Ghalat kehtay hain kay jawan betay maa ki taqat hotay hain.. maa baiton kay samnay hi to  kamzor hoti hai…

Anila summed up the crux of the episode and one of the few points where despite the drag, this drama seems exact on point, right where it should be. Though the writer is showing a very balanced view. A woman can be a very strong creature but a mother is also very weak at the same time. In a way both Anila and Naheed are at the same point in their lives. In their own ways, both put their kids first when taking their life decisions but now that the same kids are older they are putting these mothers last. The dilemma of motherhood is depicted accurately with the correct flair of drama. For the first time, Sabreen Hisbani was perfect in her role. There were more dimensions to Anila in this episode than we ever saw.

Amber is trying to do what she wanted to do in the first place, take revenge and make the villains of her life suffer. However, in her childish and emotional decisions, she has forgotten that she is still a young girl, raised by Naheed who was very peaceful and avoidant of all conflicts and theatrics. So she is quite ill prepared in front of Anila and Sadiq who have years of experience in selfishness and manipulation to their advantage. Her only strength is Ahsan’s negative perception of his mother, but then this was why she took such a big risk and till now, Ahsan has not disappointed in his disdain of Anila, which is the only reason Anila is helpless or she would thrown Amber out of her house in a few minutes.

Naheed and Iqra and Fariha and Anum are all under the impression that Amber did everything due to her romantic involvement with Ahsan. That is why they are so shocked and hurt. Looking at it now, Amber’s reasons for revenge and her way of doing it to get justice for her mother might not sound very convincing even to her own years but what is done is done and we can only move forward from here.

Anum on the other hand has satisfied her heart by becoming involved with Dr Jawad and making sure her already broken mother cannot resist anymore. To her credit, she was honest enough to speak to her mother that after Amber did court marriage, she does not want to be the only one to sacrifice her happiness for her mother’s wishes. One scene that really stood out was Dr Jawad asking for Anum’s hand From Naheed  who was phenomenal in that scene. It was not only evident to her but to all the audience as well that Dr Jawad’s reasons were nothing more than the similar excuses every man has in order to prove his second marriage right. He reminded of Sadiq in that scene. His absolute dismissal of his first wife’s feelings puts him in the league of majority men in this play along with Sadiq and Farhan. Only Ahsan seems different enough to put his wife’s respect above everything else.

There were a few silly bloopers which I could not help but notice like Amber carrying a different bag when she left Naheed’s house and a different one when she reached her home. Also, Naheed spoke Kiran’s name instead of Iqra when she spoke of her divorce.

please give your our views on today’s episodes in the comment section.

So these two episodes finally took Amber to the place where she had been thrown out decades ago, and her revengeful feelings had not let her rest since. Finally, she is at Sadiq and Anila’s household, after much chaos and upheaval created by her reckless decision of court marriage with Ahsan.

These episodes had a few bloopers and missed points which made it feel kind of dragging and kind of too much happening in a short space of time. Firstly, if Iqra had not been so discreet and clearly sent away Amber telling her that their mamoo and mami is there, might have ended in a better result than her symbolic and quiet warnings which were too late in any case. As usual, Shehzad and Fariha brought their orthodox thinking and old school fuss to the situation which did nothing to improve anything and at the end, the angry husband wife marched out of the house as usual.

Naheed’s reaction to Amber’s marriage was very natural. She is heartbroken since Amber was the apple of her eye. Her one daughter whom she loved more dearly than all others. Saima Noor was spot on in showing the feelings of a torn mother, who is desperately hurt by her daughter’s thoughtlessness, yet being a mother , her feelings are not in her control and cannot stop herself from remembering the youngest of her children.

Iqra’s reaction is very sane and sensible. She is trying her hardest pull her mother out of the abyss that Amber has thrown them into. Anum on the other hand is a whole different story. Even though this episode was about Amber’s selfishness, what stood out the most was Anum’s meanness. She is oblivious to her mother’s plight, rather she is going on and on about not marrying Dr Jawad like an broken record. Her behaviour and total oblivion to the pain of her mother and sisters make her look like Sadiq’s daughter far more than Amber does. I was totally annoyed at Anum today.

In Ahsan’s house, Anila’s reaction was all we could hope for. But Sadiq was disappointing today in the whole scenerio. His water truly is thicker than blood. He is totally indifferent and cold to Amber as if she is someone else’s daughter. I mean, I know he has disowned Naheed and his girls but I was still expecting something; a longing, a remorse or merely a tiny little soft corner.

Anila and Amber’s have come face to face and Anila has guessed her evil intentions very well since it takes one to know one. It is going to be a very interesting match but Anila is already putting herself on the wrong foot by going and complaining to Naheed. She knows she has no effect on Amber so she is going for a low blow by fighting with her mother.

Lets see what Anila has to say to Naheed and whether she will be able to hold her own infront of Amber. And also stay tuned to find out if Anum manages to control her feeling for Dr Jawad or they two eventually elope…

These two episodes were quite interesting and did not feel unnecessarily dragged at any point. The whole point was to show how Amber is driven by the fire of revenge and how she is willing to move mountains to make sure all those who did wrong by her and her mother are made to suffer as much as these girls did in their childhood. This is a very sensitive issue where you would not be able to discern the difference between right and wrong. On one hand, she is being sneaky and revengeful. On the other hand, she has years and years of lost childhood and happiness robbed from herself and her sisters and they can never be replaced.

Good riddance to Ahmed. After using a few episodes to show that he was no good and has become very stubborn, mean and thoughtless and almost criminal, his story has ended by him being shipped off to Dubai for his uncle.

Obaid and Anila and Sadiq are still struggling in their own dysfunctional little family. The child is related to Anila by blood but he is such hard work and she is a very selfish woman. So Sadiq keeps on worrying and intervening but to no avail. How the cruel and hard hearted Sadiq who was so harsh for his own daughters is such a caring one to his disabled son is beyond me. Maybe it is guilt or maybe he truly is so fond of sons that even a mentally challenged one would do.

Anum is moping after she has made the decision to leave Dr Jawad but like all those who decide to please others, she is very resentful and forlorn at heart and expresses her anger at various points. Most of it is directed at Amber whom she mistook as her enemy in all this.

The essence of the episode was Ahsan and Amber’s relationship. She has spoken at length with her mother and sister she but obviously that was not going to earn her rewards, as Naheed is certainly not going to let her marry someone whose parents disapprove of this union right from the start. Naheed is perfectly talking sense and she is totally correct in her stance, but it did not dampen Amber’s spirits. She has forseen that no matter which way they go, if they involve their parents, it can quite ugly and they would not be allowed to marry. Hence, she acted defiant, partly because she did not want Naheed to be able to stop and because she has made up her mind. It is not a very sensible decision but under Amber’s current frame of mind, it seems like the only good option; that she lets them stay angry and go and marry Ahsan. Only then will Sadiq and Anila get a dose of their own medicine and get to know how oppression feels like. She has proposed to Ahsan to get the nikah done in the court.

We will know in the next episodes what happens to Sadiq when he confronts his own daughter in the house, so stay tuned…

These were much awaited episodes of this play because they were advertised last week too but did not air due to 6th September. The drama has not picked up much pace. The episode was borderline boring because some scenes and dialogues were repeated and exaggerated, and all this could have been wrapped up in one episode as well.

The story these two hours was mostly about Amber and Anum. Iqra has more or less surrendered to her faith and gotten divorce from her husband, which made her sad but she understands well that he did not leave another choice for her. So the situation this time was mainly about other two sisters. Anum is torn between her feelings for Dr Jawad and her principles of not wanting to be a second wife, since there own lives were an example of how second wives ruin the lives of first wife and her kids. I am really looking forward to how this issue wraps up in the drama and how they conclude this element about second marriages. Right now, Amber is coming into the feeling of unhappiness that Dr Jawad is showing by telling her the details of how his first wife is least bothered about him in every way and is only concerned about the facilities that he can provide for her. He is painiting a very ugly picture of her and it remains to be seen if that is true or is it just because he wants to re marry that he is finding faults with his wife. Taifoor Khan is trying his hardest but is failing to ignite any spark in his role. He is doing a strictly okay job, nothing more.

Anum and Ahsan are getting quite close and she is one of the main reasons he wants to turn over a new leaf and improve his life. It is a bit unusual to see a child brought up in such circumstances would be so sensitive and thoughtful about the woman and her kids that his mother can targeted in order to fulfill her selfish desires. Anum was right in pointing him out as a very extraordinary guy. The actor playing the role fits well and is doing a good job for an amateur. Saboor Aly, however is certainly grooming her acting skills with each and every episode. She and Mariam Ansari were very natural in their cat fights today, both of them doing justice to their respective roles perfectly. Saboor was as annoying as she was being shown and Mariam was also good in acting out someone who wants one thing and hates herself for wanting it as well. She was in an ugly state of mind and her expressions and body language all translated that beautifully.

Naheed was her usual brilliant self again. Saima Noor was very good in showing how she can understand what is in her daughters’ heart without many spoken words. She very sensibly understood the subtle signs of likeness Amber is showing towards Dr Jawad and got the meaning behind the fact that she had not told her of Dr Jawad’s first wife.

Anila and her sons are still the same story. Ahmed is still adamant on getting the very girl whose parents refused his proposal many times. He is more like a street thug than anything else. Obaid is also the same and Sadiq is now getting the punishments which he once thought would be the greatest rewards to him.

Stay tuned for the next episode since it seems that finally Naheed and Sadiq will come face to face in it.

So this one today was a very very average kind of an episode. There wasn’t much that happened or much that was exciting. Same old stories and issues were repeated and while this drama gives us something very interesting week after week, this time atleast, it was more of space and time filler than anything else.

The emphasis of this episode was on Amber who has decided to take a stand and drag Iqra’s husband to the courts. Then she convinced Iqra to remember some of their mother’s courage and be brave enough to take a judicial action against all that Farhan did. Saboor Aly is certainly getting better in acting with each episode and despite having the most screen time today, she did quite well.

Iqra and Anum didn’t have much role in today’s story. Iqra has finally found the courage to be able to tell her story everywhere she can turn to find justice for herself. Anum is still confused about her feelings. She confides everything with Dr Jawad and they share a a very good rapport. However, when he proposed her, her tears show that she likes him but the issue of his first wife is haunting her.

In Anila’s house, things aren’t the same. This time Ahsan has reached jail while he was gambling on the streets and Sadiq, despite all his efforts could not bail him out for which Anila is quite angry at him. Maybe it is just the character but Sabreen Hisbani constantly fails to impress as Anila. The way she is playing this role, it could be played by any xyz actress but considering Sabreen, you expect her to put life in her roles like she always does but that is not the case here.

Fareeha and Shehzad and Naheed have the same argument and it ends the same way as well ; Shehzad getting angry at not being listened to and leaving Naheed’s home.

An interesting development was the meeting of Amber and Ahsan in the jail where he is locked up and she has gone for something related to her work but they shared mutual concern for the young kid behind bars, and since they have no way of knowing eachother’s identity till their families get to know about their interaction, it may be too late already. This is one plot worth looking forward to.

Saima Noor and Sajid Hassan again topped everyone else in acting skills with effortless brilliance in their respective characters. Naheed’s dialogue, “humain bhalay kuch na milay, us ko zaroor giraftar hona chaiay” was awesome. Despite earning het livelihood in such dire circumstances all her life, she is still more concerned about honor and respect as she always has been. Sajid Hasan is also phenomenal in his illiterate mannerisms and the resignation of this fact that the boy he always wanted was never meant to be and that is why he has mellowed down so much over the years.

Next episode’s promo showed some very promising plots shaping up. Stay tuned..

This episode was one of the most interesting ones in the drama. This play  constantly delivers in terms of performance and intense entertainment. It was a very happening episode where the unbelievable events were shown very realistically.  Each and every actress excelled in terms of acting and fitting in the character they were playing.

The episode started with Amber and Iqra happily trying to go and find the house that Farhan was going to rent for them. However  things soon took an ugly turn when the sisters realised that they were being used and exploited by Iqra’s husband who had taken advantage of the fact that there were no males in the household. All his concern for trying to be the son of the house was just a charade  that he had played along with his mother and whatever family he had brought to Naheed’s house for running away with all the money and jewellery and everything that he could manage to snatch from them.  It was an extremely sad realisation but everyone was hiding from admitting the fact that they had been robbed so cruelly and so selfishly but Anum being the strongest one ultimately made them face the truth.  Despite all their efforts to find out why Farhan had disappeared all of a sudden, they had in time come to terms with the ugly truth that Iqra’s marriage was just a plot by him for stealing their belongings, including Naheed’s credit card money and Iqra’s jewellery as well as dowry amount.

Well Farhan did seem too good to be true but it could still be thought that the mother and daughters had ultimately found a man whom they would be proud to associate with but sadly this was not the case, not with this man. Shehzad and Naheed’s relationship is shown very realistically. A lot of siblings in Pakistan after their marriages have a similar kind of love hate relationship where they do feel for each other but egos come in the way and stop them from being totally compassionate for their siblings, despite having the pull of blood underneath the false pride and conflicts. Fareeha was also on spot with her acting, a little softer even. She was rubbing their wounds but in the way most well meaning extended relative usually do. Naheed Shabbir is a brilliant actress but the blue lenses seemed totally out of place today. Since there was so much focus on her face today, they glared out every time she was on screen. Saima Noor as also brilliant when she reminded Shehzad that it was him who had refused to go and find out more about Farhan on her request.

Amber was seen pondering over what everyone had said about the fact that they were cheated and robbed because they did not have a man in their house and that women cannot survive alone in this society.  Her determination showed that she was now intent on proving them wrong and that is why she had gone on to get an FIR registered against Farhan and his family. This was a very good move on her part and the promo shows she will have Naheed’s support in pursuing the case and justly so. Why should they suffer quietly because there is no male member in their family.

On the other hand, Anila was very happy to find out what had happened in terms of Iqra’s broken marriage. Sabreen Hisbani did not have much screen time today and she failed to impress in whatever little she had. Sajid Hassan, however was a whole different ball game. This man is a genius when it comes to acting. Without saying a word,  he conveyed the exact emotions of a father who was hurt, devastated and regretful at the unfairness of his firstborn, his eldest daughter’s fate but he had never been much of a father to them, so he does not have the right to grieve about them openly. He was all alone, lost in remorse for a daughter whom he could never give anything but must have had a glimmer of hope somewhere deep down in his heart that life would compensate for her sufferings, which Mehwish Qureshi was brilliant in translating on screen today. She was another character today who again without saying a word depicted the feelings perfectly.  There was no over acting, no loud emotions, just very genuine tears of a middle class girl with a troubled childhood who had just started daring to give dreams a place in her life.

Hats off to the team of director and actors for a fabulous episode today!!

Mubarak Ho Beti Hui Hai has just aired and it was another one in the series of interesting episodes. Despite two or three substandard episodes , the drama is consistently delivering in the form of story and performances,  which is quite a big deal.

The episode started  with the realisation that Anum  has been treating her stepbrother with care and professionalism.  It was not easy for Iqra, Amber and Naheed to accept and even Naheed  give her a cold shoulder in the start due to her old scars.  However, her trademark wisdom ruled again and she managed to understand Anum’s position like she always does with her daughters. Mariam Ansari was good in that emotional scene but nobody can beat Saima Noor in this play as far as performance and natural acting is concerned.

Sadiq is slowly getting what he deserved in life now that is mentally challenged son is growing older he is posing a whole new set of problems. The dialogues are written very well on this drama and that scene was amazing where everybody was  complaining about their  step relations and how only Aneila is left with real relations in that house. Everybody else has a step relation to one another which is why there is so much friction in the house. Sadiq is very possessive and concerned about his son whom he knows cannot survive without him or Anila’s help. Sajid Hassan is phenomenal in this episode. The way he carries himself and the way he delivers dialogues is superb. There is nobody who can do a role better than Sajid Hassan and Sadiq is no exception. He is brilliant in the play.

There is not much story in the drama but that was evident from its theme. The drama is about human beings and how they react to different situations and how their interests and  selfishness comes in the way of other people’s’ happiness it was not said but the point was made very clear that the father could not recognise his own daughter in front of his eyes whereas he was so concerned about his son. He was willing to spend money and time and energy for him even though he had no future, but  never had an ounce of compassion for his own daughters.

I was expecting that there would be some interaction between Sadiq and his daughters in this episode. However, from the promo it seems that the focus is on how Iqra’s husband  turns out to be. Even in this episode he was a little pushy and sounded too good to be true but I thought that maybe that is nature’s way of rewarding Naheed for the bad males she had in her life but sadly that does not seem to be the case. He seems to be a fraud as is shown in the promo. So the next episode is definitely going to be a very interesting one to to watch.

Stay tuned.

This episode was simply epic. It was brilliantly executed and despite the age old theme of the drama, there is nothing boring or cliched about its scenes. There Is something about the story telling of this play that that it does not look built upon an old phenomenon. Rather, it is original, natural and absolutely flawless. It has come a long way and now it is one of the best dramas of the week. The characters are very realistic, the backdrops totally natural and the story is flowing from all sides very neatly.

What happened today was totally impressive. All the characters are slowly coming to their justified ends in a very thought out manner. Iqra’s shadi was perfect under the circumstances Naheed is in. The whole wedding scenerio was so real that not even a single shot seemed out of place. Even the dressing was given a lot of thought. With Iqra and Anum wearing similar joras which were quite simplistic, given the way they were contributing towards their sister’s marriage were perfect. Saima Noor is every bit the graceful and elegant mother and mother in law that was herself from the very start, due to which she could not bear her daughters grow up with the devastating effects of neglect and abuse in the name of their gender. She is true to her character from day one. Despite all her troubles, she is the rock her daughters have always leaned on.

Iqra was sure that their father must have gone on holidays to avoid attending her marriage and her logic made perfect sense even though  Sadiq was unaware of her wedding. Iqra got a very loving and sensible husband who was what she needed to restore her faith in men. Mehwish Qureshi was amazing in today’s episode. She blossomed under the tender gaze of her husband and you could see the transformation from the girl with a scared and haunted childhood to a woman who was secure in her husband’s love and loyalty.

Amber is her usual naughty self and Fareeha is also her usual fussy self. Anum, however is going through a turmoil. First, she gets to know about Dr Jawad’s wife that she cannot even check expiry dates before giving medicines to her children. Secondly, she was faced with a very tricky situation when she had to choose between her professional duties and  her long seated hatred for her father and his second family. Mariam Ansari was brilliant in showing the expressions of a hurt and devastated daughter whose father was standing right in front of her, so concerned for his retarded son and so indifferent to his daughters that he did not have a slight inkling that she could be his own flesh and blood. She was upset beyond words but did all that needed to be done. However, it seems that it will not sit right with hot headed Amber when she will get to know that Amber had been treating Anila’s and Sadiq’s son.

The play has taken a very interesting turn. Stay tuned to find out how he drama unfolds from here.

Episode 16 of Mubarak Ho Beti Hui Hai forwarded the story a little bit. The good thing about this drama is that the story is quite typical and predictable, yet what keeps you coming back is the individual characters of each actor in the play. They are all unique in their own ways and everyone has equal screen time. Another realistic thing is that no one is black and white, not even Anila, because in her own twisted ways, she was playing on Sajid’s craving for a son to ensure her orphan kids’ future, and not even Naheed because in a way, her choices have always unconventional too. Yet, the way these characters interact and engage and play their parts keeps this play an interesting and even comforting watch, since after the initial episodes, there is no under dog in the play. Everyone has carved out a life for themselves and for Naheed’s household, this whole credit goes to her. She is more of a man than all the men combined in the drama.

This episode’s main issue was Amber’s confusion and mental anguish because she, in her childish ways, wants to see her father suffer in front of her eyes. She wants to see his punishment and gets upset when it is not imminent. Saima Noor was again awesome in the conversation with her when she reminded her to focus on the happiness that is knocking on her own door. I’m doubly impressed by Saima Noor, never knew she can nail such a character with so much poise and grace. She is the show stealer, since day one of this drama. However, Mehwish Qureshi, Maryam Ansari and Saboor Ali, have all fitted into their roles by now. On the other hand, Anila’s sons are new actors probably and as yet have not delivered anything significant.

In Sadiq’s household, he is slowly but surely remembering what he had done with Naheed, especially when Anila called him manhoos. Sajid Hassan is phenomenal in the role. His body language, his expressions and his tone of voice does not even need dialogues to depict his defeat and regrets. He acts just by being on screen. He is so good to show the weaknesses of his character that you cannot hate him even after what he has done. He is so natural that he brings out the vulnerability and human element even in Sadiq.

Sabreen Hisbani is also doing a good job, being the selfish and mean Anila who can now see that she has raised monsters of sons but is too arrogant to admit it and keeps on covering them.

So far, Naheed and her daughters are managing all the expenses of Iqra’s marriage themselves. The girls have the same grit and resilience as their mother. Shehzad, on the other hand wants to come to bless Iqra but does not want to take any responsibility. Naheed and Iqra are scared deep inside their hearts because of Naheed’s and Sadiq’s troublesome marriage but they are all keeping a brave front till now.

stay tuned to watch Iqra’s shadi next week ..

Episode 15 of this drama gave more of an insight into how the characters have developed, rather than moving the story forward. It was still interesting though, and a lot of new things were to to be learnt.

Iqra is more of a homebody girl but Anum and Amber both are career driven and worn hard to achieve their dreams. They have that naughtiness in them while Iqra is very realistically shown quiet and serious, since she was the one who had suffered most with her mother due to being the eldest. Anum got to know in this episode that Dr Jawad was married. She was genuinely surprised and a little upset but he gave her the details after which everything is fine between them but there is certainly more about Jawad that we don’t know yet. We will see how his and Anum’s relationship develop in later episodes.

Amber was wondering whether disabled kids are a punishment from Allah. This is a very sensitive topic and even she herself negated that thought, but she is so desperate to see her father suffer for the atrocities he committed with them, she keeps on thinking of their regarded child was a punishment for their sins.

Saima Noor was again phenomenal in today’s episode. She is so calm, so foucused and so positive that Naheed can give us motherhood golds from her character. She made Amber realise her mistake in such a nice way that it deserved an applause. She treats her girls with respect, care and gives value to them, not now but from the very first day they came into her life. Her dialogues are written and delivered very well.

Anila is confused between her maternal instinct and her loyalty for her husband. Her sons are rude , obnoxious and lazy but one things stood out. Even though they were also kids when all this happened, they are still disgusted by Sadiq’s disowning of his own daughters. He was a weak person morally and ethically and his step sons are exploiting it now. Can’t blame them.

Stay tuned to the next episode where Iqra’s marriage is the question of whether they should invite Sadiq or not.

This episode of Mubarak Ho Beti Hui Hai failed to make a mark. The story is paused and there is nothing significant about the characters they we got to know, except maybe Amber.

In Naheed’s household, things are the same. The girls are climbing up the ladder of success. While Iqra and Anum are quite good human beings, the most competitive of them all, Amber is turning out to be quite an unlikeable personality. Iqra is a homebody but Anum is a medical student and while being grounded and practical, is respectful to other people. Mehwish Qureshi and Mariam Ansari are settling well into the roles and their actings are also improving with every episode.

Saboor Ali, however, is another story. Her character Amber is quite over the top and her acting is making it even more so. She is a prime example of when people never snub their kids in order to make them confident, but it backfires and those kids then become narcissists. Maybe the writer is showing her to be feminist but there is a difference between being obnoxious and being feminist. No man or woman should treat other human beings like trash, no matter what the gender. The way she insulted and threw the old man out of her office goes to show that Naheed has lagged behind in the ethical sense of upbringing. Amber should have had the sense to know that just because her father did not prove to be a good father, she cannot punish other people for it. Her behaviour in front of the ladies that came to see Iqra was also unnecessarily rude and defensive. I agree with her point that everything should be straight forward and crystal clear before marriage proposals, but this amount of rudeness was simply not needed. For once, I felt for Shehzad and found Naheed to be obstinate in defending her daughters even when they were clearly in the wrong. If mothers don’t teach their kids of either gender to be respectful to elders, who else is going to do that?

In Sadiq’s household, he deservedly is not getting any moral or financial support from his step sons which he wrongly assumed comes with having male offsprings. Anila’a cunningness has now created two monsters who refuse to pay any heed to what Sadiq or even Anila expects out of them.

Stay tuned to see if the next episode is able to move the story forward ..

So finally the delayed twelfth episode of Mubarak Ho Beti Hui Hai was aired today. The episode was fast paced but because of a lot of developments in one episode, they were not all elaborated well.

Firstly, khala Batool was shown being so sweet to Naheed the very next morning after her tattling had created such a big trouble between Naheed and her brother. That attitude of hers was very confusing. Secondly, the neighbor’s proposal seemed really out of place. Though it could have been the end of Naheed’s troubles to accept his proposal, she knew that this easy way out was not the one that she wants for herself and her daughters; dignified and independent. Hence, she rightfully refused and that ended his chapter since he left immediately with all his belongings.

The saddest thing of the episode was that little Kiran finally lost her battle with illness, polio, poverty, her father’s utter neglect and her mother’s helplessness. The death was shown quite abruptly and the timeline moved forward quickly after that but Naheed had still managed to show some appropriate reactions of a grieved mother. Immediately upon hearing the news, she was devastated and kept on remembering all the things that were said after Kiran was diagnosed and how that little girl was frowned upon. That made me feel that Naheed must be satisfied deep down somewhere because even at that time, in the most limited of resources and support, she tried to get Kiran all the medical facilities she needed. Also, her stillness and her empty eyes when everyone was saying that it’s for her betterment that Kiran has died were truly those of a mother who loved her disabled child in a way this world can never understand.

Sadiq was shown mourning his mother’s death and while I always felt Sadiq to be dependent and weak minded, this episode changed it. He was purely evil and heartless when he got to know about Kiran’s death. Naheed’s absence on his mother’s death and her claims of raising their daughters aside, he should atleast have had some concern for Kiran. Some small fatherly twinge should have made him remember the little harmless baby girl whom he had never really accepted or known, but unfortunately there was nothing like that. There was this cruel man who was counting Naheed’s faults as if Kiran’s death had given him another excuse to vent out.

The time lapse of six years was a little off since Fariha was counting four years and Shehzad was counting two years since Iqra started tuitions or maybe he was saying two because Anam also joined her. Also, the story he had about Amber’s love for his son did not move the mean Fariha but it really affected him, even to the extent of saying that he is proud of his sister.

The promo will introduce us to Iqra, Anum and Amber as they are after the time lapse, and their reactions to all that they suffered in their childhoods. Let’s see how that one goes..

Assalamoalikum…

so this episode was quite slow and had no further development to the plot. Yet, it did not seem unnecessarily dragged because the whole point is to show the plight of a mother who has to raise four daughters in this society all by hersef, and that was emphasised quite well here. The things Naheed had to bear, though extreme were very realistic. Once again, I cannot help praising whoever thought of Saima Noor playing the lead. She is flawless as the helpless woman who happens to be a determined mother . The contradictions of her personality is very well executed. she knows she has nothing going for her except the sheer will to make her daughters’ lives happier and that keeps her going.

However, other women in her life are persistent in making things hard for her. First, that khala was so mean to Naheed and then she had to request Fariha for minding Kiran while she was away, and we all know how evil and heartless she is. After a heated argument with her brother over Fariha’s tales, he had a change of heart and little Kiran found a place to stay for the afternoon.

It looks like one of Naheed’s trouble subsidies just to give rise to another. Now that she found a steady source of income in the form of school canteen, she has to quit that because of Kiran’s falling health. On top of that, everyone is trying to make that one person who helps her go out of her life. When she asked him to help with Kiran’s medicines, her brother chose the exact time to come and meet her and that will now give rise to another stream of fire Naheed has to cross, with Fariha and khala adding fuel to the fire.. looks like Naheed’s troubles are far from over.

In Sadiq’s household, his mother has passed away due to her ill health and neglect at the hands of Aneela.. well, that hole she really did dig herself, so no sympathies.. the scene where she remembered Naheed as she had lain alone , rejected and scorned after the birth of Kiran was definitely touching. But I was hoping when Naheed was worried about childcare that Sadiq’s mother will come to know about it and offer to keep Kiran and play her part in the girls’ upbringing even without Sadiq’s help but that didn’t happen. Whatever remorse she had, has gone to her grave, without Naheed’s knowledge.

The promo shoes Kiran will die. That is so sad, since Naheed had tried her best to keep her healthy and also because she was so cute and adorable.

Mubarak Ho Beti Hui Hai is an ARY digital drama, of which 8 episodes have been aired. The drama deals with age old facade of preferring sons over daughters and treating women as if they have a role in selecting the gender of their baby. The issue is probably as old as mankind itself and recently, there has been so much awareness surrounding it that people are not very vocal anymore in showing their displeasure at the birth of female child. Nonetheless, there are still some socioeconomic classes where they perceive a male offspring as the guarantee of ultimate success and security in life. This drama deals with this dilemma in its ugliest form, which is kind of understandable because a certain amount of dramatization and exaggeration is required to keep viewers glued.

The plot, superficially is just about the hardships a woman faces when she gives birth ma to unwanted daughters and her sheer grit to do everything in her power to improve the their lifestyle. But, on a deeper inspection, you will see many subtle messages and ideas that keep you engrossed. Its about intensively cunning women, who are other women’s worst enemy. No man is able to destroy a woman until another woman aids him in doing so is the repeatedly emerging idea of this play. There are women who lie and steal and cheat to get their way and  then their is this mother who not only struggles for the basic needs of her daughters but with her limited education and resources, fights tooth and nail for their self respect and dignity. There are spineless men like her husband and her own brother who lack any kind of ability to view situations through their own eyes and analyse them in their own minds. If our society is on a moral and ethical downfall, it is due to such men and this fact is depicted accurately in this play.

As far as acting is concerned, Sajid Hasan is phenomenal as the clueless, illiterate and opportunistic Sadiq whose mother has infused in him the faith that his eternal happiness lies in the birth of a male offspring. The full brunt of this mentality is borne by his first wife Naheed and his four daughters. At the birth of their fourth daughter, his mother marries him to his widowed sister in law who already has two sons with Sadiq’s late brother ; hence proved that she is hard wired to manufacture sons.

This marriage starts a series of hardships for Naheed and her daughters, one of which is the diagnosis that the youngest born had contracted polio because she was not immunised on time. The mistreatment that she faces at the hands of Sadiq and his wife forced Naheed to go to her brother’s place, where she is once again disappointed by the second responsible male figure in her life. His wife is even worse than Sadiq’s new wife and Naheed and his daughters are once again on the road with no destination in sight.

The lead protagonist Naheed is played by Saima Noor. Her acting and persona are sometimes too over the top but I’m so in love with this character, who despite facing so much agony due to her daughters, never once mistreats them. She never takes out her frustration on them and never makes them feel bad for coming into her life. Rather she treats her unwanted and unloved daughters as her very own princesses. So, no matter where Saima falls short in acting, the screen space given to her character is like the light of love among all other dark and evil characters. That makes her flawless in my eyes in this drama.

Sabreen Baloch and Naheed Shabbir are doing well in their despicable characters… you can’t decide whom to hate more. Ayesha Khan is Sadiq’s mom and she is showing signs of a guilty conscience at what she has done with Sadiq’s first wife.

The latest episode was full of tragedy as Naheed eventually realises that her brother is as useless to her as her husband and she can only count on herself in this world. But the next one made me hopeful of the arrival of karma in this play as Sadiq and Aleena’s first son is diagnosed as abnormal by doctor. How they take to this news and what other blows of karma are in store for them remains to be viewed.

Stay tuned and we will discuss it on next Wednesday again.

Assalamoalikum everyone. Hope you are all enjoying the blessings of Ramadan.

The ninth episode of Mubarak Ho Beti Hui Hai was aired today. The pace was a little slower than usual but there were some very interesting new leads generated today. The story is very well integrated and no scene seems out of place in the whole episode.

So Naheed’s stay in Shehzad’s house has come to a very ugly end. Fariha is a true example of conniving bhabis who make their husbands forget their ethics and responsibilities. He is not even willing to listen to Naheed, rather he is brimming with hatred for his own sister on the basis of Fariha’s lies. I find Shehzad even worse than Sadiq as he is comparatively more educated and knowledgeable, yet as thoughtless and selfish as Sadiq despite his blood relation with Naheed.

Naheed settles in well as khala Batool’s tenant with the help of a very humane neighbour. She is one of the most impressive female characters I have ever seen. Despite her limited resources, she is the best role model a daughter can ever have. Her grit, her patience and her big heart make you truly respect her. Not once did she falter in her belief that her daughters are not a burden, rather the ones who think of them like that are at fault. Not once has she taken out her frustration at her daughters. Not once has she questioned her decision to leave the indignity of her husband’s house and not once has she back bited all those who have wronged her. She is just focused on giving her girls the best life despite all the challenges she has to face.

Saima and all the girls playing the roles of her  daughters have such a realistic chemistry that you tend to forget it’s a drama. They truly look like a fivesome determined to claim their right to live respectfully despite all the odds.

The neighbour was a breath of fresh air and only the second person in this drama as yet who has any sort of compassion left. I would have loved to say the same about khala Batool. I was really counting on her to be Naheed’s support but she seems quite mean, though maybe not as much as the two previous households Naheed has lived in. Her advice makes sense at times but her tone, her words are not very kind. I was undecided about her character till the end but the promo proved that she might indeed be one of the many villains.

The most interesting development is that Anila’s and Sadiq’s much celebrated son is mentally retarded. It was karma peeking up its head at Anila who had thought she was invincible. But as a reader pointed out last time, this does not give a very enlightening message since mentally and physically challenged kids are not a god sent punishment. Under the circumstances of this drama though, we can’t help commenting on Anila that this serves her right. Not because she has to raise an abnormal child but because she had made Naheed’s life miserable over the diagnosis of her girl. Atleast she would now feel a fraction of the pain she had caused another mother.

Just like some people never learn, this incidence has made her become all the more negative, controlling andd manipulative. Her next demand that Sadiq put both his shops in her elder sons’ name is very unfair but looks like she is going to achieve that.

Now moving on to Sajid.. what can you say? He is so stupid and so spineless that no sensible decision is expected out of him anytime soon. This is what happens when mothers treat their sons as puppets and use them against their wives. They turn into men like Sadiq who never become able to develop their own perspectives. Rather, they fall into the trap of one manipulative woman after the other. The very quality of Sadiq that his mother was exploiting against Naheed and her daughters, is now being used against herself by Anila. Sajid Hassan is phenomenal as Sadiq, makes you wonder if there is any character the veteran actor cannot make his own.. don’t think so.

Now his mother is the one scaring Anila of Allah’s judgment. This is such a powerful example of human psychology, we tend to fear God only when we are wronged and helpless but when we have power, we turn into one ourselves.

The episode ended in Anila’s anguish over her son and the prologue shows that things are not going to get easier for Naheed…

stay tuned xx