This was another episode of Mannu’s madness which reminded me of Haya’s character from Alvida. Haya too married Rameez only because she wanted to prove a point to Haadi. Just like Mannu, Haya too was immature and fearless. Both these characters are naive enough to think that it is alright to get married to someone even when you know that you will never feel anything for that person. I must say that the X-factor was totally missing from this episode for two reasons. Firstly because the episode in which we saw Salahuddin refusing to open the door for Mannu should have been the final goodbye for these two characters. That scene was highly emotional and it did imply that Mannu was out of Salahuddin’s life for good therefore watching Salahuddin pick up the phone and call Mannu after he had put in so much effort into shutting her out of his life was definitely a big led down. Salahuddin convinced Mikael to marry Mannu and so far has been shown as someone with very strong nerves therefore these emotional outbursts are not really fitting in. These emotional outbursts of course are meant to show that Salahuddin loves Mannu too but even then somehow I found them highly unconvincing. Secondly, the whole situation was turned into ‘yeh shadi nahi ho sakti’ scenario for no reason at all! These lovers had parted ways in an unconventional manner but what we saw in tonight’s episode was very clichéd and definitely something which was not needed since they are not meant to be together any way!

I liked Mikael’s character because unlike many of the other men we see in our dramas, it seemed like he will actually pay more heed to Mannu’s feelings than his own since any sensible man would not want to get married to a girl who does not want to marry him – unless of course this man is not very sensible!! The preview of the next episode did suggest that Mikael will turn out to be a twisted character just like Rameez! I hate to compare this drama with Alvida again and again but at this point there are a lot of similarities between these two dramas.

Almost all the conversations in tonight’s episode failed to make an impact. I kept on waiting for that perfect scene that blows you away but watching Mannu ‘slip’ outside in front of her mother and phupo and watching Salahuddin letting Mannu stay for that long with him was very hard to digest! I liked the last scene the best and not because Salahuddin showed his love for Mannu openly in front of everyone but because of what Mannu’s father said to him. Salahuddin never had the courage to ask for Mannu’s hand even when her father met him in private. I did feel like one of the reasons Mannu’s father had that conversation with Salahuddin was because in his heart he wanted to be convinced but Salahuddin never even tried! Watching the parents beat up their daughter was definitely not very pleasing even if she deserved it! Mannu’s father of course felt led down and his reaction was understandable but even then the scene was too clichéd.

I have said it before too, the director Haseeb Hassan has definitely given his best to this drama but it would have been so much better had the writer and the director decided to skip the recent chain of events. Mannu was already getting married to Mikael whether her father stopped supporting her or not. Mannu’s conversation with Salahuddin in this episode were repetitive, we know she is hopelessly in love but listening to the same dialogues over and over again made it look like the writer was trying too hard to get the message across. Maya Ali however is very convincing as someone who is madly in love and incapable of thinking straight. Hamza Ali Abbasi is more convincing as the practical Salahuddin as opposed to the emotional one. I must say that there were some scenes in tonight’s episode in which the supporting characters stood out more than the lead characters. I especially liked Saba Hameed’s acting in this episode although her character didn’t have a big role to play in tonight’s episode.

If you missed this episode of Mann Mayal watch it on http://dramaonline.com/

Fatima Awan

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This episode was captivating, emotional and picture perfect in every way. Beautiful direction, power-packed performances and a few unexpected twists here and there made this episode a must-watch. Tonight’s episode definitely had some scenarios which we hardly ever get to witness in Pakistani dramas. First and foremost the way Mannu’s relationship with her father has been portrayed on screen is very refreshing and extremely touching. For a change we are getting to see a father on screen who cares about his daughter’s feelings more than anything else. The only reason he turned to Salahuddin was because even after everything that happened he does not judge his daughter nor the man she loves on the basis of the recent happenings. He knows that Salahuddin will never accept his money and he is afraid that Mannu won’t be able to live a comfortable life with Salahuddin since she is used to all those luxuries. He does not have a big ego, he is not controlling but his decision is purely a product of his concern for his daughter. The chemistry between Maya Ali and Naeem Tahir is what makes the beautiful relationship between these two come alive on screen. Naeem Tahir is a phenomenal actor and Maya Ali has been brilliant as Mannu right from the very first episode. She is very convincing in all the scenes and definitely makes the character extremely likable.

The opening scene of tonight’s episode was beautifully directed. The way Mannu ran from Salahuddin’s house to her father’s arms was heart-wrenching. Her father understands why Salahuddin had to take this decision and in his heart he supports him too but at the same time he feels for his daughter. Mannu’s dialogue “achi saza chunni hai mere liye, pyaar se gala kaat du. Haath choomu aur phir keelei thonk kur sooli pe churha du.” went to show that she also knew that deep down her father did not want her to get married to Salahuddin.

Salahuddin has been given a huge responsibility by Mannu’s father because he still trusts him with making the right decision. Salahuddin’s meeting with Meekael couldn’t have been shown in a better way. Hamza Ali Abbasi nailed every single scene in this episode. His controlled expressions and his body language was absolutely perfect. Salahuddin’s scenes with Bia were just emotional as that of Mannu and her father. Bia kept on reminding Salahuddin that he didn’t need to be this practical but he has made up his mind and he will not let anyone change it. Although the scene in which Mannu took Meekael to Salahuddin’s house suggested that he was able to guess that there was something going on between these two which he didn’t know about but later on his conversation with his mother suggested something else. Perhaps he did not want to mention something like this to his mother since he didn’t intend to go through with the proposal. Gohar Rasheed’s acting like always was effortless. He is a natural actor who has suited perfectly in every single character he has played till date.

The conversations between Sara Baji and Mannu in this episode were spot on. They gave an insight into what was going on in Mannu’s mind and also strengthened the relationship between the two. Haseeb Hassan has proved yet again that a good director can bring out the best in all the actors which creates an undeniable chemistry between all the actors. All the actors young and old are giving their best performances in this drama and their balanced characters make them even more likable. Cinematographer Zeb Rao deserves a special mention here for the amazing camera work and perfect lighting in every scene. Haseeb Hassan and Zeb Rao have managed to make this drama a visual treat because of their teamwork. The best thing about this drama so far is that you can relate to all the characters and feel for them. Tonight’s episode had me hooked right from the get-go till the very end and it gave me absolutely nothing to complain about.

Did you watch this latest episode of Mann Mayal? Don’t forget to share your thoughts about it. If you missed it you can watch it here http://dramaonline.com/

Fatima Awan

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I must say that after watching over dramatic love stories in the recent past like Mera Naam Yousuf Hai and Sadqay Tumhare I expected a little bit more from tonight’s episode. All through tonight’s episode I couldn’t help but look forward to what was going to happen next but at the same time I felt once again that the drama banked a little too much on direction and the script had absolutely nothing grand to offer. I will however give credit to the writer for giving us some wonderful on screen parents who are definitely not run-of-the-mill but other than that this drama needed a few more strong supporting characters to make it look like something more than just another love story. This episode had some beautifully shot scenes to its credit like every other episode of Mann Mayal, the last scene had to be my favorite. It went to show how difficult it was for both Mannu and Salahuddin to let go of each other but both of them eventually would have to do that because of entirely different reasons. Maya Ali and Hamza Ali Abbasi’s brilliant performances have also given this otherwise typical love story the edge it needed to stand out in the crowd.

There is a saying, “there is always some madness in love” and this episode was all about that madness. Mannu’s desperation was portrayed brilliantly but I thought it was slightly comical the way all those women were running after Mannu although it was not meant to be funny. I absolutely loved the way Mannu’s impatience was shown after Bia told her that Salahuddin had talked to his parents. Mannu’s optimism turned into the biggest disappointment of her life when Salahuddin did not open his door for her. In the end it was not the phupo or Mannu’s father who separated them but it was Salahuddin’s decision to let Mannu go because he thought she deserved better. He is someone who has always been shown as a very practical person. He tried to buy himself some time by telling Mannu that he was going to Karachi but everything changed when Mannu’s parents found out what was going on between them.

Mannu’s father’s reaction was totally in line with his character. Even with all the opposition he was willing to marry Mannu to Salahuddin but later on when Salahuddin’s parents could not muster up the courage to ask him for Mannu’s hand in marriage he knew that they will never open the door for her. It was a wise decision by a father who would have found it impossible to hurt his daughter by refusing to give her what she loves and a friend who could not say no to his best friend who was like a brother to him.

It was refreshing to see that this whole episode did not focus on “yeh shadi nahi ho sakti” scenario but gradually it was shown why ultimately Salahuddin will be the one who will back out of this relationship. Hamza Ali Abbasi has a very expressive face and he is an expert at giving the right expressions in every single scene. There were many scenes in tonight’s episode which required an actor like him to do justice to those scenes and he did just that. I must say that I am very impressed by Aiman Khan’s performance in the show, every single dialogue is delivered with perfection and her body language was flawless in every scene.

Lately in our dramas we have been watching the women take the lead when it comes to making sure that they get the love of their life therefore watching Mannu do all that she did for the love of her life wasn’t very novel. Maya Ali has put her heart and soul into this character and it shows. I must say though that if things gets too serious from here on then I am going to miss the bubbly side of Mannu a lot since Maya Ali nailed all of those scenes in the first two episodes. All the actors playing supporting roles deserve a special mention for their brilliant performance which make this drama picture perfect as far as performances are concerned but since the characters are plain and simple therefore while some of them are likeable others don’t really get noticed in the crowd. We kept on hearing over and over again in this episode and in the last one too just how rich Mannu’s family was yet Mannu and her cousin were seen sleeping on the roof top. I am not sure if it is a norm in small cities to sleep on roof tops but I suppose people who can afford air conditioning would sleep indoors.

This episode ended on an emotional note and the preview of the next episode showed that we will see more of Gohar Rasheed’s character in the next episode. I must say that I am looking forward to that since he is another actor who always manages to bring out the best in his characters.

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

Fatima Awan

If you missed this episode of Mann Mayal, watch it here…http://dramaonline.com/

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Were all these episodes of Mann Mayal written by the same person? The characters change their minds with every episode and some of the characters have been forgotten yet again. Mannu’s father’s surgery was a success and after that she was supposed to go back to her parents’ house but the parents along with the entire family have disappeared. The moral police aka Salahuddin’s parents wanted him to marry Mannu in this episode, it won’t come as a surprise if they change their minds too next week.

Salahuddin decided he could “make do with” Jeena!! And Mannu – oh Mannu!!!! What do you really want?? Mannu kept on looking at Salahuddin with those tarsi hui nazrei like she expected better from him when she should have been worrying about her kids. It is funny just how easy it is to distract Mannu – every time she hears Salahuddin having a conversation with someone she considers it her immoral duty to listen to what he has to say. Mannu insists on getting hurt again and again. If she stops eavesdropping on Salahuddin, she will not succeed in her mission.

So, is Mikael dying?? Or is he afraid that the people he owes money to will kill him when he does not give them the money? Looks like Mikael is going to die and he will ask Salahuddin to look after his ex-wife and kids…phir Jeena ka kya ho ga?? Mann Mayal is another one of those dramas in which a husband divorces his wife and then pretends like it never happened – something which is highly objectionable yet it is shown in our dramas like it is very normal. It is funny how some of the characters like Salahuddin’s mother keep on voicing our thoughts yet they stop making sense themselves every now and then too! The fact is that even the parents don’t have any deen emaan. It wasn’t very long ago when Salahuddin’s mother was going gaga over Jeena and now Mannu is the flavor of the month.

Mannu didn’t think twice before answering Jeena’s call even after the way she insulted her last time, not only this Mannu also decided to meet her and was very interested in what she had to say – all of this could only happen in Mann Mayal! Mannu and Salahuddin’s “confrontation” was like a fight between teenagers. It was supposed to be intense in a cute way but when the heroine’s husband is keeping her kids hostage and the hero just spent the night at his ex-fiancé’s house nothing is cute or ‘intense’!!

It is impossible to sit through this mess which is truly a drama now!! How many of you watched this episode? Do share your thoughts about it.

Fatima Awan

OMG!!! This really is Shuk all over again. Tonight when Jeena insisted that Salahuddin should stay with her, I was reminded of the time when Sehrish (Ayesha’s character) pretended to be scared and asked Shaam to stay in her room so that Sania (Sanam’s character) would be jealous when she sees him coming out of her bedroom! I guess the whole idea was such a huge hit that the writer decided to do it all over again. After recreating other writers’ works by making some changes here and there, this time around Samira Fazal is being more creative by adding some minor changes to her own script which has already gone on air and is still fresh in the minds of the viewers!! The difference here is that Sham was married to Sehrish and Sania both but in this case Salahuddin is not married to any of these women yet he is so “cool” that he had no problem spending the night at Jeena’s house.

Watching Mannu’s son talk to Mikael like he was not scared of him at all was very weird!! Mikael was never a good father and now that he has kidnapped his own kids, the kids have even more of a reason to be intimidated by him. This drama taught another lesson tonight which was that if you feel nothing for your kids, kick you wife out of your house and then kidnap your kids after a few weeks and you will automatically fall in love with your wife and kids! Mikael changed completely in only a few weeks or did he fall in love with his kids after spending a day with them? Howcome that never happened when they spent years with him in the same house?? The abrupt change in Mikael however doesn’t come as a surprise at all because showing a gradual change in him would have required effort and we all know by now that writer did not put in a lot of effort into writing this script.

It is funny how Jamil’s character is being “used” at this point. Just like Jeena, Jamil cannot do anything right and now he has been turned into a victim. Jeena has fooled everyone in this drama with the exception of Mikael of course. Just like Numair’s character in Chup Raho, Jeena has everyone wrapped around her little finger. Salahuddin’s character and Hamza Ali Abbasi’s acting yet again was unimpressive in tonight’s episode. Why does Hamza Ali Abbasi put in so much effort into delivering those dialogues? Also, Salahuddin gets “distracted” too easily – he conveniently slept at Jeena’s place even though he knew Mannu was going through hell. He is also extremely selfish because now that he knows Mannu doesn’t want to marry him and has other options he is “naraz”!

So, now Mikael wants Mannu back – how convenient! What happened to his plans and why is he so interested in the kids he only brought into this world because he wanted his father’s money?? The worst news today is that Mann Mayal isn’t ending even next week, it definitely did not look like it. Jamil still has to ‘redeem’ himself and there are also so many worthless matters which need to be taken care of. What happened to Mannu’s useless family? Now Mannu has to choose between her kidnapper ex-husband and selfish Salahuddin. We also learned tonight that Mannu is not stupid and that she can make her own decisions, it would be nice if she does take a decision for a change.

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

Fatima Awan

The opening scene of this episode ‘shadi karo gay mujh se’  guaranteed that this episode was going to give all of us a lot to laugh about and just like always Mann Mayal delivered this time around too. Not much made sense and watching these top rated actors going along with this senseless script is no longer shocking but actually hilarious. Who did they think they were fooling?? Maya Ali’s acting gets worse with every passing episode especially when she is trying her best to prove that there never was and never will be another bechari like Mannu.

The story of this play has gone back to being a love story! Mannu still loves Salahuddin – surprise surprise and Salahuddin claims he loved Mannu ever since he was a baby (bachpan??) Jeena was just a phase which has passed. Mannu was the flavor of the day today. Salahuddin’s parents went from being the moral police to the nicest people around. This sudden change in attitude was just plain ridiculous! Aunty who was doing everything in her power to make Mannu’s life hell feels more secure now that her husband assured her in the previous episode (not sure when) that Mannu and Salahuddin had no such intentions. The characters in this drama take a U-turn which is backed by the most childish reasons.

The reference to Beauty and The Beast was hilarious – was the beauty married and I don’t remember her having 2 kids and the story definitely wasn’t this twisted! Just like that everything is back to square one – Mannu and Salahuddin love each other and the only problem now is convincing Salahuddin’s parents – so everyone is requested to forget everything else that happened in the previous 10 episodes or so!

Jeena’s character never made sense right from day one but the way Jamil’s character has been changed into that of a desperate man who will leave his wife, kids and betray Salahuddin just to please Jeena is nonsensical. Someone who was practical and very intelligent has lost all his problem solving capabilities and can’t even see what is going on. How could these actors even go along with all this – that was all I was wondering while watching this episode. I expect anything from the writer now but didn’t expect all this from the director and the actors involved.

The scene in which Mannu sits down to pray for her father but ends up having a conversation with Salahuddin looked like an essay on Pyare Aba!!! Jeena and Jamil’s scenes were just plain disgusting.

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

Fatima Awan

This episode just like all the previous ones was filled with run-of-the-mill dialogues and situations which reminded me of drama serial Shukk. Yet again we are watching a situation in which two women want a man (yes whether Mannu says it or not she actually wants/needs Salahuddin more than Januni Jeena!) and the (super) man in this love triangle doesn’t know how to use his ‘super powers’! Ayesha Khan yet again plays the role of a woman who is not wanted or needed but still like many other women in our dramas who have everything else except self-respect, Jeena continued trying to pressurize Salahuddin into marrying her like that would make him respect her or love her. The “mein khana paka sakti hu, office mei kaam kr sakti hu” dialogue was the most lame one we have heard so far!

This episode was just plain ridiculous! The first and the biggest flaw in the story is Mannu’s forced presence in Salahuddin’s house. Secondly, Mannu’s attitude throughout this episode was absurd to say the least! Abba’s illness is another unwanted sad development in the story which is nothing more than a desperate attempt to make the viewers feel for Mannu even more! Jeena’s desperation and Salahuddin’s ‘helplessness’ both were equally annoying tonight.

Mikael is completely out of the picture for now, not that I missed him and even though Mannu keeps on telling Salahuddin she does not want him around but somehow she could not travel by air alone without taking Salahuddin with her. If Mannu really wanted to take a stand, she should have taken a stand here. She knows that she ‘owns’ Salahuddin and she can ‘use’ him any way she wants since he is somehow responsible for all her troubles.

Unfortunately, Mannu has changed into a pathetic character who is continuously making a fool out of herself. Jeena of course is giving her tough competition therefore we have a man who put a finger on a desperate woman’s finger just to please her and now he wants to back out of this relationship because Mannu’s divorce has given him a new mission in life! We have two women – one desperate and the other one pathetic – who have other options but they are living in Salahuddin’s house because our writer loves these twisted turns in the story.

It is truly upsetting to watch a director like Haseeb Hassan going along with everything that this story had to offer and not only that, this drama is also going the beqasoor way – making the most of a woman’s becharapan and her rona dhona. Honestly speaking, this episode did not even deserve a review! This drama is a bigger train wreck than I could have imagined it would turn out to be. How could such big stars and big names think they were doing their fans or viewers a service by being part of this drama? I have lost all faith in Samira Fazal, Chup Raho, Aitraz and now this!!!

The preview of the next episode made me cringe, it also showed just how desperate Mann Mayal team is for the ratings! Can this drama get any worse? I think it can!

Fatima Awan

I was very tempted to count the number of times the word ‘talaq’ was used in this episode to make the viewers understand the gravity of the situation! This is not the first time that Sameera Fazal has used this word and the act itself like it is going out of fashion. Sadly, Mann Mayal has come to a point where the writer has to resort to deaths, heart attacks and divorces in order to stir some emotions in the viewers. The way beti ke masail and divorce was used to make this episode over-dramatic was just plain sickening. This episode was regressive to say the least!

Mannu’s reaction to this recent development was given more screen time than it deserved. The viewers have been watching Mannu suffer for weeks now, showing everything that was shown today was the final nail in the coffin. I am sure there are many viewers out there who will feel for bechari Mannu because the writer is bent on proving that staying married to a monster like Mikael is much better than being DIVORCED!!!! Talk about making the most of the evils (yes evil) that exist in our society! This recent development in the story might entice some viewers but after watching tonight’s episode I was not only disappointed even more but actually quite upset. It is sad that the writers who are considered the best in our industry bank on ‘talaq’ so much! If PEMRA wants to take notice of something, they should take notice of the way this word and action is exploited in our dramas in order to play with the emotions of people and to make the heroines even more becharis! Although Mannu is anything but enlightened or even sensible but even then it was sad to see her react like she just suffered a huge loss. Those parents who had been giving her the option of coming back home, who have been so supportive of her are suddenly in a situation that they had to ask their daughter’s ex-boyfriend to give her ‘refuge’!!! Mannu’s becharapan  in tonight’s episode was like a slap on the face of all those girls out there who willingly take divorce from husbands like Mikael to save their sanity and for the better future of their kids. This drama has sent out a lot of wrong messages but this recent development had to be the most terrible message an educated person can give to the public. Watching our writers endorse such clichés and social evils is really really upsetting.

Mannu was clearly disturbed by the fact that Salahuddin was in love with Jeena. She also never really loved her husband, it was a commitment she was fulfilling but even then the end of this marriage was shown like she had lost someone precious. Jeena’s desperation is growing with every passing episode and honestly speaking with this episode I have lost all interest in this drama. Till the last episode it was a comedy of errors but this episode was truly upsetting not because I feel for Mannu but I feel for all those writers, producers, directors and actors who think they are doing anyone a favour by showing something like this. Betiyan bojh nahi hoti – try putting that message forward for a change!

I am not looking forward to tuning into the next episode of Mann Mayal but unfortunately I have been assigned the duty of reviewing this drama till the end therefore I will continue reviewing it but I am done with watching and reviewing dramas written by Samira Fazal no matter how ‘enticing’ they might appear to be…after this episode, that is the least I can do! I am a woman and I feel truly offended by the message this drama is putting forward for all the women out there.

Fatima Awan

This episode of Mann Mayal was beautifully directed; every single scene was brilliantly captured, it truly looked like it was a labour of love. Brilliant performances, beautiful visuals and the chemistry between all the actors makes an otherwise typical story a treat to watch. Mannu and Salahuddin are in love or they have just realized that they were in love for a long time. Although Salahuddin tried to be practical and told Mannu that there is no way that someone like him could get married to her since there is a huge class difference but Mannu insisted that he had to make it happen. On the surface this is a classic love story in which two people who are very unlikely to be together fall in love. Mannu’s family is the ‘zalim samaj’, so much so that they are not even allowing Sara to live with her husband because of the class difference and also because she married someone out of her own free will. Chachi in particular is someone who will never compromise on her ‘principles’.

The first scene of the episode showed how different these two families were. The boy’s family was from Karachi therefore they were very modern, something which Mannu’s family found highly objectionable. The discussion between Mannu’s mother and chachi was very relatable! In every household the people who bring the proposal are scrutinized in this manner. Although Mannu’s father loves her a lot and he is not the typical strict father we see in Pakistani dramas all the time but he has proved that he is quite capable of going against his daughter’s wishes if that is what he thinks is right. He knows that Mannu does not want to get married but he still invites these people to see if they were a suitable match for her. The proposal was rejected not because of Mannu’s wishes but because the elders did not approve of it. The relationship Mannu has with her father is heart warming and it was one of those relationships which you want to see flourishing but the preview of the next episode suggested something entirely different.

Hamza Ali Abbasi’s effortless portrayal of a practical man who for once thinks it would be alright to delve into a fantasy makes you connect to his character. I am definitely curious to find out how a man like him would react when this fantasy turns into a nightmare. It has been clearly laid down by both the families that something like this will not be tolerated therefore once Mannu’s parents witness these two holding hands all hell will break loose. Aiman Khan and Hamza Ali Abbasi are very convincing as siblings. Their on screen chemistry and the difference in their personalities make their scenes enjoyable. Aiman Khan is a very confident actress with an undeniable screen presence.

I must say that I still haven’t warmed up to Mannu and Salahuddin’s love story just yet. Hamza Ali Abbasi and Maya Ali look great together but I have not been able to relate to their feelings for each other. Both these characters are simple and Mannu definitely takes the lead when it comes to taking a stand therefore I feel like I need to see Salahuddin making more of an effort. I must say that I like Maya Ali in the comic scenes much more than in the romantic scenes. Although we have seen Maya Ali play the bubbly girl over and over again but somehow she manages to excel in playing these characters every time. I have really enjoyed the comical element, the light scenes in these episodes and I hope that things don’t get too serious too soon.

The director has left no stone unturned to give this drama a different feel but the overall impact would have been far more powerful if the script had a few mind blowing dialogues too – the sort which you hear in Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar’s dramas. I definitely missed those one-liners and meaningful dialogues which have a magical effect.

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

Fatima Awan

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The story finally moved forward a little with this episode, now only if all this had happened some 4 weeks back things would have been much more interesting. Right now it is a case of too little too late. Mannu’s parents’ concern yet again seemed out of place since they were missing in the past few episodes and the fact that Mannu’s father turned to Salahuddin yet again went to show that he had learned absolutely nothing from his past mistakes. After trying to win Salahuddin over with her cooking and cleaning, Jeena decided to take things in her own hands by staying back at Salahuddin’s house and she also got the golden opportunity to tell Mannu’s father off. This scene and the one later on in which she told Salahuddin that she had not let the servants in because she did not want them to know she had been there all night clearly showed that she was a liar and a manipulator. Jeena is getting more desperate with every passing day. Her story about her aunts and how she was so used to getting everything she wanted solved the ‘big mystery’ behind her obsession with Salahuddin. She wants him and will do anything to have him in her life. Her character reminded me of Rameez’s character from Alvida. There must be a good reason why her aunts abandoned her, which makes me wonder if she ran away from a psychiatric ward!

Yet again even after Jeena’s loud and clear hints, Salahuddin did not believe his mother when she told him that Jeena liked him! The relationship between these two people could have been far more interesting and mature if Jeena wasn’t obsessive and Salahuddin didn’t play naive all the time! And of course if he didn’t give confusing signals! Mannu’s parents came to meet her for the first time unannounced but she didn’t allow them to interfere in her life in any way. Mannu’s parents just like always let their daughter have her own way because Mikael was after all the father of her children!! Whatever happened to Mannu afterwards was the direct result of all the wrong decisions which she has been taking all these years. There was no reason for her to stay in this marriage in the first place, long before she had children. Now, she has a promise to keep! Mannu is incapable of taking a stand for anyone at all. She kept on talking about her children’s future but is she really preparing for it? Storing away cash and jewelry is not exactly the best way to plan your children’s future when you have a husband like Mikael! Mikael is a hopeless case, he is not only selfish and greedy but also cruel. He is incapable of feeling anything for anyone at all. He does not care that her parents are dead and could not even remember his children’s names.

This episode did suggest that the drama might finally pick up pace now and there will be some new scenarios in the upcoming episodes. After watching the way the story was taken forward in the past few episodes however I have very little expectations from Mann Mayal.

The preview of the next episode showed Mannu taking ‘refuge’ in Salahuddin’s house probably with Jamil’s help. All the tracks are terribly messed up at the moment. The preview of the next episode reminded me of the last few episodes of Shukk. Will Mannu do something ‘normal’ for a change and call her parents and ask them to send her a ticket? Or will she continue living in Salahuddin’s house because Salahuddin will promise her to help save her marriage? Salahuddin will at some point witness Jeena’s negative side probably when she is saying something like that to Mannu. I just hope that the drama is not stretched any further and we at least get to see some fast paced episodes in the end.

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

Fatima Awan

“Vo actually mere maa baap nahi hei na” card was played by Jeena so many times today that I was really tempted to add a few extra lines to some of her conversations with different characters. So here it goes,

Salahuddin: Miss Jeena meinay aap ko kitni dafa samjhaya hai ke apne time pe ana jana hai, mera wait nahi krna.

Jeena: Vo mere maa baap nahi hai na tu is liye mei buhat dheet hu.

Salahuddin: Zara haath hola rukha kijye. Aap jub yeh sub karei gi tu office wale batein banayen gay.

Jeena: vo actually mere maa baap nah hei na is liye mujhe apni izzat besti ka koi khas khayal nahi hai.

Salahuddin’s mother: Arey beta choro gharey murde ukharne se kya faida.

Jeena: vo actually mere maa baap nahi hai na is liye mujhe kisi ne tameez nahi sikhai ke kisi k mamlay mei tang nahi arate!

I could go on and on but I think everyone reading this review will agree with me that Jeena’s loneliness and desperation is anything but cute! Jeena is just as obsessed with Salahuddin as he is with Mannu. The conversation between Salahuddin and Jeena when they are having dinner in the office was one of the many senseless conversations in this episode. It was not the usual conversation which a boss would have with a colleague, Jeena was hitting on Salahuddin blatantly but somehow he has no idea that she is infatuated by him! Yes, he is very ‘distracted’ because he is too busy playing ‘superman’ but even then Jeena makes her intentions clear enough!! I won’t be surprised if Jamil tells him at some point that Jeena loves him since Salahuddin lets Jamil do all the thinking for him! Jeena’s desperation was very annoying in tonight’s episode. If this was a teenager who was infatuated by her boss, things would have made a little more sense.

Mannu’s conversations with the guru in tonight’s episode were beyond ridiculous! Mannu feels like someone’s watching over her although after the incident at the hospital it would have been an easy guess that Salahuddin was chasing her and trying to ‘protect’ her. The confrontation between Mannu and Salahuddin was poorly written. There was no mention of how Salahuddin made a fool out of Mannu all these days! And even after this confrontation Salahuddin did not take this whole thing seriously! The way he laughed while talking to Mannu when she was sending him voice messages and later on his non serious attitude after the confrontation made it look like he had absolutely no respect for Mannu’s feelings. He thought of her as a fool who did not know what was good for her!!

Our superman found a way out and ‘told on’ Mikael – that should solve all of Mannu’s problems!! Only a super hero can think of such a solution to a big problem like this one! Mannu’s family appeared out of nowhere yet again!! Mannu’s family’s disappearance and then reappearance is the biggest loop hole in the script. A daughter cannot cut herself off from her family if the family still feels the way they do about her. Why can’t they pick up the phone and call her. Why can’t they book a ticket and go see her? In the last episode Jamil told Salahuddin that they did not even come when her son was born. Of course Mannu wouldn’t want them to come because she doesn’t want them to find out about Mikael but even then they don’t need an invitation to meet their grandchild. Also, this was the first conversation Mannu had with her father after he told her not to go back to Mikael yet he seemed to be quite happy with her in laws and Mikael – did I miss something??

The only good thing about this episode was Jamil’s attitude towards Jeena!! He is far better at keeping her at a distance than his boss. Also the way Mannu found out the truth about Jamil and her initial reaction was translated on screen superbly by Maya Ali. The confrontation between Salahuddin and Mannu however was not the least bit powerful! There are dramas which make it impossible for the viewers to find faults in them and then there are episodes like this one which make it impossible to say something good about them!! This episode was a major train wreck.

The preview of the next episode suggested that Mikael’s father will pass away….’superman’ saves the day;) Jeena was shown playing Bia’s role in the next episode – passing information to the headquarters! I really thought Ayesha Khan was through playing these desperate and useless characters but I guess I was really wrong! It is sad to see Hamza Ali Abbasi making his comeback with a play which has a very poor script and his character doesn’t have much to offer either.

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

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

Fatima Awan

Saleem Mairaj and Maya Ali owned this episode; the sincerity and precision with this these two actors have portrayed their characters on screen made their scenes worthwhile. I am especially impressed with their versatility. Even when Mannu’s character had absolutely nothing to offer Maya Ali managed to give it her best and she was just as convincing as the stubborn strong-headed girl in the first few episodes. Saleem Mairaj made the viewers hate Jameel in the beginning and now I find myself enjoying his scenes more than any other character in the drama. He is a natural performer who definitely deserves a lot more recognition.  Salahuddin’s character and Hamza Ali Abbasi’s acting both have been very unimpressive. Salahuddin is very confused about what he wants but just like Maya Ali Hamza Ali Abbasi could have made this character a little bit more interesting but sadly that is not the case here. Salahuddin seems robotic even when he is supposed to be going through something very emotional. Jeena made her entry after 13 episodes and today she got hardly any screen time – not that I mind that!!! Ayesha Khan was wearing too much make-up in tonight’s episode – no one goes to their workplace like this unless of course they want to ‘win over’ the boss who does not even give her a second glance! The make-up and the silk attire which she wore did not do the trick at all, in the end she had to take over Jameel’s work in order to spend some time with the boss, even then she did not get his attention! Am I the only one who feels sorry for Ayesha Khan more than Jeena after watching this episode?

Honestly speaking at this point Salahuddin seems more twisted than Mikael! Yes Mikael is a very sick human being who does not think of anyone else except his own self but what Salahuddin is doing is just as bad. Although he says he is doing all this to make Mannu happy but his obsession with Mannu seems to be a way to get rid of the guilt he feels. Everything that he is doing for Mannu will be of no practical use to her in the long run. He kept on giving her false hope in tonight’s episode and although his communication with Mannu temporarily made her feel good about her life but he is once again cheating her and getting her emotionally involved with him. Salahuddin is just as selfish as Mikael, the only difference is that these two people torture Mannu in different ways for their own selfish reasons. Jameel was right in pointing out that what he was doing was wrong! He also knows that this ‘happiness’ is temporary but once again he has no shame in playing with Mannu’s life. He needs counseling more than Mannu and Mikael!

The scenes in which Jameel played the messenger were the best part of this episode, not because of Salahuddin but because of the chemistry between Saleem Mairaj and Maya Ali. Also, the way these scenes were directed was quite interesting. After a long time the viewers got to see that side of Mannu’s personality which was missing from the past few episodes. After a long time she expressed how she truly felt. She has still not forgiven Salahuddin and although she says she wants him dead but what she really wants is that he should be out of her life for good. This indirect communication helped me understand what was going on in Mannu’s mind. She has shut herself from the world because Salahuddin shut her out of his world. Mannu’s mother in law’s sudden change in attitude did not make any sense! She was giving marital advice to Mannu like she was newly married and asking Mannu to do other things for Mikael like she knew nothing about the problems between them! It was almost as if she was waiting for Mannu to have her baby so that she could put her through some more torture!

Jeena made an appearance in only one scene in tonight’s episode and I found that scene really funny!!! Jeena’s made up look and her desperation didn’t go well with Ayesha Khan’s personality at all. She really should focus on becoming a character actor now and not a glam queen. She is really pretty, there is no doubt about that, but she is also very talented therefore just like Saba Qamar every now and then it would be really nice to see her in a role which leaves more room for interpretation and performance. Any girl could have played this role, Ayesha Khan is wasting her talent playing this character. She mentioned in one of her interviews that she was done doing favors for people and she will choose only those projects now which offer something different but once again she is playing a role which has nothing new to offer.

This episode was definitely much better than many others we have seen lately but like every other episode I doubt anything tangible will come out of the communication between Salahuddin and Mannu. The preview of the next episode showed a confrontation between Mannu and Salahuddin after she finds out that he is the ‘guru’!!!

Anyone else out there who will give anything to have an all-rounder servant like Jameel;)?? How many of you watched this latest installment? Don’t forget to share your thoughts about it. And if you missed it, watch it on http://www.dramasonline.com

Fatima Awan

There were quite a few developments in the story in tonight’s episode. Bia finally got married and moved to America – good riddance! Her conversation with Salahuddin yet again revolved around Mannu but it was good to see that she had finally realized that Mannu and Salahuddin were not meant to be – better late than never!! Jeena’s character was finally introduced in the drama. The scene that was shown in the preview of this episode last week in which Salahuddin calls Jameel and asks him about Jeena saying ‘pagal si lagti hai’ was missing from tonight’s episode.  Jeena appeared to be ‘normal’ enough in tonight’s episode. She really likes her boss and does whatever she can to get his attention. Her character is typical but not yet annoying. Jeena came out of nowhere and gradually she got really close to Salahuddin, a little bit of background would have made this whole scenario better. That call to Jameel (which was not shown) shouldn’t have been edited from the drama since we all wondered why Salahuddin said she appeared to be ‘pagal’. Was it the way she looked at him? Or the fact that she stayed back till after midnight without even asking him if she was needed? When exactly did Jeena fall for her boss? A lot of questions that were left unanswered. Salahuddin’s parents have gone to stay with Bia therefore I am wondering if at some point Jeena will move in with him.

All this time Salahuddin has been keeping an eye on Mikael and has all the information about what is going on in Mannu’s life. He obviously regrets his decision and wants to do whatever he can to help Mannu. I must say that Jameel was the right person for this job since he has the brains to do this and much more. The way Jameel made his way into Mannu’s house was an interesting development. I enjoyed his scenes more than any other character in tonight’s episode. He has turned into a loyal friend who does not question Salahuddin much before doing something from him.

Mikael’s attitude towards Mannu did not change and she kept on covering up for him. Mikael wants Mannu and the kids gone, he is out gambling all night and what Mannu said to him suggested that he was using his father’s money. I felt for Mannu in tonight’s episode, she is a lost soul and it seems like it is too late for her! She has ruined her life and there is very little hope for her now. She is the ultimate bechari now, who will stay with her husband no matter what. Maya Ali is the only reason why Mannu’s character still manages to evoke some sympathies otherwise the scenes and incidents between Mikael and Mannu are repetitive. Although Mikael shoved Mannu around but I am glad that all we have seen in this drama so far is all the mental torture Mikael puts Mannu through and he has never been shown hitting her. It goes to show that you can show a worst case scenario without showing the man hitting his wife.

The way Salahuddin helped Mannu was somewhat unbelievable. Doctors do not share information about their patients with people who are not directly related to them but somehow Mannu’s doctor was very comfortable sharing all these details with him. Did he ‘buy’ the doctor too with all the money he has now? Also, Mikael’s mother just guessed that her son had paid the bill even though he seems to be least interested in Mannu or the kids and did not even come to the hospital. It would have been better if this part about Salahuddin paying the bill was not added to this latest development because Mannu does not need  Salahuddin’s financial help. It also make it look like now that Salahuddin has a lot of money, he is finding ways to spend it on Mannu although she does not want his money.

The preview of the next episode showed Jameel talking to Mannu about Salahuddin without mentioning his name and Mannu asked him for his ‘guru’s’ number. This episode was better than the previous few because things moved forward a little. Other than that things get more complicated with every episode and honestly speaking this drama doesn’t really give you much to look forward to.

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

Fatima Awan

This episode was like an overdose of Mikael’s character – that is the best way to sum it up! There are some negative characters which you love to hate because they are not just negative but they keep you guessing and give you something to look forward. The way a character is written and the manner in which it is portrayed on screen are the two factors which play an important role in making that character memorable. But if a negative character is predictable, does not have an ‘interesting’ personality and the actor playing the role doesn’t manage to bring out the best in his character than these roles are just plain annoying! Mikael unfortunately is one such character in this drama. He is incapable of doing anything right, he is paranoid and the way this character has been translated on screen isn’t impressive either. Almost all the conversations and scenes that were shown in the first 10 minutes of this episode were dedicated to Mikael convincing Mannu to get the jewelry! In between we saw a minute or so of Salahuddin when he came back to Ifty’s house only to find out that uncle had died. It would have been far better if this episode focused on Ifty’s father’s death instead of Mikael’s track.

Mikael’s first meeting with Mannu and her family seemed cute because the viewers had no idea that he wasn’t being funny but this was who he was – a dimwit who doesn’t think much before he says something. In this episode Mikael was finally kicked out of the house by his father. His overconfidence got the best of him and now he is ‘jealous’ of his wife because she gets all the love and attention from his parents. Mikael being the only child is obviously not used to ‘sharing’ mommy and daddy with anyone else therefore he thinks that everyone is trying to bring him down. Like a spoiled child he blames everything on his parents and Mannu and is not willing to take responsibility for his actions. He expected his friend to welcome him with open arms and his attitude went to show that there was a lot that he needed to learn! Mikael is intelligent enough to fool his wife into doing things for him, otherwise he is not that bright! I just hope when we see a change in his personality it is not sudden and unexplained.

The latest twist in Salahuddin’s track was predictable. It would have been more apt if the viewers were shown a few flashback scenes in which Salahuddin remembered uncle and didn’t find out about the property he left for him just yet. Salahuddin’s reaction when he saw the papers was a mix of shock and jubilation. Although the change in Jameel’s personality is unexplained but it was good to see this side of him. The way he talked about uncle’s ‘akhri  wakt’ made it sound like Salahuddin had been away for weeks or months. The timeline in this play is always confusing!

Talat Hussein is going to be sorely missed. He was brilliant in every single scene and made his character memorable. Hamza Ali Abbasi’s shocking expressions were spot on but the conversation later on about how much the plot would be worth gave the impression that he was very excited too about this new development. Salahuddin has the chance to start over and I am waiting to see how that part of the story is covered. Saleem Miaraj proved once again that he is a brilliant performer. He made us hate Jameel in the past few episodes and now he is very convincing as someone who has truly changed. His dialogue delivery and acting both are impressive.

Overall, this episode was strictly okay. The preview of the next episode showed that the focus will once again shift to Mannu’s family. The story is gradually moving forward but unlike many other plays written by Samira Fazal, this one does not have a lot of surprises in store. The dhamakedar twists that keep you at the edge of your seat are totally missing from Mann Mayal. There is tons of talking in this play but very little action!

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

Fatima Awan

Tonight’s episode was much more happening than the previous few episodes and it had few emotional scenes to its credit. Ifty finally realized that he had failed to perform his duties as a son and for the first time he asked Kuki to admit her mistake. His father’s condition, everything that Salahuddin said to him in the hospital and Kuki’s crazy behavior made him realize how wrong he was. The opening scene of this episode was very emotional mainly because of Talat Hussain. It was good to see that this man finally had no reason to feel like he was a burden on people around him. All the scenes involving Talat Hussain just like the previous episodes were extremely touching. He definitely has a chemistry with all his co-stars and obviously the way he has translated this character on screen has made it likeable. The scene in which Salahuddin tells Jameel that he wasn’t needed any more was one of those scenes which convey so much in very little time. It is a fact that if parents have their children to support them then they do not need anyone else. The sudden change in Jameel’s behaviour however was very shocking. All of a sudden he is so concerned about Ifty’s father and he is so respectful and friendly towards Salahuddin. In the previous episode it seemed like he was doing it because Salahuddin was going to give him a portion of his pay but in this episode his concern seemed much more genuine. Since he was given so much screen time and is such an ‘important’ character, it would have been nice if we could have known what the reason for this sudden change in behaviour was.

Salahuddin’s conversation with Ifty’s father before he left for Hyderabad went to show how much confidence he had given Salahuddin. He has more faith in himself now and has the courage to do much more. However, it is too late now and rightly so too. Although Mannu’s decision to go back to Mikael is just another one those emotional decision which will give her more pain than happiness but everything she said to Salahuddin was spot on. Mannu tried her best to convince Salahuddin they were meant to be together but he was so sure that Mannu will be happy with Mikael. Mannu will make sure now that Salahuddin regrets that decision for the rest of his life. The fact that Mannu calls Mikael right after her meeting with Salahuddin went to show that this meeting gave her the motivation to make that phone call. In the last episode Mannu’s father announced his decision regarding Mannu’s marriage like no one could question it and let’s not forget Mikael’s insulting behaviour towards Mannu’s father. In this episode Mannu’s father did not even make an appearance, which was really strange because how could Mannu just get up and leave? Yes, she is stubborn enough to do that and no one could stop her but why did the writer and the director think there was absolutely no need to show Mannu’s father’s reaction and how Mannu managed to have things her way? If so much screen time could be wasted on useless discussions between Salahuddin and Bia then why couldn’t something logical like that be shown? Unfortunately, just like Gul-e-Rana in this drama too the parents disappear when they are not needed. Also, has Mannu decided to ‘forgive’ Mikael for everything he does wrong from now on? So was it okay for him to treat her father in such an insulting manner? These issues needed to be addressed in this episode but it was all about Mannu getting up and leaving. Mannu’s family was completely absent from tonight’s episode which was really odd. These are the same people who did everything they could to stop her from leaving the house when she wanted to go and see Salahuddin and now it is almost as if they don’t even live in the same house any more!

Mikael’s life or attitude did not change in this episode. He wants to sell Mannu’s jewelry and I have no idea how he is going to do that. I hope Mannu does not allow him to do it, trying to make your marriage work is one thing but assisting your husband in such activities cannot help a marriage in any way. Mikael’s conversation with his friend showed that he had no feelings for Mannu, she was his wife but he did not feel anything for her. Mikael’s character isn’t appealing at all, every time he comes on screen I want to fast forward his scenes. Although, there are times when even negative characters keep you glued to your TV screens but his character is definitely not one of those.

Talat Hussain was the star of the show yet again. Absolutely loved his conversations with everyone; they were poignant. Salahuddin and Mannu’s meeting was also another important development in this episode which gave the viewers an insight into Mannu’s state of mind more than anything else. Maya Ali yet again was exceptional in every scene. Bia and Salahuddin’s conversations revolving around Mannu are getting highly repetitive. Bia is not willing to accept the fact that Mannu is married and she can’t just leave that man and marry her brother! Bia’s obsession with Mannu ending up with Salahuddin has been taken overboard. Right from day one she seems more enthusiastic about this whole affair than the two people who are involved in it.

The preview of the next episode definitely gave me reason to look forward to more. I am waiting to find out what Ifty’s father left for Salahuddin.

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

Fatima Awan

This episode laid the foundations for Mannu and Salahuddin’s reunion. In the first few episodes Mannu’s father came across as a very cool-headed individual who was not very good at making decisions. At this point he is more of an emotional person who believes in making impulsive decisions perhaps because he regretted his decision of marrying Mannu off to Mikael. The way Mikael talked to him said a lot about the kind of person he was therefore Mannu’s father who already suspected that his daughter was not happy was pretty sure now that Mannu had been lying to them all long. In one of her conversations with Mikael Mannu mentioned that in her family marriage was considered a sacred relationship which was meant to last but so far we have seen nothing of that sort in Mannu’s house. Mannu’s phupo is not married, Sara baji’s mother did not let her go back to her husband for months because of a minor issue, Mannu’s parents married her off without giving it much thought and now Mannu’s father does not want her to go back to Mikael. Therefore, until now nothing that we have seen in Mannu’s family implies that they take marriages very seriously!

Salahuddin’s parents were finally shown talking about their son! I must say that I am very disappointed with the way this whole track has been handled. One fine day the parents break all ties with their son and then we never see them missing him or talking about him. Salahuddin has also not made an effort to patch things up with his parents but in the next episode when he comes back home, I am guessing everything will be alright. Ifty’s father looked content in the previous episode but in this episode like any other patient who is in his situation he gave up altogether and was ready to die.

Kuki’s character is another extreme!! The way she interpreted what was going on was beyond ridiculous. The characters in this drama are very black and white so far. Ifty and Kuki are bad people who are incapable of doing anything right. Salahuddin is the good guy who has made some bad decisions in life but overall his character has a lot of positive traits. Mikael is all bad, no doubt about that and our Mannu has been turned into a typical bechari who hardly talks any more. The developments in Mikael’s life were covered in such detail so that the viewers would be able to connect to the scene in which he misbehaves with Mannu’s father but even then some of the scenes had done-to-death written all over them. Salahuddin’s conversations with Bia in tonight’s episode revolved around Mannu. In the next episode Bia will be the one who will tell him that Mannu might get divorced.

The only good thing about this episode was the advice Ifty’s father gave Salahuddin. Watching Talat Hussain on television after such a long time has been a pleasure. He was absolutely brilliant in every single scene. One minute he was giving Salahuddin advice with utmost certainty and the next minute he was wishing he would die and he was equally convincing in both the scenes. The scene in which Mannu hugs her phupo and apologizes was very moving as well mainly because of Maya Ali’s acting.

This episode was strictly okay but I am looking forward to Mannu and Salahuddin’s meeting in the next episode. Honestly speaking, I am not expecting fireworks but I am waiting to see if Ifty’s father’s advice had some effect on Salahuddin. I am also hoping that this recent incident will change Ifty’s thinking and attitude towards his father.

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

Fatima Awan