So, with an eventful episode, Shehnai came to an end & it was a happy ending for Meerab & Bakht. Shehnai was definitely a drama with a refreshing & new story, a unique concept which may look unrealistic but the thing that made it real was the emphasis on family relations & their importance. Right from the beginning, Shehnai turned out to be a perfect, light-hearted entertainment & because it had so many characters, it never looked boring. However, towards the end, it did become a little stagnant but apart from that, the way the story was taken forward with so many twists & turns, it definitely is the kind of drama that I would recommend to those who want to watch something easy & fun!

An Eventful Ending

It took so much for Bakht to finally be convinced that Hunain was deceiving her. Although her intuition kept on telling her that something was wrong, there was definitely something off about the entire plan that Hunain had devised but she was too scared to admit it. It is nice to see that all this while, Bakht was constantly reminded of how Meerab had been truthful & respectful towards her. Bakht couldn’t stop thinking of all those times when Meerab took a stand for her & protected her. It was nice that every time Bakht decided to convince herself, there were her cousins Saima, Iffat & Beenish who told her otherwise & let her know that she was making the biggest mistake of her life.

I really think they could’ve done without Hunain slapping Bakht, it just wasn’t necessary. They already kidnapped her & forced her for the Nikkah, so that was enough of an eye-opener for her. I am glad that before Meerab saved the day, Qifayat came clean & took full accountability for what he had done & how he wanted to get back at all of them who used to insult him. Qifayat was time & again reminded of how kind-hearted this entire family was & this turned out to be a perfect case of good winning over bad!

Shehnai has emphasized a lot on family ties & forgiveness. It has time & again shown how one can get past the difficult times when you have family support. I also must mention that for me, one of the best aspects of this drama was the relationship Absar had with Bakht. I don’t say Bakht with Absar because she ended up being deceptive at certain points, she even lied to her father but her father’s continuous & unwavering support often made her reevaluate her decisions. In the end, yet again Absar forgave Bakht & reinforced the fact that it’s perfectly fine for children to make mistakes but in the end, if they want to make amends, they should be welcomed with open arms.

It was refreshing to see a character like Meerab who was always kind, non-judgmental & was in touch with his emotions. Although in a lot of places these traits didn’t work well in his favor he continued to push through & didn’t change himself to fit someone else’s narrative. Meerab continued to stand by Bakht through thick & thin & never once blamed her. I really think the writer did us a favor but showing that such male characters can also exist & be liked by the drama viewers.

Unique Idea With Great Messages

The family members, their politics & then coming together in tougher times were all a delight to watch. All in all, Shehnai was a very unique & special drama with a lot of nice messages & positive characters. The writer should be extremely happy for coming up with such a concept which was well-received. The OST was another bonus point of this drama. Ramsha Khan & Affan Waheed’s chemistry was great, I wish in the second half of the drama we had seen more of Bakht & Meerab’s interactions but that didn’t turn out to be the cast. The supporting cast especially Maryam Noor, Umar Alam, Arsalan Faisal, Maham Amir, Hammad Shoaib & Anosha Ali performed really well. It was always fun to see what they were going through & how they were reacting to every situation. Saleem Mairaj gave one of the best performances in Shehani, he put in all the flavors in Qifayat’s character to make it so realistic & convincing. It was definitely one of the good dramas that I watched & will remember for a long time. Please share your thoughts about the final episode of Shehnai.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Ohkay so, the last three episodes of Shehnai were such a roller-coaster ride. This is one drama where wit, comedy, drama & twists & turns are done right. Shehnai is the kind of drama that you can watch daily & not get bored of it because so much is happening & there are so many strong characters with their convincing tracks that you actually look forward to which chapter is going to unfold in their lives.

Believable & Realistic Portrayal of Relationships

It all started because Saima decided to send Meerab & Bakht’s picture to Samreen before deleting it from Qifayat’s phone. Saima decided to play the cupid because she too sensed that Bakht wanted to get married to Meerab & started having feelings for him. Qifayat lost the golden opportunity but the fact remained that Samreen actually got to see the picture & decided to guilt-trip Meerab about it.

I am thoroughly enjoying the stories of the supporting characters too. There is Beenish & Rafay, really looking forward to being together but right now, Qifayat is not too impressed with him. On the other hand, there is Saima & Ahsan who also don’t stand a chance because of their parents, although they both have also discussed how they want to pursue this relationship & are keen on making it work. I really must commend the writer for making these relationships, as well as the characters, look so realistic & rational.

At the beginning of it all, it might’ve looked a bit too sudden & emotional that all four of them fell in love but the way they discussed the matters concerning their future, their jobs, their careers, their parents’ permission in Beenish’s case, it seemed like although these guys fell in love a bit too quickly but were actually dealing with all of it with utmost maturity. Saima knows that her mother has a lot of expectations from her therefore she let Ahsan know that he had to be mindful of that too. Rafay & Qifayat are not on good terms & their reactions & expressions while talking to each other were quite amusing. Qifayat thinks he is entitled to have a low opinion of Rafay but he didn’t know that Rafay too didn’t think so highly of him. All in all, it is commendable that the writer has dealt with all these characters & their tracks so beautifully that none of it seems forced & actually makes quite a lot of sense. It won’t be wrong to say that it is just as interesting as the love triangle of Meerab, Bakht & Samreen.

So, Bakht finally found out that Samreen was not only engaged but she was pretty happy with Saleh too. Saleh in general seems like a very decent person who treats Samreen the way she expects to be treated. Samreen is problematic & she is doing all of this to derive sadistic pleasure out of it. Seeing Meerab in agony makes her happy & that alone is enough reason to wish that she leaves him alone as soon as possible. However, I will say that despite knowing how Samreen is two-timing Meerab & is just fooling around, I still do not detest her character. Maham Amir has played it so convincingly where amidst all of this, I actually want to know & understand why Samreen is the way she is. Yet another character that has been portrayed & written by the writer with so much clarity & the best part is, she has shown to have shades & has a lot of personality to her.

I found the scene where Munni came to extend her support to Saima, Beenish & Iffat really cute. It was such a nice addition to this entire bit because these guys definitely deserved someone’s support & now Munni was going to play that role. I am so glad that the character of Munni has not been wasted as a divorcee pupho in the house, in fact, she is going to become everyone’s best friend & which is going to be even better. It is interesting to note how the writer has maintained a balance because where we see characters like Qifayat & Maliha only thinking negatively, we have characters like Saiqa & Munni who want nothing but the best for everyone.

I must say, the director of Khuda Aur Mohabbat 3 should’ve watched Shehnai to know how slowly the feelings between the characters are developed to make them convincing & believable. Bakht fell for Meerab after she saw how selflessly he was there to support her & risked everything just to ensure she was safe. Bakht has found one reason after another to fall in love with Meerab & now when she has seen how Samreen is deceiving him, more so. Similarly, Meerab is still very much invested in Samreen & fails to believe anything that Bakht says about her, but at times he too seems irritated with Samreen. He has not realized yet but he too has developed a soft corner for Bakht in his heart because when Samreen speaks against Bakht, Meerab doesn’t entertain that either. All of this is just so believable & nice to see, this makes it quite special.

A Perfect Light-hearted Entertainment

These three episodes of Shehnai were an absolute treat to watch. The writer Radain Shah deserves all the appreciation for bringing something so refreshing & fun for us to see. All the actors have fitted the roles perfectly & the characters are even better. It is so nice that Shehnai has turned out to be such a good drama, a perfect light-hearted entertainment, with a few very profound messages in it. Please share your thoughts about Shehnai.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Ohkay so, this episode of Shehnai showed that happiness & trying times both go hand in hand in one’s life. Just when everyone was rejoicing over the fact that Bakht & Meerab were now getting married & their wedding festivities have begun, they were faced with Absar’s sudden health issues. This episode was also dedicated to all the signs both Bakht & Meerab were getting one after another to understand that they both were meant to be but obviously, it is too early for them to come to that realization. However, the fact that they both are on the path of that particular discovery makes it worthwhile.

The Signs

I really enjoyed watching how Munni was taking sides, first she joined hands with Maliha to tease Qifayat & then later, she sided with Tooba against Maliha. This makes the family dynamics look very real because not everyone all the time has to be on the same page, they all can have their differences & choose to stand with what they agree with. It is nice that all the supporting characters get their fair share of coverage & are shown to be just an important & integral part of the family as well as the story of Shehnai.

Beenish & Rafay’s budding relationship was exposed & Tooba wasn’t really happy. Qifayat obviously had no idea how he was going to deal with it but I found it interesting that at least Beenish decided to stand by her feelings & let her parents know that she actually was interested in Rafay. Qifayat definitely isn’t the kind of person to take this as an eye-opener in order to leave Bakht alone but this is exactly what he should’ve done, realizing that he had a daughter too who was interested in someone, just like Bakht was, about which he made such an issue.

In this episode, Samreen’s character got a bit more clarity & as a viewer, I got an insight into what she was like. Samreen not only has personality issues but she is actually two-timing Meerab. She is a control freak & because she saw that Meerab was getting engaged, she couldn’t really cope with the idea of some other girl winning over what she thought ‘belonged’ to him. For Samreen, this is nothing less than an adventure & she doesn’t really have genuine feelings for Meerab. The fact that Meerab is so obedient, she enjoys the feeling of entitlement where he gives her the satisfaction that she owns & rules him. I liked noticing the fact that just because Meerab himself is so nice, he sees the non-existent niceness in Samreen & is ready to accept her the way she is, thinking everyone is flawed so he might as well accept her with her flaws as well. I must commend the writer Radain Shah for coming up with such an amazing character like Meerab who actually is the hero in this equation & is just so kind-hearted. Samreen is very much involved with her fiance & doesn’t really plan on leaving him. At this point, she is keeping her options open & doesn’t mind playing around with the feelings of both Meerab as well as Saleh.

Bakht felt burdened with the idea that she was being a nuisance to both Meerab & Samreen, she finally decided to tell everything & yet again, her mother’s reaction was disappointing. It is said that she chooses not to believe anything that Bakht says & even now she felt Bakht was lying about Meerab & Samreen because she didn’t want to get married. It would definitely be nice if for once Ambreen pays attention to Bakht & hears her out instead of just treating her as a burden she wants to get rid of. On the other hand, Bakht’s relationship with Absar is really refreshing. This was yet another sign that Absar didn’t hear anything that Bakht said about not wanting to get married. The first sign was the sudden power cut & Samreen losing her golden chance of telling the truth to Bakht & Meerab’s mothers.

Iffat has no idea what she has done, but it was amusing that right in the middle of such a tense & emotional situation, she decided to capture that moment shared between Bakht & Meerab. Bakht definitely has become a lot more comfortable with Meerab but he has yet to realize what is best for him.

Fun Episode

This episode of Shehnai was fun to watch for sure. This drama keeps on getting better & the characters are such that I actually enjoy watching what they are up to. This is a perfect result of intelligent writing & brilliant execution that has given these characters such a nice & strong portrayal. Props to all the actors for their brilliant performances. Maham Amir is really impressive as twisted Samreen, her expressions are fun to watch. Affan Waheed & Ramsha Khan are just perfect as Meerab & Bakht. This was yet another episode where Javeria Abbasi looked absolutely stunning. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Shehnai.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Ohkay so, these were fun & interesting episodes of Shehnai. It focused all on the aftermath & showed how a family comes together in times like these. The writer’s take on the importance of family ties & everyone’s reactions related to it was really sweet & I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. Shehnai is turning out to be a rollercoaster ride & with so many twists & turns, you really can’t predict what to expect & how the characters are going to react.

An Eventful Wedding

The first episode started off by putting Qifayat in a tough spot. It is interesting how everyone knows that they don’t really respect Qifayat & this is something that even he himself is aware of but because he is the way he is, he has kept himself free from such worries where he would be mindful of how others think about him. I actually thought Qifayat would at least try to change himself but I am glad he didn’t because he brings this spark in the story & also because nature doesn’t really change so I am glad the writer kept it realistic by showing that he will continue to be the way he is.

Everyone was shaken to the core & in this entire fiasco, everyone had a realization that they were wrong in thinking that they all should live separately. I loved the way Absar yet again showed his caliber as the head of the family & proved that he genuinely loved his family as much as he loved his daughter. It is definitely because of Absar that they all are together & get their fair share of everything. Everyone else was definitely worried when Qifayat was told to leave, especially Saima, Rafay, Beenish & Ahsan. I loved watching their reactions because they wanted to undo everything that happened but felt helpless. These relationships are definitely budding & they all are enjoying the attention they’re getting from each other.

I absolutely loved the conversation Saiqa had with Bakht. Without blaming or shaming her, she just showed Bakht the right path, she guided her & let her know where she went wrong. It had to be Bakht’s Khala, not her Pupho, not her Chachi, not even her mother but her Khala to politely show her the bigger picture. The scene between Saiqa & Saima was really nice too. I loved seeing that Saiqa was the voice of reason & on top of that, she was not invalidating anyone’s feelings but just trying to guide the best way she could.

So, finally, after getting to know Meerab’s perspective, Bakht has definitely started to have feelings for him. She actually has seen what a nice person he is, how considerate he was & how he risked everything to make sure that she wasn’t going to get herself in trouble – after seeing how Hunain was cheating her all this while, it definitely was easy for Bakht to move on because she herself heard everything from Hunain. Just when Bakht was in denial that everything might go on smoothly & this marriage might take place, she was served with an eye-opener that Meerab was already involved with someone else & that she stood no chance. With Samreen’s entry into the picture, things became a lot more complicated, not only for Bakht, for Meerab too.

It was amusing how everyone reacted to Samreen’s entry at Meerab’s place. The youngsters were just winging it because they knew anything could happen & the elders were just busy speculating why Samreen showed up. Samreen definitely is a tough cookie & she already started the competition with Bakht. All the things that Samreen said, it clearly showed that Bakht was hurt by it all because somehow she was kind of hoping that she would get married to Meerab especially if this is what would please her family, but it wasn’t meant to be, as of now!

Meerab was once again feeling helpless because, in all honesty, he knows the havoc Samreen is capable of creating. The only person amused & pleased with this entire situation was Qifayat. I am glad that the writer has brought such a realistic picture of what usually happens in desi weddings where everyone is together for the face-saving but deep down they all have their own agendas & are always unhappy with one thing or the other. Qifayat continued to tease both Meerab & Bakht but because of his shamelessness, he failed to even realize how sick of him they all were.

Thoroughly Enjoyable Episodes

These episodes of Shehnai were thoroughly enjoyable. It is interesting how within the setting of a wedding, they have made the story so multi-faceted where each & every character is living their own story & have one thing or the other going on in their lives. Ramsha Khan & Affan Waheed are the stars of the show but the supporting cast is super impressive too, especially Maryam Noor, Saleem Mairaj, Arsalan Faisal & Umar Alam. Maham Amir has given a very convincing performance as Samreen, her expressions are a million bucks & she really looks cute giving all those looks to Meerab. The story has so much to offer that I find myself waiting for Shehnai the entire week. I am glad they are now airing two episodes per week, which makes it a lot more fun. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Shehnai.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Oh wow, what a dhamakay-daar episode of Shehnai this was. I thoroughly enjoyed watching all the events & situations unfold & loved the way the writer & the director both took care of everything to make it even better. So much happened in this episode that for a moment I felt I was watching a double episode. This drama is setting a perfect example of how the drama-makers should use different characters to contribute to the story. In this episode, there was not even a single character that did not add more value to the drama & its story. Be it, anyone, from the elder lot or anyone from the younger lot, they all made their presence felt & I really enjoyed watching how the writer justified the number of characters that have been added in this drama – they all have a story to tell or if not, they all know how to make it a lot more interesting with their input. This episode was a perfect blend of drama, emotions, comedy & meaningful instances that made it super special.

Bakht’s Little Adventure

So, Bakht ran away & then she was on her own, figuring out what she had to do. For Bakht everything was clear, she was set to go to Islamabad with Hunain & get married the next day. Bakht obviously did not really understand why Meerab was there with her, risking everything because she misconstrued his kindness as his weakness. Till this moment, Bakht saw him as a coward who didn’t have the courage to tell his parents that he couldn’t get married, therefore she thought all this while he was making sure that she is gone for good & is not coming back so that he can tell both the families. Meerab had his reasons because he knew Hunain was not going to fulfill the promise he had made to Bakht. I really really liked how before leaving, Meerab thought things through & let Saima know that Bakht was eventually coming back because Hunain will not show up. Meerab showed his far-sightedness & also his intelligence because he knew the hell would break loose when the family members will figure out that Bakht was missing.

In the previous episode, I actually wanted to know what Saima had to say to Ahsan & I am glad in this episode, they showed that conversation. Ahsan was also concerned but Saima not only told him the truth but also expected him to be mindful of what he says about Bakht. I can totally see a connection there which was subtle but still quite obvious. It was super interesting how the writer shifted the perspective where initially it was felt that maybe Rafay & Saima will end up together but that is not going to happen now. I must commend the writer for showing how both Saima & Rafay are such good & positive characters but that does not mean they both are going to get along well, it was this simple fact established so well that made me enjoy the possibility of two new relationships a lot more.

In Bakht’s house, everyone obviously caught onto the rumor that she was gone. Azhar saw the burqa-clad girl & thought it was Bakht & then one thing led to another. Obviously, neither Azhar nor Qifayat was wrong but luckily, in the end, everything turned in Bakht’s favor because she had so many people speaking up in her support. However, it was brilliant how they all tackled the situation without letting Meerab’s family know what was going on. However, it was sad that because Azhar fell victim to Qifayat’s brainwashing, he ended up using such a sensitive matter to further the idea of property distribution. At this moment, Absar needed his family’s support the most but they all ended up being such a disappointment. I actually am not against the idea of what Qifayat & Maliha want – their chunk in the family wealth, however, the way they made Azhar use this situation, in particular, to turn against Absar & his daughter was absolutely not right. I am sure Azhar will redeem himself & Maliha being his wife will have to oblige but Qifayat won’t stop!

This entire episode was packed with one intense situation after another. Bakht decided to see Hunain & luckily she knew his house address. I am glad that before Bakht reacted, she allowed Hunain to show his true colors completely for her to get over the love she had for him. Hunain also didn’t stop there & continued to blabber till he actually showed Bakht how he was never into her & how this relationship meant nothing to him. Meerab was in a tough spot because just when he felt at ease that Bakht was getting to hear the truth, he was feeling sad for her that she was now heartbroken. I am so glad that Bakht decided to give it back to Hunain, although that scene & the dialogues were reminiscent of Geet from Jab We Met but nonetheless, in dramas where we get to see girls literally dying to be with flawed men, Bakht came as a fresh air who not only realized that Hunain was the wrong person, she also decided to expose him because this is exactly what he deserved. All the expressions of Affan Waheed during that scene which showed how amused Meerab was were spot on, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Another favorite scene from this episode of mine was the confrontation between Saima, Rafay, Beenish & Ahsan, the timing, the dialogues, the acting of all the actors involved in that scene were absolutely perfect. Beenish & Rafay spoke in the favor of each other whereas Saima & Ahsan acted like a team, I really like this new equation too because things are going to get more interesting. So far, out of this entire lot, Beenish hasn’t really been impressive because she has shown negative personality traits, but I hope that changes about her & she becomes a normal person with sensitivity & emotions towards her family & relatives. Ahsan & Rafay are cute & Saima is definitely one of my favorite characters in Shehnai.

So, Bakht finally came back & again, it was amazing how everyone came to her support. The youngsters came up with their version of the truth & sided with Bakht. Qifayat obviously saw the golden opportunity slipping away from him therefore he insisted that he was right, which he was. Although I do understand Azhar’s frustrations I really think slapping Qifayat, that too in front of his grown-up children wasn’t the right thing to do, especially looking at Ahsan’s expressions, it was like he was hurt with what just happened & although he was speaking in Bakht’s favor, he knew his father wasn’t telling a lie. Azhar shouldn’t have done that because out of all the people, he himself took an advantage of this situation to let Absar know that he wanted to go ahead with the distribution. I think just snubbing Qifayat in a stern manner would’ve been enough!

Power-packed Episode

This episode of Shehnai was power-packed & had so much to offer that I didn’t even look away for a second. Not only the casting in Shehnai is perfect but the performances are top-notch too. The writer should be extremely proud for coming up with such a fun & interesting script & the director as well for giving it a perfect treatment. Affan Waheed has outdone himself & for a change, it is really nice to see him playing this kind of character where Meerab doesn’t mind having a bit of fun. Ramsha Khan is at her best when she plays these kinds of roles, so props to her for giving yet another phenomenal performance. Maryam Noor, Umar Alam, Arsalan Faisal, Saleem Mairaj, Zainab Qayyum, all have been performing brilliantly as well. I must commend that whosoever is responsible for the wardrobe of all the female characters has done an amazing job, they all look stunning. I can not wait for the next episode because it seems Bakht wants to go ahead with this marriage & now Meerab’s patience will be tested. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Shehnai.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Ohkay so, what sets Shehnai apart as a drama for me is how the writer has added so many layers in the story. It is not just your comedy play that you can watch to have a few giggles here & there, instead, there is so much happening in every scene, every track, every character’s life that it makes it quite a multi-faceted story. With each passing episode, Shehnai is turning out to be a very interesting play that gives me a lot more reasons every week to wait for the next episode. Honestly speaking, I was hoping that this episode would continue & I will straight away find out what is going to happen after Bakht left but that is exactly when the episode ended & I was just not ready. Shehnai is a very intelligently written drama, although the family dynamics & politics are nothing new but, the way it is being told makes it a brilliant watch.

Planning & Plotting

This episode mostly revolved around the supporting characters & what they were planning to do. Ever since the beginning, I have always felt that Qifayat & Maliha were siblings but at times where they become too formal & speak to each other with honorifics, it just goes to show that they both are not biologically related but because they have the same agenda, they don’t mind having a word or two every now & then. Then I thought it wouldn’t have made much of a difference if Maliha & Qifayat actually were siblings because it would’ve made things a lot more interesting with both of them having enough reasons to back each other up because they are very similar in so many ways. It is always fun to notice how the rest of the family members may take a break but these two are always on the lookout for the right opportunity to persuade others. Maliha is quite sorted & she has been telling Azhar what she wants, Tooba likes to underestimate her husband Qifayat but she fails to see that even he is very much on the same page as her & wants what she has failed to realize so far. Tooba is actually quite content with the fact that her brothers bear the financial responsibility of her family but Qifayat has a bigger picture in mind.

I really liked getting an insight into Rafay’s character. I mean, if he would’ve been a part of any other drama, his character would’ve looked negative but in Shehnai, he comes across as quite amusing & cute. He was trying to be chummy with Saima but when she showed him his right place, he decided to move on from the heart-break & befriend Beenish. Beenish also kind of liked the interaction with Rafay so it was nice how the writer used the opportunity to create this triangle. Rafay is very much single & he is ready to mingle, this is all that can be said about his character.

Another interesting bit was related to Ahsan, I don’t know why the way the actor Umar Alam has played this character makes me feel for him a lot. Ahsan seems to be the kind of person who wants things to be normal, but because both his parents are so scheming in their own way, he definitely comes across as a neglected child who is not really happy with the way his parents behave. I also like how in Tooba’s entire family, he is the sane & the sensitive one. Props to the writer for giving so much personality to each & every character, it is quite a rarity that in a drama with such a huge cast & so many characters, each & every character gets to stand out & that surely is the case with Shehnai, which definitely does wonders for the pace of the drama. Iffat is cute & she is also quite committed, the only thing is she hasn’t really been busted for the secret that she’s been keeping, but that will happen quite soon too.

As much as I like how Bakht is so sensitive when it comes to her father & as much as I liked the conversation Absar had with her in the previous episode, I was pretty disappointed with the things her mother Ambreen said to her. It was as if Ambreen was completely turning a blind eye to Bakht & was invalidating her feelings by pressurizing her using the tactic of emotional blackmail. It is obvious that both Ambreen & Absar want the same thing from Bakht, that is to get married to the guy they picked for her but they both are so different in their approach when it comes to dealing with Bakht. I will also say I like how with each passing episode, it is being established what a nice family Meerab belongs to. Be it him, his parents, his sister, or even his cousin, they all are very kind-hearted & nice people, just a nice vibe that I as a viewer get from that family.

So, now coming to Bakht, she definitely is quite naive & has been unable to understand that Hunain isn’t right for her. She has been doubting Meerab & thinks he wants her to do the heavy lifting so that he can get married to Samreen. It is interesting to note how Bakht’s judgment about people is just so off. It is good to be opinionated but to have such poor observation of people goes to show that she lacks the basic understanding & experience of making the right judgment about people that she interacts with. I know it wasn’t deliberate but I liked the color coordination of both Meerab & Bakht when they had a meeting at the terrace. Meerab has definitely not said anything to his parents yet because after finding out the truth about Hunain, he is kind of in a fix whether it is the right time to do so or not because he knows that if he backs out, Bakht will go to Hunain & face a heart-break, which he doesn’t want. Meerab’s character is really nice because he is not only sensitive but he is quite selfless at that.

I really liked the conversation Qifayat had with Azhar. It is always amusing to see how Qifayat thinks he is making valid points but everyone else around him fails to take him seriously. Azhar bluntly called him Bee Jamalo but Qifayat didn’t seem to mind because he knows he has to ignore such comments in order to get to his goal. However, as much as Azhar is trying to ignore these thoughts, both Maliha & Qifayat’s constant nagging seems to be kind of working because he does seem a bit lost thinking about the things they say to him. In this episode, one thing was made clear that Munni is just not this cunning & manipulative. Plus she doesn’t wish ill towards her family, this is exactly why when they used her to spread the rumor, she felt guilty & knew she did something wrong.

So, Bakht ran away & a few were waiting for this to happen. I must also commend the writer for showing a father like Absar who had so much trust in his daughter that he felt it was an insult to call & question Bakht in front of the entire family. Although it is sad that Bakht put a dent in the trust he had but then this was her journey to take to just realize how wrong she was & how she was taking such a loving family for granted. I would like to see how Absar will find it in his heart to forgive Bakht because what she has done is definitely going to come as a shock to him. I also like that although it was simply mentioned in a single dialogue but the writer raised a red flag that if a guy continues to ask the girl for financial help citing different excuses, he is not trustworthy. Iffat clearly told Saima that Hunain was using Bakht like that & she was not even realizing that he was not the right person. I am glad that although the competition hasn’t begun yet, Meerab already far ahead in the race because he ticks all the boxes of being a suitable guy for Bakht.

Thoroughly Enjoyable Performances

This episode was quite interesting with a few scenes that made me laugh. I am liking the equation that Rafay is trying to establish with one girl after another. Arsalan Faisal has played his part well. Maryam Noor continues to impress & so does Umar Alam. The rest of the cast is also contributing a lot to the success of the show & has made it a complete package. I must say the actor who played the role of Shams; Qifayat’s spy, his expressions were spot-on too. He actually looked suspicious & someone who was taking his job very seriously. The direction is really nice, I loved the timing of the scene where both Tooba & Maliha walked away & closed the doors simultaneously, also when Qifayat zipped up his fanny pack in one scene, the sound of it was continued in the next. These little moments make Shehnai a very fun drama to watch. Ramsha Khan & Affan Waheed look great together & the perplexing situation they both are faced with is quite interesting to watch. I must say Javeria Abbasi looked stunning in this episode. I am definitely waiting for the next episode of Shehnai, please share your thoughts about this episode.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Ohkay so, this was an interesting episode of Shehnai. Everything that happened in the initial episodes was now being elaborated & a lot more focus was on both Bakht & Meerab’s emotions because whatever they both were going through was not easy for them to absorb as well. I really hope the rest of the episodes remain just as eventful because there are so many characters that each & every scene has so much to offer which makes the pace fast & the episode come across as quite happening.

An Eventful Episode

I will say just when I was having a bit of a hard time understanding why Bakht agreed to this marriage in the first place, it was answered nicely by the writer that although she may have a tough facade, deep down she is just another soft-hearted daughter who melts at the thought of hurting her parents, especially her father. It was made clear in this episode that for Bakht when it comes to her father she really finds herself unable to put her foot down. As much as she tries to convince everyone that she really doesn’t care & will do what it takes to marry the person she loves, she herself knows that it is going to be difficult.

It was also nice to get an insight in Meerab’s character & his nature. He is definitely an emotional person who wants to make everyone else happy. He definitely is the type of person who finds it hard to say no & this is exactly why he stuck in this situation. He is always stuttering be it in front of his parents or his lady love Samreen. For Meerab, everything revolves around how people around him feel, this is exactly why even after getting a clean chit from Bakht, he is unable to tell what he exactly feels. I will say I had a great time learning more about his equation with Samreen, she leaves him speechless, rather she just doesn’t let him say anything. It was interesting that Samreen chose to get engaged & she was totally cool about it but then put the entire blame on Meerab for doing exactly what she herself did. In her defense, she doesn’t trust Meerab & when he has heard it from her clearly, he still can not wrap his head around the fact that maybe she is not the right person for him.

Qifayat & Maliha both continued to push their agendas. Qifayat definitely can not see things running smoothly in this entire household, therefore he tried to play games thinking he will achieve something out of it. Also, Maliha is pretty sorted that she wants a separate house & wants her husband to put his family ahead of everyone else. I really enjoyed the conversation that Qifayat had with Meerab because it was refreshing to hear this kind of perspective coming from a hero in a Pakistani drama where he just didn’t feel the need to question a girl & her character just because she has been in love with someone. It definitely was quite refreshing!

In Shehnai, a lot of scenes are going to cover the kind of relationships all these cousins share with each other. Ahsan’s confession to Bakht was quite unexpected but whatever he said to his father, making him realize why everyone finds it easy misbehaving with their entire family was spot-on. Ahsan may seem like an introvert but he surely has quite an observation. I really like how the writer has kept the younger lot a voice of reason in this drama because they speak about the things their elders have probably never thought of. Qifayat is so focused on stirring the pot that he has never even tried to acknowledge the fact that Absar & Azhar run his family with their financial support. Munni Pupho also overheard that Bakht is in love with someone but she didn’t go around discussing it, yet. I’m also glad that Iffat is more than just a nerd kid of the family. She actually gave it back to Beenish for being ridiculously rude with their house-help. So far, what I love the most about Shehnai is that all the youngsters seem quite sorted & have a personality of their own. The elders are behaving just like elders do, some are emotional, some are farsighted & some have their own agendas. Another voice of reason was Saima, who was actually not happy with what Bakht was doing. I am glad that there is someone who is not always going to support Bakht & will try to show her the other side of the picture & that’s Saima.

So, this episode had quite an interesting & shocking revelation at the same time. Hunain is not in love with Bakht but he is just playing around with her feelings. Bakht has definitely had a wrong idea about him & it is obvious that she only sees the niceness in him that she wants to see, this is exactly why she is giving him so many chances. Hunain actually may have not given her any reason to believe that he will marry her but at this point, Bakht has definitely associated a lot of meaning to this relationship that she feels it is going to work no matter what. The meeting of Bakht, Meerab & Hunain was definitely quite surprising because who would’ve thought that right at the beginning, Hunain will spill the beans. I do feel for Bakht though, but then eventually it is going to work in her favor because she won’t be married to the guy who doesn’t love her to begin with!

Looking Forward To The Rest of The Episodes

Shehnai definitely is a complete package that has so much to offer, from conspiracies to straight-out confessions, from emotional scenes to witty dialogues. Although this is just the beginning Shehnai already has all the factors that I look in a drama & it is the kind of drama that I know I will be looking forward to week after week. I must say I am really liking the pairing of Ramsha Khan & Affan Waheed, they both look superb together. This was quite an entertaining & fun episode of Shehnai to tune to & I can not wait to watch what happens next. It is also amusing that deep down quite a lot of people know that Bakht is not interested in Meerab but no one is saying anything but the preview did suggest that Absar will take a stand for his daughter, which might put her under pressure. It seems Meerab & Bakht are planning the big escape too, let’s see what happens. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Shehnai.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Ohkay so, these two episodes of Shehnai were quite entertaining & happening. This has definitely been the strength of Shehnai that no matter what happens, every episode ends up offering a lot. It is also because there are so many characters that you don’t really get the time to be bored or disinterested since the scenes keep on changing. However, it won’t be wrong to say that till the last episode, things were a bit too stagnant however the episode that aired this week made quite progress & it seems a lot of people are going to have a change of heart now.

Change of Hearts

The most important development was the change of Qifayat’s heart. He thought he was using Hunain to get what he wants because he assumed that this is what Hunain wanted to. However, Qifayat wasn’t only made to realize but he was insulted in such a manner that it shook him to the core. Qifayat actually didn’t have any idea that the game he thought he was playing harmlessly could end up ruining Bakht’s life. This was a much-needed change that I wanted to see in Qifayat & finally it happened. I am glad he not only admitted that he was wrong but also seemed eager to do the damage control, because of which he told each & everything to Meerab. I wish Meerab had also mustered up the courage but so far, he seems to be stuttering in front of Bakht, who unreasonably doesn’t even want to believe a word he has to say.

Now that Bakht has made it pretty clear to Meerab that she is not going to trust him or believe what he says, Meerab should’ve by now figured out how he wanted to approach this entire situation. He looks like a silent spectator who has no control over anything, whereas he could’ve done so much rather than wasting his time explaining things to Bakht that she is turning a blind eye to.

Hunain has been creating one problem after another for Bakht & her family so that he can show up at the right time & be their savior. So far, this strategy is working in his favor but it gives a lot of hope that everyone around Hunain especially the boys know that he is the one responsible for all of this. Bakht’s parents are too smitten by Hunain & he is also making the most of it. The way he is playing his games also gives Bakht a lot of hope that things might turn in their favor & her family might accept her decision of marrying Hunain, because of the impression he has left on them so far.

The entire robbery scenario was executed brilliantly. Iffat’s boyfriend also showed up & got quite a bit of beating, which he actually deserved for showing up at her place in the middle of the night. Although Rafay & Ahsan let him go but the way they treated him was exactly what he deserved, although I will say that the entire situation was quite funny. Munni seems to be quite interested in Hunain’s father & Bakht failed to see the clear-cut signs too, which makes me think how blind & dimwit can Bakht be where she failed to see the interest Munni was showing in Hunain’s father. I will be honest, I expected better from Bakht but at this stage of the drama, she has turned out to be quite naive who fails to understand what is happening around her, which just doesn’t seem right & doesn’t even go with the character of Bakht that we were initially introduced to.

I am glad that at least on her own, Bakht thought about Meerab & how he put his life on the line to save her. This was definitely something that moved & touched her because Meerab’s action spoke volumes of what she meant to him. As far as his words are concerned, Bakht finds them easy to ignore but seeing what he did compel her to think about his feelings for her. This is exactly why in the preview of the next episode, Bakht seemed uncomfortable when Hunain suggested Nikkah behind her parent’s back. I am glad Bakht has started thinking on those lines because it’s high time she does!

Time To Wrap It Up

These episodes were definitely entertaining & with the episode that aired this week, I can totally see the story progressing towards its end. I just really hope they don’t drag it further & end it decently at the right time. I actually think a couple of episodes are enough for Shehnai to wrap up but let’s see what happens. The timing of all the actors is phenomenal & they actually look like a huge family with each one of them dealing with their own issues. Please share your thoughts about these episodes of Shehnai.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Ohkay so, it’s about time that Shehnai should wrap up ASAP. The story has not been making much progress & all the enjoyable scenes are now looking repetitive. In the supporting tracks, there is still a bit of development with each passing episode but when it comes to Bakht & Meerab’s track, it is pretty much stagnant & not only that, it has become repetitive to the point where it is failing to grab my interest as a viewer.

Expected Better From Bakht

In this entire episode, all that happened between Bakht, Meerab & Hunain was nothing that I have not seen before & it was exactly what has been happening since the last few weeks. Hunain has succeeded in winning Bakht’s heart all over again & at this point, Bakht is looking more stupid than Meerab. At least, in the beginning, it was established that Meerab was kind of slow & Bakht was witty yet emotional, but it has been pushed to the point where it is making both of them seem stupid. All the attempts of Meerab are failing & he is losing one after another, whereas Bakht has made up her mind & for her, the possibility of Hunain fooling her just doesn’t exist.

All this while, I have really appreciated the kind of relationship Bakht shares with her father. She wants to make him happy & only because of him, she has agreed to this marriage. However, time & again her father has asked her whether she is happy or not, whether she is into the idea of marriage & not, therefore it is frustrating that despite having such an understanding father who is willing to do so much for her, Bakht fails to come clean & tell him everything with utmost honesty, because this is only what he deserves. Bakht wants to make her father happy by marrying Meerab, but on the other hand, she is preparing to elope with Hunain? How does she think her father will react when he will find out about it?

Beenish & Rafay will get married however Ahsan & Saima still have obstacles to overcome because neither Tooba nor Saiqa have agreed to this proposal & they don’t really think it is a suitable match. Qifayat is still playing his games but on the surface, he is putting up an act. Maliha also wants a piece of cake but is scared to do or say much because she knows her husband will never approve of it. However, Azhar also has his doubts & Maliha helped him a bit because she knows it will help her one way or the other. Another sweet development was Ahsan’s job that he got with the help of Absar. It shows how much Absar is concerned about each one of his family members. With Ahsan getting this job, it might be possible for him & Saima to end up together but let’s see.

Time For Meerab To Redeem Himself

Shehnai has been a thoroughly entertaining drama but just like all the good things must come to end, I think it’s about time that happens for Shehnai too because the story has become quite stagnant & it is becoming a little difficult to derive fun out of repetitive situations. Bakht was always a dubious character but the way she has been behaving lately, it makes her quite unreasonable at that. I wish Meerab does something to redeem himself & erase the label of stupid that he has been carrying for so long. It just doesn’t suit him. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Shehnai.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Ohkay so, the main motive behind this episode was to establish who Hunain takes after. This was yet another engaging twist in the story which unfolded brilliantly. I will however say that I am getting a bit annoyed by Bakht & her stubbornness. It is understandable that she is not into Meerab & this marriage, but for her to hold him responsible for everything, blaming him & accusing him of being a liar is a bit too much. Also, I thought by this time, Meerab would’ve at least figured out how he wanted to expose Hunain but so far, Hunain has been outbidding Meerab.

Bakht Is Acting Dumb

The entire focus of this episode was on Hunain & how he was scoring brownie points one after another in front of Absar. Absar seems a bit too impressed & pleased with Hunain as well. Apart from this, there wasn’t much different or new in this episode. I think now’s the time that Shehnai should start wrapping up, or if not, they start airing double episodes so that the story makes some progress & Bakht finds out the truth about Hunain.

I could definitely see a spark between Hunain’s father & Munni, but the moment the fraudulent duo will be exposed, this equation will end then & there. Meerab tried his luck & he thought he finally found one person who would help him expose Hunain but unfortunately, his father turned against Meerab as well. It is amusing that both the father & the son have now joined hands & have entered the picture to make the most of this golden opportunity. At this point, I will definitely feel for Absar when he will find out the truth because he has been nothing but kind & generous to not only his family but strangers as well. However, I fail to feel anything for Bakht because I don’t think what Meerab did was more grave or deceptive than what Hunain did to her.

Right from the beginning, Meerab was clear that he was not interested in Bakht. He had also told her that he was going to let Absar & everyone know as he awaited the right time, therefore Meerab was always in the clear. However, it seems at this stage, Bakht has magnified this whole incident to such an extent that she just can not see Meerab as an honest person anymore. She thinks he has been deceptive since day one & Hunain is suddenly a victim. No wonder why Bakht ended up getting fooled before & it is happening again too.

I liked that there was some progress in Saima-Ahsan & Beenish-Rafay tracks too. Meerab has decided to speak to his father as well as Absar & Ambreen decided to speak to Saiqa about Ahsan & his job. I will definitely say that these supporting tracks have been dealt with beautifully & just by adding that element of respect to it, the writer has made it even more special. There is absolutely nothing wrong in liking someone & people do face resistance from their families but the overall treatment of these relationships has been very realistic which is the best part.

Time To Wrap It Up

I really wish things start wrapping up now because the story despite being fun & interesting is now looking a bit stretched. Bakht should seriously stop doing this to her father who has always treated her with love & respect & most importantly, has made her realize that she is his priority. If she doesn’t want to get married to Meerab, she should just let him know but to go ahead with this marriage, hoping things will turn around in her favor is a bit too selfish of her now. Let’s see what happens next. Oh, I must say, Hunain’s father & his overall dressing & personality was such a vibe. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Shehnai.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Ohkay so, this episode of Shehnai didn’t really offer much in terms of development, however, all the scenes & conversations between the characters were still very interesting to watch. Over the period of time, I have gotten used to all these characters that irrespective of the fact whether they do something or not, I simply enjoy watching them on screen. There is still a very nice energy & vibe that they all have, which makes it a very hassle-free drama to tune to because one thing is for sure that you’re going to have a great time watching it & this is exactly what this episode did.

Bakht & Hunain Looking For a Chance

The highlight of this episode for me was the conversation that both Ahsan & Rafay had. Although they couldn’t say what they actually wanted to, but it was amusing that the one person creating troubles for them both was Qifayat. Ahsan couldn’t do much because he happens to be his father & Rafay also can not afford to say anything because Qifayat is going to become his father-in-law. I really like how the relationships have been developed in this drama & how it has been shown that two people can fall in love with each other respectfully. Not even for once, I have felt uncomfortable seeing these relationships because of how carefully they have been tackled & decently portrayed.

It was unfortunate that Munni took her hands off & decided to call it quits. She was being insulted by both Tooba & Maliha therefore she decided to end her support to these young girls. It was sad because I was really looking forward to what Munni was going to do for them but it seems there wasn’t much light shed on it & before anything could happen, she just backed out. I am sure the girls will one way or the other convince her again but yes, that entire track was really cute too.

Bakht is being fooled by Hunain & although he told Qifayat that he was not going to deceive Bakht this time around, there is absolutely no doubt about the fact that he is definitely here for Bakht’s wealth & not because he loves her. He has seen that Bakht is ready to give him another chance, therefore he is trying his luck once again. The only difference is that this time around, he has also gotten a clear pass into her home & he is being welcomed like a family member, which makes him complacent & hopeful. Bakht is not really saying much but it is pretty clear that if she gets a chance, she will definitely pick Hunain over Meerab because she has pretty much made up her mind that Meerab can never wish well for her & he is selfish.

Meerab wants to help Bakht out but I think before doing that, he needs to help himself & sort things out in his mind as to how he wants to approach this matter. His cluelessness is not going to get him anywhere & considering he is faced with a manipulative Hunain, Meerab really needs to work smart. His sincerity & intentions definitely make him a decent person but the fact that he just doesn’t know how to go about things kind of makes him look dumb at times. I so wish Meerab had used his smartphone & made a video of Hunain & Qifayat’s meeting because that would’ve helped him at least.

It is funny that just when you think everyone has decided to mind their own business, you see them being more interested in stirring the pot & in the drama. This time around, Qifayat decided to take a backseat because Hunain threatened him but Tooba & Maliha were again on it, hoping to find something that would help them further their agenda.

A Fun Watch

Overall Shehnai is a very interesting watch & the best part is, every episode has so much to offer because there are so many characters & each one of them contributes equally in making it happening. The credit definitely goes to the writer first for perfectly tackling so many confusions & misunderstandings while still keeping it pretty clear & evident. There is so much personality & character in each one of them that really adds so much flavor to the overall story. The direction is another strength of Shehnai followed by brilliant acting by all the actors. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Shehnai.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Ohkay so, Shehnai is full of twists & turns & who would’ve thought that just when the story is almost nearing its end, the writer has still kept so much in store for the audience. Just when you think things are finally getting sorted & Bakht & Meerab are going to find what they are looking for, life gives them something completely different. It is interesting how the entire situation has flipped that with Samreen out of the picture now, Hunain is back & he is not just back, he is right there in Bakht’s house. Who would’ve thought?

Bakht Is Getting Manipulated

Hunain is continuing with his manipulative ways but once again Meerab is clueless as to how he can help Bakht. One thing is quite clear, in the equation shared by Meerab & Bakht, it has always been Bakht who has been the decision-maker, Meerab has just tagged along & facilitated Bakht in whatever she wished to do. It was Bakht herself who got to see Hunain’s reality because Meerab chose not to say anything, therefore in the current scenario, Bakht is choosing not to believe anything coming from Meerab because she didn’t hear the truth from him before either. I would’ve liked it a bit more if Meerab wasn’t just as clueless at this stage of the story as he was when it began. He is nice & kind-hearted & I as a viewer appreciate all these personality traits but at times it ends up being a bit too much to see him not being taken seriously especially by Bakht.

Bakht is still heartbroken because she became emotionally invested in Meerab & after she pleaded in front of him, he turned a blind eye. Everything that Bakht is doing is also because she is hurt & hasn’t fully recovered from the heartbreak. Hunain has obviously figured out everything because he heard it from Qifayat, therefore he knows how vulnerable Bakht is & how easily he can manipulate her. All the things he said to her were exactly what he knew Bakht wanted to hear, so even he knows it won’t be too long before she will finally start thinking on those lines.

Meerab has come clean in front of Absar & Zafar. Although Zafar found it hard to trust Meerab again, Absar had no other option than to accept the apology & just brush everything under the carpet because like he said, he can not take it anymore & the burden of getting Bakht married is just so much that he wants to believe Meerab for once.

The whole scenario of Hunain showing up at Bakht’s house & becoming a part of her wedding festivities was yet another curveball no one saw coming. Even Qifayat who thought he had everything sorted & under control was shocked when he found Hunain there because this was definitely not a part of this plan. Qifayat actually underestimated Hunain because he has turned out to be meaner than him as for him, life has presented another golden opportunity in the form of Bakht so he is trying his best to make the most of it. Just after hearing his fake sob story, Bakht gave him a hefty amount, therefore Hunain being the opportunist he is has all the reasons to kick Qifayat out of the picture & take charge of the situation, hoping he will reap a lot of rewards himself. Maliha has once again started to get quite interested & invested in this situation, at least she is being a silent spectator & that’s alright as far as she is not making plans with Qifayat, hoping to create troubles for the family.

Saima & Ahsan, Rafay & Beenish’s tracks are also quite interesting to watch. Their reactions & expectations related to their relationships have been told in such a fun manner. I like how the writer has kept it all very civil, realistic & positive. For any girl & boy, it is perfect to have that special someone to like & adore. These feelings have been shown in such a nice manner in Shehnai that it actually makes you want to root for them because they have all the right in the world to be with the one they like. A few episodes ago, Munni promised to help them, I wish that track has developed a bit with her trying her best to help them all because that would’ve been quite interesting too.

Perfect Entertainer

This episode of Shehnai was definitely engaging & quite happening. They have made the most of a chaotic shadi wala ghar by adding more chaos to their personal lives. All the actors definitely deserve a lot of appreciation for portraying these characters beautifully. Shehnai is definitely a fun watch & one such drama that shouldn’t be missed. It is a perfect package & what entertainment should be like. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Shehnai.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Ohkay so, this episode of Shehnai once again elaborated that the actual nature never changes & the niceness you see in others is basically a reflection of what you truly embody. This time around, Bakht is repeating the same mistake as Meerab & it is interesting to see how the tables have turned as it will give Meerab a chance to see how he was once in the same boat too.

Bakht Is Giving Hunain Another Chance

It took probably a single meeting & a few sob stories for Bakht to completely forgive Hunain & she didn’t stop there, she decided she even have to forget what he had done in the past too. In this entire situation, it is pretty clear that Bakht is once again ready to give Hunain another chance & although she may not have thought on those lines, she just wants to do something to show Hunain that she cares & she actually does. It didn’t take Bakht a minute before lying to her father to that she could help Hunain because she totally blames herself, thinking that all that Hunain has been through is because of what she did.

Hunain is once again getting involved in this entire situation because he only wants to take advantage of this golden opportunity that has presented itself. As if Qifayat wasn’t enough that now Bakht will have to deal with Hunain as well. Qifayat is on a single track right from the beginning, he wants to grab the wealth that actually does not belong to him & now exploiting Bakht in an emotional way is a new low that he has stooped to. Despite being a negative character, Qifayat actually hasn’t earned that resentment but after seeing how far he has gone, I do feel he deserves some kind of punishment too. Yes, he continues to get insulted by his wife, he is treated as a nobody but that doesn’t seem to be enough because none of this has forced him to think about bringing a change in himself. Qifayat was mean & he is still is mean but now he is involving Hunain which is unforgivable. I am glad that before it was too late, Meerab figured out everything & clearly knows what is actually happening.

Meerab feels helpless because now more than ever he wants to help Bakht but at this point, she is not ready to accept any of it, especially coming from Meerab because she holds him responsible for hurting her father. Right now, it is pretty clear that Bakht has lost her sense of right & wrong & thinks helping Hunain out is the only thing that she should be concerned about.

Saima & Saiqa came back & Tooba made a truce but she isn’t paying much heed to it. Tooba doesn’t have anything to do with Saima & Saiqa but only because of Ambreen, she is trying to be nice but it won’t last long as she will eventually find out that Ahsan & Saima are still seeing each other. The side tracks contribute equally in making the story interesting as the track of leading characters. It goes to show that the writer not only added a lot of characters in the story but knew how they should be used to make it far more engaging. At this point, I look forward to seeing what is going to happen with Saima & Ahsan as much as I want to see how Bakht will finally fall for Meerab.

Interesting Watch

This episode of Shehnai was quite fun to watch. I thoroughly enjoyed Qifayat’s victory & happy dance that he continued to do enthusiastically that too in the middle of all the females. He was happy & he wanted to show it. It is also quite interesting how Maliha has distanced herself from her, it is like she has understood that she is not losing anything while living with the family, so she is on the safe side anyways. Qifayat definitely needs to learn his lesson & it will be interesting to see he will get there. I really hope Bakht finds out about Hunain before she gets further invested in him, but it seems things are going to get a bit too complicated once again. Overall, Shehnai is still a fun drama to watch with a lot of twists & turns which make it engaging. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Shehnai.

Keep Supporting.
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Ohkay so, this was yet another fun & very very interesting episode of Shehnai. The drama makers deserve all the praises & appreciation for not only coming up with such a brilliant script but also executing it in such a manner that even after so many episodes, it is still quite engaging & has so much to offer. All these characters have so much realism to them that you can’t help but connect to them on a personal level. Be it the elders who have their own struggles or the characters from the younger lot, they all are an integral part of the story with so much contribution in making it complete & wholesome!

The New Twist

Although I find everything quite relatable in Shehnai, the one thing that struck on a personal level was Maliha’s decision of retail therapy. I found it so amusing & cute that just because she felt down, she decided to uplift her mood by going for shopping. It is funny that she decides to mind her own business & draw a line with Qafi Bhaiyya, but he succeeds in crossing that line & brings her on the same page as him. For now, Azhar’s threats seem to be working but not sure how long Maliha will be able to ignore Qafi Bhaiyya’s insinuations. I am glad that for now that matter is pretty much sorted & the focus has once again shifted away from the messy situation created by Qifayat & Maliha.

Saima & Saiqa were very much in Karachi but chose not to tell Bakht’s family. I really like the duo of Saima & Saiqa because they are not only the voice of reason but are very rational & think things through. Saiqa knew that her sister Ambreen already had so much on her plate so instead of adding more to it, she decided to keep a low profile trying not to add more to the problems faced by her. Bakht found Saima & eventually, Ambreen found Saiqa & they made peace with it. Although Ambreen was sincere in her apology to Tooba & she gracefully accepted it but that definitely doesn’t mean it is going to prevent her from creating issues in the future. The fact that both Ahsan & Saima are very much in touch is definitely not going to be well received by both Saiqa & Tooba but it seems they the two are very much involved & want to be together.

So, Hunain made an entry into Bakht’s life again, that too when Bakht is vulnerable & she has made up her mind that she is not going to give Meerab a chance. She may be ready for the marriage but she is quite clear in her stance that she is not into him the way she was before. Bakht definitely has a justified reason to feel that way because despite her warnings, Meerab overlooked what Samreen was doing & he also caused a lot of heartache to Bakht’s father & for her that is a big deal. So, while Bakht is dealing with all of this, for Hunain to make an entry and share sob stories with her is definitely going to affect her on a deeper level.

Bakht couldn’t take her mind off Hunain & wanted more answers. Although the preview of the next episode gave it away that Hunain was not sincere but the way the actor shared his story did make it obvious that he was once again playing with Bakht’s emotions, knowing the kind of person she was. Hunain cleverly put the entire blame on Meerab whereas he clearly was not into Bakht & did not intend to marry her in the first place. I really find this new twist quite interesting because Bakht is pretty much falling in the same pit that she eagerly wanted to pull Meerab out of. Meerab is at that stage where he has a lot of clarity & has absolutely no distractions therefore he can focus on this relationship but now Bakht is going to get swayed & this time around, it will be Meerab who will try to save Bakht from ruining her life once again.

A Winner

Shehnai definitely is an intelligent piece of writing & the fact that it has such a feel-good & peppy vibe to it makes it a very interesting watch. I actually wait for Shehnai every week & the entire team deserves full credit for the success of this drama. It is fun, the characters are so interesting to explore, the emotions have been conveyed with so much clarity & the overall story is different but still feels real – all in all, Shehnai is a winner & I can’t wait to see the rest of the episodes. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Shehnai.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Ohkay so, this episode of Shehnai once again highlighted the importance of family. It showed that despite the differences when the time comes, everyone sticks together & is reminded of how precious these relationships are. In both the families of Bakht & Meerab, everyone was trying their best to find the solution to the problems they were faced with & in the meantime, they also held Meerab accountable for the mistakes he committed. However, I liked the fact that Meerab was also left alone to figure things out because this was his journey to take & he had to have a clear mind before understanding what he wanted to do with his life.

Meerab Got Dumped

I must say Samreen actually fulfilled the promise she made. She did not even waste a moment before exiting Meerab’s life for good. She told the exact same thing to Beena & when she got what she wanted, she just walked out of Meerab’s life. She was definitely twisted & had her own reasons but right now, Meerab should be thanking his luck that he dodged a bullet & did not end up with someone who was not at all compatible with him.

Absar was once again not coping well with whatever was happening & the truths that were surfacing. This time around he was more concerned about Bakht because he felt she must be heartbroken too. I really appreciate how they have shown such real & genuine emotions of all these characters, the positive ones & even the not-so-positive characters as well.

Bakht was yet again heartbroken but was putting up a brave facade trying to come to terms with the fact that Meerab had called this wedding off. Meerab realized everyone including Bakht was right about Samreen all along but more than that, he was feeling upset because he had loved Samreen with all his heart. Meerab saw a lot of niceness in Samreen but she failed to reciprocate it. I liked how Meerab’s sister Beena did not shame him, instead, she also realized that Meerab was upset but then she tried to show him the right way & tried her best to guide him by saying that he could make amends & rectify the situation but Meerab was definitely not thinking about that.

In this whole situation, Qifayat & Maliha thought they’d finally get what they want but once again, they were served with reality checks that they stood absolutely no chance. Although I never condone the way Azhar misbehaves with Maliha this time around it was funny how he told her that she should bid the idea of leaving this house goodbye because he was never going to allow it, nor in her life & neither after her death too. That was funny & what’s funnier was how scared Maliha was as if she knew that this is exactly what Azhar meant. The writer deserves full credit for keeping the humor as well as all the characters & their emotions so real that you connect with them, despite the fact that the situations they are faced with are not so commonly heard of.

Such Amazing Characters

This episode was really nice & emotional. I have grown fond of all the characters. Even the supporting characters such as Munni, Saiqa, Saima & even Rafay are so nice that I enjoy watching their scenes. Now that Samreen is out of the picture, it will be interesting to see how Meerab will develop feelings for Bakht, that should happen organically & without anyone’s pressure because that would actually mean a lot to Bakht. It seems Hunain is going to come back, that will definitely spice things up & will be interesting to see. Let’s see what happens next. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Shehnai.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Ohkay so, this episode of Shehnai was more on the serious side & wasn’t all fun & games. The writer deserves full credit for showing this journey in such a manner where all the characters have been humanized in such a way that you actually relate to them & feel what they are going through. So far, what I really like about Shehnai is how much coverage & insight has been given to the feelings & emotions of these characters which makes them very special in their own way. Usually, in a drama with so many characters, there tend to be one or two tracks that do not really work & seem like fillers but when it comes to Shehnai, each & every single character has a special role to play. Some have shown some growth & others have evolved too which again makes it all very realistic. I really must say that although the story is somewhat different from what reality usually is about the matters concerning marriage the overall treatment that it has gotten is very realistic & makes a lot of sense.

The Cat’s Out of The Bag

Meerab finally took the bullet & decided that he couldn’t do it anymore. At this point, I don’t blame Meerab, he loves Samreen & he has been dealing with this pressure for so long, therefore he mustered up this courage because he had to prove it to Samreen, as well as himself that he could actually take a stand for something that he desires so much. The only thing where he does go wrong is his inability & incapability to see the obvious. However, it has been perfectly established that just because Meerab himself is so nice, he sees that niceness in Samreen & believes she can not lie to him because this is something that he has never done to her.

I really liked the confrontation between Meerab & his sister Beena. She was being the voice of reason but because Meerab was adamant that he had to come clean & stick with what he has finally done. As much as Meerab thought he would feel light & relaxed, he was faced with one realization after another that he was wrong but somehow, that hasn’t occurred to him just yet.

Bakht was actually heartbroken. She wanted Meerab to see things the way they were & more so, she wanted him to realize the niceness that he had shown her so far was what made her fall for him but she continued to use her father’s condition hoping that would work in her favor but sadly it didn’t. I am glad that the cat’s out of the bag now because it makes things a lot more interesting because this was a very important development that needed to happen to take the story forward.

Once again, Maliha & Qifayat decided to take advantage of this entire situation & continued to pursue their agenda. Although Maliha has been a dutiful wife to her husband & has never done anything to go against the entire family openly but I really kind of feel annoyed whenever I see Azhar treating her as if she is a nuisance & a nobody. On the other hand, there is Absar who really has given Ambreen the edge to say what she wants & be herself but when it comes to Azhar he seems distant & aloof to Maliha. I truly don’t blame her for wanting to have her own space & privacy, considering living with her in-laws has not done anything special to her relationship. Qifayat & Tooba definitely are in the wrong because Absar & Azhar have been looking after their entire family for years, so for them to demand the property doesn’t really make sense however when it comes to Maliha, I don’t find her wrong in wanting to have her own space away from the chaotic joint family system.

Meerab definitely spoke the truth but he has surely underestimated how his parents are going to react. Meerab is hopeful, rather sure that they will eventually forgive him & Samreen but he has no idea how much they have taken it to their hearts & how things are not going to be as simple as he is making them be.

Brilliant Performances

This episode of Shehnai was once again a very interesting watch. I am glad to be able to see a drama like Shehnai which after so many episodes still is holding my interest. Although I do think I can predict the ending but still, the entire journey has been so refreshing & engaging that I have a lot of fun watching this drama. Props to the entire cast for acting out so brilliantly in this drama, their performances make it worthwhile. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Shehnai.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Ohkay so, these episodes of Shehnai came with a lot of twists & turns which were tackled brilliantly. There is so much happening in each episode that it makes you look forward to what is going to happen & how things will unravel. Shehnai indeed is a brilliant & intelligent piece of writing, because, despite the fun & comic relief it brings, it also reinforces the importance of family values & relationships, which brings warmth to your heart.

The Twists & Turns

Samreen is definitely not coming slow. The fact that Meerab might find someone else other than her is what is a problem for her. It is a done deal that if Meerab wasn’t someone to get manipulated this easily, Samreen would never ever have gotten the edge to do so. She enjoys seeing him in this awkward situation & has absolutely no remorse or shame in feeling that way.

I really wish that the moment Samreen misbehaved with Beena, she had at least told Meerab the truth that he was failing to see. So far Meerab does feel that Bakht has an ulterior motive because of which she doens’t want to call off this wedding but if his sister had told him the truth, it would’ve made things easier for him. Meerab is happy getting manipulated & it isn’t going to change anytime soon unless something major happens & he is served with an eye-opener!

As much as all the negative characters are enjoyable in their own way, I find Tooba quite annoying. She is shown as your typical unhappy pot-stirring Pupho but still, she makes Qafi Bhaiya & Maliha look ideal in front of her. It was obvious that she was never going to approve of Saima & Ahsan’s relationship & because of that she got a lot of screen-time which I didn’t enjoy. Saiqa & Saima had to leave because of the insults they were made to face & sadly, the relationship of Saima & Ahsan came to an end, at least for now. Beenish & Rafay are in hot waters too because Qafi Bhaiyya doesn’t approve of Rafay & they both know they can’t do much about it. Beenish at least has it in her to fight for what she wants but Ahsan was too obedient & humble that he decided the best thing to do was just leave silently without saying a word, which sadly didn’t even get noticed by his parents until Beenish said!

Bakht is very much in love with Meerab but sadly, she is unable to do anything to save her marriage because no matter what happens, Meerab always finds a way to doubt her feelings & misjudge her. It is sad that Meerab is unable to see things for what they are & believes each & everything that Samreen says. This is exactly why I feel a conversation between him & Beena was necessary for him to at least have a change in perspective somewhat.

So, Samreen finally told everything to Absar & Azhar. It was nice to see Beena guiding Bakht through this mess & advising her about what she should do to save this marriage. She failed to acknowledge anything that Samreen said hoping that this mess would settle itself when Meerab would be asked to give an explanation. It was because of this hope she felt like talking to Meerab but unfortunately, the response she got from him was not in her favor.

Exceeding Expectations

The preview of the next episode was quite interesting & it seems a lot more drama is going to unfold in the upcoming episodes where Meerab will eventually take a stand but he will be in the wrong. Shehnai has turned out to be quite engaging & exciting than expected & each & every situation is tackled brilliantly. It is definitely one drama that I look forward to every week. All the characters are so realistic yet refreshing & the family politics have been tackled in a very interesting manner too. Can’t wait to find out what happens next. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Shehnai.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Ohkay so, the writing of Radain Shah, the direction of Ahmad Bhatti & production of iDream Entertainment; Shehnai commenced last night with a double episode & I feel this was the best start a drama with such a huge cast could have. I feel it was a great idea that they decided to give a thorough introduction to almost all the characters. After watching Shehnai, I can already say that the viewers already have an idea of what’s in store for them & it definitely is going to be an interesting watch. Although the writing & execution was entirely different, I definitely got Aangan vibes because its story was also related to a big family & their set of problems.

Cast & Characters

The story has kickstarted with an eventful & thrilling engagement of Bakht (Ramsha Khan) & Meerab (Affan Waheed). The fun part is, they both are not really happy with the idea of this marriage because they both are in love with someone else. Bakht loves Hunain (Hammad Shoaib) & Meerab loves Samreen (Maham Amir). I’m sure it was intentional but just a few moments both Bakht & Meerab had with Hunain & Samreen were self-explanatory that they both haven’t found their Mr. & Ms. Right yet. Samreen & Hunain both have a very different temperament & over the course of time, Bakht & Meerab will realize how they were just pressured into feeling that they were in love, which they actually were not.

Bakht is a daughter of Absar (Javed Sheikh) & Ambreen (Nida Mumtaz). She happens to be the only child. They live in a joint family system with Bakht’s Daadi (Samina Ahmed), uncle Azhar (Behroz Sabzwari), his wife Maliha (Zayyab Qayyum) & their daughter Iffat (Anosha Ali). In general, Absar is the head of the family & he is the one who takes all the decisions but Maliha definitely has an issue with the fact that her husband Azhar is a bit too submissive & doesn’t really think about breaking free from the joint family system.

Meerab is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Zubair (Shehryar Zaidi & Nabila Khan). He has a sister Beena (Anam Tanveer) who is married & has a son named Taimoor. Meerab is a Chartered Accountant & has just returned from London. Zubair & Absar have been friends for decades & this is exactly why they feel the decision they have taken for their children Bakht & Meerab is just perfect. Meerab also has a cousin who accompanies him everywhere, he is Rafay (Arsalan Faisal) & it seems he cleans up after all the messes that Meerab makes. Meerab is the emotional one whereas Rafay happens to be the practical & analytical one who likes to find solutions to problems.

Bakht has been stalling her marriage & she has given the impression to her family that the guys who come for her proposal end up rejecting her but in fact, it is Bakht who shoos them away because she is involved with Hunain & he has been asking her to buy him some time. Hunain has yet to introduce Bakht to his family & Bakht already thinks he is going to send his family for her proposal which is highly unlikely. Meerab is more or less in the same situation too because he has also not introduced his ladylove to his family. The kind of introduction Samreen got, it was obvious that she guilt-trips & manipulates Meerab. More than love, Meerab feels obliged to be the way Samreen wants him to be. Meerab is a kind-hearted person who finds it really hard to say no & this is exactly why he landed himself in this situation where he just could not tell his parents that liking her picture did not mean he approved of the idea of getting married to Bakht.

Absar has two sisters, Tooba & Munni. Munni (Javeria Abbasi) is a divorcee & lives with her family. Tooba (Salma Hassan) is married to Qifayat (Saleem Mairaj) & has two children Beenish (Nida Hussain) & Ahsan (Umar Alam). Being sisters, Munni & Tooba are always on the same page & kind of have teamed up against their bhabhis. The most interesting equation that they have is with Maliha. Although they may not like her because at times she does things that are of their interest too, they team up with her as well. Throughout the episode, it was interesting to note that in this family, I was getting to see all sorts of people; the troublemakers, the gossip mongers, the conspiracy theorists, the opportunists, the well-wishers & then the sane ones who just saw things as they were. The writer definitely sketched a perfect picture of what a joint family system mostly consists of, on the surface they may seem like one big happy family but within they have some family politics which ends up being a bone of contention between all of them.

The Story

It was interesting to see that despite the politics in the family, both Bakht & Iffat were like sisters & friends who did not keep any secrets from one another. Only because it was Bakht’s engagement, Ambreen’s sister Saiqa (Naima Khan) came along with her daughter (Maryam Noor). Once again, the equation they had with Ambreen & Bakht was quite obvious, being sisters to each other, they continued to be supportive throughout the chaos that ensued after Meerab left & did not think about adding fuel to the fire like Ambreen’s in-laws did.

I will definitely say I had a great time watching the introductory episodes of Shehnai. Although this wasn’t something new but I liked the kind of execution the director chose for this script & despite being something that I have seen before, I found it all refreshing. There was a feeling of realism to everything that was happening & what I liked the most was how much focus there was on each & everyone’s emotions. Be it Ambreen or even Absar, then Bakht & also Meerab. Tooba’s introduction was quite clear too where she had her insecurities & complexes because of which her bitterness was self-explanatory.

My favorite from the lot were Qifayat & the character played by Maryam Noor. I really wish they had at least introduced her with her name because she really had a strong screen presence & I enjoyed watching her character quite a lot. I am glad Saleem Mairaj chose to play this sort of role & it is simply amazing how he has even embraced this kind of character where he is just simply problematic without even realizing that about himself. Umar Alam also played his part well & I noticed that although he had next to no dialogues, his expressions were just perfect in each & every situation. These supporting characters stood out the most & I am already liking the second lead track that we’ll see evolving between Maryam Noor’s character & Rafay. Rafay already seems interested in nurturing it & she was just not having it. The short exchange of certain expressions between the two made me giggle because it was simply cute.

Thoughts After Introductory Episode

Ramsha Khan & Affan Waheed played their parts perfectly. It won’t be wrong to say that Bakht reminded me a lot of Samiya from Ghisi Piti Mohabbat but it kind of feels nice to know that she will find her happily-ever-after in Shehnai. Ramsha Khan is absolutely effortless in the portrayal of these kinds of characters. Affan Waheed gave Meerab’s character a very nice personality & what I liked the most about him was how amidst the chaos, he was trying to keep his act together. Bakht got to have an outburst but Meerab didn’t even have that luxury. I must say every time both Affan & Ramsha shared the screen together, their chemistry was amazing. I am glad we’re getting to see such a fresh pair & they both definitely look great together. All the actors performed beautifully & right from the beginning, their chemistry as a family was established & it just worked. I must say the production value is great & I couldn’t help notice how beautiful the interiors were. All the ladies looked beautiful & I loved their styling & outfits. Javeria Abbasi looked gorgeous & so did everyone else. Although Ramsha Khan was in the limelight, Maryam Noor caught the attention immediately & it was amazing seeing how effortless she was as well.

I wish there was a bit more clarity on Meerab’s name & its pronunciation. In the beginning, I heard Absar calling him Mehrab, which actually made sense because Bakht’s name is also related to luck, therefore Mehrab is another sign which people usually relate to being lucky. In promos, his name was written as Meerab but throughout the episode, the pronunciation kept on changing. I wonder if it is Mehrab or Meerab? Also if anyone knows the name of Maryam Noor’s character then please do let me know. Salma Hassan was quite interesting as Tooba but Saleem Mairaj stole the show with the subtlety in his body language. Zainab Qayyum, Javeria Abbasi, Javed Sheikh, Samina Ahmed, Nida Mumtaz & the rest of the cast played their parts really well too. Some of the dialogues were quite amusing & the overall direction was great. I am not usually a fan of background music & sound effects but this part was well taken care of in Shehnai where I found myself enjoying the background score quite a lot. I can safely say that after watching the first episode, Shehnai definitely is the kind of drama that I’ll be looking forward to every week. Please share your thoughts about the introductory episodes of Shehnai.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Shehnai

The story of the upcoming drama serial Shehnai is going to revolve around a couple of Meerab and Bakht, who will be forced to get engaged. The story, drama, and fun will begin when they both will try to find a way to call this engagement off only because they both are already in love with someone else and then the ensemble cast and numerous characters will play their part in making it quite eventful. The plot of the drama definitely seems refreshing because of the way it has been executed. What added more to the hype was the happening OST that was released as an initial teaser which allowed the audience to see that Shehnai was going to be a feel-good drama.

The overall vibe of Shehnai is fun and happening but the writer is definitely going to add a lot of such moments that will revolve around pain, sadness, and heartbreak. It surely is going to be an interesting journey to watch and after a drama like Khudparast, Radain Shah definitely has set the bar high. Another interesting aspect of Shehnai is the fresh pairing of Ramsha Khan and Affan Waheed, they both are popular and it will be interesting to see what they have to offer to their fans and the drama viewers who will be tuning to Shehnai.

Introductory Details

Writer: Radain Shah
Director: Ahmed Bhatti
Producer: iDream Entertainment
Channel: ARY Digital
Airing Date: March 18, 2021
Day: Thursday
Time Slot: 8PM
Genre: Romance & Drama

Cast

Ramsha Khan
Affan Waheed
Maham Amir
Javed Sheikh
Samina Ahmed
Saleem Mairaj
Javeria Abbasi
Nida Mumtaz
Zainab Qayyum
Umer Alam
Maryam Noor and others

OST

Singers: Asim Azhar & Nehal Naseem
Composers & Lyricist: Qasim Azhar & Hassan Ali

Promos

Behind The Scenes