince Hajra that she shouldn’t react recklessly as even Zoya knows that everyone gets scared of the idea that Anila might blow things out of proportion. Anila has no idea what sort of impression she has left on everyone where they all literally dread her involvement in any family matter. Well, Afrah could see that Sadaan was still skeptical about introducing her to his family & telling everyone that he wanted to get married to her. Being the eldest daughter, Afrah has some pressures too but Sadaan is too scared to take a stand for her at the moment. Hajra finally got a chance to say what she wanted to but Asim jumped in to save his nephew, but sadly even he got to hear a thing or two about himself & Laila!

I liked the father son conversation where Sajjad tried to get to know what was in Sadaan’s heart. At least Sajjad knew that he had to do something about it because the way Hajra was approaching things would only make Sadaan rebellious. Well, Anila’s daughter reminded her that she was contradicting herself, which was basically a subtle but good reminder of how people can have double standards when it comes to their own children. Anila doesn’t want her brothers to have a life of their own but she also doesn’t want her daughter to get married in her own family as she knows it ain’t easy living in such a big joint family. I like how the writer has shown that the daughters try to reason with their mothers, first Shaina & now Ramna.

So, Abba Jee & Zaitoon both got a chance to bond with Aqdas. Zaitoon is still not over her ‘bartan’ & her generosity whereas Abba Jee couldn’t stop bragging in front of Aqdas. The entire conversation of Abba Jee explaining what ‘tra’ means to Aqdas was so amusing, I loved it!

So, Asim finally made it happen & he got Laila the permission that she wanted to start a business. Sajjad pleaded their case too & Abba Jee was on board with it as well. It is so funny how Asim has earned himself a label of being Laila’s Majnu. Zaitoon’s feelings for Laila are amusing as well, since she knows she can not hate Hajra for she takes care of the entire family & also Rubina because she belongs to her own family, therefore Zaitoon has picked Laila to play the role of typical Saas for because she is the easy & the only option, but it is good to see that her husband tries to rationalize her behavior because he can see how Asim tries to maintain a balance between his parents & his wife. This entire love-hate relationship that both Abba Jee & Zaitoon have with Asim & Laila is actually quite sweet!

So, Aqdas finally decided to drop a few hints to Zoya & even though she ignored, the way she looked at herself in the mirror showed that he did pull her heartstrings. Obviously, it will take a lotttt – a lot of opinions, a lot of permissions & so much more for Aqdas to finally ask for Zoya’s proposal but it will be an interesting ride for sure!

I enjoyed watching this episode. I love tuning to Aangan for the fact that even though it shows some real kind of family politics but because all of that is conveyed in such a light hearted manner that you tend to enjoy while still understanding what the writer is trying to convey. Definitely looking forward to the upcoming episodes. Qavi Khan’s portrayal as Abba Jee is phenomenal & his scenes today were super enjoyable as well. Another attention to detail which I loved was the usage of Peacock feather as a bookmark in Quran Majeed, it was soooo sweet & so relateable, it just brought back so many memories. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Aangan.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 6 Story Review – Important Developments

With this episode the story moved forward slightly and this episode was definitely better than the previous one. Tonight, Safdar and Alia’s characters stood out more than any other. Ahsan Khan and Mawra Hocane’s performances made these characters more relatable as well as likable. So far, Alia is one of the few finely drawn characters in this play, who is constantly trying to fix all the broken people around her. This drama has many dysfunctional relationships and flawed characters, all of them are not appealing and the screen time has not been divided evenly. This episode would have been even better if Chammi and Jamil’s relationship would have been explored more.

Love vs Hate

The scenes in Mazhar’s house revealed a great deal about all the characters. The way Safdar immediately did whatever was needed in order to please Tehmina, more than his Maami, showed he was not like his father at all. Even though he knew that this was somehow going to be used against him, he went ahead and got Alia’s admission done. Mazhar’s wife has a big ego and she has been constantly competing with Safdar. She will prove to be the samaj ki dewar and no matter what Mazhar says, in this regard he might just be helpless. Tehmina is a shy and timid girl who will never be able to take a stand for herself. So far, Mawra’s performance is much better than that of Hira Mani. In this episode many of the scenes clearly suggested that both Alia and Tehmina were scared of the environment in their house particularly due to their mother’s controlling ways. Their mother reminded me of Ama Jaan who put her consent and principles before everything else. Alia has a different way of dealing with things. She deals with her mother tactfully and looks for solutions. Although she is younger than Tehmina but she seems to be wiser. Tehmina and Safdar’s love for each other was in complete contrast to the hatred her mother felt for Safdar. This track has a lot of similarities with that of Salma and it is highly likely that this love story might have a tragic ending too.

Aangan Episode 6 Story Review - Important Developments

Complicated Relationships

The kind of relationship Jamil has with his father is even more complicated than that of Alia and Tehmina with their mother. It was almost as if he enjoyed going against his father’s will. While Chammi seems to be madly in love with Jamil, he is a lot like all the other men in his family – moody, distracted and perhaps selfish too. Sajal Ali in particular made her presence felt in that brief scene which is why I would love to see more of her. So far, there isn’t anything even remotely likable about Jamil but Ahad Raza Mir’s acting and his dialogue delivery in particular has been impressive. Azhar’s character is flat – his fixation with getting India freedom is the only aspect of his character which is covered in every single scene. Ama Jaan’s situation has drastically changed over the years. There was a time when her haveli was full of life and she was running the show but now she is lonely and miserable.

Aangan Episode 6 Story Review - Important Developments

Overall Impression

Tonight’s episode had quite a few important developments to its credit. The most important one was that Mazhar finds out about Tehmina and Safdar. He gave his consent but will most likely not succeed in convincing his wife. Mazhar is open-minded and modern in some ways but he is dead against the British. Overall, this episode did have a few appealing aspects. I am curious to find out more about Jamil and Chammi at this point and very interested in finding out how Tehmina and Safdar’s track wraps up. If this drama picks up pace, it will be far more engaging. The preview of the next episode was interesting and I am definitely looking forward to it.

Please share your thoughts about this episode.

Aangan Episode 6 Review – Feel Good Drama!

Ohkay so, this episode was all about how family members make each other awkward in front of new people & in different situations & since there was so much reality instilled in all the conversations, I couldn’t stop laughing the whole time. What I love about Aangan is that it is a feel good drama. Despite being based on reality, it still changes your mood in a positive way & leaves you feeling good by the end of the episode.

So, this episode was focused more on Aqdas & the two way introduction. Aqdas was getting to know Hajra’s family & the entire family was getting to know Aqdas too. The first person to leave an impression on Aqdas was Zaitoon, I am sure all the mothers who have loved a specific cutlery set could relate to the emotional scar that Zaitoon had in her heart because even after so many years, she couldn’t get over the fact that Faseeha didn’t return her cutlery properly. It was so amusing how Sajjad, Asim, Hajra & Rubina were trying their best to make Aqdas feel at home while being wary of how Zaitoon & even Abba Jee could go overboard in front of him. This entire situation was basically a reminder of how the elders in our families are unapologetically themselves, because of which they don’t really filter their thoughts while their children try the best to rationalize their words.

Aqdas was more interested in Zoya than in Shaina & what I loved was that Shaina didn’t shy away from Aqdas keeping in mind what her mother told her. I really like Shaina’s character because she is not only honest, but logical & rational too. I loved the conversation she had with Hajra where she reminded her mother about all the things she usually said about Anila’s daughters. I love the fact that Shaina is polite but reasons with her mother in a way where she forces Hajra to reflect & reconsider her thoughts too. Hajra so wanted Shaina to make a good impression on Aqdas, almost putting up an act but Shaina chose to be herself completely & I am sure she saw Aqdas as Sadaan, that is why she was so casual & comfortable in front of him!

So, Hajra & Sajjad threw a party for the entire family because of Sadaan’s graduation & no surprises there, Aalu & Anila made sure to create nominal issues & blow them out of proportion. The best comical bit in this episode was the conversation between Zahid & Rubina where she covered up & turned filmy songs into patriotic ones. Rubina’s spontaneity was superb where she immediately distracted Zahid & presented a different version of the reality in front of him. The references of 1965 War & Tan tan tana tan were epic though & I couldn’t stop laughing!

So, Anila once again found a reason to play the victim & whine in front of her parents about how unfair they were in their dealings with bahus & betis. It was good that Abba Jee finally spoke up & told her to take things easy & not always come with an intention of spoiling the atmosphere in the house. The way Zaitoon continued with her prayers was so funny because this time even Anila knew that she was doing it to avoid her, lol. Aalu on the other hand couldn’t really stop giving Sajjad some life lessons while being ignorant of the fact that his own daughter was a fan of Sadaan. To be honest, even though the writer maintained that line but it was made obvious in such a nice way how Anila’s daughters got a bit too impressed with boys in their sight. I mean we all have those girls in every single family who walk an extra mile to get noticed by guys & their parents, as their only dream is to get married & settle down.

The sweetest scene was of Asim & Laila. It is so beautifully shown how they both give undivided attention to each other, how they take a moment & do special gestures for one another to portray how much love they have in their hearts. Even though Laila & Asim don’t have children yet but they still lead a better life because they have not allowed their childlessness to ruin their happiness.

Another interesting conversation was between Aqdas & Shaina where she challenged him & tried to make him understand that he shouldn’t actually bother about what Aalu & Anila were thinking about him. Just because Aqdas is new, he was getting a bit too conscious but once he will get to know everyone & will become aware of the family dynamics, he will learn that no one takes Anila or Aalu seriously.

This episode was entertaining too. I love how so much is happening in everyone’s lives & how they all are connected in a way that they all affect each other no matter what they say or do. I am definitely looking forward to the next episode. Since Aangan happens to be the last drama that I review in a week, I am glad I get to end my week on a positive note. The girl playing the role of Shaina did an amazing job & I love how effortless she is when it comes to acting. Qavi Khan & Samina Ahmed have given a perfect face to Abba Jee & Zaitoon’s characters, watching their scenes make me smile & they have so much of warmth which is beautiful. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Aangan.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 5 Story Review – More Romantic Tracks

Aangan Episode 5 Story Review – First of all congratulations to all those lucky viewers who managed to watch this episode when it went on air and good luck to all those who are planning to watch it later. Tonight’s episode of Aangan introduced two new characters, one of which was Alia (Mawra Hocane) and the other one was Kalsoom (Rabia Butt). Chammi and Jamil’s romance got a lot of screen time and through different scenes the viewers were shown that Chammi’s relationship with her daddi was somewhat complicated. Chammi’s scenes were the highlight of this episode but the romantic scenes were too cheesy.

Chammi & Jamil’s Romance

After watching the over-dramatic romantic scenes in this episode, it is quite evident that the romantic tracks in this drama will be covered in more or less the same way in which Salma’s love affair was covered. There was nothing sweet or appealing about Chammi and Jamil’s romance particularly because of the way these scenes were shot. These scenes suggested that Jamil’s attraction towards Chammi was more physical. Chammi on the other hand appeared to be a young girl who probably fell for the first man who flirted with her. Chammi’s character had a lot more going for it than that of Jamil. The fact that she was not willing to spend on herself and was giving all of her money to Jamil went to show that she was ‘investing’ more in this relationship than Jamil. Chammi’s sense of humor and her confidence was the best part of her character. Most of her scenes were enjoyable and Sajal Aly was especially brilliant in the humorous scenes.Aangan Episode 5 Story Review - More Romantic Tracks

New Insights

The viewers found out tonight that Chammi was Zafar’s daughter. He sends her money but has not come to see her for a long time. Chammi’s daadi does not think highly of her and Chammi couldn’t care less about what Daadi thinks. Chammi’s only focus of attention is Jamil and she seemed to be quite independent too. Alia’s character was also introduced tonight and it was slightly more appealing than that of Tehmina. Tehmina loves Safdar and has not forgotten all those times when he was ill-treated by her mother. The preview of the next episode showed that Safdar too feels the same way about her. Rabia Butt is playing the role of Kulsoom, a Hindu ‘widow’ who is Tehmina and Alia’s neighbor. The suggestions Kalsoom gave Tehmina made me wonder if history will repeat itself! Mazhar’s wife’s bitterness towards Safdar was once again shown in this episode.

Aangan Episode 5 Story Review - More Romantic Tracks

Overall Impression

The romantic tracks so far have been taking the lead in this play. Whether it was Aba mian’s mistresses, Zafar’s wives, Salma’s love affair, Chammi and Jamil or Tehmina and Safdar – everyone is running after the opposite gender in some way or the other. Chammi’s character is the only one so far which seems layered and interesting. Alia’s character too was pretty decent. She appeared to be a sensible girl. Tehmina on the other hand reminded me of Salma – a more subtle version of her! The corridor of the haveli has been replaced by Azar’s house’s baramardas where Chammi was shown running in slow-motion not once but twice. There were quite a few scenes tonight which slowed down the pace of the show. Chammi has breathed some life into this show but for the most part tonight I felt detached from the characters. I definitely expected more from this play but so far it has been confusing and a little too filmy. In the Beginning of this episode Jamil got the fee and by the end of this episode, he had already done his FA! The treatment given to this drama reminds me of Bin Roye, which banked heavily on the star cast and great visuals but was lacking in every other department. The timeline is seriously confusing and there are very few scenes which truly leave their mark. Rabia Butt’s dialogue delivery was a lot like that of Deepti Gupta. She played her part well and gave a decent performance. I am still waiting to be pleasantly surprised and hoping that Aangan takes off for good.

Do share your thoughts about this episode.

Aangan Episode 5 Review – Amazing!

Ohkay so, just like all the previous episodes, this episode of Aangan was equally amazing. The best thing about watching Aangan is that it warms your heart & because as a viewer we have formed a connection with the characters, we understand their journey & their perspective. The way the writer has etched out all the characters & has made them realistic is amazing.

The conservation that Hajra had with Laila was so meaningful. I love the fact that Hajra is not only the eldest in age or relation, she acts like one too because she understands the family dynamics & knows everyone in & out. Even though Hajra has made a place for herself in this house, she still never takes advantage of her position & tries to keep everyone happy & on the same page as much as possible. Hajra tried to make Laila understand that deep inside everyone knew what happened with Rubina was just an accident but they just had to blame someone & that turned out to be Laila. I loved the way Hajra explained Zaitoon’s, Rubina’s & even Anila’s perspective to Laila. The fact is that just by Zahid not being there to take care of his wife, everyone was faced with this situation so Laila ended up taking the brunt of it & it was sweet that Laila not only paid heed to what Hajra said but walked an extra mile to make truce with Rubina by helping her with her kids!

The hashar ka maidan conversation at the breakfast table was again so funny. It is amusing how everyone has formed an opinion about Asim that he only does & says what Laila tells him so. Even though on his own Asim did try to make Laila understand but the way he requested his mother to go easy on his wife showed that he was trying really hard to maintain a balance between the two. I laughed a lot when Sajjad sided with Asim & Abba Jee exactly knew the reason behind this support, which was Bijli Ka Bill that Asim paid for the month. The sweetest bit about this entire family unit is that both Zaitoon & Abba Jee are well aware of their children’s nature & even though they have a lot of complains with everyone, they are incomplete without their family.

Even though Hajra has done so much & has been doing it for so long, she still knows that she can’t make decisions singlehandedly, that is why she not only had to request Zaitoon to get her the permission, she also had to scold Laila to please her mother in law. I thought may be later Hajra will approach & apologize but she was too occupied with her own thoughts because she desperately wanted Abba Jee’s permission.

So finally, Aqdas made an entry & from that very moment he couldn’t take his eyes off Zoya, which obviously marked the beginning of their love story. I am actually interested to see how will Hajra react to this since she wants Shaina to get married to Aqdas.

Overall, this episode was thoroughly enjoyable. The best thing about this drama for me is the way the characters converse with each other, you seriously feel like its your family that is having a conversation. All the actors have done a commendable job but Irsa Ghazal takes the crown, she definitely understands that she was assigned the most important character that is why she has literally owned it. Definitely looking forward to the next episode. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Aangan!

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 4 Story Review – New Beginnings

Aangan Episode 4 Story Review – Tonight’s episode of Aangan was engaging and with this episode, the story entered the next phase. The opening scenes of this episode were shot and acted-out superbly. Aba Mian’s exit from the story and the way his demise changed the course of everyone’s life was covered in an impactful manner. The beginning of the next chapter of the story was interesting and intriguing. For the first time the story did not take a backseat unlike the previous 3 episodes in which the visuals took the lead.

Change of Course

Aba Mian died just the way he lived – miserable and unhappy. This was the most powerful scene in this episode. The way his expressions were captured right before he died and the entire situation at the time was what made this scene profound. This scene was melancholic as well as poignant. Just when we thought we had seen the worse of Ama Jaan’s sons, Zafar turned out to be the worst of them all. Zafar was introduced as an opportunist and a selfish individual who could not care less about anyone other than himself. The decision taken by the brothers made perfect sense since none of them was capable enough to look after their mother and their father’s lands. However, watching Ama Jaan change altogether showed that all her jah o jalal was only there because of her husband. Now that he was gone, she was no longer assertive probably because she also knew that her sons were not responsible enough and that she could not live on her own. A few scenes tonight showed a more caring side of Ama Jaan’s character – something which was definitely needed. The exit from the haveli was covered beautifully – the way everyone took whatever and whoever they valued the most with them and embarked on a new journey showed how much things had changed in such a short span of time.

Aangan Episode 4 Story Review - New Beginnings

New Beginnings

The new beginnings in everyone’s lives, years after they sold the haveli and decided to live separately gave an introduction to how things were in both the houses. The state of affairs in Azhar’s household clearly showed that all the wealth he had acquired had been spent over the years probably because he could not invest it properly and obviously because he did not have a proper job. Azhar’s life is at a standstill until the Britishers leave the subcontinent therefore he does not plan for the present or the future at all. Jamil’s frustrations and his serious nature was quite apparent from the few scenes in this episode. Ahad Raza Mir performed exceptionally well in this episode. His dialogue delivery was especially impressive because he usually does not speak Urdu this clearly. The promos introduced the viewers to Chammi’s character already since she was the one who stood out in the promos more than any other character. Sajal Aly is a brilliant actress therefore I have huge expectations from her. In this episode the viewers saw a side of Chammi’s  personality which they have already seen in the promos. I am definitely waiting to see more of her.  I am still wondering who Chammi is – Is she Zafar’s daughter? Hassan Noman will be playing Israr’s character, he too is a phenomenal actor and he acted so well in this episode. You couldn’t help feeling for Israr since it was quite clear that he was a docile individual who looked after the small business Azhar owned but did not get a lot of respect and was treated like a servant. The way Kareeman told him off and said that the ‘ghar wale’ had not eaten suggested just that.

Aangan Episode 4 Story Review - New Beginnings

Things in Mazhar’s house were no different where Safdar (Ahsan Khan) was not given any respect by Mazhar’s wife. In all these years the resentment must only have grown since she never wanted to raise Safdar. Mazhar has been shown as the relatively sensible one therefore he seemed to be doing well, financially.

Overall Impression

This was the first episode of Aangan which worked for me. Some of the scenes tonight were shot beautifully and the fact that the viewers were introduced to all these characters beforehand helps in better understanding the way things are in their lives right now. Having said that, Salma’s track could have been chopped down and everything that was shown in the past 3 weeks could have been covered in two episodes. If the haveli was eventually going to be sold off, it should not have been given so much ‘attention’! Everyone acted so well tonight but the make-up should have toned down. I am looking forward to ‘meeting’ all the other characters in the next episode.

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

Aangan Episode 4 Review – Perfect!

Ohkay so, this was yet another beautiful episode of Aangan which perfectly highlighted the family dynamics. What I love & enjoy the most while watching this drama is the effortlessness of the actors with which they have portrayed their characters, they all seem to be in their element because they have owned these characters. I must say, Faiza Iftikhar should take a bow for bringing this story to us which is based on reality. Throughout this episode, I heard so many dialogues & noticed quite a lot of moments which I could personally relate to & it made me think how keenly the writer must’ve observed the people & how effortlessly she brought these characters to life because I am sure just like me, everyone must be relating to one or more characters in this drama & that’s the beauty of Aangan!

I loved how the opening scene tonight showed what Zoya was capable of & what her caliber was. Just a single line from her story showcased what a hopeless romantic she is & what kind of relationship she herself dreams of. Who would’ve thought that in the middle of this chaotic family life & routine, Zoya could channel out her inner feelings in such a way which requires so much of concentration as well as some silence in the surroundings.

This episode focused more on Asim & Laila’s track. Laila is not only educated but she was a career oriented woman but just because she loved Asim, she sacrificed her career to please his family. The way life panned out for Asim & Laila is a different kind of ‘normal’ that is why Asim understood that in order to keep herself busy, Laila needs to do something because he is well aware of the frustrations that are harboring in her mind. Asim & Laila’s relationship is beautiful & is showcases that one doesn’t only need a baby to have a strong relationship because Zahid & Rubina are a perfect example that children do not always bring husband & wife closer, it is mutual respect, love & understanding which Asim & Laila have for each other.

I loved the breakfast scene where everyone had an opinion about Laila. Asim’s decision of seeking permission from Abba Jee was nice, but the way everyone interrupted him went to show that no one in the family, especially the ladies can relate to Laila as she comes from a different background than all of them & has different aspirations. Be it Zaitoon, or Hajra or even Rubina, they all share a same mind-set that a woman is made to take care of the family that is why none of them actually understood why Laila wanted to do something through which she could make some money. The best part about that whole situation was Sajjad’s enthusiasm at the news of Laila’s home-business, it’s like he immediately felt some sort of relief. At least it was good that there was someone who was being supportive of Asim & Laila!

Now came the heavy part, where Rubina lost her consciousness & fainted & the hell broke loose. It was heart rending seeing Laila so scared & guilty as if she wronged everyone & she was the reason why Rubina was in this condition. Since Laila herself hasn’t been able to become a mother yet, she felt even more burdened as she could see it in everyone’s eyes that they were not only blaming her but questioning her intentions too. The way that entire scenario got a closure was the fact that Asim paid the hospital bills & then everyone got silenced. One thing that actually got highligted once again was that just because no one can relate to Laila, they can’t understand her thought process & since they can’t match her wavelength, they find it easy to just misunderstand her & that is why no one actually for a moment thought what Laila must be going through & how hard this must be on her as well? It is like Laila is the easy target in this house but good to see that Hajra at least feels for her & calls spade a spade.

The realistic bits that I noticed in this episode were Sajjad’s comment about Hajra’s best friend. It is so common that husbands usually have complains about their wives’ best friends. Another one was that even though Zaitoon knows that Hajra is the perfect daughter in law, but just because she comes from Miyan Jee’s family, Zaitoon had a problem that Hajra was her husband’s favorite & she also had to defend Rubina again & again despite knowing that she was usually wrong. As usual, Zaitoon chose to overlook Zahid’s fault but put the entire blame on Laila & this is what Anila did too because she has another grudge against her but then fortunately Miyan Jee was wise enough to remind Zaitoon that she was being biased. I loved the one liners that came from Hajra everytime Anila was presented as an innocent sister in law. Also, another realistic bit was Laila’s suffocation in the antenatal clinic, those who have been or are in this situation will be able to relate to it so much. This is the beauty of Aangan that is caters to everyone & has so much to offer to all those who tune to it because it must be striking a chord with everyone!

Hajra’s stance was clear that she is not going to allow her son to get married before Shaina & that is why, though she sounded stern, she was right in telling him to become independent & do something for himself before even thinking about marriage. I am sure Shaina sent Zoya’s story to the publication house because that’s what her expressions suggested. Anila made sure to malign Rubina’s heart against Laila because that way she feels good to know that Laila is going to get a hard time. I really hope Rubina doesn’t listen to Anila but her expressions suggested that even she was seeing Laila as a culprit.

Overall, this was another perfect episode of Aangan. I love love love the way the situations are being unfolded & how the story is progressing. Looks like we are going to have a new entry of a guy named Aqdas, I think he will be the one Zoya will get married to. Everyone’s acting was brilliant & the entire hour went by so quickly. Already looking forward to the next episode. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Aangan!

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 35 – Review!

Ohkay so, this episode of Aangan was pretty emotional. Even though I still stand by what I said in the previous review but I won’t deny the fact that it was very emotional & heart wrenching seeing this latest development in the story. Props to the entire team for bringing this aspect to life on-screen with so much of conviction with their phenomenal performances, however I wish the editors had used instrumental music in stead of sad version of the OST because it wasn’t nice hearing the singer echo Dunya Dingrangdingrang in the background during such heavy scenes!

I liked the director’s approach where he showed us one scene of Anila & Co. & then the other one covering the predicament of Abba Jee & the rest of the family because it highlighted that where people are struggling & trying to get a hold of things that they need/want, it all boils down to this point where everything just seems meaningless – that being the loss of a loved one.

Sajjad was trying really hard to keep everyone’s morale up but deep down he was struggling the most & taking it to his heart. Being the eldest son of the family, even though everyone was effected by whatever was happening but Sajjad was feeling a little more burdened because he was taking care of everyone, he was thinking about every little detail & that was taking a toll on his mind, heart & soul. Sajjad not only had to look after the legalities, he also was planning the future ahead where he wanted to make sure that despite being dispersed, every single family member stays connected.

Abba Jee was on a very different level of comfort with Sajjad & because he was an ideal son, Abba Jee knew he could tell him anything & everything. While everyone was aware of the heavy-lifting that Sajjad was doing, no one could predict that something like this would happen because they all would have immediately shared his burdens & pressures. The way Sajjad spoke to the buyers about the little plant with Abba Jee looking after one of the plants in the background went to show what this house meant to all of them & to literally see it slipping away from his hands was too much to bear. I liked how the contrast was drawn between those buyers who seemed emotionally cold in response to such a close-to-heart memory that Sajjad shared with them, it depicted how someone’s loss could be someone else’s gain.

Shafiq proved that he is just a commercially driven person who’s only considerate of himself. Anila played a part in this entire scenario only because she had an ulterior motive but Shafiq being Shafiq literally kicked her out once he achieved what he wanted. Even though Anila did realize that she made a huge mistake, I will say that Anila & Allauddin’s conversation about Sajjad seemed a little out of the blue & totally unexpected because they have never ever spoken well about any member of the family & have never ever taken an initiative to fix the fiasco before!

Well, Sajjad passed away & every single family member mourned his death. Everything suddenly changes when someone leaves just like that & considering Sajjad being the backbone of this family, they all were devastated. Abba Jee allowed Shafiq to come but then he knew it just didn’t matter if he did or did not, at this point, nothing mattered because like I said, everything was meaningless & the only thing that mattered was the fact that Sajjad was no more & unfortunately, he was under so much of unnecessary pressure & burden during the last days of his life with Shafiq playing a major role in that!

The conversation between Abba Jee & Zoya was the highlight of the episode for me. The way he explained how he used to take care of Sajjad when he fell sick, how he prayed in gratitude when he was born – such emotional & beautiful dialogues conveyed with genuine & honest feelings by Sir Qavi Khan. Even though Mansha Pasha’s performance was very brief, I found it equally honest & amazing too. Ah! I so wish we get a happy ending of this drama with all of them having those banters & sharing laughs together but without Sajjad, the picture won’t be the same anymore. Please share your thoughts!

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 34 – Review!

Ohkay so, before talking about this episode, I will talk about the new title & the clippings that it contained which suggested a death in the family. I am not too sure what I feel about it because I can totally see it being Sajjad who will die because that’s the clear message that the title gave out. I am not sure if I’m being selfish for saying that this is not what I signed up for, yes, they are showing us all the aspects that a family goes through during different phases of its life together but then while still being aware of it, why do I feel these situations are being created now? The theme of the drama has completely changed & even though I still feel connected to the characters, I am not too happy with the overall seriousness of the drama. I am sure it might be working for a lot of viewers, which is totally cool!

So, Shafiq & Anila finally convinced Abba Jee & Sajjad to distribute the wealth equally between everyone. Even though Asim & Zahid didn’t want this to happen, Sajjad & Abba Jee were adamant to get this over with. Yes, I do agree there’s a lot of evil out there in the world but I am unable to wrap my head around the fact that forget about Shafiq, Anila of all the people didn’t bat an eyelid or shed a tear at the thought that her parents in this age would become homeless after giving everyone their chunk of property? Yes, we can expect Shafiq to be this cold-hearted because he left this family ages ago because of which he is emotionally detatched but to see a daughter acting like such a brat seemed unconvincing, so much so that she was laughing & couldn’t contain her happiness when her father & elder brother were teary eyed? Also, to me what was shocking was that it wasn’t Allauddin who insinuated this idea, it was Anila herself who was jumping with joy at the thought of bringing her parents & the rest of her family on the road?!?!?!?!

Ohkay fine, Shafiq instigated this mess, that’s fine but I wasn’t too convinced with his reasoning too? He just wants his share so that he could afford his son’s big fat wedding that he intends to hold in Pakistan? I mean he’s settled in Germany & we are being told that he can not afford his son’s wedding on his own after working there for so many years? Like Sajjad said, Shafiq has a pretty good lifestyle in Germany but because he is stingy, he poses to not have much bank balance, so that is why, again, that is fine that he demanded his share but I wish they had either not touched upon his reasoning behind this demand or had at least made it convincing!

I wish they had added a little confrontation between the brothers with Asim & Zahid giving a piece of their mind to Shafiq & taking Anila’s case as well. Yes, they all are too good to be true but then at some point they all seemed human but now, they are being too angelic & I don’t know why! Such matters are never resolved quietly & I am amazed that in this family, everything happened in a jiffy that too silently? Chalo aur kuch nahi kam az kam Zahid hi Shafiq aur Anila ko Walidain ke Huqooq yaad karwa deta? Itna to banta tha!

Hajra & Rubina were shaken to the core & they so didn’t want this to happen. It was good to see Rubina, Hajra, Zahid & Asim being on the same page but then, where was Laila? I mean Laila is the intelligent one, the educated & the opinionated one, so are they telling me that while this storm was brewing in her family, she was locked up inside her room with her baby aloof to everything? I don’t buy that. Yes, she will become a part of the process in the next episode but why was she MIA when such an important decision was being made? Also, once again, I so wish they had shown a conversation, a confrontation just anything between Laila & Asim for us viewers to be clear about where they stand; together or even in their own orbits, because now it’s like a big question mark & Laila’s absence in this entire scenario doesn’t help either!

Well, the preview did suggest that Sajjad will meet an accident, which was something that I could foresee after I paid attention to the new title. Plus the way in this episode Sajjad was taking care of the important matters like Saddan’s Valima & timely property distribution, it did suggest that his days in the drama are numbered, something that I so am not looking forward to. It would have been so nice if they had kept the entire family intact, showing how they stood by each other & overcame this obstacle. I am not sure how I’ll feel tuning to this drama in that phase because for me Aangan meant happiness & entertainment but that seems to be long forgotten now. Anyways, please share your thoughts!

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 32 & 33 – Review!

Ohkay so, these two episodes of Aangan were pretty decent but slow. I did enjoy them in bits & pieces but overall I feel the drama has become a bit too slow with focus being shifted on side characters a bit too much. Also, I feel Asim & Laila’s case has been hanging in the lurch & may be other scenarios are being brought to the forefront so that the viewers forget or stop paying heed to the multiple wives scenario too much.

Aqdas decided to put things into perspective but Zoya chose not to pay heed to what her husband was saying. I really don’t want to use this term for her but Zoya started acting like someone who got way more than she deserved & now thinks the world’s at her mercy, including her parents & those brothers who raised her with love & care. May be if they had shown slight changes in Zoya, it would have looked a bit realistic but to see her entire personality flip in such a short span of time didn’t seem as convincing. Zoya’s concerns related to her dark circles or eye bags once again showed that she is not only mindful of the fact that she is older to Aqdas, but is complexed about it too. Anyways, it was good that Sajjad took care of the situation & told Zoya to be who she was, because Zoya herself was not very familiar with this newer version of herself, she backtracked pretty quickly & decided to undo the pain she had caused to Abba Jee. Phew, one less Anila to worry about & deal with!

Asim & Laila’s case has come to a standstill & nothing much has been done about it. Laila is just trying to pick up the pieces & move on. My favourite scene from these 2 episodes was a conversation between Laila & Zahid where he just tried to make her see the other side of the picture too. Even though Zahid advocated what others are doing for Laila & as much as I liked what he told her, I still felt bad for Laila because she now had to be mindful of the favours others were doing for her & the efforts they were putting in to help her emotionally. Laila was just dealing with this hardship on her own, she was not thinking about anything or anyone but then Zahid’s reminders forced her to realize that she was living with her in-laws after all & even if they were being accommodating, Laila still had to be conscious even when everything in her life has turned upside down!

To be honest, I enjoy the comic quotient that Anila & Allauddin bring to the drama but as much as I still enjoy watching Allauddin, I am afraid I can’t say that about Anila anymore because she to me now seems annoying. I am not sure what it is, the monotony of her character where she always typically stirs the pot or ZQ’s over-acting where she is trying really really hard to be Anila? Just there is something about this particular character that stopped working for me weeks ago but I felt I should just let it out now!

Well, Shafiq came with an intent of demanding his part in the property. I am not too sure how I feel about this scenario. Yes, it would be good to see the entire family sticking together & sorting this issue out but I feel those who are living abroad have been painted negatively in Aangan. As typical as it may sound, it would have been so much better that if not positive, they had kept things the way they were with Shafiq always finding excuses to not help his family back-home because if this is one reality, the other reality is that so many people live outside Pakistan in very tough & uncomfortable conditions only to support their families back-home. I was actually looking forward to Shafiq’s visit because I thought things will get super interesting when Anila will be expecting Waleed’s proposal for one of her daughters but Shafiq might be interested in Shaina but this twist is not something that I am keen on. Sajjad has been crying buckets for werks now & it is upsetting to see him that way, I genuinely feel for him because being someone who has BP issues, that guy is going through a lot by taking care of Asim, Sadaan, Abba Jee, Afrah & even Zoya, that too without an ounce of support from his wife Hajra who is just being a stone now – something that I am not too happy with either.

Haseena has slowly started to expect a lot more from Asim but he has nothing to give to her. Again, it upsets me that when Asim was well aware of the position & limited space he could give to Haseena, why did he marry her in the first place? In all the scenes where Asim is with her, he just seems uncomfortable, as if he has been forced to spend time with her.

Rubina & Zahid’s conversations were nice, it was good to see them discussing important matters & not fighting mindlessly for a change. Even though I have always said that I want to see a shift in their attitude towards each other, their relationship the way it is now seems very normal & real & because of that I think the writer has done a good job by till date keeping it exactly how it was introduced.

Please share your thoughts.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

PS: Please excuse me for being MIA. I travelled to Middle East last week & took my time to settle down. I will now be watching all the episodes from last week & will be posting combined reviews of all the dramas after watching this week’s episodes. Thanks!

Aangan Episode 31 Review – Super!

Ohkay so, this episode showed how everyone was trying to cope up with everything that has happened over the past few days, their reactions & conversations were elaborated a bit more but the focal points remained the same; Asim & Sadaan’s marriage!

Well, I’ll be honest, I am getting ticked off with Hajra’s attitude. It was quite shocking to hear her putting herself at the same pedestal as Laila. She is forgetting that Sadaan begged her for months & she didn’t budge & what happened with Laila was something no one in this family could relate to because their husbands didn’t cheat on them or betray their trust like that, so Hajra at that moment seemed quite shallow to be comparing the two situations to justify her wrong childish behavior. Laila’s expression said it all but she knows that there’s no other option than to just ignore all such statements because they will be slurred every now & then!

Afrah is trying hard to not upset Hajra but at this moment it looks like she is banging her head against a wall. At least it is good to know that Afrah has Abba Jee’s support!

Well, Zoya has left quite an impression on everyone in the family. No one could relate to this version of Zoya because the drastic change left everyone wondering what went wrong with her after her marriage. Well, one thing’s for sure, Aqdas is so not going to turn into Allauddin part 2 because he tried to reason with Zoya & tried to make her realize that everyone had a right to make their decisions. I am not sure what has gone into Zoya’s head? She was always just a part of the family & never the one who had influenced people’s decisions, so why does she think that now after she has gone out of the house, she will be treated as a royalty where people will be wary of her & consider her likes & dislikes before making any decision? Everything that Zoya said to Aqdas went to show that even though on the surface Zoya has everything working for her, like getting married to a decent guy coming from a very good family background, but within her heart & mind she has harboured so many complexes & even if people don’t mean it, she assumes that she is being taunted for everything. Zoya has spent quite a lot of time in her parents house after Anila’s marriage so she has seen how everyone used to dread her visits, so it is sad that Zoya is not even considering it & is just making it all about herself. I really wish to see Aqdas snapping Zoya out of her complexes & turning her negative perspective into a positive one.

Asim tried to convey his messages to Laila but Laila is not ready to give him a chance because for now, Laila is just done with him & is picking up the pieces to move on. Laila for now is learning how to be self-sufficient, even though she was but now she is trying not to rely on Asim emotionally as well as financially. I loved how Zaitoon tried to make Laila feel better but then Rubina & Zaitoon also spoke about how they should just let Laila be because that way she will learn how to deal with her pain.

Asim is not at a happy place, obviously did he actually expect that the news of his 2nd marriage will be welcomed whole-heartedly? It was obvious that he was getting irritated because of Haseena but he is just putting up with her. Asim himself is in the dark because he hasn’t gotten a chance to speak to Laila, to tell her how he feels & to listen to how she feels too, till that happens I am sure he will just be distressed, well I’ll say it serves him right. Haseena on the other hand also looks like a victim because now she has to deal with Asim’s mood swings but then, she also knew that it wasn’t going to be a smooth sail. Even though Haseena hasn’t gotten any place in Asim’s family yet but she still seems a bit at peace with the fact that now their marriage is not a secret, that is why she even demanded Asim to come & take her to the doctor. Haseena’s definitely not the culprit here.

Oh well, I laughed when two victims of attention deprivation had a conversation; Shafiq & Anila, lol. Anila obviously is trying to trap Shafiq so that he gets Waleed married to one of his daughters but I have a feeling he will be interested in Shaina. Let’s see!

Loved every bit of this episode too. I must say in one of the scenes Iffat Omar wasn’t wearing heavy kajal & she looked really fresh & young, loved that natural makeup look on her. Zahid is nowhere to be seen, I really wish to see his contribution too in the future episodes. I can’t believe we’re through 31 episodes & we still aren’t bored of this drama. Team Aangan should take a bow *thumbs up*. Please share your thoughts!

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 30 Review – Emotional & Beautiful!

I never ever ever thought that the drama that makes me laugh so hard will eventually make me cry too. I am sure everyone knows which scene in particular I’m talking about but will discuss it later. I must say, Faiza Iftikhar should take a bow, we need more dramas like these where the writers in such a non-preachy manner force the masses to re-think & re-evaluate how they treat their daughters in law. I am sure after watching Aangan, a lot of people must’ve been reflecting upon how they treat their family members. I love how Faiza Iftikhar has emphasized on the importance of daughters in law & has also shown us such parents in law who know how to most importantly respect them.

Laila made up her mind to leave because the thought of being in Asim’s home & facing him was overwhelming for her. Even though Abba Jee told her not to but she decided the otherwise. I must say I am totally with Laila on this, I was with her when she decided to leave & I’m still with her now that she has chosen to stay. Even though Laila hasn’t given birth to a baby but taking care of Abdullah & nourishing him has given birth to her motherly instincts & feelings. When Laila returned & was unpacking her bags, all I could see in her was a mother who was ready to face anything & everything but couldn’t even think of ruining her child’s life for her personal reasons. Laila decided to put Abdullah before her & isn’t it what mothers do? They always always put their children before them & face everything that comes their way, similarly, Laila decided to put up with what life threw at her but she didn’t want to part Abdullah with the only family that he’d ever know.

The highlight of this episode for me was the conversation between Laila, Zaitoon & Abba Jee. The way they assured her that this home belonged to her, the way they let her know that she was important, that she was their daughter & not daughter in law, the way they cried with her because they could feel her pain was absolutely beautiful & that scene left me teary eyed too. Such a strong & beautiful message that has been conveyed. I love Abba Jee & Zaitoon’s characters that even though they do have their fair share of differences with their daughters in law but when the time comes, they are the first one to support them & stand by them. They have such a big heart when it comes to Laila, Hajra & Rubina because they are aware of their sons’ shortcomings too – beautiful. Well, Asim landed in a guest room & I can’t wait for a confrontation between Laila & Asim but I hope they don’t give it a comic touch because it will be a defining & very important moment which needs to be conveyed a certain way!

Haseena was also finding it hard to cope up with whatever her husband was going through. She was feeling bad for Asim & as much as she wanted to help, she knew there was nothing that she could do & Asim had to deal with everything singlehandedly. If we keep her relationship with Asim aside, her colorful personality is interesting & I find her amusing. She is nice & for that reason I don’t know why I have a feeling that she might leave Asim & walk away? Let’s see.

Well well well Zoya came back or let’s say Anila’s younger version made an appearance. Even though it was funny but I would have liked if Zoya had remained the same or had even changed for the better, at least different to Anila because wo 1 hi kafi hai. Hajra was still not ready to forgive Afrah but I liked how Zaitoon & Abba Jee kept on reminding her time & again that she should accept this marriage & give Afrah some break!

Overall, a very beautiful episode with a very strong & beautiful message. Qavi Khan, Samina Ahmed & Iffat Omar stole the show. Haye, I so wish Rubina stops torturing Zahid but I guess their love-hate well mostly hate-hate relationship is going to stay the same & we won’t see any changes. Love it so far. Please share your thoughts.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 3 Story Review – Tragedies

Aangan Episode 3 Story Review – With this episode Salma’s track came to a tragic end, this episode covered how Salma’s death affected all the family members. Salma’s attitude through it all suggested that she was more than willing to accept death. She looked happy even though she knew she was dying. The timeline in this episode was somewhat confusing and the emotional scenes did not have a great impact because everyone looked ‘perfect’ as usual! So far, Aangan’s overall feel is a lot like Durr-e-Shahwar but the characters do not really come alive on screen. The personality traits and outlooks of these characters have been well-defined but their relationships with each other do not have an emotional impact. This episode was melancholic, apart from Salma, two of Aba Mian’s children also passed away but Ama Jaan did not change. Azhar (Mustafa Afridi) came back in this episode and it looked like he was the only one who felt for Aba Mian.

Reactions To Salma’s Death

Ama Jaan was shown thinking about her daughter in this episode before Salma died. This was the first time that the viewers were shown a softer side of this character. Ama Jaan could sense something terrible was going to happen even before she got the news of Salma’s death. Although she blamed her husband entirely for Salma’s death and no doubt he was also responsible for it but Ama Jaan conveniently overlooked everything she had done wrong. The way she treated Salma and her decision to abandon her altogether was the main reason why she ended up dying without getting medical help. Ama Jaan clearly runs the show, had she decided to forgive Salma, Aba Mian couldn’t have done anything about it. Ama Jaan is more controlling and bitter than anything else. Waiting to see if she will ever realize where she went wrong. The choti and bari bahus reactions were completely different from each other. Their conversation was meaningful since it said a great deal about their personalities. Although Mazhar is cold when he is with his wife but the fact that he was worried about Salma showed that he was close to her. The way Azhar did not have much to say about Salma when Ami Jaan mentioned her and the manner in which he completely ignored his wife and son showed that he was closer to Aba Mian than anyone else in the house.

Aangan Episode 3 Story Review - Tragedies

The ‘Emotional’ Scenes

There were plenty of ’emotional’ scenes in this episode but they did not work for me. The scene in which Ama Jaan knocks on her husband’s bedroom door and tells him that he was responsible for Salma’s death was the only scene which was impactful. Other than that, Tonight when Mazhar went to meet Salma, the filminess of this scene killed its essence, yet again! Everyone in this drama is dressed up in a certain way, Subhan in particular has looked the same in every single scene. Even though in the last scene he should have looked like someone who was going through hell but his hairstyle and appearance remained the same. It is almost as if all these characters are wearing costumes and doing what needs to be done, which does not give these situations and characters that appeal which draws you towards them. The dialogue delivery is sometimes too slow and the ever-present sad background score is annoying at times.

Aangan Episode 3 Story Review - Tragedies

Overall Impression

Some of the conversations and the situations in this episode were written beautifully but the scenes were stretched. Although, this episode had some of the biggest tragedies so far but apart from Aba Mian, I did not feel anyone’s pain! He did not acknowledge his mistakes but it did seem like he was suffering. I am glad Salma is out of the picture it was extremely difficult to take her seriously because of the way her character was translated on screen. Tonight’s episode covered few months and so much happened yet it wasn’t engaging enough. So far, Aangan is neither appealing nor entertaining but I am hoping that it will get more interesting in the upcoming weeks. The preview of the next episode suggested another major shift in the story.

How many of you watched tonight’s episode? Do share your thoughts about it.

Aangan Episode 3 Review – Perfection!

Ohkay so, another week, another brilliant episode of Aangan. I love how all the characters have such strong personalities & the writer has made them obvious effortlessly. I like how the focus shifts from one character to another & even then, all the characters get the same amount of coverage.

So, the argument that Rubina & Laila had turned into a big fight where everyone jumped in. Hajra tried to do as much damage control as she could but then again, she was dealing with Rubina the ultimate victim. Laila is the misunderstood one in this house so it was good to see Hajra taking her side. Sadly, Kulsoom saw everything that happened & she backed off. I laughed a lot at how Allauddin didn’t miss a chance to portray himself as a victim in front of a stranger too. The way Allauddin & Anila always make it all about themselves is amusing, even now Anila was mad that it was Hajra who took tha decision of visiting Kulsoom’s place without involving her. As I said last week, the fact that a daughter in law makes most of the decisions is something that a daughter finds hard to absorb & that is the reason why Anila was so bothered plus Allauddin to phir hai hi teeli laganay ke liye!

So, the son Shafiq who is settled in Germany got a little introduction in this episode. It seems he is too busy living his own life that he barely remembers he has a family backhome too. For Shafiq keeping in touch with his family is just a formality & he keeps himself out of all such family affairs where he is needed. I liked how Laila told Asim that he should talk to Shafiq about Sadaan’s education. Laila is educated that is why she feels passionately about everyone’s education, be it Sadaan or Rubina’s children.

In this episode I liked Shaina’s input a lot, like she is someone who not only understands Zoya’s struggles but is also well aware of the heavylifting that her mother Hajra, being a bari bahu has to do. It was actually quite sweet how Shaina tried to talk Zoya out of her depression by saying that the proposal wasn’t so good & that she was being invited into that family to run the house like Hajra.. So, after seeing Zoya’s condition, Hajra has come to the conclusion that she’d get Shaina married first & that obviously put Sadaan in a big trouble.

Well, coming to Zahid, I don’t know why but for some reason the characters that are religious are always shown in a bad light in our dramas & that is the only complain I have with Aangan too. I know in this case Zahid sparks a comedy & he is presented in a different way but the overall message that is being imparted through his character is not so positive because it is being shown that in order to fulfill his religious duties, he is compromising upon his basic responsibilities towards his wife & kids. I know people like Zahid do exist but wouldn’t it have been so amazing if it was shown that Zahid was responsible while still being religious? I do like his character a lot but the way he treated his wife & ignored her only so that he could go for preaching basically showcased how aloof & irresponsible he was when it came to Rubina, which basically meant that he wasn’t doing things the right way because he has religion as his priority! Anyways, it was amusing to see how he sided with Rubina & jumped into that fight where Hajra once again reminded him that he should stay out of all this!

There are a little things that make this drama so real & relateable & I kept on noticing how much detailing has gone into bringing this story to life like Laila’s bedroom depicted how decent Asim’s income is & the taste Laila has which is quite classy & refind. Zahid’s bedroom showcases his simplicity & also depicts that Rubina’s comes from a very normal background. The gold bangles that Zaitoon wears are old fashioned & the color has faded off too, which reminds me of the bangles that we see our grandmothers carrying. Since Sajjad takes care of the household expenses, he has a BP problem & takes medicine for it. We all know that BP is related to stress so it very well showcases how stressful Sajjad’s life is. All these things show how much attention to detail has been paid while making this drama & that is why it has such a huge impact & looks complete.

Overall, it was another perfect episode of Aangan. I liked how the preview of the next episode was basically a continuity of the note at which this episode ended, which was Laila & Asim’s childlessness. I must say all the actors are performing brilliantly but Irsa Ghazal, Noor ul Hassan, Iffat Omar, Uzma Hassan & Waseem Abbas deserve a special mention. Qavi Khan & Samina Ahmed are a class apart & they both as parents are simply perfect. Can not wait to see what more is in store for us. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Aangan!

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 29 Review – The Explanation!

Ohkay so, this episode revealed the big secret; the actual explanation & Asim’s reasoning behind this decision.

This episode well & truly highlighted the importance of elders of the family & what they do if they are just, fair & rational. I love Abba Jee & Zaitoon Bano, the way the decided to do right by Laila made me respect them even more. The highlight of this episode for me was Zaitoon & Laila’s conversation. It was so beautiful that Zaitoon decided to put all her differences with Laila aside that she always had as her mother-in-law & for once decided to just be her mother, give her the shoulder to cry on & be all ears to everything that she had to say. It just warmed my heart when Zaitoon started speaking to Laila about the absence of her mother. Zaitoon felt guilty too because it was her son Asim who did this to Laila & that is why she was doing everything in her power to compensate a little & mend Laila’s broken heart. I love love love the way both Abba Jee & Zaitoon have taken matters in their hand & are trying their best to do what is right & what needs to be done. Abba Jee gave Afrah the comfort & confidence to feel like a part of the family & Zaitoon was doing the same with Laila, sharing her sorrows & wiping her tears. Who would’ve thought that the same Zaitoon who always had an issue with Laila’s attitude & temperament will console her like a mother? Love the message this drama is giving to all the parents in law. Love it!

After Zaitoon & Abba Jee, I love Shaina too, all the things she said to Laila were just so beautiful. It also emphasizes the fact that how girls who come from big families are mentally mature than their age because they firsthand experience all these things & learn lifelong lessons. Shaina is so young but because Laila has always been such a good role model, has always been like a friend, Shaina decided to say everything that she has felt for Laila to make her feel better. Laila was trying to pick up the pieces but she didn’t know where to start from but she decided to bounce back & start from her son because he is her happy place.

Haseena left quite an impression on Sajjad but Asim once again decided to take a stand for her. Even though Asim was doing justice but it was heart breaking to see him doing all those things for Hassena now that he used to do for Laila, like supporting & defending her in front of his family. Finally, it was revealed that because Haseena was very majboor & besahara, Asim decided to give her a social security but I am not too happy with that explanation. Yes, I am glad that the writer kept it simple & to an extent typical but then again, no explanation was ever going to be good enough to make this decision of Asim acceptable or less bitter. I am sure not many viewers are going to be happy with this explanation & the fact that Asim doesn’t feel wrong or at fault makes things complicated too. It’s a done deal that Laila will have to compromise & accept because that’s what Abba Jee said in the end.

Afrah came out of her shell & decided to stop acting like she was guilty of doing something wrong. She left quite an impression on Hajra. I got tired of hearing Hajra again though. I loved the way Abba Jee tried to put things into perspective & how Zaitoon also reminded her that she had a daughter too so she should actually think before being unjust to Afrah because of her hatred for her.

Zahid, what have you done? Of all the people in your circle, why did you have to tag Asim along? Just when I was feeling bad for Zahid because of the way Rubina treated him, I was happy that he again got a little beating but I must say I love his enthusiasm & the way he is always so happily advocating his stand in front of everyone, lol he is funny & very innocent!

Loved loved loved this episode but yes, I am not too happy with Asim’s explanation. I feel for Laila so much. Loving everyone’s acting especially Paras Masroor’s. Please share your thoughts.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 28 Review – Heart-breaking!

Ohkay so, I loved this episode of Aangan & what I loved the most about it was the way everyone’s reaction was covered. Yes, it was a serious episode but that was given, considering the storm that the family endured lately & now when everything mellowed down, everyone was trying to gather their thoughts.

I loved the way this episode began, with Laila on everyone’s mind because they all knew what Asim meant to her. They have themselves seen the perfect relationship that Asim & Laila shared, with Asim being the center of universe for Laila so for something like that to happen to such a couple shook everyone to no end. Rubina thought of all the things that Laila said to her, Zaitoon also thought that despite their childlessness she never advocated the idea of Asim’s 2nd marriage. The things Hajra said about Laila in the past showed that Laila & Asim’s relationship could turn anyone green with envy because they were just so happy, so in love with each other.

Asim struggled too but I didn’t feel a thing for him. I liked how in this scenario, everyone without saying a word was on Laila’s side as they knew that she didn’t deserve this. Asim went to Haseena & I wish that all the things she said about Laila were based on her personal experience & interaction with Laila. I would like to believe that Asim has not said anything to Haseena about Laila or her temperament because that would be wrong on so many levels. I think it was Haseena’s own assumptions because Asim doesn’t look like someone who will speak against his wife? But well he also didn’t look like someone who’d get married behind his wife’s back so don’t really know what to expect from him anymore.

Allauddin & Anila on their own are funny & their dialogues provide that comic relief but Anila just crossed the line with Afrah I feel. I loved that both Shaina & in the end Abba Jee intervened to put an end to Afrah’s misery. She was now a part of the family & there was no doubt about that. Sadaan took that decision under a lot of pressure so now everyone had to respect that. Anila got to know that she shouldn’t have any say in this matter because Afrah was not related to her at all. I loved everything that Abba Jee said, everyone knows how Anila is but it was a high time for it to be conveyed to her.

As much as I have blamed Zahid for being stern with Rubina & as much as I have wished that he changed, Rubina’s attitude was a little disappointing because in stead of being a little thankful that it wasn’t Zahid who got married, she was still angry at him. I feel for Zahid a lot, he doesn’t have much respect in anyone’s eyes plus he is always misunderstood because the truth that he speaks doesn’t sit well with most of the family members & that gives them a chance to judge him because that’s their way of overlooking what he says but I wish after this, Rubina had at least treated him a little better. I find him very innocent!

This episode was very interesting, even though things have become so grim but I still feel connected to the characters because we enjoyed their good times so naturally we feel sad seeing their bad times too. I felt for Laila so much, the way she isolated herself & didn’t utter a word. Asim you better be ready, I wish Laila gives him a piece of her mind but I also know that because she loves him so much, she will eventually forgive him & accept his marriage to Haseena. Iffat Omar did exceptionally well in this episode. Waseem Abbas is such a treat to watch as Aalu. Please share your thoughts.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 27 Review – Fireworks!

Ohkay so, just like all the episodes of Aagan, this one was perfect too because it just had so much going on – from drama to emotions to comedy, everything rolled into one, making this episode quite loud & happening which I thoroughly enjoyed watching!

Sadaan brought Afrah home but then even though he mustered up a lot of courage, seeing the elders of his family especially Hajra made him tongue tied. Sadaan did what he was supposed to but then he didn’t get the chance to speak because everyone like a loud family that they are, blew things rightfully out of proportion. The best reaction came from Abba Jee who just by hook or by crook wanted to hold Allauddin responsible but despite his continuous attempts, failed to do so. I loved how in such a serious situation, Zaitoon & Abba Jee detracked & made it all about Allauddin for a brief moment.

Hajra’s reaction was totally expected. She continued to blame Afrah & her mother but later when Sajjad, Asim & Zahid explained the entire situation, she was even more hurt because now she learnt that it was not only Sadaan who shattered her trust, it was her husband as well as her brothers in law too. Abba Jee was also upset that they didn’t bother informing him, which I am sure he would’ve loved only to be able to be a part of Sadaan’s Nikkah!

Well, Laila & Rubina met Haseena & all the ladies left quite an impression on each other. I loved the way Laila gave Rubina some how-to-be-a-good-wife tips because she sympathized with Rubina whereas she had no idea that a few moments later, the truth will shake her ground.

I loved the way the misunderstanding was carried out where everyone was blaming everyone, Rubina pleaded her case whereas Hajra was looking for some support too. Laila tried to play the advocate too but all the men were clueless as to what was so upsetting for Rubina. That entire scene was hilarious as well as mind boggling because so much was being conveyed that too with perfect timing. Finally, Asim revealed the truth & Laila just couldn’t believe what she heard. The way everyone seemed shocked at Asim’s reaction basically highlighted the fact that they never ever imagined seeing Asim raising his voice at Laila. There’s obviously more to this marriage & there does seem like a solid reason behind it too but seeing Asim’s reaction does make me wonder what Haseena actually means to him that he couldn’t hear negative terms being associated with her? Haseena also hinted that may be both Asim & Zahid were doing heavy-lifting on someone’s behalf, let’s see what it is.

I loved how Faiza Iftikhar didn’t omit the comedy factor in such a serious situation because that is what made things enjoyable for me even when the screaming got a little out of control. I will say Uzma Hassan played her part phenomenally but Irsa Ghazal was loud, to an extent that I had to mute the TV for a while. Abba Jee calling Allauddin Dehshatgard & telling Zahid to stop his Khutba, Zaitoon saying ‘meri to puri tokri hi kharab hai’ made me laugh out loud. There were so many amazing dialogues that I feel I will need to watch this episode again to enjoy even more. Loved this episode & looking forward to more. Please share your thoughts.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 26 Story Review – The Struggles Continue

Tonight’s episode of Aangan was depressing but the post partition episodes so far have been far better than the pre partition ones. The characters are still struggling and the overall feel of the play is grim but the scenes are less repetitive and these latest episodes have been relatively well-paced. After, watching everyone suffer for such a long time, it will definitely be rewarding if some of these characters find happiness wherever they can find it. Aangan always had very few happy moments and these happy moments were always followed by something even more depressing. Tonight’s episode too covered how things were slowly changing for some of the characters and some of the characters which had disappeared made an appearance. The loud background score was the most off-putting element of this episode, other than that it was decent episode.

The Changes and Comebacks

Tonight’s episode opened with a scene which showed how things were changing for the better for Jamil’s family. The marriage discussion later on had done-to-death written over it and it suggested that Jamil had not really moved on. Chammi too is still in love with Jamil and these new changes in her life have changed nothing for her. Jamil and Chammi’s scenes showed two completely different people otherwise who had matured with time but were still struggling in some ways. Alia and Ahsan’s scenes made it quite clear that these two were not meant to be together after all. Shehroz Sabzwari was quite likable in this role and the short lived friendship these two shared was a nice break from all the sadness for a little while.

Aangan Episode 26 Story Review - The Struggles Continue

Alia gave me so many reasons to like her once again tonight. The way she welcomed Shakeel and fought for him said a great deal about her priorities. This made me wonder how different things would have been for her if her mother had not taken all those decisions which distanced her from rest of her family. Mawra Hocane has been adorable as Alia. This entire track would have been perfect if Alia’s love affair with Jamil Bhai was not covered in such a filmy manner. Safdar had no idea that Tehmina committed suicide, which was not the least bit convincing given the fact that someone had informed him about her marriage but that person never told him that she died! Surely the news of her death was more ‘important’ than that of her marriage with Jamil.

The preview of the next episode covering Safdar and Alia’s scene was strange and hopefully misleading! Whatever Shakeel did in this episode reminded me all those times when he used to steal Chammi’s money and no one believed her. Shakeel has not changed at all, he is obviously someone who does not treasure relationships at all perhaps because he never got enough love when he was growing up. Those scenes in the past covering Shakeel’s defiance, lies and manipulative ways made more sense tonight. He stole Alia’s jewelry and money even though she treated him with so much love. Like most of the characters in this play, Shakeel was always a lost soul and unlike Jamil, he was not able to find a definite purpose in life. Alia too is still in love with Jamil which makes me wonder who he will end up with eventually. Chammi and Alia both deserve to be happy. It was good to see Alia telling her mother off and finally putting her foot down.

No one missed Israr since there was no mention of him at all. Jamil’s mother wants him to get married and Bua’s comment about the girl they went to see looking like her was funny. Tonight, I felt for Jamil as well. There were also quite a few dialogues which yet again highlighted the bitter realities of partition.

Final Remarks

The performances tonight were on point and this episode just like the last one was quite engaging. Everything makes more sense now and I am hoping that this drama will not have a sad ending – we have seen enough sadness already!

Do share your thoughts about tonight’s episode of Aangan.

Aangan Episode 26 Review – Finally!

Ohkay so, if there’s one writer who knows how to create one suspence after another, it is Faiza Iftikhar. Just when one of the most anticipated secret was revealed, the writer created another one to keep us guessing regarding the reasons due to which this marriage took place, but yes, I am glad I was right, it was Asim who got married & not Zahid!

Sadaan & Afrah started their marital life together but to be honest, I am getting tired of Afrah & her Roti Surat. Yes, she has all the reasons to be sad & upset because of the circumstances in which she got married but then, smiling at your husband & not pestering him wouldn’t harm her because more than her, it is Sadaan who has to do the heavy-lifting because Afrah’s parents sent her away but now it is Sadaan who has to convince his mother. Honestly speaking, seeing a forlorn face of Afrah’s mother justified why Afrah is like that too, I guess it runs in the family & the fact that Mariam Ansari is playing this role makes it even harder to like Afrah!

Well, even though I am a fan of all the characters & like them for who they are but if a few weeks back, someone had asked me about my favorite character, I would’ve picked Hajra but not anymore because that spot has been well & truly taken by Sajjad. The highlight of this episode (more than knowing that my guess was right) for me was when Sajjad took a stand for Shaina. Sajjad knew that he granted Sadaan his wish so now he had to do justice between his children & for that matter, he supported Shaina too. I loved that even Abba Jee was on-board with that decision & everyone was happy. I honestly can’t believe that a peace-maker like Hajra who is also so far-sighted & understanding towards each & everyone in the family can be so thick-skinned & stern when it comes to her own children. May be because when it comes to her role as a Bahu & a Bhabhi, she doesn’t have much control & has to be flexible to please everyone so when it comes to Shaina & Sadaan, she feels better knowing that there are two family members who she has a control over? I say this because that’s the only reason I see behind her rigidity. Anyways, Sajjad tried to make Hajra understand but then again, I really didn’t see anything changing in her because she just didn’t show acceptance or respect to her husband’s decision but I am so glad that Sajjad finally did what a father should do; giving his children a ground to just be, the motivation, the encouragement to believe in themselves & their abilities, standing by them so that they know if they fall, they will have his back – loved it!

So, Haseena is Asim’s wife. Obviously not much was revealed about her or where she comes from but the conversations between Afrah & Sadaan, also between the neighbour, Laila & Rubina were enough to suggest that she comes with a baggage that gives people a reason to judge her. I saw Haseena differently though, yes, she has a very out-there personality, totally opposite to Laila’s, she is not that groomed or refined but then again, I found her very simple-minded & also very lonely, someone who despite having a social security was looking for acceptance & validation. As it was suggested, Haseena was an indepdendent woman too, probably making a living & supporting herself but it did look like she always dreamt of a domesticated marital life where she’d play a role of a dutiful wife, that is why despite knowing that Asim was married, she accepted him & settled for a hope which he gave her regarding telling his family & most importantly Laila about her after their marriage.

Zahid really has no idea what he is going to get into but now when things are about to get settled after a storm that’s on the way, I so so sooo want things to get better between Zahid & Rubina – especially a change in Zahid’s attitude towards his wife & in general is so much needed. We saw a glimpse of it when Zahid tried to advocate Rubina’s emotional & mental state in front of Abba Jee when she gave her baby to Laila, so I would love to see him changing himself & doing something to not give Rubina a chance to complain so much. Allauddin & Anila were there to provide the comic relief in this otherwise heavy episode. Also, the scene where the entire family gathered around Sajjad & Sajjad’s drama to stoo more questions coming his way regarding Sadaan was so amusing.

Overall, this entire episode was perfect. I can’t wait to find out more about Haseena. Even though all the actors have done a phenomenal job right from the beginning but at this stage they all seem even more comfortable in their characters, it’s like they got used to playing these characters that they are living them now. This drama is love. Please share your thoughts!

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 25 Story Review – Interesting Developments

Finally! We are getting to watch few decent episodes of Aangan as it is headed towards an ending. Tonight’s episode was well written and even though for the most part I had a really difficult time staying awake while watching this drama, this recent episode had my undivided attention. With the exception of the last scene which was a complete let-down, this episode had some emotional moments and the latest developments were quite interesting as well.

Character Development

Tonight’s episode showed how the past experiences of all the characters had shaped up their present personalities. Jamil’s scenes suggested that he was more mature and serious now. His father’s death had changed him even more than before. The scene in the graveyard was emotional and well-executed. Ahad Raza Mir nailed all his scenes yet again and made it easy to understand Jamil’s state of mind. Jamil is withdrawn and thinking about more serious issues like taking responsibilities and running the house. I especially liked Alia and her mother’s conversation when Alia told her that Azhar had been murdered. Whatever Alia said basically summed up how Azhar never got the respect he deserved when he was alive and now that he was dead, the ‘compensation’ was more of an insult. In the previous episode, Jamil too refused to take the money. Through some of the scenes the writer also showed how the partition was not the ‘happy ending’ most Muslims were eagerly looking forward to. The partition made it difficult for families which had lived together for years to communicate with each other. Alia and her mother didn’t have the option of going and meeting Jamil and his family because of the partition.

Aangan Episode 25 Story Review - Interesting Developments

Chammi, Alia & Israr

Azhar and Alia always shared a special bond and it was good to see that Alia’s reaction to the news of his death was covered well. The way she gets scared and hallucinates goes well with everything she has been through. The fact that in her ‘dream’ Israr was the one who brought Azhar’s body to her was another pleasing and emotional aspect of this development. Alia and Jamil’s love story it seems has finally ended since they are no longer shown thinking about each other and they are busy worrying about other things. I was hoping that Ahsan and Alia will end up together but the way this episode ended, it seems like they are not meant to be. It remains to be seen whether this was another one of those misunderstandings caused by Alia’s over-judgmental nature or an ending to what seemed like the perfect love story. Shehroze Sabzwari has been quite likable in this role but in the last scene tonight, his acting was over the top and he looked like a hero from the 80s films because of his performance. Mawra Hocane has done really well especially given the fact that Alia’s character got quite annoying in the middle. The last scene however was yet again another one of those scenes which makes you wonder why the director added these filmy touches to a script which did not need such a treatment.

Aangan Episode 25 Story Review - Interesting Developments

Chammi did not get a lot of screen time tonight but her scenes clearly showed that she too had accepted her fate and was no longer the fun, bubbly girl who always had a smile on her face no matter what. Her comment about taking over after Bua passed away was yet another reminder of where she saw herself in the next few years. She was no longer hopeful that Jamil will rescue her. Sajal Aly is an exceptional actor with a definite screen presence and I am still hoping that Chammi will have an unexpected happy ending.

The scene covering Israr’s exit made me really angry, Bua deserves the worst possible ending for treating Israr like that. Loved Hassan Noman’s performance tonight and felt for Israr – he got nothing but hate all these years yet he never complained.

Final Remarks

Tonight’s episode was much better than many of the previous episodes and it basically went to show that with such an exceptional cast, it was actually quite easy to make a drama which would have resonated with the viewers. I hope that the last few episodes will be just as good as this one. The timeline continues to be confusing since Chammi’s daughter looked older and it also seemed like it wasn’t the same child. Also, the scenes in the car today didn’t look real, the wheels weren’t even moving! The preview of the next episode showed Alia and Safdar meeting after so many years. Waiting to hear what Safdar has to say!

Do share your thoughts about tonight’s episode of Aangan.

Aangan Episode 25 Review – Perfectly Woven Suspense!

Oh well, Iet’s just say that I am more interested in talking about the note at which the episode ended in stead of talking about the Sadaan Afrah Nikkah. I am glad that it is done with & I also enjoyed this episode because it had quite a lot of those moments, those arguments, bickering, one-liners that made us fall in love with Aangan in the first place!

Asim convinced Sajjad but then again, Sajjad being the emotional one had to give in because he feels for his Sadaan & Shaina’s likes & dislikes differently than Hajra. Sajjad obviously knew that Hajra won’t let him go off the hook after she will find out, that is why he made a pact with Sadaan that he will protect his father when the secret will be revealed. I must say, Asim used the right word; ‘dictatorship’ when it came to describing the tactics Hajra had used for parenting. I am glad it didn’t take it quite a lot to convince Sajjad because Asim had a valid argument & Sadaan had his reasons.

I loved Allauddin’s entry at the right time, he tried really hard to get to the crux of the situation but then again, because he was being unnecessarily nice that too probably for the first time, his ego was hurt when his generosity was turned down & surprise surprise, he made sure that Anila blew things out of proportion. Zaitoon’s suggestion ke Allauddin ke liye jaloos nikalainge was epic, lol!

Well, Sadaan & Afrah got married in the presence of Sajjad. I mean his entry in such an attire went so well with his image, it told a tale of the storm he came out of in order to attend this family affair because facing Hajra, avoiding her & not spilling the beans was not an easy feat. I loved the car scene because it was obvious that it was Noor ul Hassan who was handling the camera, there were some candid moments, like there was something just so raw, so so natural about that entire scene which I loved!

Well, finally, Sadaan’s Chachi was revealed & let’s just say, massive props to both the writer & the director for making sure no one could find out who she was married to – even now. I am sure by now everyone must be guessing & coming up with their opinions but I am glad that they still kept things ambiguous & left it on us to do the guess-work – at least for another week. The way both Zahid & Asim relaxed on the sofa the moment they entered that house showed that they both frequented that place quite often. Asim & Zahid both gave her a warm smile, showing they both were very comfortable with her. The way Zahid stood next to her showed that he was pretty friendly but that woman was smiling at Asim, so my bet is that she is Asim’s wife & it seemed that Zahid was not introducing her as his wife but more as Asim’s. I don’t know but seeing the submissiveness of Asim towards Laila; not doing anything that might upset her & following her lead every single time might be a cover to never give her the impression that he was disloyal to her. But then again, if I recall everything, it also suggests that she could he Zahid’s wife as Laila’s friend said that she has seen him there. Also, Zahid used to go away for days, so may be he was nurturing this relationship in that time span. Oh well, it just goes to show that Faiza Iftikhar has weaved this scenario very carefully with a lot of caution to pull the mind-strings of the viewers. Please take a bow for a job well done. Loved every bit of it but then I hope there’s a solid justification behind this 2nd marriage that either Asim or Zahid went for. Please share your thoughts.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 24 Story Review – New Beginnings and Sad Endings

Tonight’s episode of Aangan showed a realistic picture of the partition and some of the scenes were shot really well. This was one of those very few episodes of Aangan which actually resonated with me on many levels although some of the scenes were yet again stretched to the limit. Azhar died a tragic death and even though the sequence of the events wasn’t put together in the best way possible, his exit did have an impact especially because he had worked so hard for these people. The khushfehmi of some of the characters tonight however was unbelievable. Alia’s mother’s wishful thinking and Azhar’s naivety had to be the most surprising part of this episode. The viewers finally got to see the angrez bhabhi – better late than never!

New Beginnings and Sad Endings

Tonight’s episode opened with Alia and her mother leaving Azhar’s house. Alia’s mother’s enthusiasm and love for her brother stayed the same right till the end. It was good to see the beginning of Alia’s new journey but it was annoying watching her mother sing praises of her brother. Chammi finally went back to Azhar’s house after venting out in a way which was completely in line with her character. Sajal Aly’s expressions when she finds out that Alia has left for Pakistan were priceless. Right after Azhar’s murder, instead of covering the aftermath, the viewers saw Jamil showing concern for Chammi and her daughter. This sequence of event minimized the impact Azhar’s murder could have had since the news came much later on. The funeral scene was more or less the same as all the other such scenes we witnessed in the previous few episodes. It was good to see Shakeel’s mother mentioning him after such a long time.

Aangan Episode 24 Story Review - New Beginnings and Sad Endings

Tonight Jamil appeared to be a more mature man who was still struggling to fight with his demons. His concern for Chammi and her daughter showed that he no longer was the angry young man who was too busy complaining. The way he told those men off who offered money and the manner in which he broke his father’s stick suggested that even after Azhar’s death, their relationship was still bittersweet. Azhar never gave Jamil access to his books because he always thought he could never cherish them the way they deserved to be cherished. This was indicative of how Jamil could never come up to his father’s expectations and even now that angered him. Ahad Raza Mir’s performance tonight was phenomenal. Even though Jamil’s character is not very likable but Ahad Raza Mir’s nuanced performance throughout has made it this character more tolerable and tonight very easy to relate to.

Aangan Episode 24 Story Review - New Beginnings and Sad Endings

Shehroz Sabzwari’s character was also introduced tonight. Alia decided to make herself useful by contributing in the relief work and that’s where she met the doctor who I suppose is going to be someone she will end up getting married to. Shehroz Sabzwari performed well and it was good to see Alia interacting with someone other than her family. Alia definitely deserves a good man in her life and so does Chammi. Hopefully Jamil is now responsible enough to take care of Chammi even if he doesn’t love her the way she loves him.

Final Remarks

This episode was definitely much better than many of the previous episodes. Mawra Hocane, Sajal Aly and Ahad Raza Mir performed really well and their tracks would be interesting to watch if there was more focus on them.

Do share your thoughts about tonight’s episode of Aangan.

Aangan Episode 24 Review – Some Revelations!

Ohkay so, this episode of Aangan was interesting too. I like how after Zoya’s wedding, the writer has started highlighting a couple of situations in every episode & then we get to see everyone’s involvement & contribution towards those situations. This way, the writer gets to show how the entire family works & is connected because of every single thing that comes their way!

Shaina decided to discuss her concerns with Abba Jee because even she knew that being the head of the family, he was the one who was going to take the final decision & if he’d agree, he’d also be able to convince her parents too. Though Abba Jee did consider what Shaina asked for & decided to grant her, her wish but after his conversation with Sajjad, even he decided to back out, which I so didn’t hope for.

I loved Sajjad & Shaina’s scene together where Sajjad half-heartedly came to deliver Abba Jee’s decision despite knowing how much Shaina wanted it & how much potential she had to excel in it. Even though Shaina accepted everyone’s decision silently, it left Sajjad restless because he knew what it meant to Shaina. I must say, as much as I like Hajra’s character, the way she turns a blind eye towards her children really makes her look unreasonable. Hajra wouldn’t allow Sadaan to get married & then she also wouldn’t allow Shaina to pursue her studies, why? Because she being a typical bahu of a conservative family can not see beyond her daughter’s marriage & also her son’s marriage based on her own liking! At least it was nice to see that Sajjad was feeling guilty but Hajra just sat their with a poker face as if her children’s liking, disliking, their dreams & goals were just not important!

Asim decided to help Sadaan & he was not holding back. From arranging jewelry for Afrah to her bridal dress, Asim was going above & beyond to make sure that Sadaan & Afrah’s dream of getting married to each other comes true. It was interesting that even though Zahid didn’t want to, he couldn’t say no because Asim low-key blackmailed him & used his secret to convince him.

Anila obviously picked on the wrong details & that was enough for everyone to further suspect Zahid. I am sure this entire situation was basically created for the final show down which will eventually reveal the big secret that Asim & Zahid are keeping. Well, as Laila said, her friend had told her about Zahid visiting some lady so it is a done deal that there’s a woman involved, but then again, I really hope it is not his 2nd marriage or something but still, the way the talks have been happening in last few episodes on this subject, I hope it doesn’t turn out to be true. Even though Rubina hasn’t gotten anything, the least she can have is a husband all to herself. It was interesting how Zaitoon easily started doubting Rubina as if she was keeping her expensive gift a secret, like the way Zaitoon often misunderstands her daughters in law while ignoring the faults & flaws of her sons makes her a very real & genuine character. Zaitoon is well aware of Zahid’s financial condition but just because Anila said, she automatically assumed that it might be true that he had gifted Rubina something expensive.

Even though Afrah Sadaan’s track wasn’t wrapped up in this episode, I am glad that the focus was shifted on other aspects like Shaina’s education & then slightly giving away some details of Asim Zahid secret too. It looks like Asim will try to convince Sajjad & I hope this time around Sajjad stands by Sadaan & supports his son because he has allowed Hajra to have an upper hand almost every single time so now, as a father, he should do something too. Let’s see. Please share your thoughts.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 23 Story Review – Goodbyes

Tonight’s episode of Aangan covered the aftermath of the partition and the way different family members reacted to it. This episode covered the farewells and difficult decisions in a realistic manner since that was the general mindset when the partition took place but some of the scenes were stretched so much that it was difficult sitting through this entire episode. Alia And Jamil’s goodbyes in particular were given a lot of screen time. Chammi’s flashback scenes were a breath of fresh air in an otherwise depressing episode. It would have been great if the viewers got to see more of them. The drama is finally headed towards its conclusion and the political context of this drama makes more sense now overall but it hasn’t been presented in the best way possible. The romantic tracks however most often simply take over which in my opinion is the main reason why this drama failed to deliver.

Farewells and Heartbreak

Tonight too the main focus were the goodbyes and the romances. Alia’s mother continued to be thankless right till the end and she ultimately went to live with the brother who probably wants her as his new maid! Well I sure do hope that is the case since she does not deserve a happy ending. Bua’s hatred for Israr and Israr’s ‘Bua Bua’ scenes stayed the same all these weeks and even now when everyone else decided to move away or on, Israr Mian and Bua’s relationship stayed the same. I am still wondering why the viewers were shown all these repetitive scenes all these weeks.

Aangan Episode 23 Story Review - Goodbyes

Alia decided to go with her mother even though she did not agree with her. Alia was introduced as a strong-headed girl who knew better yet she decided to quietly follow her mother’s lead. Chammi day dreamed about Jamil, refused to go to Pakistan and finally lost it completely. This scene was funny and sad at the same time. Sajal Aly’s exceptional performance and the on-screen chemistry she shares with Ahad Raza Mir continues to be the best part of this drama. If their scenes and their track was given more screen time instead of focusing on the supporting characters in particular who never have anything new to offer, this drama would have been more bearable.

Chammi is finally free but will she recover from the tormenting relationship she was in and everything else she has been through till now? Chammi’s ‘sari zindagi’ dialogues didn’t make a lot of sense though since she has only been married for a few years. The weak dialogues are one of the many reasons why even the most important developments don’t have much of an impact. Azhar’s sensitive and caring side has not been explored enough to make the viewers feel for him. His dialogues suggest that he has done a lot for everyone but the viewers never saw him doing much for his family. His wife has never once taken a stand for anyone. Tonight when Alia’s mother was telling him off, I was hoping she would say something but she just stood there quietly. Mawra Hocane looks great in this drama and she has acted well too but making Alia fall in love with Jamil was not a good idea especially when this track was going to end this way. Najma is apparently married and gone, I still don’t understand what was the purpose of her character? There are so many characters in this drama which have been given so much screen time but they didn’t add much to the story. There are some like Israr and Bua which didn’t add anything to the story at all!

Aangan Episode 23 Story Review - Goodbyes

Overall Impression

This episode of Aangan too was slow-paced but now finally the story is moving forward. Apart from exceptional performances from the leading cast, tonight’s episode didn’t have the same impact which it should have had considering it had so many ’emotional’ goodbyes. The fact that the scenes were dragged to the limit made them less impactful. It was awfully difficult sitting through this episode of Aangan and I can’t wait for it to end!

Do share your views about this episode of Aangan.

Aangan Episode 23 Review – Interesting!

Ohkay so, this was yet another interesting & entertaining episode of Aangan where it focused on another set of issue which a family is faced with when a baby is born.

Laila has left no stone unturned in letting everyone know that she is owning her baby & literally everything related to him but still it was sweet of her to sit down with everyone in order to choose a name for the baby. I must say the entire discussion revolving around the baby’s name was so realistic & convincing, where a few suggestions were made fun of & then the other few were not upto everyone’s liking. Zaitoon Bano’s suggestion was the funniest because it reminded Abba Jee of Allauddin. It is nice that Rubina has taken a back seat & is giving full authority to Laila so that she can enjoy the right of being the baby’s mother but still the way she gets curious & thinks about the baby goes to show that she might have given him away but he still has a special place in her heart like the rest of her children.

Sadaan tried to convince Hajra the last time & I must say, it was a very powerful & my most favorite scene of Sadaan’s track. Hajra was obviously left speechless but just because she is practicing her right of being his mother, she is not giving him any reason behind her rejection. Sadaan obviously doesn’t seem happy, like he is guilty of doing what he is about to do but then again, I don’t blame him because Hajra has left him with no choice.

Asim’s involvement in this matter was also interesting. Asim is like a friend to Sadaan & even though he supported him, he still warned him that things aren’t going to be easy after his Nikkah. Asim’s comment about Zahid keeping secrets made it seem like Asim was using Zahid for covering up something huge on his behalf but later what Zahid said to Rubina about how his responsibilities had doubled suggested that he was guilty of something? This suspense is quite interesting & I hope it’s worth the wait.

Overall, this episode was interesting but I really wish they get done with Sadaan & Afrah’s track ASAP, even the preview of the next episode suggested that it will be mostly about Sadaan’s Nikkah, so let’s see. Also, what could it be that Shaina wants but knows that her wish won’t be granted? Is it related to her education or may be there’s a guy that she likes but is shy to tell anyone about him? Let’s see. Can’t wait to find out Asim/Zahid secret & why Asim has this upper-hand on Zahid? What has he done? We have been teased enough & I can’t wait for the big reveal. Please share your thoughts.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 22 Story Review – Politics & Romance

Aangan continues to move forward at a slow pace and most of the times it seems like it is headed nowhere. Tonight’s episode was relatively better since there were some political discussions which were easy to connect to since they had some purpose and direction. Few of the developments and the preview of the next episode also suggested that the drama is headed towards an ending, hopefully sometime soon. It is definitely not the kind of drama which gives you a lot to discuss since there has been very little character development in all these weeks. The dialogues too are most often disappointing, tonight Jamil’s dialogue when he sat on Alia’s bed was once such dialogue.

Politics and Romance

All the political conversations tonight hinted that the British were going to leave soon therefore the two opposing parties which wanted completely different things from the British were fighting more fiercely than ever. Some of these dialogues also showed just how naive Jamil was, thinking that the partition was going to be a peaceful affair. This was yet another aspect Alia and Jamil did not agree on. Jamil and Alia’s scenes were repetitive and had nothing new to offer except for the fact that Jamil finally told Alia that he would leave her alone. He also seemed genuinely concerned for her when Alia cried. Najma decided to get married and even though her obsession with MA Angrezi is just plain annoying but watching her make a decision like that with such confidence was actually a good development in a play filled with timid females unless this marriage too has a tragic ending! It was also good to see Alia telling Jamil that it was perfectly alright for a woman to take such decisions for herself. Somehow this time around she wasn’t scared that this might be another one of those marriages which would result in a suicide! So far, there have been no happy marriages in this drama therefore it won’t be surprising if this one too has a sad ending.

Aangan Episode 22 Story Review - Politics & Romance

The financial state of the household went from bad to worse and just like every other episode this was highlighted by showing Bua complain about food (this time atta). Surely, the writer could have been more creative regarding this aspect of storytelling. Jamil twisting Alia’s arm is another scenario which is repeated every time they meet. I am still wondering why there has been so much focus on this arm twisting bit especially because tonight the way Alia looked at her arm after Jamil left was given special attention.

Chammi is still in love with Jamil and she continues to be the only character I genuinely feel for. Sajal and Ahad’s flashback scenes once again showed Chammi’s love for Jamil. The scene which was shown in the initial promos was finally shown tonight and this time around the comparison between Chammi life then and now clearly showed that she was not the same person any more. Even though Chammi’s life was always tough but she always had hope that some day Jamil will ‘rescue’ her. The few scenes in the previous episode showed just how terrible her married life was therefore there is a good reason why she never moved on. The scenes in the past few episodes showing Chammi ignoring Jamil altogether make even less sense now after what was shown tonight.

Aangan Episode 22 Story Review - Politics & Romance

Overall Impression

Sajal Aly, Mawra Hocane and Ahad Raza Mir definitely should be seen together in another drama. As for Aangan, it never offers anything grand therefore any episode with a little bit of spark is better than others and this was one such episode which had a few good scenes. Overall however, there were many scenes and happenings which were highly repetitive. Waiting to see how the partition is covered since few of the dialogues tonight in this regard were rather misleading.

Do share your thoughts about this episode of Aangan.

Aangan Episode 22 – Review!

Ohkay so, this turned out to be one serious episode of Aangan & probably has to be the only episode so far that I wasn’t too interested while watching because it covered Sadaan & Afrah’s track. Even though I didn’t really enjoy it much but it doesn’t take away from the fact that it was definitely needed to take things forward & to give coverage to these characters because they are a part of this story too.

Laila was making sure to walk an extra mile, just exactly how she has been doing right from the beginning, because she knows that she has to prove a lot. Laila on her own was not faltering & because she was being over protective & over sensitive about the baby, even that was creating issues with some of the family members. I totally was with this on Laila where she stood her ground & announced right from the beginning that she wouldn’t let go of the baby because she didn’t want him to get attached to Rubina. I am sure since this entire scenario is new for everyone, all of them really didn’t know how to tackle it, that is why time & again they kept on suggesting Laila to give the baby to Rubina so that she could comfort him. They all just didn’t realize that it would further make things tough for Laila as kids tend to give hard time to anyone or everyone, so it obviously wasn’t like how they all assumed that he was longing for Rubina. Laila proved to be a good mother & she was taking utmost care of the baby.

I totally felt for Rubina too when she shunned the idea of bringing the baby to her to comfort him. Rubina obviously is not in a right mental or emotional state because giving away your own child is not easy, but I also felt that Zahid was genuinely being concerned for her as he could see that she wasn’t at ease but still Rubina snapped at him. Even though Zahid has done nothing for Rubina to expect a polite reponse from her but I also feel that at times when he is genuinely concerned, Rubina becomes unnecessarily stern too.

Allauddin did what he is good at. This entire scenario basically highlighted how outsiders tend to poke their noses in matters that have been tackled with mutual understanding & respect & since they can not see things being so smooth, they do everything to ruin such sensitive affairs. Zahid unfortunately ended up falling for everything that Allauddin said but even though he was confident in Zahid his brother, he wanted some sort of guarantee, some assurance from Laila because by the end of the day it wasn’t easy for Zahid as well because he is the father of the baby.

Well, Afrah shared her sob story with Sadaan & he couldn’t resist talking to her mother. No matter what, I truly feel that Hajra is being unfair & even it Sadaan will get married to Afrah behind her back, I will definitely not blame him because Hajra has pushed him to the limit.

Overall, it was a decent episode but I didn’t enjoy it as much. Obviously, I don’t expect every other episode to be humorous or happening because there are some bigger more serious issues that any family faces & they are obviously going to surface in Aangan too but because I am not a fan of Afrah’s character, I want this entire matter to be sorted quickly so that we can get back to more important & better characters, their affairs & have a few light hearted moments that they all offer. Please share your thoughts.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 21 Story Review – Dull & Repetitive

Tonight’s episode of Aangan covered a period of nine months yet not much changed. The story is going around in circles and every single track has been stretched to the limit. Whether it is Alia’s mother’s selfishness, Jamil Bhaiya’s love for Chammi and Alia, Chammi’s love for Jamil, Alia’s love for Jamil, Azhar’s love for Congress and Bua’s love for Malik Muzaffar’s zamana – everything has done-to-death written all over it. The interactions between all the characters are more or less the same in every single episode even if something grand happens, there is little or no difference in the characters and their interactions.

Same Old

Alia’s mother’s plans tonight were the most annoying part of this episode since in all these years she has learned absolutely nothing. First she took her husband for granted and now she is taking the people who gave her shelter for granted. Watching this woman complain about every little thing and being extremely thankless has definitely not been entertaining especially because it is pointless. Alia sounds like a pretty reasonable girl when she interacts with all the other characters but when it comes to Jamil, she stops making sense altogether. Had Alia not fallen in love with this man, her character would have been far better. She is shown constantly lying to herself and others.

Aangan Episode 21 Story Review - Dull & Repetitive

Alia got the education she needed in order to have a decent career instead of doing what her mother wanted. This part was most certainly pleasing but the way she ran to greet Jamil and later on flirted with him wasn’t the least bit likable. I am generally not a fan of such romance where girls are running after men, flirting with them yet they are too scared of admitting their feelings. It is especially annoying when this is also accompanied by unnecessary/inappropriate physical contact, like the way Jamil twists her arm every now and then. There is nothing appealing about a man ‘hurting’ a woman in this manner yet we are watching this happen more and more in our dramas. In drama serial Anaa, Altamash constantly does that whenever Ezza doesn’t give him the attention or response he wants and Jamil bhaiya is the same.

Chammi and Alia

Chammi came to meet Alia finally and even though she was deeply hurt inside, she pretended to be the same old playful and carefree Chammi with a sense of humor. Alia could sense that Chammi was trying to hide something. Chammi’s story suggested that she is still waiting for Jamil to rescue her. Her life is clearly miserable but her daughter has given it some meaning. Just like every other episode, Chammi was the only character I felt for although her love for Jamil too can be annoying at times. Her entire life story is truly tragic yet she refuses to play the victim. Sajal Aly’s portrayal is always picture perfect. Her confidence and the way she adds more life to this character makes it easy for me to like Chammi even with all her flaws. The Kareeman Bua, Chammi and Alia scene on the rooftop was the only scene tonight which truly worked for me. However, in this scene there was a minor issue with the audio.

Aangan Episode 21 Story Review - Dull & Repetitive

Overall Impression

The few seconds in this episode in which Alia’s mother was actually happy because there was finally a good news was the only real change otherwise all the other tracks continue to be grim, depressing as well as pointless. The scenes continue to be repetitive and the story lacks direction or meaning. Mawra Hocane has give an outstanding performance throughout even though Alia’s character has been hypocritical and annoying at times. Sajal Aly is another actress who makes her presence felt and makes you feel for her. Other than that Aangan continues to be the ultimate snooze-fest.

Do share your thoughts about tonight’s episode of Aangan.

Aangan Episode 21 Review – True Depiction of Reality!

Ohkay so, it was yet another realistic episode of Aangan. Faiza Iftikhar should definitely take a bow for giving us such a beautiful drama laden with thought-provoking messages. This definitely has to be one of Faiza’s finest works & I am sure it is going to stay with each one of us for a long long time.

Even though Hajra has a complete right to make the best decision for Sadaan, I find her a little irrational that she has just made up her mind against his marriage with Afrah without any solid reasons. Yes, Hajra found it a little offensive that Afrah came to attend the family get together which was arranged to celebrate Sadaan’s graduation but other than that, just because she knows that they both love each other, Hajra has said no. I don’t know why but I have a feeling Sadaan will take a huge step which Hajra might regret later!

This episode focused on the new member that Laila couldn’t wait to welcome in her life. Laila’s excitement was so beautifully portrayed. Laila knows what it is like living without a child & that is why she was doing everything & walking an extra mile to make sure that she was fully prepared for the baby. Laila obviously has big shoes to fill & I can totally see how she will be judged & scrutinized every step of the way but I loved seeing how possessive Laila already was for the baby even before he was born!

Anila obviously came to do what she is good at but I loved the way Zaitoon silenced her. Whatever Zaitoon said left Anila speechless because even she knew that her mother had a point. Having a baby does not guarantee that a husband won’t get married again, so it was so wise of Zaitoon to show Anila the other side of the picture that just because she has had children doesn’t mean it was prohibited for her husband to get married again. Allauddin stirred the pot but I was actually taken aback with the way he addressed this scenario in front of Zahid, because he was so manipulative. Allauddin depicted a typical mentality where he felt that giving away a daughter would mean getting rid of your burden but giving a son away would be equivalent to losing an asset. Zahid may be stern or rigid, but I find him gullible as well that is why after having a conversation with Allauddin, he started having second thoughts & decided to find out the gender to act accordingly!

Well, I don’t know what secret Asim & Zahid are carrying in their hearts but it did look like they both are equally responsible for something, like they both are guilty but it is Zahid who is doing the heavy lifting on behalf of Asim, at least this is what I deduced from their conversation. Laila saw the cheque but because she trusts Asim so much & also because he knows how to tackle Laila, she immediately forgot about everything without even thinking that things might not be as simple as they seem!

Rubina gave birth to a baby boy & it was so sweet to see how Laila was taking care of everything, from shopping to even making sure that the baby was delivered at the best hospital. I must say what I loved the most about this episode was how the writer, in the middle of Laila’s excitement, didn’t forget to focus on how hard things were for Rubina emotionally. I loved how it was shown that even though it was Rubina who took this decision of giving away the child, still as a motther she was depressed because she knew it was not going to be easy giving away her own child & then seeing him growing up in front of her eyes while still not being able to shower him with her motherly love. This is a reality, when such a thing happens, everyone talks about how big-hearted the mother is & suddenly the focus is shifted on how the life of the one receiving the child is going to be perfect but in the middle of all this, everyone forgets what truly a mother is going through & how hard it is for her. I wish Zahid wasn’t so hard on Rubina. I was pleasantly surprised that he was being courteous enough to tell Abba Jee about Rubina’s mental state but then despite knowing everything, he threatened Rubina with his second marriage & dissed her again!?!

Oh my, who would’ve thought that Zoya will become Anila Junior? I laughed a lot when I saw Hajra’s reaction when Zoya banged the phone on her face. Since Zoya comes from a huge family where she has experienced family politics, she has obviously taken it with her too but then I also felt that it was her own complex of being older to Aqdas that she misunderstood Faseeha. Let’s see if Aqdas will be able to change Zoya & broaden her vision or not!

I loved all those funny moments like Abba Jee’s statements about Bilqees, Zaitoon’s annoyance at her mention. Abba Jee’s way of snubbing Zahid saying ‘kuch dair mai Maut ke Fariste mandranay lagainge’ & ‘maut ka manzar khol ke beth jata hai’. Also, Zahid’s disapproval of Aqdas’s choice of Thailand as a honeymoon destination. This is what the best part about this drama is, that even though such grave issues are being addressed, the humor quotient & overall essence is never lost in the middle of it. I loved this episode & I felt so relieved seeing Rubina in the precap, I am glad nothing happened to her & I am keen to see if Zahid will ever become courteous towards her or not? Loved everyone’s acting & oh yes, can’t wait to find out Asim Zahid secret too. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Aangan!

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 20 Story Review – The Death Toll Increases

This 20th episode of Aangan covered yet another tragedy, another important character died tonight and it was really difficult sitting through more of those mourning scenes. There was some character development in this episode and there were also plenty of scenes and situations which fell completely flat. Even though Sajal Aly got very little screen time tonight but she continues to be the best thing about an otherwise average play which has definitely failed to make an impression even after all these weeks. Every track ends with a tragedy therefore the death toll in this drama has naturally taken a toll on most of the viewers. The romantic tracks however never take a backseat no matter who dies.

The Developments

Tonight’s episode opened with yet another catchy number which was followed by Chammi’s miserable nikkah and rukhsati scene. The dread, misery and shock Chammi felt at this time was translated on-screen superbly by Sajal Aly. Sajal’s beautiful portrayal is the main reason why Chammi is the only character in this show which is easy to connect to. After spending a life of deprivation in her Chacha’s house, Chammi was shown leading an equally unhappy life after marriage. The scene covering her married life clearly showed that for her husband she was not a priority. Mazhar’s death came as a complete shock because the preview of this episode was misleading as it suggested that Jamil might be the next one to die.

Aangan Episode 20 Story Review - The Death Toll Increases

Mazhar’s wife’s reaction was not in line with her character at all therefore it was impossible to feel for her. Every time someone dies Israr wishes he would have died instead. One can only wonder why Israr mian has to do all his dil ki batein with the one person who hates him the most! While Kareeman Bua’s undying hatred for Israr is just plain annoying as well as unnecessary, Israr’s dheetai is equally irritating. This time around however there was some hope that maybe Bua will say something nice to Israr but her response actually made me laugh because this time around she made it sound like he was the one responsible for all these deaths.

After her father’s death Alia missed Jamil more than ever. She is clearly in love with him but once he is back, she will be treating him the same way she did before. Watching this love story going around in circles is frustrating, to say the least. Alia’s mother finally realized that she could not bank on her brother and was disappointed in him – better late than never. This aspect should have been covered in more detail since the viewers have been listening to her praise her brother and bhabhi for so many weeks now. The viewers are somehow supposed to feel for Azhar because he has sacrificed everything for his country but I have always found it really difficult to feel for him.

Aangan Episode 20 Story Review - The Death Toll Increases

Overall Impression

In all these weeks, in a certain way the story has come a long way but right from the beginning this drama has banked heavily on tragedies. Chammi’s track had so much potential had the writer explored her personality and everything she has been through in all these years. The script lacks depth, flow and at times clarity too. The dialogues and situations have been highly repetitive as well. Alia’s practical, sensitive and sensible side is appealing but her love for Jamil bhaiya has turned this track into one of the many desperate love stories in this play. The preview of the next episode suggested that the upcoming episode will be focusing on Alia and Jamil’s track.

Do share your thoughts about tonight’s episode of Aangan.

Aangan Episode 20 Review – Super Sweet!

Ohkay so, now the story of Aangan is moving towards more serious issues that a family is faced with & how they all come together in order to find a solution to someone’s problem. I loved this episode again for the fact that while still giving us some light hearted moments, they conveyed other details & scenarios quite convincingly as well.

Afrah & Sadaan’s track has come to a standstill & there is nothing much in it apart from Afrah’s taunts directed towards Sadaan. I actually thought that may be in this episode Sadaan will once again speak to Hajra about Afrah but that didn’t happen. Shafiq decided to go back & it was interesting how he had this victim-mentality where he let everyone know how disappointed he was that no one bothered sending gifts for his children, while conveniently forgetting that he also came empty-handed. It is interesting to see how realistically they have painted a picture of how at times people turn cold towards their own family members after they make a life of their own in abroad. Shafiq is a clear cut example of how cold he has become because he has forgotten what it was like living with this big family where everyone came together for each other & got involved in everything to run the family smoothly. Since Shafiq has made a life of his own in Germany, for him only his wife & kids matter & that’s about it, that is why he clearly spoke about how he didn’t want to get involved in the family politics & didn’t want to do anything to improve the dynamics either. He just came as an outsider & wanted to stay that way, whereas on the other hand if we look at Asim, Sajjad & to some extent Zahid, they all are always mindful of each other & the entire family!

Even though the focus of this episode was on something entirely different, I liked that it was highlighted how a newly wedded couple is usually invited for dinners. First Hajra spoke about it then Anila & then Zoya & Aqdas were seen attending a dinner hosted by Aqdas’s relatives too. Even though it was a very small scene but it rightly pointed out the things married girls get to hear, about their dressing, about their age & so many other things as well. Even though Zoya is shown to be a bit older to Aqdas but in general, newly wedded girls in our society are put under a lot of scrutiny & are judged over minute details which was shown convincingly in such a small scene.

Well, everyone came together to finally address the void in Laila & Asim’s life. It was sweet that Abba Jee & Zaitoon Bano in stead of ordering Zahid & Rubina, put forth a request & tried to put things into perspective. Laila felt they were trying to get Asim remarried but she was pleasantly surprised when she got to know that whatever was being said was in her favor & not against her.

Laila agreed but Asim was hesitant. I liked how maturely Asim tried to show Laila the other side of the picture too where he dreaded Laila getting judged by Rubina but then seeing Laila’s confidence in herself forced him to just accept & respect her wishes. Despite Zahid not wanting to, Rubina went ahead & accepted Abba Jee’s request. Rubina has her reasons & even though she tried to tell Zahid what she feels, I felt it definitely had a lot more to do with Zahid’s nature & lack of responsibility to provide for his family. Rubina did say that she wanted to do something that would give her an upper-hand on Laila but I am sure in reality, she just didn’t want any more favors from Sajjad & Hajra because she has seen that Zahid is not in a mood to bring any change in himself!

Even though Zahid comes across as a bit aloof to everything else but it was sweet how he shared the dreams that he had for his child. Though Zahid might not be an ideal husband but when it comes to being a father, he surely cares. I loved the conversation where both Abba Jee & Zaitoon shared their perspectives regarding a child becoming Hafiz e Quran, even though they both had a different thought process but it was positive & was meant to guide as well as appreciate Zahid. I must say, the scene where Rubina packed baby’s belongings was very sweet, even though being a mother the thought of giving her child away was already quite hard for her to accept but still she knows that she took that decision for her child’s better future.

I really really hope that the secret that Asim & Zahid are hiding is not related to Zahid’s 2nd marriage, like there were a few talks about that happening in the preview of the next episode but I so wish that doesn’t turn out to be the case because Zahid’s character already gets a lot of hate, where people just see him as a hypocrite & irresponsible person so I really wish he doesn’t do anything of that sort which will turn him into a villain because for me he is not a negative character, he just lacks some sense of responsibility especially towards his wife. I really hope & I am sure that Zahid will change but I once again say that I hope he doesn’t have a 2nd wife because it will give everyone a reason to hate him. I must say I had a good laugh at the conversation that Hajra & Zaitoon had about Asim being scared of Laila. Also, the opinion Allauddin had about Rubina was so funny. The way Zaitoon reminded Abba Jee that he was feeling sad not because of Zoya but because of Bilqees was amusing too. It’s things like these that make this drama such a perfect & complete family entertainment package. Absolutely love it. Please share your thoughts.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Aangan Episode 2 Story Review – Gloom and Doom

Aangan Episode 2 Story Review –

This second episode of Aangan was somewhat predictable as well as extremely depressing. Salma made the escape in the most filmy way possible and some of the reactions to this development were quite surprising. This second episode also had many symbolic scenes which showed Ama Jaan’s desire to control and Salma’s wish to run away. Few of the attributes of different characters which were revealed in the previous episode were further established in this one. Mazhar’s thanda response to what had happened was the most surprising aspect of this episode.

Salma’s Madness vs Ama’s Hostility

Tonight’s episode focused on Salma’s madness and Ama’s hostile nature more than anything else. Ama’s relationship with all the other characters has been hostile throughout. With the exception of one of her bahus, she has no connection with any other family member. She does not want people to feel for her in any way but at the same time you see her feeling lonely and cheated for obvious reasons. You understand why she is so angry and there must be a good reason why she is being constantly shown telling her husband off. These scenes also show the root cause for her hostile nature. The way she reacted when Kareeman expressed her grief summed up how she deals with pain. On the one hand she set her daughter’s clothes on fire and on the other she stopped her husband from going after her when he wanted to kill her.

 

Aangan Episode 2 Story Review - Gloom and Doom

Salma’s madness was shown through various scenes in this episode. She was clearly not in her senses therefore she did something extreme without caring about the consequences. There was an overdose of such scenes and the filmy way in which these scenes were covered actually undermined their impact. Showing Salma walking away and making so much noise when she should have been running away killed the impact of that scene. When she told Subhan’s father that she had walked for hours and her feet were injured, her perfect make-up and heavy earrings told a different story! When Ama Jaan locked the main door, it implied that she could sense what Salma’s plans were but later on she was shown sleeping with the door open and they keys were easily within reach. Making scenes visually pleasing at the expense of their authenticity is never a good idea!

The Callous Attitude Of Men

There were several scenes in this episode which showed how callous the men of this haveli were. The sons are busy with their jobs or politics and Aba Mian is busy with his ‘activities’ which do not involve the haveli or the people living in it. Some of  these scenes suggested that the children could have played a more productive role in the haveli if Aba Mian was a better role model. The conversation between the two bahus clearly suggested that they felt ignored and taken for granted. Men had little or no role to play in their lives which is why this haveli was run by the only woman who was strong enough to run it. I do wish however that there was more to like about Ama Jaan’s character. Mazhar’s reaction was the most surprising aspect for me, he actually justified Salma’s actions. In the previous episode, he was shown as someone who took haveli’s izzat very seriously and asked his mother to stop talking about Aba Mian’s affairs in front of other people. The promo of the next episode also made me wonder why he would go to see Subhan. The way Subhan refused to send Salma back was interesting. He is attracted towards Salma but he is definitely not the kind of man who is going to stand by her. He ran away once and he won’t think twice before deserting her again.

Aangan Episode 2 Story Review - Gloom and Doom

Overall Impression

Aangan so far is grand in every way but it is not as impactful as I was hoping for it to be. I feel absolutely no connection with any of the characters so far and the overdose of filminess seemed forced in both the episodes. Madiha Rizvi’s character is the only interesting character with some life in it. The corridor of the haveli looked amazing in this episode but it got way more ‘screen time’ then it should have! The scenes were beautifully shot and they would have looked great on the big screen but some of these scenes did not depict the situations which were being shown convincingly. I was expecting to watch a reality-stricken drama with real people and situations but so far everything looks staged.

How many of you watched tonight’s episode? Do share your thoughts about it.