And I shall be telling this with a sigh that all good things must come to an end so our couple had to bid farewell to Sukkur! It’s such a pity because the distinct and calm aura of Sukkur was a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of Karachi. Well, I have to say that I am really enjoying the way the story is moving along. I am pleased that the characters are not painted black or white and all the characters have their share of strengths and shortcomings.

Emaan was very much taken aback by what Sheheryaar had to reveal about his engagement because although she was aware of the rift between Sheheryaar and his parents, she didn’t have the faintest idea about Sheheryaar’s engagement. Emaan’s consternation made perfect sense to me because I think that despite Sheheryaar’s reassurances, deep down, she feels that she’s responsible for the strain between Sheheryaar and his parents, or perhaps she feels that she has become an obstacle in Sajal’s way to happiness. I think Sheheryaar should have told her about Sajal when they met in Sadhu Bela because that was the perfect time for him to be honest with Emaan and that conversation in particular was supposed to clear things up. I have to say that Naveen Waqar was brilliant today, and the way the colour drained from her face when Sheheryaar told him about Sajal was done exceptionally well!

I distinctly remember Sheheryaar mentioning his bachpan ki mangni to Imtiaz Sahab. Imtiaz Sahab and Emaan are very close so it’s a wonder why he chose not to tell her daughter about Sheheryaar’s engagement. Also, I didn’t get why Emaan’s mother was so surprised when Emaan told her that Sheheryaar was engaged to his cousin because didn’t Imtiaz Sahab already mention this to his wife in last week’s episode? I know, it’s a little confusing but I felt like pointing it out.

This episode explored a few facets to Sheheryaar’s character. This guy wants everything on his own terms, period. He can’t stand anyone challenging his way of life, be it his parents or his wife. Being possessive about your personal belongings is natural to some extent but Sheheryaar is a little too finicky about the things he owns and for some strange reason, I can actually understand and relate to him. Years of staying away from home, managing everything on his own and making all sorts of decisions, big or small, for himself, Sheheryaar has become a little too self-sufficient. The way Emaan is taking all this speaks volumes about her own character. Emaan is not dumb or overly submissive and I find her level-headed in her approach towards dealing with Sheheryaar at the moment because she can actually understand Sheheryaar’s nature and has been able to grasp that the ‘giving your partner some space’ dictum is what she needs to make this relationship work. I like the fact that Sheheryaar acknowledges and values the fact that Emaan respects his freedom but I just don’t want him to take her for granted and for a change, he should listen and respect her perspective and point of view as well.

Muhabbat ek besaakhta sa jazba hai, mujhay tou shayad iss ka matlab bhi nahe pata. In my earlier reviews, I remember putting forth the question: is Sheheryaar in love with Emaan? Yes, he developed a liking for Emaan and admired her for her intellect and honesty but not once did he claim that he loves her and this conversation in particular suggests that Sheheryaar is yet to sort out his feelings. Also, this conversation went to show the personality clash- Emaan is pretty firm in her faith in the idea of love but I doubt we can the same about Sheheryaar.

I like the bonding between Humayun and Muraad (I wish they’d chosen some other actor for playing Murad’s role) and I am pleased that they put their egos aside and finally made peace. I liked how Zareena urged Hajra to meet Sheheryaar. I get that Sajal is being kind to her Taayi and I found her ‘request’ genuine as well but at the same time, I can’t help wondering if she has some other plans. I am not sure if Sajal actually wants to move on because had that been the case, she wouldn’t have wanted Sheheryaar to come back because with him around, how would she ever be able to let go of her feelings for him? The way Sajal broke down after seeing Emaan for herself didn’t surprise me at all but I find myself cringing each time a girl on my TV screen compares her appearance with that of another.

Emaan should watch out for Hajra because she spells nothing but trouble! Hajra actually seemed kind and mature to me but the way she wasted no time in labeling Emaan as the culprit was very typical but insensitive of her. I get that she always pictured Sajal as her ideal bahu but she should give it a rest now. Some of her dialogues and gestures gave me a feeling that she doesn’t really want Sajal to move on or tie the knot. Maybe I’m wrong but her plan to bring her son back has something to do with the fact that she still believes that there’s hope for the two (Sheheryaar and Sajal) to get married. For this reason, I strongly support Sheheryaar’s decision to not to move in with his parents but at the same time, I think he should not be so hard on them and at least pay them a visit.

Emaan is taking a great deal of interest in her neighbor’s son and I don’t know if that has something to do with the upcoming developments. I appreciate the fact that Sheheryaar himself urged her to join a school in Karachi and I think the director of the school he was mentioning might have a significant role to play in the future episodes. And how can I forget to mention that Naveen Waqar looked stunning today <3. Emaan is a nayi naveli dulhan and she sure dresses like one! I hope they continue to take care of these details. So, how many of you are watching Mol? What do you think of the latest episode? Voice your views!

Maryam Mehdi

I have to say that this play is turning out to be a breath of fresh air and I loved watching the latest episode! Emaan and Sheheryaar’s scenes were definitely the highlights of the episode but what I found tremendously impressive was Sajal’s reaction- loved every bit of it!

Sawaal tou tab kia jata hai jab yaqeen na ho. The fact that Sheheryaar’s parents left the night the wedding took place doesn’t worry Emaan and I am glad that instead of making an issue out of this and fretting about the cold attitude of Sheheryaar’s parents, she chose not pry because as long as Sheheryaar is by her side, nothing else matters to her. Emaan’s faith in this newly established relationship or should I say, her faith in Sheheryaar is definitely something I admire. Sheheryaar had the foresight to know that Emaan is a person of his caliber,and now, seeing how understanding and supportive she is, he is convinced of the fact that his decision, which may have seemed hasty at first, was on point and he wouldn’t have to put up with any regrets because Emaan is definitely someone he can spend the rest of his life with.

The darya ki sair, baansri nawaaz, Rumi ki shayri- I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it and I have to say that the outdoor scenes by the river are beautifully shot and captured by the director. I always found Naveen Waqar and Faisal Qureshi’s couple nice and unique but I still had some reservations about their onscreen chemistry. However, after watching this episode, I am totally convinced because the two looked lovely as newly weds and not even once did they sound artificial or fake. Emaan and Sheheryaar are two intellectual and levelheaded people, the two always have an opinion of their own and they may not be alike in many ways but they can connect to each other on a different level. What I like about their conversations is the fact that they are neither too shallow nor too philosophical, and Sheheryaar’s comment, ‘ab kia hum itni mushkil baatain karain gay’ was so natural- I couldn’t stifle a smile! On a side note, I love how they greet each other- subah bakhair!

Murad’s reaction didn’t surprise me at all and I felt that it was only natural for him to react this way because he feels cheated; he always thought the world of his brother and viewed him as a man of his word. I think it was highly insensitive of Hajra to say, ‘yeh kapray Sheheryaar kay susraal waalon nay aap logon kay liye bhejen hain’– this was no way to break the news to Sajal’s parents. But then again, Sajal and her parents had it coming because that’s exactly what happens when you don’t bother to make sure if the guy in question is willing. Murad and Humayun were very close to each other but it’s sad how people put their existing relationships on stake in hopes of building new ones.

And about Sajal’s reaction, I have to say that the writer deserves a round of applause here! Sajal’s dialogues should be recorded and sent to all the desperate and obsessed vamps ruling our screens- see, that’s how you get OVER your bachpan ki mangni! Sajal is shattered and heartbroken because she was in love with Sheheryaar but instead of turning into a vamp and vowing to destroy the life of Sheheryaar’s wife, I am super glad that Sajal is thinking about moving on and is making an effort to do so. And what kind of mother Zareena is? It almost felt like she wanted her daughter to wallow in self pity! Aap kay liye yeh mangni thi Ammi, magar kia kabhi Sheheryaar nay kaha kay woh iss mangni par amaada hain- that’s the point most people miss but I am all praises for Sajal that she not only came to realize that her parents were at fault for making assumptions about Sheheryaar but also explained to her mother that there’s no use cutting off ties. Here’s hoping that Sajal’s character stays that way and doesn’t take a 360 degree turn! (snappywap.com)

The fact that Sheheryaar’s parents didn’t attend the Valima was of much gravity so I was expecting Emaan’s parents to take their absence very seriously but seems like they didn’t find it very appalling and Emaan’s mother’s comment, yeh un kay ghar ka maamla hai showed that they are taking it a little too lightly, which honestly doesn’t seem natural to me.

One thing that put me me off though was the way Sheheryaar responded to Emaan’s wish to rejoin her school. Even though what he said later on, when he was in a ‘good’ mood did comfort me a little, I can’t overlook his initial reaction because that tells us a lot about Sheheryaar as a person. I can’t help but wonder: is Sheheryaar a chauvinist after all? I liked Sheheryaar’s character because he always came across as a gentleman to me. I thought he developed a liking for Emaan because she was confident, honest and headstrong but the way he flinched at the mention of Emaan rejoining her school kind of makes me think that Sheheryaar’s mindset is not entirely that of a refined, enlightened man. The promo for next week’s episode also suggests that there are a lot more shades to Sheheryaar’s character so let’s see what they have in store for us.

How many of you are watching Mol? What do you think of the latest episode? Voice your views!

Maryam Mehdi

This was quite a well put together episode of Mol and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. Now with Sheheryaar and Emaan’s marriage, the show has moved to the next phase and I am pleased with the steady progress of the story.

The official meeting between Emaan’s parents and Humayun (pheww I did catch his name this time) was well-directed. I have to say that Nadeem Baig was totally convincing as the uninterested father with I-couldn’t-care-less written all over his face! Emaan’s mother didn’t seem to have much of a problem with the fact that Sheheryaar’s mother didn’t accompany her son on this occasion but I love how Imtiaz Sahab continues to be a voice of reason and his reluctance to say yes to Sheheryaar made perfect sense to me. I think his fears actually subsided when he sensed that Emaan is showing signs of willingness to agree to Sheheryaar’s proposal. The stark contrast between the two fathers could not have been clearer- Imtiaz Sahab is a concerned father who understands his daughters and genuinely cares about what they want whereas Humayun  kept Sheheryaar at an arm’s length and was living  under the delusion that he can dictate Sheheryaar’s life as he wills. Now that his bubble has burst, he has clearly labeled his son as a ‘rebel’- bhaagi hogaya hai woh! 

I am so glad that the whole shaadi scenario was kept engaging and to the point, without any unnecessary or over the top scenes. The way Sheheryaar kept stealing glances at Emaan was nicely done and I also enjoyed watching the traditional chiraagh scene- definitely a far cry from the usual bride and groom entries! Emaan’s state of mind was easy to relate to- she is happy but at the same time, she is apprehensive of what’s next to come and going by the ‘mujhay Hajra Aunty say darr lagraha hai’ comment, I think she has sort of sensed that Sheheryaar’s parents are not too pleased with this marriage. Hajra came across as a softie, or at least that’s how I viewed her but I guess that was my poor judgement and this episode totally changed my perception of her. Her earlier conversations with Sheheryaar hinted that the two share a good relationship and therefore, I was thinking that perhaps she would behave differently than her husband but her attitude today was seriously off-putting! Humayun and Hajra refuse to give Emaan a chance and I already feel for Emaan but I am actually glad that she won’t be staying with her in-laws because they’re certainly not worth it and I am only looking forward to seeing the way they establish Emaan and Sheheryaar’s relationship after marriage.

I have to say that Naveen Waqar looked stunning today and Iqra Aziz also looked beautiful in her mangni ensemble (I hope they tackled the jora issue :P).

And finally, Muraad admitted that Sheheryaar is not so perfect for Sajal after all! This realization came a bit too late but better late than never. And I have one piece of advice for Sajal: girl, get a life!!

So this is it for today. How many of you are watching Mol? What do you think of the latest episode? Share your thoughts with us!

Maryam Mehdi

I remember saying that we are not in a hurry and the writer should take some time to establish the relationship between Sheheryaar and Emaan but I think this episode was a little too slow and I didn’t find this episode as interesting as the last one probably because most of the scenes had a been-there-seen-that feel to them.

”Daftar mein aap meray afsar zaroor hain lekin yahan mein Emaan ka baap hoon.” The reactions of Imtiaz Sahab and his wife to Sheryaar’s proposal were very natural and easy to relate to. Emaan’s mother couldn’t be happier because it’s not every day a handsome DC asks for your daughter’s hand! Imtiaz Sahab has a lot more to fret over because the fact that Sheheryaar bluntly asked for his daughter’s hand, without his parents’ consent is obviously very troubling for a concerned father.

”Hamesha say kehna chahta tha magar aap loag meri baat suntay kab hain!” Sheheryaar has always come across as a straightforward man and therefore, I feel that he should have talked to his father about his lack of interest in Sajal way earlier because I think his silent gestures did little to convey the message. It was high time Sheheryaar confronted his father because the lack of communication between the two is getting them nowhere. The father-son conversation was not very different from what we see usually- first the tamheed- har insaan ko apnay faislay karnay ka haq hai, followed by the emotional blackmailing- tou ab humara tum par koi haq nahe raha and the parting note is always a piercing taunt- jab sab kuch khud teh kar lia hai tou hum say poochnay ka kia faida! I have to admit that the reaction of Sheheryaar’s father came off as a surprise because I was actually expecting him to fly off the handle but I appreciate the fact that he at least agreed to meet Emaan and her parents and trust me, I did not see that coming!

As much as I was looking forward to the conversation between Emaan and Sheheryaar, I felt that something was missing. I still think that they didn’t exactly manage to establish what led to Emaan’s change of heart. How many of you are ready to accept the fact that this special ‘hawa’ has done the trick? Emaan’s conversations with her sister always give us an insight into Emaan’s perception of the whole scenario and from whatever I could glean, Emaan is convinced of the fact that Sheheryaar is in love with her because he went has far as asking Imtiaz Sahab for her hand but the question remains: is our heroine in ‘love’ with Sheheryaar? I don’t think so!

”Agar mein Lila hoon tou Kunwar kaun hai?” Sajal? Emaan’s monologue actually put me off because this could lead to a dusri shadi scenario which I am definitely not looking forward to!

All in all, this was a decent episode and I am looking forward to what’s next to come. What do you think of the episode? Voice your views!

Maryam Mehdi

Believe it or not, after watching this episode, I actually googled the folklore of ‘Lila Chanesar’ because it had so much to do with the latest episode! For me, Sheheryaar’s conversations with Imtiaz Sahab and Emaan were definitely the highlights of the installment. I’d have to say that the timeless Sindhi folklore, coupled with the touch of folk music made this episode quite an interesting watch.

”Mein nahe chahta kay aanay walay kay intezaar mein meri betiyan apni shakhsiyat ko tor maror kar rakh dain.” I loved this dialogue! I really like Imtiaz Sahab’s character and I wish we could see more on screen fathers like him. It’s so refreshing to see a father who actually wants his daughters to be themselves because most of our on-screen parents refuse to believe in the idea of raising headstrong daughters and our dramas carry more or less the same message: only overly submissive and meek girls are rishta material. Imtiaz Sahab’s dialogues are penned very well and I really like the way Munawwar Saeed delivers his dialogues.

”Masla tou tab bhi shuru hota hai jab sahe loag ghalat logon ki taraf say aankhain band karletay hain.” I really enjoyed the conversation between Sheheryaar and Emaan at the beginning of the episode and the best thing about Sheheryaar has to be the fact that its not Emaan’s looks that caught his attention- its her honesty and integrity which did the trick. And the interesting part is that Sheheryaar and Emaan don’t always agree with each other, in fact, their views are most often contradicting and yet, Sheheryaar feels drawn towards her.

”Lila kay paas naulakha haar na tha aur Kaunru kay paas Raja Chanesar. Jis kay paas jis cheez ki kami hoti hai, ussay ussi cheez ki khuawish hoti hai.” Maybe it’s just me but Emaan looked kind of out of place in that particular scene. I’ll be honest here- at first I couldn’t quite understand the conversation they were having because I didn’t have the faintest idea about the infamous story of Lila Chanesar but thanks to google, I could finally comprehend their views regarding the folktale- I’d have to say that woh Rani thi bari twisted :P. I really liked the background music because it was apt in regards to the overall aura of the place.

”Mera khayal hai kay sahe faisla foran karliya jata hai magar ghalat faisla karne kay liye khud ko convince karna parta hai.” Some might think that they are rushing Sheheryaar and Emaan’s track and last week when I saw the promo showing Sheheryaar asking Imtiaz Sahab for Emaan’s hand, I was afraid that they are going very fast but after watching this episode, I think I can understand Sheheryaar’s decision which is obviously hasty but sensible- if that even makes sense, haha! Sheheryaar is shown to be a level-headed person and he is a good judge of people- he is well aware of the fact that Sajal is too immature for him whereas the few conversations he had with Emaan are enough to convince him that Emaan is the sort of person he can spend his whole life with. Yes, they might not see eye to eye on every matter but despite that, they do seem to connect with each other and this was particularly evident in their conversation in the very first scene of this episode.

”Na hi main ek nau-umar larka hun aur na hi ek ayaash tabyat afsar.” I liked how Sheheryaar tried to convince Imtiaz Sahab.  By now, Imtiaz Sahab should be well-aware of the fact that Sheheryaar is a decent man and the comment, ”Bohat kam aatay hain aisay zehen kay afsar, warna zyadatar afsar tou kapron kay saath gardon par bhi kalaf laga kar aatay hain” showed that he does have a high opinion of Sheheryaar but like any protective father, he is concerned about the honour and pride of his family.

Sheheryaar’s feelings for Emaan are one sided for now; Emaan describes Sheheryaar as a ‘dilchasp aadmi’ and there’s nothing more to it. I really want the writer to take some time to establish the relationship between Sheheryaar and Emaan, yep, we want a sound pace but we are definitely not in a hurry :).

The issue with the script has to be the inclusion of unnecessary dialogues and I strongly felt this in the conversation between the elders of Sheheryaar’s family where the mangni kay joray wali conversation put me off because I am sure it could have been cut short, if the khandaani jora is missing, get over it and go buy a new one! We don’t need to know kay pehlay woh jora Daadi nay pehna, phir bari bahu nay pehna, phir choti bahu nay pehna,phir bari bahu nay apnay betay ki Bismillah mein pehna! Everything about Sheheryaar’s father puts me off big time! He is a dictatorial father who is obsessed with the idea of marrying off his son to his bhateji. I actually found it hilarious the way he was taking a great deal of interest in the jewellery his to-be-bahu is supposed to wear at the mangni. The whole Sheheryaar-Sajal engagement track is way too off putting and mainstream! This trend, I mean, it’s like the bandwagon effect- one play shows desperate female cousins running after their male cousins that have ‘not interested’ written all over their faces, and the others also jump on the bandwagon. The sad part is that the guys here make it very obvious that they actually couldn’t care less but the girls here just don’t seem to get it! Self-respect, anybody? I was expecting Hajra to side with her son and support his decision of not marrying Sajal but that didn’t happen.

The promo looks very interesting and I am really looking forward to the upcoming developments. What do you think of the episode? Voice your views :).

Maryam Mehdi

Directed by Ilyas Kashmiri and produced by Momina Duraid and Sateesh Anand, drama serial ‘Mol’ is based on the story put forward by Faysal Manzoor Khan while the person behind the screenplay is our very own Amna Mufti. I was pretty excited about Mol for a couple of reasons. First off, I am a fan of Naveen Waqar and after her convincing performance in Humsafar, I wanted to see her playing the lead role in a quality play. Secondly, seeing Faisal Qureshi on HUM TV after quite some time is indeed a breath of fresh air.

From whatever I could glean after watching the introductory episode, I’d say that this play definitely has some headstrong and interesting characters to offer but the story itself doesn’t seem to be a far cry from the ones we see on our TV screens very often.

So the female protagonist of the play is Emaan (Naveen Waqar). Emaan’s a headstrong woman who has an allergic-to-pretenses approach towards life. She strongly believes in love but is certainly not waiting for her Prince Charming! Emaan works for the welfare of special children because she is a compassionate individual who believes in making a difference and that’s probably why I instantly developed a liking for her character. One more thing about Emaan is that she always has a definite opinion of her own and never shies away from voicing it.

Emaan’s family consists of her mother and father, Imtiaz (Munawwar Saeed) and sister, Nazia (Minaal Khan). They are happily settled in Sukkur. I would definitely commend HUM TV for not sticking to Karachi and the fact that they are exploring different areas of Pakistan is indeed refreshing :).

Then of course we have our hero, Sheheryaar Hassan (Faisal Qureshi). He is an independent man who lives by his own code and is very particular about- everything! He likes things on his own terms and I’d have to admit that his  first appearance actually gave me a bad vibe because he came across as a cold and to some extent, arrogant person but my impression of him did change towards the end of the episode.

Sheheryaar’s mother, Hajra (Ismat Zaidi) and father (Nadeem Baig) want him to tie the knot with his cousin, Sajal (Iqra Aziz). About Sajal, I didn’t get any vibe from her- not even a negative one! And that’s because the actress is expressionless and it seems like she is not much into her character. Sajal’s character has given me absolutely nothing to look forward to. What’s different about her character? Zilch! She is in love with Sheheryaar- too bad Sheheryaar couldn’t care less! This sounds so familiar because this track has been done to death and these bachpan ki baat pakkian seriously need to stop.

Sajal’s parents, i.e. Sheheryaar’s Chacha and Chachi are a little too desperate, if you ask me. Also, their dialogues were very lame. ”Mein tou apni beti kay paida honay say pehlay hi uss kay farz say azaad ho gaya tha. Yaad hai Bhai Jaan, kis tarah bachpan mein Sheheryaar ussay god mein uthaye phirta tha?” Do they have any idea how sickening such dialogues are and the fact that they are coming from so-called educated and modern people makes it even worse! Hate to burst their bubble but the Sheheryaar they’re talking about is now a 35-year old man who doesn’t even remember what they’re talking about.

As the episode progressed, we got a clearer insight into Sheheryaar’s character. Sheheryaar stays aloof and distant from his parents and he is not on good terms with his father in particular and there’s a background to it. Sheheryaar’s father is quite an overbearing person- he always kept his son at an arm’s length and failed to give him the time and attention he deserved. Sheheryaar was sent away from home for his studies and as a result, he stopped depending on his parents when it came to making decisions. Now that he is a self-reliant and independent man, he refuses to accept the decisions imposed on him by his parents. He doesn’t want to marry Sajal because of the obvious age difference and also because he wants to make this decision on his own. It’s good to see that Sheheryaar doesn’t have a strained relationship with his mother. I liked how Hajra tried to reason with her husband to make him view things from Sheheryaar’s perspective.

Sheheryaar is a Deputy Commissioner and he has an honest and responsible attitude towards his job. He moves to Sukkur by choice and I think after he reached Sukkur, I actually got a chance to connect to his character. His conversation with Imtiaz Sahab (reminder: Imtiaz Sahab is Emaan’s father) about Sukkur was interesting and well-written.

Sheheryaar and Emaan’s paths cross each other when the school where Emaan works in arranges an Annual Function and Sheheryaar is invited as the Chief Guest. I think that istiqbaal could have been better because Chief Guest ko phool pattiyan kaun phekhta hai? Sheheryaar’s little gestures like reaching the school early to keep the children from waiting showed that behind the stiff and cold facade, there lurks a down to earth individual.

Sheheryaar develops a liking for Emaan because of the fact that Emaan is a strong headed individual- she voices what she feels is right and big names don’t intimidate her. Sheheryaar also likes the fact that she is genuinely concerned about the children she works with. And yes, she is the only woman not smitten with Sheheryar’s charm so that makes her stand out :P. Her dialogues while addressing Sheheryaar were well thought out but I think they could have been cut short. I don’t know if it’s just me but it almost felt like Emaan was delivering a speech memorized or learned by heart. I’d have to say that the supporting actors (Emaan’s colleagues) must work on their dialogue delivery.

Since this was an introductory episode, it’s too early to give a verdict. And yes, I had an issue with the lighting today. I wish they fix it soon. So how many of you watched the episode? Are you looking forward to this play? Voice your views :)

Maryam Mehdi