The story of the play is progressing along the same pattern which it has following since the beginning. When one issue moves towards resolution, another one surfaces. It was all good fun for a bit but now it seems like the writer took the viewers for granted and thought that a few shocking twists and turns after few episodes will keep the viewers hooked. Mahmood shares his concerns and all that transpired with Asad in tonight’s episode and when he did so once again I could not help but wonder how this man made it as far as he did! The entire Mahmood/Shaheen marriage track was badly conceived; that is mainly the reason why many people have been put off by the show.  Mahmood’s character always came across as simple but after the incident my opinion about his character has completely changed. He has gone from being simple to just plain brainless.

This time around the misunderstanding between Alina and Daniyal was much more convincing unlike the last time when I found it hard to believe that Alina could fall for Mina’s trap. No doubt Alina had warned Daniyal about Mina’s intentions time and again but the fact remains that Daniyal has never experienced Mina’s scheming ways first hand. Not to mention the fact that all the men in the play seem quite dim-witted except for Asad so it is no surprise that Daniyal believed Mina.

Shaheen and her cousin seem to be brewing up a storm. The looks that they shared in the restaurant showed that they may just be taking Mina for a ride as well. Will Mina have a family left to turn to once Shaheen turns her back on her or will she be left alone? Mina’s character has lost all my sympathy for obvious reasons and the story has come to a point where I am completely detached from Mina’s feelings. This of course shows the failure of the writer to develop a seemingly good character in a decent way. The writer could have taken the story further on the same track without resorting to extreme measures and at the same time Mina could have remained the scared, vulnerable and insecure girl she was in the beginning.

Once again I couldn’t help but watch a few scenes from Darmiyan while changing channels during the commercial break and I have to say that I am slightly scared that this trend of young girls pursuing silly goals may be followed by other writers as well. I really hope though that it stops right here with these two plays. What is happening in both the plays is definitely not being appreciated so if the writers have any consideration for the sentiments of the viewers, they will not go down this path again.

Last year we had phenomenal plays like Durr-e-Shehwar and Hamsafar and definitely the hope that our drama industry is headed towards the right direction but this year there has hardly been a play that truly stood out. There were a few dramas this year as well which kept us looking forward to more but was there a play that remained exceptional throughout? I don’t think so. Here is to hoping that we get to see more quality dramas in the future since we have tons of talented actors, writers, producers and directors.

Fatima Awan

I must admit that after watching this latest installment I truly felt for Mahmood’s character. He may be a dimwit but no one should have to go through what he is going through. The fact that his own daughter is putting him through so much distress makes him even more pitiable. Mina’s unfeeling attitude towards her father in particular has made her character completely evil. She is blindly out to take revenge without taking into consideration what effect it is having on others.

Shaheen continued to harass Mahmood in this episode too. Atiqa like always tried her best to make Mahmood open up to her and he finally did share something with her even though it was an indirect reference. One thing is for sure that there is no rescuing the story of this play now because it has completely gone haywire but I must say that the acting stayed top notch in this episode too and the direction was very good as well. What a waste of talent!

Alina’s confusion after watching Shaheen and her father together was portrayed nicely. Momal Sheikh’s acting is much better in this play as compared to some other plays that she has worked in.

Asma’s resignation came out of nowhere and once again Asad seemed more desperate than anything else. There was even more plotting and planning in this episode as well. Shaheen and Mina could easily pass for bullies who will do anything to ensure things go their way. They have trouble written all over them.

This episode was strictly okay. Honestly speaking, I am gradually losing interest in the play. I feel like I have been watching Shaheen and Mina scheming for way too long although the play has 13 episodes to its credit till now. Sanam Saeed is brilliant no doubt but the story is going around in circles. Something drastic happens and then there is calm before yet another storm. Having said that, I must say that sadly some of the plays on Hum TV in this season are flawed in so many ways that there are still aspects of Kadurat that can be appreciated. If the story was taken to another direction, this could have been a very powerful play.

I think Hum TV’s production values and picture quality is unmatchable and I hope that the channel will give us some unforgettable plays in the coming future too like it has in the past. I must say that the preview of the next episode did not appeal to me at all because the way things have been going this new development will lead to a dead end too. I am quite sure that there are many other people who are watching this show in fast forward mode out of sheer curiosity or of course for the love of Sanam Saeed because she really is the star of the show. I can still remember the excitement with which I looked forward to the show in the beginning because I was so hopeful that the newness of the story and the treatment given to it will give us something extraordinary but unfortunately that is not the case anymore.

Fatima Awan

After the controversial dhamaka last week, the Kadurat clan decided to take it slow this week around. This episode focused on showing how disturbed Mahmood was after the “incident”. I couldn’t help but think that it was a little too late for all that thinking, but then that is Mahmood for you! Atiqa could not help but notice how distracted and troubled her husband was. Mahmood’s explanation that it was due to business matters sounded quite odd since Atiqa is a big part of his business, so if there was an issue she would already know about it instead of hearing it from Mahmood and believing it too!

Now I have really started thinking, just like many other viewers I am sure, that don’t Mina and Shaheen have a life? I understand why Mina is doing all that she is doing but the writer and the director completely forgot to enlighten the viewers as to why Shaheen is always playing the puppet in Mina’s hands. I was hoping that there will be a part of the story that will at some point introduce the viewers to Shaheen’s character in a better way but that doesn’t seem to be happening. Except for the very short scene in the one of the first few episodes, the viewers never really got a chance to identify with Shaheen’s personality. The viewers know that Shaheen is very negative and destructive but why is she like that, one can only guess!

Asad’s interest in Asma yet again failed to make an impact. They make a very odd couple and Asad actually appears to be a little desperate rather than in love – although that is not the case. Asma, in her own way, finally says yes which means that Mina and Shaheen will have another “target” now.

I caught a glimpse of Darmiyan too today and it looks like Kadurat is not the only play which seems to be portraying all the wrong things but Darmiyan is pretty much going on the same track too. Don’t our heroines have a better way of seeking revenge than to destroy people’s marriages and their self respect in the process.

Kadurat could have proved to be a very educational play for all those young people who lose their way because of the loss of a loved one or even for those parents too who tend to make wrong decisions but never realize how wrong they were. But instead of that, the play seems to be all about young girls playing with the lives of people who are so close to them. There was a time when I used to feel for Mina but the way she has completely gone negative is really putting me off. The character had an innocent side to it once but it is not there anymore. The writer has taken everything to the extreme and that is never a good idea. 12 episodes have gone on air till now and I think that the story is only going to go around in circles from now on. There will be many misunderstandings, a few break ups and maybe some more dhamakas and the happy ending does not seem to be in sight.  What Mina has done is unforgivable and it is almost like there is no hope for her anymore. When Mina decided to fake her friendship with Asad, I was hoping that the two will get closer and Mina will find a brother in Asad but that track was taken to a completely different direction too. Sanam Saeed’s remarkable performance has definitely not been put to good use at all. I really hope that the next project that Sanam Saeed chooses is a masterpiece like Talkhiyan. Hum TV is a channel many viewers have faith in, they expect nothing but quality entertainment from the MD production house. It is my request to Hum TV to choose quality scripts even if such plays don’t have a star cast.

Fatima Awan

Kadurat’s story has gone from happening and engaging to just plain mind-boggling. The sad part is that Kadurat had tons of potential, the writer came up with a brand new idea and the cast was very impressive too. Mina’s hatred for her step family has been very relatable but I have always been of the opinion that the story could easily have been taken forward without adding Mina’s desire to marry Shaheen to her father. The way Mahmood fell for Shaheen and Mina’s trap was completely unbelievable. The story is getting very sensational no doubt; I am sure despite of all the criticism many people just watch this show to find out just how far the writer will go or how the story will unwind. So, it probably serves the purpose of getting some public attention but shouldn’t the writers also be worried about what kind of attention they are getting? Sanam Saeed’s phenomenal performance in the play seems like a total waste of talent at this point. She was perfect even in tonight’s episode and I must say that there is a very obvious chemistry between her and Imran Aslam. Even though Asad and Mina do not like each other at all but their scenes are always perfect. You can feel the undeniable screen presence of both these stars.

Mahmood has always been shown as a very dim-witted person but what he did today was more foolish than anything else that he has done till date! I wonder how someone with his IQ manages to run such a big business. He could have easily taken his wife into confidence and resolved the situation – getting married to Shaheen wasn’t the solution to the problem. Mahmood’s decisions right from the start have been devoid of logic – firstly he got married out of the blue, then he sent Mina away and now this! This is only the second play that Deepak Perwani has ever starred in, one would think that someone who works only once in a while would choose a better project. I fail to understand why our actors settle for mediocre scripts and why do our producers think that choosing a star cast will ensure the success of a play. I started watching this show primarily because of its unusual and very interesting cast. The story seemed very different and engaging in the beginning, gradually it started going around circles and now it has come to a point where one can watch it only out of curiosity to find out what will happen next and how crazy the happenings can be!

I am one of those viewers too who are following the show because they are waiting to find out how Atiqa will react once she finds out about what had happened. If the problem was the accusation by Shaheen alone, something could have been done about it but what will she do about the new relationship between Shaheen and Mahmood?

The preview of the next episode showed that Mina’s psychiatrist tells her that there is no hope for her and therefore he will stop seeing her. This turns Mina even more negative (if that is possible) and I cannot even imagine what worse she can do! She has tried every negative tactic in the book and more. Mina and Shaheen’s adventures were good fun for a while but honestly speaking they are getting extremely disturbing now.

Did you watch tonight’s episode? Do you think that Kadurat had a lot of potential but the disappointing turn that the story has taken has marred any chances that it had to qualify as a quality serial?  If you’re still enjoying the show, please feel free to share your opinion here.

Fatima Awan

The story definitely took a big leap forward in this latest episode and the “pattern” that was being followed till now was broken. Mina’s decision to patch things up with Asad may just have a very positive impact on her life. For now she maybe staging everything to win Asad’s confidence but gradually when he starts giving her the love and attention she has been looking for, she might just change for good. But then Asad’s new secretary may prove to be a threat; I find Asad’s interest in his secretary off putting perhaps because I don’t like her at all. Her confidence and khuddari hasn’t appealed to me one bit till now. The character could have been very impressive if it was being played by someone else. 

Shaheen’s efforts seem to be bearing fruit. It is quite apparent that Mahmood will not be falling for Shaheen anytime soon but Atiqa feels insecure because of Shaheen’s behavior. The confrontation between Shaheen and Atiqa went to show that Atiqa will do anything to keep Shaheen away from her husband; I am waiting to find out what she is capable of doing because until now she seems like a very harmless person.

The mystery regarding Mina’s sessions with the psychiatrist was solved today too. The viewers were wondering whether the psychiatrist actually was falling for Mina’s lies or he knew that she was only making up stories. How is the psychiatrist going to deal with Mina now that he knows that she was telling lies? Until now he has been confused but I must say that he took a great deal of time to talk to someone in the family in order to clear this confusion. The psychiatrist has not been able to help Mina in any way at all apart from helping her vent out her anger.

This episode did not revolve around Mina alone like all the previous episodes. An equal amount of time was given to Shaheen and Asad’s track. For a change the latest developments in the Shaheen/Mahmood track have made it more engaging but I could happily fast forward the scenes with Asad and Asma in them. Just like Daniyal and Alina’s romance, this new relationship has absolutely no charm.

Despite of everything that Mina has done till now, I still feel for her character and hold her father responsible for her condition. Even today what Mahmood says today after hitting her was very wrong. This episode was much more entertaining than the last one. I hope that the show moves in the right direction now that the pattern of Mina’s adventures has been broken for some time. Right now, I am more interested in finding out how Atiqa teaches Shaheen a lesson. I have a feeling that there might just be trouble ahead for Atiqa and Mahmood. Sanam Saeed like all the other episodes was the star of the show even today. She has added small touches to this character that makes it stand out.

Fatima Awan

This was another episode of Kadurat in which Mina continued executing her plans to make her step family’s life miserable. The interesting thing is that no matter how evil Mina may be but she expects to be loved. The way she felt after she was rejected by Daniyal went to show that she longs to be loved and accepted despite of all her weaknesses. I find this part of Mina’s personality very relatable because every human being wants to be accepted by others and feels rejected and led down if he doesn’t get enough love, no matter what kind of a person he is. Girls who are either deprived of their father’s love in childhood or are overprotected tend to be the way Mina is; she tries to woo her psychiatrist, wants to marry Daniyal, gets hurt when Asad shows affection towards Alina and wants her father all to herself. What she does is a direct outcome of her insecurities and the yearning to be loved especially by the men in her life. It is almost as if she is trying very hard to fill a vacuum in her life. There’s a saying that goes like this “The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread” – that is so true!

Atiqa has taken an about turn; the “I will save my family at any cost” demeanor did not last for long. She found it hard to tolerate Shaheen’s rude behavior and threats because she isn’t Mahmood’s daughter but Mina is allowed to cross all limits only because she is Atiqa’s step daughter. Giving her everything (and everyone!) she wants is not the solution of the problem especially when it involves another person as well. What makes Atiqa think that Daniyal will gladly agree to marry Mina? The part where Atiqa asked Alina to “sacrifice” was unbelievable. Mahmood’s reaction on the other hand was much more convincing.

I breathed a sigh of relief when Daniyal and Alina talked about their problem and managed to sort them out. That was definitely the way things should have been. Had this engagement ended because of what Mina did, it would not have been relatable at all. Junaid Khan’s hairstyle in the scene in which he is talking to Alina to convince her that he wanted her in his life was terrible.

The scene in which Shaheen tries to woo Mahmood was definitely very distasteful and awkward. The story could have easily moved forward just as well even if this particular track was not added in it. The scene after this one in which Mahmood walks in on Mina while she is taking some pills seemed like it came out of nowhere. There were a few other scenes as well that seemed like a case of a poor execution, like Alina walking in when Daniyal and Mina are together. That particular scene could have been done well.

Sanam Saeed’s performance was flawless yet again all through this episode. She was especially brilliant in the scene in which she meets the psychiatrist and tells him about his suicide attempt. I found it somewhat unbelievable that everyone except Asad fell for Mina’s fake suicide story. Nida Khan performed well in few of the scenes but in most of the scenes she was completely expressionless. Mina is actually contemplating killing Alina; which is a very scary thought!

The preview of the next episode suggested that Atiqa is finally going to pay a price for her wrong attitude towards the problems her children are facing because of Mina. This latest episode was very happening like always but like all the previous episodes the surprise element was missing because we already saw in the preview what was coming our way. This time around as well, the main twist in the next episode was revealed in the preview! Sanam Saeed makes this show a treat to watch; her performance has been very powerful throughout.

Fatima Awan

Tonight’s episode definitely had some very convincing developments to its credit; Mahmood finally appeared to be more involved in his daughter’s life and Atiqa’s reaction to Shaheen’s offensive  behavior was much more real than her no care or ignore everything attitude till now. On the other hand, there were also certain aspects of the story that were very unbelievable; Alina falling for Mina’s lies instantly and how could Daniyal be naïve enough to believe what Mina told him even for a second? Alina and Daniyal have known each for long enough and know Mina very well too, so how could they possibly let Mina create a misunderstanding between the two? Besides that even after everything that Alina had told Daniyal about Mina why did he go to meet her?

We didn’t get to see the aftermath of Mina’s plan to ruin Alina’s party directly. But we saw a very worried Mahmood sitting by Mina’s bedside and Alina being upset about what had happened. No one talked about why Mina had fainted and she never went to the doctor; which was rather odd. I was expecting this episode to take off from where the last one ended but it actually did not. How could Mahmood take the comment that Alina was upset because her party had been ruined so casually? It was as if everyone knew that Mina had done the fainting act on purpose. I have to say that I felt a little lost in the beginning of the episode maybe because I was expecting it to start a little differently. The rest of the episode was much better than I had expected it to be because no matter how crazy Mina’s plans maybe, the fact is that the developments in the story keep you entertained and yearning for more.

Mahmood’s conversation with Mina about how things were in the house proved to be as fruitless as it always has been! Mina’s crazy plan to get Shaheen married to her father lost its shock value because the promos had already shown that Mina will come up with this plan at some point. Sheheens’s initial refusal and the anticipation that should have followed, as to whether she will go along with the idea or not was also killed because the preview of this episode showed that she finally decides to do whatever Mina wants her to. I wish we could have known something about Shaheen’s background. We know that she does not come from a very well off family because in one of the scenes shown in the first few episodes, it was shown that she envied Mina for getting all the expensive gifts. Other than that we do not know much about Shaheen and why she is so negative and rude. Nida Khan’s acting till now has not been very impressive; she does very well in some scenes but is very disappointing in others.

The conversation between Mina and her psychiatrist was very meaningful and I especially liked the part when the psychiatrist says to Mina “jealousy ka koi ilaj nahi hota”. Sanam Saeed’s expressions in response to this dialogue were priceless and conveyed exactly what she wanted to convey to the viewers. Mina knows only too well that she is the most jealous person in that house and knowing that jealousy is incurable couldn’t be good news! Mina’s “special interest” in her psychiatrist seems rather alarming; we can only wonder what is brewing in her mind!

Sanam Saeed has been the star of the show till now; she has truly outdone herself and proved that she is a very versatile actress. I would like to give a suggestion to the team of Kadurat; it would be very nice if the precap of the previous episode was shorter and the preview of the next episode didn’t give away all the twists in the upcoming episode. This may seem completely out of context but am I the only who finds it odd when people eat their toast and eggs with a knife and a fork in the dramas?

Overall, Kadurat has proved to be an entertaining play till now; the credit goes to the entire team of the show but in particular, the writer, director and Sanam Saeed for doing a fabulous job.

Did you watch this latest installment? Please share your views about it.

Fatima Awan

Today’s episode of Kadurat was not as fast paced as the previous ones but then it would be unfair to expect every episode to be very happening. The stage has been set for what Mina and Shaheen will have in store for their family in the upcoming episodes. Mina’s attitude towards her family went from bad to worse mainly due to Shaheen’s arrival. Asad’s cold reaction towards Mina further aggravated the situation. Even though, Mina’s psychiatrist clearly told her father that she needed assurance of his love for her, we didn’t see Mahmood spending any time with Mina. Atiqa went out of her way yet again to mend ties with her step daughter but the response she got was nothing new. I would have liked to see more interactions between Mina and her father. It seems like Mahmood is still in denial just like he was many years back. How could he possibly think that Atiqa’s addition to the family was positive in every way possible when it affected his own daughter in such a negative manner?

Mina and Shaheen both appeared to be grown up children today because everything they did was highly immature. Mina’s plans to win Daniyal over and Shaheen’s “office strategy” sounded very childish. Probably the reason behind Atiqa turning a blind eye to everything that is happening is exactly that. I have to admit though that two such negative minded girls can play havoc with anyone’s life because there isn’t much that anyone can do to restrain Mina in particular.

Alina’s character is very sweet and Momal Sheikh has done complete justice to her role. I could completely relate to the helplessness she felt and the way she must feel when she is away from the house and Mina! But at the same time she takes a stand for herself whenever she can so she is definitely not too sweet to be true. Asad would want to do something about the situation but his hands are tied because his mother won’t allow him to talk to Mina’s father. Imran Aslam is a very gifted actor; he is always in superlative form. I must add here that Mahmood sahib has created a monster due to all the wrong decisions he took but he holds no responsibility for it whatsoever.

Mina’s visits to the psychiatrist have been very nicely covered. They give us an insight into Mina’s personality and also go to show that it is just as important for the patient’s family to keep an active communication with the psychiatrist. Mahmood may have referred Mina to the psychiatrist but we never see him asking him for a feedback unless he calls himself

The preview for the next episode suggested that Mina is going to come up with another outrageous plan to get rid of her step family. I am actually looking forward to how things go from here because until now I have been missing Mahmood’s involvement in the whole scenario. Things are going to get much more complicated when Mina and Shaheen execute their plan.

The performances by all the actors have been outstanding throughout the play and the direction once again was flawless. I hope that the writer manages to keep the interest of the viewers intact till the end.

Fatima Awan

This latest installment of Kadurat was just as happening as the last three. The story definitely has newness and the treatment given to it is A-grade. Sanam Saeed looks terrific and fits in perfectly in a character that can’t be easy to perform. In the last episode Mina was shown as a scared and insecure girl who felt alienated in her own house. But, today’s episode went to prove that Mina’s character will have a lot of surprises in store for the viewers. Another good thing about the play is that each character is being revealed to us gradually. Apart from finding out that Mina is quite capable of making her family’s life a living hell all on her own; we also discovered that there is a reason why Alina is so scared of Mina.

Alina’s conversation with Daniyal in which she mentions that Mina has always taken away from her all that was dear to her went to show that Mina has always been this way with Alina. This means that she must have been visiting regularly while she was away at the hostel. All the conversations between the different characters were very well thought out and to the point. The screenplay definitely offers a few surprises because personally as a viewer I wasn’t expecting Mina to get “comfortable” this soon.

Mahmood’s conversation with the psychiatrist was also a very important scene which explained Mina’s behavior as well as Mina’s irregular visits to the psychiatrist and how she can be “cured”. When the doctor suggested to Mahmood that Mina needs a lot of love and care, I couldn’t help but think that maybe it was too late for that even! She has been living with the bitterness for far too long and also she had a scarred childhood. Yes, she is a grown up now and really should know better. But, the fact is that Mina is sick and unless her sickness is cured, her attitude will not get better.

Asad’s confidence was seriously shattered by the latest developments and I found his mother’s attitude rather odd. Even after everything that has transpired, she is not taking the matter seriously. She brushed off the Mina giving her milk incident aside without giving it a second thought. I think the viewers must be convinced by now that Mina indeed is a serious threat to the family.

The best scene of today’s episode had to be the one in which Mina tries to push Alina down the staircase. The timing was just perfect; it had been shot and acted out to perfection. The director and the actors deserve big thumbs up for that scene in particular. The editors of the play deserve special appreciation for the crisp editing which is one of the reasons that each episode keeps you glued to your seat.

Zoha Hassan has really amazed me with her script till now. The reason being that the story is brand new and also because the screenplay is very engaing. Although, the viewer’s have been watching Mina’s negative attitude right from the first episode but the things she does are very unpredictable. I did not expect her to go as far as giving all of Alina’s precious jewelry including her necklace which she treasured so much to the maid but I guess we should expect the unexpected from Mina from now on. A part of me was on the fence regarding the storyline because the entire “taking the revenge” can get boring but it surely isn’t the case till now.

Every play is a success or a failure based on team effort and Kadurat till now has proved to be a splendid example of great team effort. The writer has come up with a novel script since every second play revolves around married life and its complications. The director Aabis Raza has surely outdone himself, I cannot praise him enough. The editing team has done a better job than the editing team of many other more popular plays. All the actors are at their best in Kadurat and their portrayals are flawless. I know Kadurat has only four episodes to its credit but the fact that the story has a good pace helps you judge the overall storyline better. In today’s episode Momal Sheikh was just as brilliant as Sanam Saeed. Overall, this was a very engaging episode and the preview for the next episode made me look forward to more.

Did you watch this latest installment? Please share your views about it.

Fatima Awan

Even after so many years Mina’s step family couldn’t possibly be prepared enough for what was coming their way. All the pent up anger and bitterness against her step family has transformed Mina into a more negative person than she already was. Mina’s father never addressed the issues she had in the first place so her condition has gone from bad to worse. Mina may have grown up but the last memory of her mother has not left her. Even after so many years she does not have the strength or the state of mind to deal with what happened.

The most powerful scene in today’s episode had to be the encounter between Mina and her step brother Asad (Imran Aslam). The dialogues were short but very meaningful and the acting by both the actors was very impressive. Asad has grown up to be a very confident individual; he is no longer the scared boy who didn’t feel like he was not a part of the new house he had just moved in. The dialogues “Beta kis baap ka hun” clearly showed that Asad owned the status of being the son of the person his mother married. I have to say though that Mina’s threats did not seem to carry any weight since it seems like Mina lacks the tact that a person would need in order to tackle the situation she is in. She hides nothing; her hatred for her family members is very apparent. Aleena and Asad had each other all these years and of course had parents to love them too but Mina was left to fight her demons alone. The way they have been raised shows in their personalities.

All through the episode I was wondering how Mina will achieve any of her objectives. She maybe great at pulling pranks, bullying others and putting others in an uncomfortable position but nothing more than that. Mina’s behavior had a very childish side to it. She maybe negative but she still appeared to be the scared little girl who did not know how to handle the situation her father had put her in. I could not help but feel for her character especially in the scene when Mina decides to walk out of the party. The OST playing in the background explained Mina’s feelings so well. She was too little when her father “abandoned” her. She still does not blame her father because he is probably the only family she has. One can clearly see why Mina has turned out to be such a complicated person. She lost her mother and her father at the same time, her father sent her away as a punishment for not being able to deal with the situation properly.

Shaheen (Nida Khan) has been there for Mina all these years; one can easily imagine how they managed to be such good friends. Shaheen’s presence in the house is only going to make things worse for everyone else. It was quite apparent that Mina does not have half the confidence she would normally have without her best friend. Quite unlike Mina, Aleena has everything going for her. She is madly in love with a family friend Daniyal (Junaid khan) who also cannot wait to get married to her. I have to say that the promos of the serial did give away a lot of what Mina will be doing in the future. It would have been so much better if the promos would have been more to the point.

The best thing about this play till now has to be the pace with which the story is progressing, the character development, the choice of actors and also the direction. Did you watch tonight’s episode? Please share your views about it.

Fatima Awan

Today’s episode like the last one focused on Meena’s childhood and it was actually good to see more of Meena as a child because that gave the viewers an opportunity to understand her personality better. Has anyone heard of the Sadistic Personality Disorder? If you haven’t I suggest you look it up and you will understand why I have brought it up in this review. I think Meena is a classic case of that disorder; she derives pleasure out of causing pain to others and she does it impulsively. Whenever things get out of control for Meena, mostly emotionally, she resorts to such measures in order to feel like she is still in control. That is what I derived from everything that I saw Meena doing in today’s episode.

Meena’s father finally makes up his mind about sending her to the hostel. Mahmood’s decision to send Meena to the hostel without trying further to address her issues did remind me of Deepak Perwani’s character in Mere Pass Pass. Before dropping her off, her father does give her a choice, if she could get along with her new family she wouldn’t have to go to the hostel. That was such a meaningful scene which said so much about Meena’s personality. Meena does not mingle with other kids, she did make a “friend” right in the beginning of her hostel life but we never saw the two friends talking to one another but it seemed more like Shaista envied Meena maybe because she didn’t come from a very affluent household. Everything that Meena did with her roommate today went to show that it wasn’t just her step siblings who were victims of her “adventures” but she would gladly put anyone in that position. The whole purpose is to inflict pain on someone; it could be anyone at all!!

Mahmood’s second wife gradually takes over his business and the two get on really well with each other with Meena out of the way. I did get the feeling that Mahmood’s decision to send Meena to the hostel was somewhat selfish. He is obviously hoping that she will grow up and learn to deal with and accept things by the time she comes back home but I guess we all know too well that non of that is going to happen. If Meena gets closer to Shaheen (her new friend), I think they may turn out to be a lethal combination. I must add here that I find Meena’s character very intriguing indeed. It has been very well etched out and the child star playing the character is doing an impeccable job.

Today’s episode was a treat to watch especially because of the brilliant acting by the child star playing Meena in particular and because of the way it was directed. The background score added a more dramatic effect to all the scenes. All the scenes had been very intelligently put together. Until now I am quite impressed with Zoha Hassan’s script as well especially because of the way she has penned down Meena’s character.

The preview of the next episode showed that Meena has not changed at all even after all these years. How will Meena’s step family and father deal with Meena now that she is not a kid anymore? I have very high hopes from Sanam Saeed, therefore I am surely waiting for her to make her presence felt in the upcoming episode. The best thing about tonight’s episode was that it established the fact that Kadurat is going to be very different from Zard Mausam because Meena is no Aimen, her character is very different. Aimen was a very weak, insecure but spoiled nevertheless. Meena is a much more strong person and a lot more negative as well.  Did you watch the latest episode of Kadurat? Please share your views about the episode in general and Meena’s character in particular.

Fatima Awan

After watching the promos and reading the synopsis of the story of Kadurat online, I guess we all had a fair idea what we were in for. For me Sanam Saeed and Deepak Perwani in particular had to be the key reason for looking forward to this show. Besides that the promos seemed very enticing, mainly because they made it look like this was going to be a very happening play! I haven’t watched another play written by Zoha Hassan, so I am not sure what to expect, which actually is a good feeling. The play has been directed by Aabis Raza – the same director who has directed Kankar. Apart from Kankar, he has directed many other plays as well for instance Zard Mausam and Mujhe Roothne Na Dena.

One thing that I wasn’t expecting at all was that the first episode actually reminded me of Zard Mausam quite a lot – yes the circumstances of this particular household are world apart but the fact that the same child star who played Aimen is playing the character of Meena brought back a lot of memories because the two characters are very similar. The only difference is that the father’s attitude is completely different towards her daughter in this particular play.

Kadurat is the story of Mahmood’s (Deepak Perwani) household. Mahmood had a happy, stable life until his wife Zainab (Zhalay Sarhadi) passed away in an accident. We didn’t find out just how much time has elapsed since his wife passed away but it seemed like she died only recently. Mahmood marries another woman (Angeline Malik) mainly because he needs someone to look after his daughter. His second wife had an abusive husband who never trusted her and he divorced her over a petty issue. She has two kids Asad (Fazal Hussain) and Aleena (Yashal Nadeem) and as his second wife points out she got married to Mahmood only because of “zarurat”. Mahmood’s daughter Meena is not willing to accept her step mother and siblings; she turns violent and resorts to all kinds of mischievous tactics to get the kids and the mother out of her house. Meena’s father never even told her before bringing this new family in the house and it was quite evident that Meena is not ready for such a big change. I definitely hold the father’s wrong decision partially responsible for the outcome. She was very fond of her mother and would not allow any other woman to take her place. Mahmood finds it very difficult to deal with this complicated situation especially because Meena’s behavior goes from bad to worse.Her step mother also tries her utmost to deal with the situation in an apt manner but Meena turns into a stubborn child who won’t listen to any amount of reasoning. Her greatest fear is that “these people” will take her father away from her and that fear is going to come true in the next episode. She is too young to understand that it is her own behavior that will lead to what is coming ahead.The preview of the next episode showed that Mahmood decides to send Meena to the hostel.

Mahmood’s inability to deal with the situation was actually quite relatable. Women are far better at dealing with children than men. Overall, this first episode was well directed and very well acted out. All the child stars in particular did an outstanding job but I do feel for the child star playing Meena because this young girl is so talented but the producers seem to be typecasting her.I especially noticed the way the flashbacks were shown in black and white , that added a good effect to the overall feel of this first episode. I really liked the fact that the story starts from Meena’s childhood, that way the viewers will understand better why Meena is the way she is. Having said that Meena’s character is a little on the extreme side, I wish we could have seen a gradual worsening of behavior as opposed to this evil child who has actually been raised by two very good hearted people. I know that something so tragic as a mother’s sudden death can be very disturbing for a child and he or she can react in any possible manner but even then Meena’s character did seem a little unbelievable since she wasn’t always so evil. Meena, even with all her negativity seemed like a child who wanted attention and did not know what to do to fill the void in her life that was left by her mother’s demise.

Did you watch the first episode of Kadurat? Share your views about it. I am really looking forward to Sanam Saeed’s “entry” in the next episode and all the drama that will ensue!

Fatima Awan

Honestly speaking, even after everything that Mina has put her family through I find it impossible to dislike her character. It could be because Sanam Saeed has played this character so brilliantly that she has completely overshadowed every other character in the play. I am not quite warming up to Aleena and Daniyal’s romance; they do not come across as cute at all. Aleena’s character is likeable but the romance between Aleena and Daniyal seems forced. The highlight of tonight’s episode was Mina’s attempt to kill Aleena. I couldn’t help but wonder that why didn’t the “poison” that Mina add to the tea made it taste bitter! This particular development was very unconvincing and why did Aleena have to think so much when Mahmood asked her that who made the tea for her! Since, she wasn’t sure how good Mina’s intentions were in the first place.

Mina’s plan to fire the secretary on the other hand was very intelligently planned and executed. The blackmail worked like a charm and Mahmood was left with no choice but to side with Mina. Asad, like always could clearly see through Mina but was completely helpless. The introduction of the new character Asma seemed a bit out of place. Asma’s character failed to impress me primarily because the acting of the actress playing the role was extremely unconvincing. The dialogues were not very impressive either. It was quite evident that Asad was completely swayed away from this girl’s confidence but aren’t secretaries supposed to be the kind of girls who follow orders as opposed to telling their bosses right from wrong? She could have been fit for any other job but definitely not for the job that Asad wants to hire her for.

Shaheen’s attempts to woo Mina’s father continued throughout the episode; Mahmood is not “warming up to her” at all. I do not like this particular track of the story at all; it is sad to see a young girl belittling herself the way Shaheen is. I must confess that the only character that truly leaves an impact on the audience is that of Mina and the only reason for it being so is Sanam Saeed’s brilliant performance.

Asad finally decides to retaliate to what Mina has been doing. He seems like one of those people who either ignore things or retaliate in a very ruthless manner. Unlike, the past few episodes, the direction wasn’t very impressive in this one. There were times when I felt that the scenes ended abruptly. Like, when Atiqa gets up to ask Aleena about her consent and we were taken straight to Asma’s house. Atiqa’s reaction to whatever happened to Aleena was once again very strange. I would have expected her to go frantic but she was calm enough.

The preview of the next episode showed that Mahmood will stop trusting Mina altogether. For once she tells him the truth but he reacts in the worst manner. This is only going to make Mina’s condition worse; where is the psychiatrist in all this? The counseling is not helping Mina at all but it almost feels like Mina is taking the psychiatrist for a ride too!

This best thing about this latest installment just like all the previous ones was Sanam Saeed’s flawless portrayal of Mina. She is the one who makes this show worth watching and she actually makes it hard to dislike Mina’s character because she portrays Mina’s insecurities and fears just as well as her negative side.

Fatima Awan

This latest installment of Kadurat showed the aftermath of Alina and Daniyal’s broken engagement. Apart from that, Mahmood finally told Atiqa the truth; a moment we all had been waiting for. The scene in which Mahmood’s tells Atiqa what had happened did not have the impact it should have had. Apart from that, there is a lot about this play that is making very little sense now. For example, I never fully understood Asma’s behavior; why did she walk out on Asad and is now going to marry someone she does not even like? Her explanation about the difference in class wasn’t convincing enough and the way she resigned was also  very unexpected. This particular track did not take off right from the start and is being given the attention it does not deserve. Besides that, the conversation about Shaheen that Mahmood’s family had after Mahmood told Atiqa the truth was very confusing. If everyone knows the big secret now, why can’t they openly talk about it? Also, all Mahmood needs to do now is to divorce Shaheen and this chapter will be closed forever. I hope that the matter is not prolonged further because it already has taken a lot of undue screen time.

I was expecting a more fiery reaction from Atiqa for obvious reasons but her response was actually quite impressive. Her character could have been very likeable if she wasn’t shown as someone who is so gullible. She is very sensible and I like the way she trusts Mahmood. The only aspect of her personality that does not go in line with her character is the manner in which she continues supporting Mina despite of everything that she has done till now. She obviously does so out of respect for her husband but it isn’t humanly possible for a mother to forgive someone who has done so much to harm her children.

Momal Sheikh’s acting was extremely disappointing today. There was a lot of focus on Alina today but too bad that Momal Sheikh could not deliver. I failed to feel for Alina’s character.

Asma’s khala’s character maybe very annoying and unreasonable but the actress playing it is doing a wonderful job. Having said that, I didn’t quite understand how Asad found out who Asma was getting married to and as a result of the marriage her Khala was going to get rich! Since he found out only a few hours back that she was getting married. Did I miss something?

Overall, this episode was below average. The story could have been taken forward in a much better manner even after all the bloopers in the past. Atiqa knows the truth and there isn’t much to look forward to now since I find myself most disinterested in both the romantic tracks and completely detached from the main characters.

Fatima Awan