Let me start by confessing that this episode solely belonged to Syed Mazhar Ali. I can’t praise him enough for his phenomenal portrayal of Haider’s character. I loved the way he talked sense into Tabbasum. He made her realize that the longer you hold a grudge, the more difficult it becomes to dig your way out of the negativity it creates in your life. It only serves to separate you further from the people you love. ’Khuda kay liye aagay barho. Do chaar qadam hi sahi! Sab ko maaf kardo; jo zinda hai unhain bhi aur jo margaye hain unhain bhi.’

In order to figure out what makes Sara so fidgety in Imroze’s presence and why does she harbour such negative feelings for him, Paymaan decides to talk to Roomi. I think this was a much-needed conversation because Roomi finally got the opportunity to clarify his position in front of Paymaan and he explained to her that being Imroze’s patient, Sara confided in him and she fears that if Shams learns anything about this patient-psychiatrist relationship; that would be the end of her marriage. I agree with Paymaan: Sara is an educated and liberal lady, then why so many insecurities? But then again, with a guy like Shams, any sane person can develop such insecurities because this man is VERY difficult to handle. Haha, I agree with Paymaan: she is a part of a paranoid family where everyone is running away from each other, the fear of confrontation is preventing them from being true to one another and therefore, their problems and misunderstandings aren’t coming to rest.

When Shams threatens Paymaan that she cannot visit Tabbasum without breaking all ties with him, she decides to leave his house because she comes to realize that her brother is as intimidating as her mother. She didn’t run away from a strict household to end up in another prison of restrictions. I loved Paymaan’s outburst because it was only then that Shams got a reality check. Paymaan rightly pointed it out to him that if he continues controlling the people around him, he will be left all alone, just like Tabbasum and this cycle of resentments will just not come to a halt. No matter how emotional or hasty, I think this was a sensible decision taken by Paymaan. Sanam Saeed’s acting was pretty impressive in that scene.

Haider’s words of wisdom made Tabbasum realize that she can’t go on with her life carrying a bag of grudges and she went to Shams’ house to reconcile with her son and daughter. I loved Haider’s dialogues in the car: ‘Shams ko daekhtay hi ussay apnay seenay say laga lena. Maa ki muhabbat ki hararat say na ussay tum say kuch kehnay ki zaroorat paray gi aur na hi kuch samajhnay mei mushkil paish ayegi. Waisay bhi zyada bolna baat ko uljha deta hai’. Though Tabbasum has made blunders all her life but this time around, she was true in her intentions.’Mein tumhe galay laganay ayi hun beta’. In that particular scene, I found Shams’ behaviour a bit unreasonable and unfair. Now was the right time to make up for all the lost time but even after that reality check, Shams remained indifferent and that was a mistake on his part. But before leaving, Tabbasum spilled the beans about Shams’ so-called ‘perfect’ father. Uzma Gillani’s spectacular acting leaves nothing to be desired!

Paymaan is now under Imroze’s protection and according to the next episode’s promo, wedding bells are approaching ;)  So this was it for today, guys! Did you watch the episode? What do you think of it? Share your thoughts please.

Maryam Mehdi

P.S: I am covering for Fatima Awan today. I hope you guys enjoy the review; her reviews are always so impressive :)

Now that was one well-directed and fast-paced episode! I thoroughly enjoyed watching the episode because for a change, it revolved around Paymaan and Imroze :)
Paymaan doesn’t believe in herself and the way she dumped her sketches in the trash can, labeling them as ‘Ek pagal larki ki ulti seedhi lakeerain’ went to show her lack of self-confidence and how much she under-estimates her skills and capabilities. The scene in which Imroze scooped up the sketches from the trash can was actually pretty cute :)
Now listen to this: Imroze ko ‘buss mohabbat hogayi’ because just being with Paymaan makes him feel better! At least that’s the way Imroze puts it! The question that arises is: WHY? There’s always a reason why being with someone makes you feel happy, right? You meet people every day and you don’t fall in love with them just like that. Considering what we have seen up till now, I feel the writer didn’t work very hard when he was penning down Imroze’s character. Not much about this guy makes any sense to me :P

 
The ‘unique’ proposal scene was well-executed. But I found it slightly unnatural because for a girl who spent her entire life under the shadow of such a conservative and controlling mother, going to a complete stranger’s house all alone and allowing him to hold your hands is a bit hard to digest. But other than that, it was brilliantly directed and it was a treat to see how ‘thoughtfully’ Imroze had arranged Paymaan’s sketches. Paymaan was obviously taken aback when he proposed her, but ‘thank you-mujhay itnay unique tareeqay say propose karnay kay liye’ went to show that Imroze’s sudden confession didn’t come across as a negative surprise to her. Paymaan has developed feelings for Imroze and her feelings are justified and understandable because no one ever made her feel special the way Imroze did and she admitted it aloud too-‘aap mujhay itna special feel karatay hain’. Paymaan too wants to start a new life with Imroze.

But then again, things don’t always go as you planned. Shams and Sara are keen to see Paymaan and ROOMI as a couple. It’s crystal clear that Roomi doesn’t harbour any special feelings for Paymaan because when Sara asked him what he thinks of Paymaan, he did NOT give a green signal. Neither did he nor Paymaan give any wrong indication to Sara but God knows why she told Shams that Roomi and Paymaan are interested in each other and what’s more-the duo are now planning their wedding?! Paymaan should have clarified the misunderstanding but like any mashriqi, seedhi sadi larki, she remained silent.

And yes, we got to see more of Tabassum-she wants the world to know (her children, in particular) that she is hatti katti and doesn’t need anyone by her side. In fact, she is determined to prove that she is better off without them! Shams ‘explained’ his decision of taking Paymaan away by saying ‘aap nay mujh say meri maa cheeni aur mei nay aap say aap ki beti-hasaab barabar.’ I really want to see how they wrap up this track.
I let out a huge sigh of relief after seeing the next episode’s preview-seems like Roomi will come to the rescue and clear up things. But Sara’s role seems a bit fishy. What are her true intentions? Only time will tell ;)
Did you watch the episode? What do you think of it? Please share your thoughts.
P.S: As you folks must have figured out, I am covering up for Fatima. I hope you guys like the review, because Fatima herself is a flawless reviewer :)
Maryam Mehdi

“Copy pencil se fazool sketches banane wali jub itni bari rungo ki duniya mei aye gi tu nervous hi ho gi”...this one line pretty much summed up Paymaan’s state of mind after leaving her mother’s house. Paymaan is certainly not used to this rangeen duniya which she has been introduced to all of a sudden. She was a completely different person when she was living with Tabbasum, she was confident and outspoken in the four walls of that house but now when she is meeting new people every day and is coming across opportunities which she never thought she will get, she is taking it one step at a time. Paymaan definitely is more than willing to break free from her past. She stays in touch with Tabbasum’s husband but she feels nothing for Tabbasum now that she is away from her. The change in Tabbasum’s attitude towards her husband shows that she desperately wants to hold on to the one person who is ready to accept her for who she is. But Tabbasum does not want to talk about her children because her ego won’t allow her to admit that she was wrong. Although our therapist predicted that Tabbasum will come running after her daughter in no time but that is highly unlikely.

The way Paymaan took special interest in Imroze’s portrait was actually very interesting. It was the kind of scene that keeps you wondering about the true feelings of the character. Was Paymaan impressed by Roomi’s artistic abilities or was she in awe of the personality of the person in the portrait? Imroze longs to come home to a wife who will welcome him with open arms, he is clearly lonely and is attracted towards Paymaan. I must say that Imroze’s feelings for Paymaan left me clueless because his first meeting with Paymaan wasn’t exactly the sort which makes you fall for a girl. Is Imroze the kind of person who likes to play the savior? He plays the savior all the time while addressing the issues of his clients but is he the kind of person who would much rather have a wife who needs him more than he needs her? I am waiting to find out why Imroze is attracted towards Paymaan.

Unlike the past two episodes, I found Cybil Chaudhry’s acting in this episode unbearable. The conversation at Roomi’s apartment about him wanting to marry someone like Sara was too long and appeared to be slightly forced. Roomi’s character overall is definitely more appealing than that of Imroze at the moment. He is an easy going, sensitive and caring person. Imroze on the other hand seems like a more complicated person who is not very happy with his life.

My favorite scene from tonight’s episode had to be the flashback scene in which Paymaan is drawing a portrait and Tabbasum tries to make her feel guilty about it and Paymaan replies, ” yeh mein hoon – bejaan, berung!” Uzma Gillani was most certainly at her very best in the opening scene of tonight’s episode; the shock, the helplessness and the will to continue to be strong was portrayed brilliantly by her in a very short scene. Sanam Saeed looked like a little girl who was discovering the world around her for the first time, she impressed me with her flawless performance once again in tonight’s episode. Noor Hassan has come a long way; he makes Roomi’s character likeable, I am certain that many people must be rooting for him already! Mohib’s character is a mystery and I get a feeling that his character is not going to be as simple or likeable as that of Roomi. I am very impressed by Mustafa Afridi’s script till now; the characters have depth and some of the dialogues are very meaningful and touching.

The preview of the next episode was actually very surprising for me. I wasn’t expecting all these characters having these feelings for each other this soon and not just that but someone will be proposing Paymaan in the next episode – will it be Imroze or Roomi?

Do share your thoughts about this latest installment.

Fatima Awan

It is finally over! I must admit that I was expecting this last episode to be much worse because I was expecting an 8 to 10 show tonight as well. When the drama ended at 9 I was relieved! Tonight’s episode showed that the writer of the show Mustafa Afridi is talented enough to wrap things up in less than 45 minutes even when they are so messy, I wish he would have put in the same amount thinking while penning down the Paymaan/Imroze track as a whole. Hareem’s happiness lied with her son, she did not want a man in her life and she got just that. Paymaan forgave Imroze for everything he did just like all the other good wives in our plays. Honestly speaking I felt completely detached from all the character thanks to all the crazy twists that we have been witnessing for the past few episodes therefore the fact that this last episode was short and slightly less complicated was good enough!

Imroze’s second marriage and everything that happened after it was definitely a bad move. Imroze’s explanation to Paymaan confirmed that the reason why he left Paymaan was that his insecurities got the best of him but at the same time he had enough confidence to go ahead and get married again to someone who cheated on him and left him for someone else. Why are the men in our dramas naive enough to think that a second marriage will solve all their problems?? And to top it all, Imroze has learned nothing from his experiences since he suggested: “hum teeno is ghur mei mil ke bhi reh sakte hein” !! Right till the end Imroze was willing to have both these women in his life until Hareem pushed him to the edge. Paymaan never had a problem with “sharing” her husband with Hareem, which was very strange!

“Aap ne mujhe chalna, phirna, bolna, urna sikhaya” …yeh sub kub huva?? Right from the start, the viewers were shown that Paymaan’s life with Imroze was dull, to say the least. Imroze said so himself that Paymaan had stopped being happy and that is exactly what we saw too but somehow we are expected to believe that Imroze was the best thing that ever happened to Paymaan. I still remember the first scene which was shown a few months after their marriage, Paymaan was complaining and she did not look happy.

Firaaq had many tracks but the main story revolved around Paymaan and Imroze’s relationship and the Firaaq between the two. Unfortunately, the writer and the director both failed to narrate Paymaan and Imroze’s story properly. For the longest time, the viewers kept on watching the play so that they could enjoy Tabbasum and Haider’s scenes. The viewers were unable to understand why Imroze fell in love with Paymaan, the marriage was rushed and we never got to see the dynamics of their relationships. The fact that there was absolutely no chemistry between Sanam Saeed and Mohib Mirza did not help as well. There was so much about the main track of this drama that was flawed right from the start to the end. The mystery surrounding Imroze’s character right from day one was unnecessary and the truths about him that were revealed later were not worth all the wait. After watching the first few episodes we were all convinced that Firaaq was going to deliver but once Imroze entered Paymaan’s life everything went haywire. It was an absolute pleasure watching Uzma Gillani and Syed Mazhar Ali mesmerize us with their superb performances every week, for me, they were the stars of the show right till the end! Their story was far more interesting than that of Paymaan and Imroze. Junaid Khan and Noor Hassan played their roles well. Sanam Saeed did the best she could with her character, unfortunately, Paymaan’s character took a U-turn after getting married to Imroze which was definitely not what most viewers wanted to see. Imroze’s character wasn’t even remotely likable but Mohib Mirza acting was everything one could wish for. For me, Firaaq will always be the story of Haider and Tabbasum and not Paymaan and Imroze. Isn’t it sad that we were shown all the characters at the end of this last episode except Haider’s? He was the only male character in the show who was liked by many of the viewers. Adnan Jaffar’s character and his acting also deserve a special mention here but I have to add that we could have done without these new additions.

Although Firaaq turned out to be very disappointing, I must confess that I enjoyed reviewing it nevertheless mainly because of all of you out there who contributed to the discussions. I want to thank everyone for reading the reviews especially those regular readers who are kind enough to read the reviews even after they stopped watching the play. Firaaq is being replaced by drama serial “Nikkah”, the tag line of the play is ” piya naam ki choriya…bani meri majboorian!” and I am guessing that this drama also revolves around the story of a woman whose husband gets married again – yes doosri shadi all over again!! How many of you are sick and tired of these stories??

Fatima Awan

Tabbasum and Haider continue to be the stars of the show even though they are not the main protagonists but their characters and the relationship between the two is such that I can’t help but look forward to their track more than any other. Tabbasum has turned a new leaf, she has learned to value Haider because he is the only person who has stood by her through thick and thin. Although, we found out today that Tabbasum blackmailed Haider into getting married to her perhaps because she needed a man in her life after her husband passed away. Uzma Gillani’s brilliant performance coupled by her unique acting style makes her character stand out. Haider is a savior, he did not only save Tabbasum and Paymaan but he has rescued Shams too. Shams has accepted Tabbasum as Maa ji and he wants closure. Imroze may have been right after all, Shams needed to mend his ties with his mother and break free from his past before starting a family. I cannot praise Syed Mazhar Ali’s performance enough, he is an exceptional actor and watching him on screen after such a long time is a pleasure. The entire scene between Tabbasum and Haider was the highlight of the episode for me; Tabbasum’s confessions and apology and the way Haider reacts to it was honest and touching.

I am not sure what to say about Imroze’s character or the entire track, while I find the unpredictable developments in the story intriguing but they are disturbing at the same time. Imroze’s negativity has been shocking for me and I am certain for many other viewers as well. He is convinced that he has AIDS and he got it from Paymaan…I really did not see that coming! The viewers have not been shown much of Paymaan and Imroze’s life together after marriage, whatever we have seen till now goes to show that there is still a strange distance between Imroze and Paymaan even after being married for two months. Imroze does not trust his wife at all, I am guessing that is because he is lonely and insecure. After overhearing Shams say that Roomi loved Paymaan he is fully convinced that Paymaan is the sort of person who would conveniently have an extra marital affair and he is also doubting a person who has been his friend all his life. Since we do not know much about Imroze’s character it is very difficult to relate to his state of mind. The mysterious phone calls suggested that he is avoiding someone close to him but whom?

Roomi is sweet but sometimes I wonder how he manages to find so much time for friends? He has always been there for Sara and Imroze and now he is always there with Paymaan. What does he do for a living? Sometimes I feel like there is too much of him in the play but I guess that is because he has a big role to play in the story. Paymaan’s character seems to be falling flat at the moment. There is no spark in her personality any more, she is so sidhi sadhi but her husband still doubts her! Paymaan had a very strong personality even when she was living with her dictatorial mother but getting married has changed her and I am not sure if I like her this way. She still looks unhappy but we don’t see her complaining much. Paymaan has not yet discovered the marks on Imroze’s body and has no clue what her husband is going through or putting himself through! I really want to find more about Imroze’s background, the curiosity is killing me and not knowing about his past is confusing me too.

Sara’s reaction to Shams’ call was very surprising since in the last episode she wanted to get back with him and when Roomi told her that Shams will get in touch with her she was very happy to hear that. Sara wants a child and unless Shams wants one too she is not going to go back to him. I have never liked Junaid Khan much but he makes me feel for his character in Firaaq. Shams is like a lost child who has finally found his way back home. I hope that this track takes a happy turn because the preview of the next episode gave mixed signals. Tabbasum and Shams both deserve to be happy.

Overall, this was a rather depressing episode! I have no idea what turn the story will take but Imroze’s character is confusing yet intriguing. I am really looking forward to seeing more of Tabbasum, Haider and Shams in the next episode.

Fatima Awan

Khoon ke rishtu se azad honey waley buhat buri tarah se thokar khatay hein!

Aisa na ho ke azaad honey ki khawahish mei zindagi bhar ke liye qaid ho jao!!

Everything that Tabbasum said in her conversation with her daughter tonight may just come to haunt her one day. Tabbasum clearly does not want her daughter to meet the same fate as her. Her approach is very wrong but her intentions are pure. She wants to protect her daughter because she can see that Imroze isn’t what Paymaan thinks he is but Paymaan for obvious reasons does not give anything that her mother says even a second thought. Tabbasum’s character is powerful and interesting. Uzman Gillani has made me hate and love her character. Although I do not agree with the way Tabbasum expresses her love but I completely understand her insecurities and fears. Tabbasum loves her children but she does not know that you need to give people you love some space too.

Haider understands Tabbasum more than anyone else because he is the only one who has seen Tabassum in her weakest moments right from the start of their relationship. The way he makes up lies and twists the truth in order to make Tabbasum feel good about herself is extremely touching and very well done. Syed mazhar Ali’s expressions when Tabbasum says” baap ki shirkat buhat zarurui hai” were priceless. This was the first time that Tabbasum acknowledges that Haider had been like a father to Paymaan. Until the last episode Tabbasum always reminded him that Paymaan was her daughter and he did not have the right to tell her how she should deal with her. The conversation between Haider and Tabbasum while they sat down to have tea was brilliantly written, directed and acted out …. ” wo maa ko bhool gaye aur tum poochna bhool gaye..kon ho tum? Sheitan ya fairshety? Beghair cheeni ke chai pi rahe ho aur kuch nahi bol rahe. Itne salon se mujh jaisi krwi aurat ke sath jiye jaa rahe ho”…wow!!!! Tabbasum values Haider because he is the only one who has stood by her all these years. The relationship between Tabbasum and Haider is so much more intense and relatable then the one between our hero and heroine at least till now.

After her bitter experiences with her mother and brother Paymaan does not want to give her close relations another chance. She wants to break free from everyone who in any way reminds her of the past. She wants to start afresh because she knows that once she has Imroze in her life she will not need anyone else. Imroze also puts her insecurities to rest by declaring that she is the only relative he has and he treats her like a gem. Paymaan knows that Imroze is as lonely as her and therefore he will value her love. The fact that these two fell in love this quickly is still very hard to believe but that cannot be changed now!

Paymaan and her mother may disagree on many things but they agree on one thing – the laal jora and the festivities of wedding. Paymaan never demanded anything from her mother and now she is doing the same with Imroze. She meant everything she said about the kind of wedding she wanted but when she saw how Imroze reacted she instantly said what Imroze wanted to hear. The wedding dress Tabbasum bought for Paymaan was beautiful, I wish we could have seen Sanam Saeed dressed up as a bride but this was one rukhi peekhi wedding!!

Shams may hate his mother but the fact is that he is exactly like her. He is just as authoritative and egoistic as his mother. He took the first step by calling Sara but his big ego did not allow him to tell her just how much he missed her and how desperately he wanted her to come back. Egos do kill more relationships than anything else!

In my opinion the highlight of this episode was not the lead couple but it was Tabbasum and Haider’s relationship with each other and their beautiful, deep, meaningful yet never overpowering conversations. I do not have the words to praise the chemistry between these two actors and their beyond brilliant performances. For now, Imroze and Paymaan’s story seems to be a side track since Tabbasum and Haider are the reason I keep glued to the TV screen.

Firaaq is definitely a very well written play and whoever chose the cast did all of us a huge favor by choosing Uzma Gillani and Syed Mazhar for playing their respective roles. Cybil Chaudhry however totally fails at delivering all the meaningful dialogues. The preview of the next episode showed where the story is going to go from here; will Imroze’s insecurities get the best of him? I feel for poor Roomi already! Sanam Saeed wasn’t exactly at her best tonight but I expect her to deliver in the upcoming episodes.

Do share your thoughts about tonight’s episode.

Fatima Awan

Jin mardon ki farmabardari bolne lagay samjho vo dhoka dain gay…farmabardari bolti nahi hai nazar ati hai jo mujhe yahan nazar nahi aa rahi !! Uzma Gillani manages to leave her mark every time she makes an appearance in this drama. She has breathed life into her character by giving it the emotional edge which I am certain no other actress could give. This episode revealed a lot more about the leading characters in the drama. Tabbasum’s first husband was unfaithful to her and she blames him for all her bitterness. She wants her children to know the truth about their father and she desperately wanted Haider to tell Paymaan what her mother had gone through in the early years of her marriage but Haider wants Tabbasum to move on, something which she is not capable of doing. Tabbasum’s character is very interesting just like all the other characters in the drama. For once we are getting to see characters on screen which are not black and white.

Sara appeared to be a simple woman whose sole concern was her marriage but now her insecurities are getting the best of her. Her desperate attempts to stop Paymaan and Imroze from getting married went to show that she is quite capable of playing games. After trying to use Shams, Paymaan and Roomi to have things her way Sara convinces Paymaan to get Tabassum’s blessings so that there can be a misunderstanding between Shams and Paymaan. If Paymaan is going to marry Imroze then it suits Sara better if she does not continue living with them. Sara knows only too well how Shams feels about his mother and she is trying to make the most of the given situation. I must say that I could not have imagined that Sara would have this side to her. Her past meetings with Imroze are going to play a pivotal role in taking the story forward.

Mohib Mirza and Sanam Saeed have great on screen chemistry and their scenes are well very written and directed as well; the romance between the two does not make you uncomfortable but Imroze’s feelings for Paymaan are a classic example of love at first sight which is usually very unconvincing. Similarly, Roomi’s sudden interest in Paymaan solely because Sara lied to him is quite unbelievable too. Roomi is good looking, he has a charming personality, he is intelligent and he seems to be quite well off financially too so why would he be even be interested in considering Paymaan’s proposal when he did not even have feelings for her in the first place. On the other hand, Paymaan’s response to Sara when she talked to her about Roomi was more relatable. She does not have feelings for him and she knows what she wants.

Firaaq has been very fast paced till now, the acting has been top-notch with the exception of Cybil Chaudhry’s accent everything is picture perfect and every episode is edited and directed well. The characters are interesting and the story has been very unpredictable till now. I hope that we won’t be seeing Noor Hassan wearing the same T shirts all through the drama! The best scenes of tonight’s episode had to be the meeting between Imroze and Tabbasum and the conversation between Paymaan and Imroze afterwards in the car.

Do share your thoughts about this latest installment.

Fatima Awan

A very well put together second episode which showed everything in detail without putting me to sleep. All the scenes and happenings added to my knowledge about the characters and I must admit that until now I think all these characters and the story is very refreshing. What I like about this play the most till now is that all three women in the play have a personality of their own, they come across as intelligent and thinking human beings. Paymaan’s conversation with Sara right after her mother called Shams went to show that even though Paymaan was raised by an over-controlling mother in a very strict environment but her social skills were not affected by it. Paymaan is an intelligent girl; she may live under the same roof with a woman who thinks that intimidating people is the only way to interact with them but Paymaan knows better. She is apologetic about her mother’s attitude and is concerned about her bhabi because her brother and bhabi are the only family members she has besides her mother. Paymaan also shares how she feels with her mother and as a result of that her mother gives Sara a call in order to make sure that Sara never visits them again. This went to show just how insecure Tabbasum is, she does not want Paymaan to interact with anyone at all because she is fearful that someone may take her away from her.

Tonight’s episode showed how close Roomi and Shams are. Roomi knows his friend only too well because he has seen him struggling when he was going through the worst phase of his life. Not only this Roomi has great influence on Shams too. Shams comes across as a very emotional and impulsive person. He went to his mother’s house to meet his sister but decided to take her with him when he saw what was going on. Our therapist was perhaps right after all Shams is afraid to face problems; he wanted to leave Sara forever when he found out that she had gone to meet his mother although there were many other ways to solve this issue. Shams’ concern for Sara and Roomi went to show what a good friend he is.

Mohib’s character will probably be revealed more in the next episode. There wasn’t much of him in tonight’s episode. The lyrics of the OST playing in the background just before the scene in which Roomi was making Imroz’s portrait made me laugh!

Uzma Gillani was absolutely brilliant as Tabassum, the dialogue ” tum yeh kamra chor kr nahi ja skti” went to show how desperately she wanted Paymaan to stay confined in those four walls. Tabassum changes her tone and attitude when she knows that her intimidating tactics are backfiring. In the preview of this episode we were shown Paymaan leaving the house but I guess we will get to see that in the next episode.

Overall, this episode was well-paced, intelligently directed and very well-written. For now the focus is on Sara and Shams but I am quite sure that the story will focus more on Imroz, Paymaan and Roomi in the upcoming episodes. The casting appears to be flawless so far. Cybil Chaudhry was perfect for playing the simple yet intelligent Sara. Sanam Saeed has been wonderful till now, the scene in which she is sitting and thinking about how her mother’s behavior might have affected Sara and Shams was very well directed and acted out. I am really looking forward to finding out how Paymaan grows as an individual once she has the freedom of living her life according to her own wishes. Syed Mazhar Ali’s character and his acting leave their marks even though he is given very little screen time. Paymaan and her step-father’s conversations are like that of two prisoners in a prison cell, one of them has given up hope but the other one wants things to change for good. I really liked the way the flashback scene was shown; it gave the viewers all the information they needed to know about what transpired between Shams and Tabassum many years back in a very short time.

Do share your thoughts about tonight’s episode.

Fatima Awan

After watching Mera Yakeen, Bari Apa, Hamnasheen and Shukk I thought I had seen it all but I guess I was very wrong! While watching this episode my husband’s curiosity got the best of him and he asked me who the first wife was … normally this should be an easy question to answer but in this case it isn’t! Firaaq was a good play but now everything about this play is just plain substandard. The dialogues have absolutely no depth any more in fact they can be really weird sometimes and Hareem’s character is the worst addition to the show. The fact that Imroze lied about his health was bad enough, there was absolutely no need to show that he got married again too. Watching this play is proving to be a nerve-racking experience, nothing about the story makes sense any more and you feel absolutely nothing for any of the characters. The fact that we are being shown two episodes in a go is even more testing.

Apparently, we are expected to forget about all of Imroze’s symptoms, his visits to the doctor and the crazy thought pattern and just be content with the “explanation” that Imroze lied about his disease so that Paymaan could get married to Roomi! But guess what? He forgot to divorce her! Kyunke biwi ko talaq di ja sakti hai mohabbat ko nahi! The writer might have forgotten it but I am sure many viewers must remember that Imroze showed Roomi some kind of a “death warrant” to prove that he wasn’t lying about the cancer. This latest “twist” in the story isn’t shocking but it is just plain unbelievable.

Paymaan went back to live with Imroze with a new will to get answers to all her questions but after hearing the answers she decided she did not want to leave just yet. Hareem’s mood swings are definitely not helping in any way. One minute she can’t do without Imroze and the next minute she has the divorce papers ready! Are we supposed to feel for Imroze by any chance? I have a feeling that the writer is trying very hard to convince us that whatever Imroze did was a result of whatever happened to him in the past and he only married Hareem out of sympathy – Paymaan is his true love, how lame is that!

Hareem’s dialogues like “mere du shohar, mere maa baap meri soch nahi badal sake tum kya badlo gi” are really very weird! Is she proud of the fact that she got married twice and never listened to her parents? Firaaq is a major train wreck. What was the writer thinking? I am finding it very hard to believe that this “Season 2” has been written by the same writer who wrote the beginning few episodes. The story has come down to a typical “two wives” scenario which will take all kind of bizarre turns before it finally ends. I hate to see Sanam Saeed wasting her talent playing such useless roles, Paymaan reminded me of Saniya so many times today!

Do share your thoughts about tonight’s nerve-racking episode of Firaaq! Is anyone out there feeling for Imroze? Does anyone understand what was going on in the writer’s mind when he added these strange, meaningless and groundless twists to the story?

Fatima Awan

I am not certain where to start from because a great deal happened in tonight’s episode but I am not sure if it is such a brilliant idea to open this Pandora’s box after 14 episodes! I am finding it very hard to relate to the new characters, I am not even sure if I care enough to know anything about their past or future at all because in the past 14 episodes we saw completely different faces in the drama. All the old faces have very nominal roles to play now. The viewers are left with no choice but to watch this drama with a completely different frame of mind – how many people out there are so “adaptable”?

So many episodes were wasted in convincing the viewers that Imroze was seriously sick, we were shown all the symptoms and doctor’s visit along with Imroze’s monologues for the longest time and now we find out that Imroze isn’t even dying! I must confess that all through tonight’s episode I tried very hard to make sense of things but everything was just too mind boggling.

Imroze left Paymaan to marry his ex-wife and cousin because his Khala who also raised him asked him to look after her daughter after her death. He felt like Paymaan did not love him probably because his first wife left him for someone else therefore he left Paymaan so that she could marry Roomi. Now that Paymaan is back he is convinced that she loves him therefore he wants her back in his life. I found it very strange that someone like Imroze who is anything but honest or straightforward decided to come clean about everything.

Hareem is just as twisted as Imroze, they are definitely a match made in heaven! Hareem comes across as someone who is manipulative and self-centered. The way she shouted at her dying mother and the manner in which she kept on blaming Imroze and her ex-husband for all her problems went to show that she is not the sort of person who would take responsibility for her actions. Hareem’s character and Imroze and Hareem’s background story explains a lot about Imroze’s character but complicating matters so much at a time when the drama should actually be wrapping up can’t possibly be a wise idea!

Hamza and Ahmed were given adequate screen time as well but even then I am finding it very hard to warm up to these characters. I missed Haider, Tabbasum and even Roomi while watching tonight’s episode. The events of the past it seems have hardly any relevance to the present and I have a bad feeling that the future is going to be just as bewildering. The script and the direction both have proved to be very disappointing to say the least! The director has completely failed to take the story forward in an intelligent way and the writer should have known better than to introduce so many different tracks and characters at this point.

The preview of the next episode clearly showed that we will have yet another first wife versus the second wife situation coming our way because the women in our dramas love fighting over losers. How can Paymaan possibly go back to Imroze? We were not shown even a day of Paymaan and Imroze’s married life and I have a bad feeling that we won’t even be shown why Paymaan decides to stay back with Imroze when she has the choice to leave him. Firaaq is a big fat mess now, no wonder HUM TV is so eager to wrap it up!

Did this episode give you a headache? Feel free to vent out!

Fatima Awan

Ohkay so, that was one interesting episode of Firaaq. Just when I was thinking whether they have another set of interesting cards to reveal to keep the story going, they surprised me pleasantly. I like these new tracks & developments a lot more than the first half of the drama may be because all the mysteries related to the main character Imroz are getting unravelled one by one.

For a change it was good to see that Paymaan was being taken care of by the relatives in Pakistan. Paymaan’s quest was no less than a rollercoaster ride because she experienced all sorts of emotions which she mustn’t have imagined in her wildest dreams. She found out that Imroz has passed away & just when she felt her life was over & decided to go back to her family, she stumbled upon Imroz who looked perfectly fine. I think she was a bit too quick in trusting Imroz so easily because all he has ever told her are nothing but lies. Imroz thought he could intimidate her by the idea of an approaching death & that will make her run away but if he had known Paymaan’s determination, he wouldn’t have bothered trying. Paymaan knows what she lost & what she has found, so there’s no way she will ever let go off Imroz henceforth. I must say Sanam Saeed acted her bit brilliantly because the transition of Paymaan from being depressed to being overjoyed was portrayed by her beautifully & that made me feel for Paymaan a lot more than I ever have. The way Paymaan tried to keep her calm knowing that her world was falling apart & the way she had this contentment on her face after she found Imroz was a treat to watch. Who would’ve thought that a girl who has spent a major part of her life under a very dominating mother & someone who has never had a power to make her own decisions will now run the course of her life all alone & face all these challenges, that will either make or break her.

So, the mysterious Imroz is nothing short of mysteries & surprisingly, I am interested to find out more about him. I think all the cards are being revealed at a perfect time because it’s about time we got to know more about Imroz & what he has been up to. Just like Imroz effortlessly lied to Paymaan about him spending a time in a hotel & waiting for his death to come, he was concealing the reality as to why he moved back to Pakistan. Imroz has had a wife all these years who happens to have a son Hamza from her first marriage as well. I found Hareem (Hira) as a very considerate & caring wife who’d do anything to keep Imroz happy even if it means she has to stop her child from being playful & carefree. May be it’s because she has had a failed marriage before so this time around she is being extra cautious to not do anything that would upset her husband. It looks like Imroz is still unhappy & in fact a lot more rigid with Hareem in comparison to Paymaan. There are so many shades to his character that you really can’t form a definite opinion about him. Just because he faced his worst fears when he saw Paymaan in front of him, he had an outburst & used Hamza as an excuse because he knew Hareem was there to take whatever he’d have to say & wouldn’t retaliate. I think Hira actually has played the role of an obedient & caring wife to perfection. Right from the moment she made an entry I saw it all in her eyes; the intimidation, apprehension, cautiousness & restlessness which really made me sympathize with her & yes the emotion of love; love that she has for Imroz was evident too. I feel her story has a lot more to offer & it’s a fresh addition to the drama.

Hareem’s first husband didn’t seem as negative as Imroz tried to portray him. Ahmad (Adnan Jaffar) seemed like a harmless person & just a father who was attending to the duties he has in regards to his son but it was Imroz who thought he knew all that Ahmad was trying to do in order to create a rift between him & Hareem. Ever since the new life of Imroz has been revealed, I found all the other people as innocent victims whereas he was the one who was ruling negatively. One thing’s for sure, Imroz wants his things his way even if it means asking a mother to sacrifice her motherhood in order to please him.

The preview of next episode seemed very engaging as well. I think all the new entries have really contributed in making the serial a lot more interesting. In the first half, it was a couple of Tabassum & Haider that kept the things going but fortunately, in the second phase of the story, all the tracks seem equally interesting. I found this episode conveniently fast paced as well & thankfully they didn’t drag Paymaan’s depression either. Tell us how did you find the new developments in the story & share your thoughts about this episode of Firaaq, please.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

PS: Covering for my dear friend Fatima Awan but please keep an eye on the comments section for her say. :)

The developments in tonight’s episode of Firaaq were definitely very unexpected and interesting as well. I am sure that many viewers like me were expecting Roomi and Paymaan to get married in this episode which no doubt would have been a very unconvincing twist in the story. Roomi never loved Paymaan, if this marriage took place it would have been because of external influence than anything else. I am pleasantly surprised at the turn the story has taken, Tabbasum’s death was predictable after watching the preview of this episode last week but the way her death was covered was another pleasant surprise. The fact that most part of tonight’s episode focused on Tabbasum was most certainly the right thing to do since Tabbasum’s character has been the highlight of this drama and Uzma Gillani was absolutely brilliant right till the end. Tabbasum’s conversations with everyone in the family including Roomi wrapped up her track beautifully. Tabbasum made sure that Haider knew just how special he was, she apologized to Paymaan once again and asked her not to repeat the mistake she had made. The fact that these scenes were not over dramatic yet very touching made them a treat to watch. The void that Tabbasum left in Haider and Paymaan’s life was apparent from their body language and conversations but there was no excessive rona dhona which was great.

Roomi decided to tell Paymaan the truth (finally!), which was another convincing development in the story. It would have been very unbelievable if he kept this secret to himself. We have been very confused about the timeline till now, it was nice to hear Sara clear that confusion! Imroze left Paymaan seven months back and Roomi talked to him five months back and then too he called to say goodbye. After finding out the truth Paymaan’s sole purpose in life is to find out what happened to Imroze. Sara’s obsession with getting Roomi and Paymaan married is still beyond me! Once again Sara focused all her energies on ensuring that these two end up together and refused to believe anything that Roomi said. I am glad that Roomi turned out to be smart and did not fulfill the dying wish of a friend without giving it a second thought.

It looks like Paymaan’s life in Karachi is going to be the main focus of the story from now on. The question whether Imroze has divorced Paymaan or not is still a mystery because when Paymaan was leaving for Pakistan Sara said to her that even if she finds Imroze there was no relationship between them anymore so there was no point in going there looking for him but in the preview of the next episode Paymaan said that she felt like a widow!

I must say that Paymaan’s character is much more likeable and lively now that Imroze is out of her life and she has a new purpose in life. I felt for Haider more than anyone else while watching this episode. Overall, this was a pretty good episode which I am sure gave many viewers a reason to look forward to more. Is Imroze dead? If he isn’t then why didn’t he ever get in touch with Paymaan? A lot of questions need to be answered, I hope that the next episode is just as entertaining as this one and the story keeps on moving forward at this pace. I also hope that the mystery unravels in a way that is believable.

Fatima Awan

Things moved forward at a snail’s pace in the last few episodes but this episode was like a roller coaster ride!! The entire episode proved to be a visual treat but the pace at which the story moved forward was actually quite confusing. This was definitely an engaging episode which left me with a lot of questions but kept me glued to the TV screen nevertheless. Aabis Raza needs to learn the art of covering the developments in the story in such a way that they neither feel rushed nor too slow. The first half of the episode was perfect in every way; I could completely relate to Paymaan’s state of mind and after quite some time now Sanam Saeed was really into her character. Paymaan blamed herself instead of blaming Imroze. The way Paymaan’s family came to her support was touching and it made the whole scenario interesting rather than dull and depressing. Paymaan and Tabbasum’s reunion was shown beautifully too. Paymaan’s dialogues were written very well, they reminded me why I fell in love with this play in the first place. I felt like the old Paymaan who we saw in the first few episodes before she met Imroze was back once again; she was sad but she spoke her mind and that too in a way that was impressive. Paymaan looked for answers desperately but nothing could explain Imroze’s disappearance to her.

Roomi’s loyalty to his friend is surprising and almost unreal. I still find it impossible to relate to the fact that he has feelings for Paymaan. He isn’t well appreciated as a painter but he has a very lavish lifestyle, did he have a rich dad who left him with a lot of assets? Doesn’t he have a family? Looks like Paymaan and Shams are the only two people who have family in this drama. If Roomi is going to get married to Paymaan and if he has a family then they should be a part of this arrangement as well or maybe not!!

Things started getting confusing in the second half of the play. When Sara suggested that Roomi and Paymaan should get married, I was shocked! I couldn’t help but wonder how much time had elapsed since Imroze left Paymaan because it all sounded too sudden and rather inappropriate. Sara did not even take Tabbasum into confidence before suggesting something so outrageous. Has Imroze divorced Paymaan? He told Roomi that he was going to divorce her but we did not hear anything of that sort in this episode. I hope that he did because otherwise if these two get married and he reappears at some point then everything will be very awkward! I have seen this happening in a few dramas and I don’t want it happening in Firaaq.

Overall, this episode was in no way perfect but definitely much better than my expectations. It would have been much better if things were not rushed in the second half of the play. Sanam Saeed performed really well in this episode and she looked beautiful too, I guess Imroze’s exit from the play may prove to be a good omen after all;) The preview of the next episode just like the previous few weeks gave the major developments in the story away. I am not going to go into the details of the preview here so that people who haven’t watched the episode yet can skip it if they wish to keep the suspense alive!

I didn’t miss Imroze one bit, did you? Do share your thoughts about this latest installment.

Fatima Awan

We can finally stop guessing what is wrong with Imroze because the cat is out of the bag. Imroze’s reaction was not surprising at all because we are all well aware of how negative he is by now, even the positive streak in him that was revealed when he asked Roomi to let Paymaan think that he left her because he was not loyal to her was not very convincing. A man must have a very big heart to make such a sacrifice even if he is about to die. We can only wonder if Imroze loved Paymaan enough to put himself through all this pain in order to ensure that his wife can move on and have a happy life because from the very first scene to the last one of Imroze and Paymaan’s life together we never saw them happy. Paymaan always felt like she was not good enough or that Imroze did not love her enough. Imroze’s character will most probably make its exit in the next episode and I still feel like the viewers weren’t even introduced to his character properly unlike all the other characters in the play. It is somewhat ironic that the writer and the director managed to cover the smallest details about the past and present of the side characters brilliantly without leaving any loop holes but failed to do the same for the man who is going to play a major role in changing the life of our leading lady. So, Imroze was all alone in this world after all, he did not have an ugly past or a dirty secret …. basically there wasn’t much to his character at all except that he was lonely, depressed, insecure and now very sick too and he only entered Paymaan’s life only to ruin it forever!

Poor Roomi has yet again been given a huge responsibility and like a good friend he only questions Imroze’s future plans instead of revealing the truth to Paymaan. Roomi tried to make Imroze realize that he was being unfair to Paymaan but Imroze just wants to go away so that Roomi and Paymaan can have a happy life!! I must say that Imroze’s character had potential, if we could have been shown the good and the bad in him but all we saw was a lot of negativity which basically makes it impossible for me to feel for his character.

Tabbasum, Haider, Shams and Sara finally got their happy ending. It was quite predictable what Tabbasum had in store for Shams but the complete change in Shams’ stance regarding having a child came as a good surprise. It was good to see Tabbasum and Haider dance in joy but even these two loveable characters could not keep my interest in the story alive tonight. Things keep on moving forward in Firaaq but do they really make you look forward to more? I have to say not at all. There is too much talking in the play and most importantly our leading lady has become very dull. Tabbasum wants to mend fences with her daughter next and honestly speaking I am not looking forward to it one bit! Can Paymaan be any more berung? Do I want to see Roomi playing the savior yet again? I guess not! Roomi’s character is sweet but the story is too predictable and there is hardly any chemistry between Sanam Saeed and Noor Hassan. Why would someone like Roomi want to be with someone like Paymaan? I hope that the drama gives us something new and entertaining to watch in the upcoming episodes because for now there isn’t much I can connect to. The highlight of tonight’s episode was Shams and Sara’s reunion and it was nice to see Sara wearing Tabbasum’s wedding dress. Honestly speaking, I couldn’t care less about what was going on in the lives of our main protagonists – which is sad!!

Fatima Awan

After the last two episodes which were rather shocking and somewhat abrupt, with this episode the story moved forward in a more convincing manner although there were bits which still made you wonder about the issues Imroze has and also it seemed like everything was happening at once.

Shams’ reunion with her mother couldn’t have been shown in a better way. I had a bad feeling that the storyline may get even more complicated from here on but Tabbasum and Shams are off to a great start. Tabbasum tells one last thing which she thinks Shams should know before they start over again. The scenes between Tabbasum, Haider and Shams were very touching. Tabbasum will play a pivotal role in bringing Shams and Sara together, I am waiting to find out if Shams changes his stance regarding having children. I cannot help but praise Mazhar Ali’s convincing and natural acting over and over again. I really hope that we get to see him in dramas more often. Uzma Gillani like always was brilliant while showing how happy she was and how much Tabbasum has changed.

Imroze and Paymaan looked like husband and wife for the first time today, we definitely needed to see more of such scenes in the previous episodes as well. Paymaan finally discovered the marks on Imroze’s body and questioned about them – better late than never! It was strange that everything happened at the same time, the reunion, Roomi realizing that people were using him and change in Imroze’s behaviour. Roomi realized that people treated him like a door-mat, he does not want to solve anyone’s marital problems or pick someone’s kid from school. This particular scene actually made me laugh! I am glad that Roomi finally showed some emotion other than being kind to people all the time, it’s about time that he got tired of playing the agony aunt! The second Imroze talked to Roomi, he was back to being a husband to Paymaan although in the last episode he was doubting his wife just as much as Roomi but for some odd reason which the viewers were not shown Imroze does not blame Paymaan for anything any more. He wants Roomi out of their life and start over again. I wish we could know the reason behind this sudden change in Imroze’s behaviour. We were shown Imroze thinking out loud over and over again about how his wife had cheated him and now all of a sudden without any thinking whatsoever he is convinced that Roomi is the only one to be blamed. Roomi’s lectures to Imroze regarding how he should be spending more time with his wife did not help at all! I must admit I did feel for Roomi after watching tonight’s episode.

The way Imroze felt about the change in Paymaan’s outlook and the scene on the beach went to show that Imroze is a very conservative person which could also be because of his insecurities. He tells Roomi that he never wanted to marry someone modern and then later on the beach he says to Paymaan that everyone was looking at her. Well, at least we know now why Imroze fell for Paymaan!

The preview of the next episode was a big blunder because it practically showed everything that is going to happen in the next episode. I am not going to share the details here so that the viewers who have not seen this episode yet have the option of not watching the preview because if they do then they surely will have very little reason to watch the next episode! The only mystery is finding out which disease Imroze has otherwise we pretty much know now what turn the story is going to take from here.

Fatima Awan

This first episode was very engaging; it kept me glued to my TV screen right from the get-go. Drama serial Firaaq has been written by Mustafa Afridi, directed by Aabis Raza and produced by MD Productions. The first episode introduced the viewers to all the main characters in the drama and their backgrounds. The main protagonist of the play Payman (Sanam Saeed) is a Pakistani American who may have been living in America for a long time but her controlling and conservative mother (Uzma Gillani) does not allow her to adopt anything that is American. Not only that, Payman has grown up in a very strict environment, she is constantly judged and criticized. Payman is not happy with her life because of her situation. Her mother has a very desi set-up in which she is the boss of the house. Her second husband plays a second fiddle to her because she runs a restaurant and runs the house therefore she has no respect or regard for him either (anyone remember Bilquees Kaur?). Yes, Uzma Gillani’s character reminded me of Bilquess Kaur because Bilquees’ husband and children used to get the same treatment from her too. Bilquees was also loud and bossy and she had a very desi set-up in her house. The only big difference is that Payman’s mother is not playing the lead in the drama and she is probably not going to be around for long either but her character definitely seemed to be inspired from Bilquees Kaur’s character. Payman’s step-father (Syed Mazhar Ali) on the other hand is a very soft-spoken and easy going person. It was great to see Syed Mazhar Ali on screen after a long time.

Payman’s brother Shams (Junaid Khan) left his mother’s house when she remarried after her husband’s death. Sham’s wife Sara (Cybil Chaudhry) wants to have kids but Shams made it very clear to her before they got married that he did not want any children. Sara meets a family friend (Noor Hassan) and shares her worries with him and he suggests that she should see a counselor. The counselor (Mohib Mirza) suggests that Sara’s troubles will only be over if she can reunite Shams with his mother. Personally, I did not agree with the advice at all because anyone with such an authoritative, suspicious and unreasonable mother would not want to have kids because they would not be sure if they will be able to give that child the kind of life which every child deserves. I felt like Shams is too afraid that he may not be able to be a good father that is why he does not want kids. Anyway, Sara decides to meet Shams’ mother and what an interesting meeting that was! Shams’ mother may regret losing her son but she is not very eager to win him back either!

The preview of the next episode promised another happening episode therefore I am definitely looking forward to it. Sara’s plan to get the mother and son back together is going to backfire in the worst way possible. Sanam Saeed looked really cute in those glasses and she owned her character. I could feel all the pent up anger and frustration in her expressions, body language and voice. When I first heard Cybil Chaudry talk I thought her voice was dubbed but by the end of the episode I liked her character and acting. Junaid Khan is not among my favorite actors but he is definitely well-suited for this role. I am waiting to see more of Mohib Mirza and Noor Hassan.

Overall, this was a very promising beginning. All the scenes were short and to-the-point , the characters are interesting, the story has potential and the episode was very well-directed. It was refreshing to see so many talented young actors on-screen. I wish people who are responsible for writing the plots of dramas online would not have access to more information than the viewers would like to know. I read the plot summary online and now I know exactly what is going to happen next! I highly recommend this first episode to anyone who has not watched it yet.

Fatima Awan