These latest episodes of Ghairat were somewhat slow-paced and slightly dragged as well. The fact that they are showing two episodes of this drama in a go definitely helps especially if you are watching the drama online. Few of the scenes in these episodes were repetitive and the fact that Saba’s mother did not make an appearance while her sister was dying made this entire development difficult to relate to. While it is easy to understand why she has given up completely, it is really difficult to understand why she would not even go to see if her sister is okay since she was living in the same house. Being a coward is one thing but being heartless is another! What does this woman have to lose now? One of her daughters was brutally killed and the other one is no longer around so what is she scared of now? Saba’s mother’s character was being shown realistically so far but this episode took her helplessness a little too far. For the first time I felt like the makers of the drama relied way too much on accidents, deaths, tears and helplessness of women.

There was a lot of focus on Saba and Saman in tonight’s episode. Saman’s brother Kashif fell for Saba instantly and her mother was not too happy about keeping Saba at her home until she saw her praying. The way Kashif’s character was introduced made it look like he wasn’t a very nice person, at least that is the impression I got from that scene. Usman and Adnan’s ruthlessness was once again translated on screen convincingly. The flashback scenes however and the suspense after Zohaib’s accident could have been chopped down. Just like every other episode of Ghairat, this one too covered Saba’s fears realistically. You can’t help but feel for her; she has a family but absolutely no one to turn to. Her mother’s dialogues in the previous few episodes suggested that she might be able to help her in some way but she too has completely given up and is hoping for a miracle. The way the writer has shown that these women have absolutely no one to turn to is convincing but I felt like there was an overdose of tragedies in this episode. The accident scene was yet another scene which was dragged. There was no reason for showing the conversation between the two men while Zohaib was trying to get to Usman’s house, showing the accident alone would have been enough.

Iqra’s husband and his friend are also completely out of the picture for now although I was hoping that they would have a bigger role to play in the story. It looks like Saba and Kashif’s track will get serious in the upcoming episodes, I am not sure how I feel about that since I was expecting more from Ghairat than a love triangle in the middle of such a serious issue. Also, Saba and Zohaib looked good together and this was the first time that I saw Muneeb Butt playing the role of a likeable hero. It would have been good to see him helping Saba in some way and bringing Usman and Adnan to justice.

These two episodes were definitely not the best episodes of Ghairat, we have seen better in the past and I hope that the story does not go off-track from here on. How many of you watched these episodes? Do share your thoughts about it.

Ghairat continues to be interesting, engaging, impactful and convincing. So far, I feel the one thing which sets this drama apart from many other dramas which aired recently and dealt with similar topics is that it focuses on the reasons why even a girl like Saba, who is brave and intelligent would find it impossible to find an escape out of such a situation. Right from the first episode Saba has been shown as someone who tries her best to find solutions for problems affecting her or her family members. Although she was terrified of her brother even in the beginning of the show even then that did not stop her from speaking her mind. What I truly appreciate about her character is that usually the outspoken and confident women in our dramas are also the ones who land themselves into trouble due to their actions but Saba has been shown as someone who is intelligent and practical. Even in the most desperate of situations she tries to find a solution which is workable. In tonight’s episode she tried to convince her mother over and over again that she should try to find a way out because she knows that there isn’t much she can do in this situation. Iqra Aziz has been quite impressive so far, apart from her outfits and styling, everything else about the way she has translated her character on screen is remarkable.

Saba’s mother’s character is also realistic which is why even with all her weaknesses, I can’t help but relate to her. She is just as helpless as her daughter even though she wants to do something to help Saba. Her character also gives us hope that she might some day muster up the courage to take an extreme action to help her daughter and the preview of the next episode suggested just that. Samina Ahmed just like always has also done complete justice to her character. Zohaib’s character has also been etched-out flawlessly. He has to move to Islamabad but naturally he does not want to be away from Saba. You understand why he has not been able to help Saba in any way even though he has not been shown as a weak character but his limitations are easy to understand and you know that if he has an opportunity to help Saba, he won’t back off.

Usman’s character is a true reflection of all such monsters who think they are god. He was especially terrifying in the last scene of tonight’s episode. This man has absolute no remorse and his own ego comes before everything else. Jibran Syed owns his character completely which is why Usman’s character is not only ugly but also horrifying.

This drama truly makes me think about all those women who live under such circumstances and it is upsetting to think that no one comes forward to help them because it is considered the family’s “private matter”. Relatives like Zohaib’s mother even with all their good intentions have to take a backseat because they fear for their lives. Saba and her mother’s bond has to be the best aspect of this drama, this bond has only grown stronger after Iqra’s death.

Overall, this was another brilliant episode of Ghairat which laid the foundations for what is coming ahead. The preview of the next episode was very enticing, definitely looking forward to watching the next episode. However I do wish that the previews would be shorter because they tend to give away the major developments in the story.

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This was yet another engaging episode of Ghairat which did not only take the story forward but also showed a certain degree of character development. Saba’s character is turning out to be the best part of this drama. The director deserves due credit for keeping the scenes short and to the point. Also, the timing of the flashback scene in tonight’s episode was impressive; it conveyed exactly what was going through Saba’s mind. Very often viewers are left wondering what is going through the mind of the lead characters which sometimes makes it very difficult for the viewers to connect to thes characters. Everything does not need to be communicated through dialogues but such flashback scenes play an important role in translating the feelings of any character.

Saba’s mother’s behavior and her stance is a breath of fresh air because we have watched so many dramas in the recent past in which mothers forced their daughters to put up with injustice. Although, she told Saba that she was not scared any more but later on she found it difficult to speak her mind when she was talking to Usman. I loved this particular scene because it was realistic; no one can change overnight especially someone who was never taught to take a stand for herself. Her attitude however shows that she does not want Saba to end up like Iqra. Samina Ahmed is a phenomenal actress who always gives every character she plays her best. Iqra Aziz has been beyond impressive as Saba; she makes it very easy for the viewers to connect to her character.

Zohaib once again tried to talk to Usman, a development which did more harm than good. This was yet another one of those developments in the story which show just how well-planned the entire plot is. If Usman just sat back and waited for Saba to get in touch with him, it would have been unrealistic. I also appreciate the fact that all the characters get as much screen time in every episode as they did in the first two episodes unlike many other dramas in which the writers and the directors have a difficult time dividing the story evenly among all the characters. The writer’s overall approach has been realistic and he has shown the conflict between all these characters exceptionally well. None of the characters so far have taken a backseat, all of them are constantly trying their best to get what they want whether it is Saba, Zohaib, Shagufta or Usman. Jibran Syed, Muneeb Butt and Saman Ansari have also performed brilliantly. They fit in perfectly in their respective roles. Muneeb Butt however needs to tone his make-up down, he does not need so much foundation!

Usman’s conversation with his brother about Kulsoom highlighted his double standards! His “ghairat” only gets violated when the women in the house show their preference for a man and there is nothing wrong with the brothers spending time with women they are never even going to marry! I am glad that this particular aspect of Usman’s personality was shown in this episode because usually men like him have shocking double standards. Faizan Sheikh has also been acting brilliantly and I am wondering why his name is missing from the end credits!

Ghairat has definitely proved to be a pleasant surprise because I wasn’t expecting it to be this entertaining and well put together. The preview of the next episode showed Saba mustering up the courage to voice her opinion but she gets the same violent reaction from her brother which she got in the first episode. Looking forward to the next episode.

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Ghairat continues to be an interesting play which is not only highlighting the mentality behind honor killings but it is also doing so without putting the viewers to sleep. I have watched a lot of shows highlighting social issues recently therefore I wasn’t sure whether another play which focuses on the ill-treatment of women in our society would hold my interest or not but so far Ghairat definitely fits the bill. The story has been logical and well-paced, I especially like the way it has been directed. The fact that all the actors have been performing well also helps since there are very few dramas which have an entire cast of capable actors who fit in well in their respective roles. The fact that Iqra’s mother has not been shown as someone who approves of her son’s action is also a positive aspect of the story and gives hope that she might play a bigger role in bringing her son to justice some day or at least making sure that Saba has a fate different from that of her sister.

The story took an unpredictable but realistic turn with this episode. I was expecting Usman’s mother to bail him out but his brother in laws contacts ultimately got him out of jail. This development was convincing because unfortunately murderers and rapists are bailed out by influential people all the time. Shagufta apparently helped Malik Sahab rig elections, which was another relatable addition to this track! Although, people like Shagufta and Abid seem like regular citizens but they are involved in criminal activities which explains why Usman’s criminal behaviour was readily accepted by them as the right thing to do! There is one thing common between Usman and Shagufta, both of them are controlling and insensitive, they will do anything it takes to get things done the way they want them. Also, their sense of right and wrong is seriously twisted which explains their behaviour even more. Shagufta’s mother’s attitude explains why she is the way she is and several conversations in the previous episodes explained why Usman and Adnan are so narrow-minded and dictating. The upbringing of these individuals has been such that even though they have enough exposure, they have not learned how to be civil and humane.

Saba’s desperation, insecurities and fears were translated flawlessly on screen by Iqra Aziz. The entire situation has been shown realistically. Even though Zohaib and his family want to help Saba and her mother, there isn’t much they can do practically especially after what happened to Iqra, they cannot take the risk. Just like expected, Shagufta wants that Iqra should get married to her brother therefore she will do whatever it takes to keep Zohaib and his family away from the house. It was shocking watching Shagufta narrate the entire incident to her mad husband the instant he got back home! Saman Ansari and Syed Jibran have been phenomenal in their respective roles. Although Syed Jibran has played characters similar to this one in the recent past but even then he adds something new to every character he plays. He was especially brilliant in the scene when Usman wants to hit his mother, this scene was directed superbly too. Samina Ahmed is also an exceptional actress who looks the part every time and breathes life into every character she plays. I recently watched her playing a very different role in Pinjra and she owned it. She is equally convincing as the helpless mother who just lost her daughter but cannot even mourn her loss the way a mother should be allowed to. The most painful aspect of this entire scenario is that the murderer is her own son and she has to continue living with him in the same house.

Junaid’s scenes showed how difficult it was for him to deal with everything that had happened. He has not only lost someone he loved but he also has reason to blame himself for what happened to Iqra. I am waiting to see what role his character play in the future since he is no match for Usman. The conversation between Shagufta and Usman’s mother before he came home was one of the best conversations of this episode. It reflected Usman’s mother’s feelings flawlessly and was emotional. It also showed how blind Shagufta was when it came to her husband’s deeds.

Overall, this episode was brilliant throughout. So far, Ghairat has a strong script which has been executed well. The preview of the next episode showed Usman threatening Zohaib and Saba’s mother telling her to be strong. I am waiting to see how the story unfolds from here on.

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Tonight’s episode of Ghairat covered the aftermath of the tragic development in the previous episode and it did so quite logically. All the developments in tonight’s episode were convincing. Saba’s frame of mind in particular was translated on screen superbly. She was fearful for her life and knew that only Zohaib could rescue her. Usman killed Iqra while her mother was present there, she could not do anything to stop him therefore Saba knows that she is not safe in the house even with her brothers locked away since they can return at any given time considering the fact that her mother is not in her senses and rest of the family is more than willing to cover up for Usman. The shock and horror on the faces of Saba and her mother when they saw what had happened and when Usman announced it was an accident made this scene come to life.

Junaid’s fears immediately after he let Usman and Adnan take Iqra were shown through the conversation he had with Jamal. This was another discussion which was realistic and to the point. Watching Usman act so normal after killing his own sister was seriously disturbing but it was a true depiction of the mindset behind such crimes. These people are so sure that there was absolutely nothing wrong with what they did and they do not even have a conscience. It was almost as if Usman felt more in control now and had gained more confidence after killing his sister. The way he told Zohaib to take his family away and that he wanted no ties with them went to show that he felt more entitled than ever to make these decisions and force them on other people.

Zohaib’s reaction in particular demonstrated how a “normal” person would react to such an incident. He could not stand to be around these murderers who were acting like they did nothing wrong and when Saba wanted him to take her with him he did his best to stay with her even though everyone around him asked him to leave. Muneeb Butt and Iqra Aziz acted brilliantly in this episode as well. Iqra Aziz and Muneeb Butt also have great on-screen chemistry. In fact all the actors have been performing really well so far.

Adnan ultimately narrated the entire incident to Jamal and it remains to be seen what turn this track will take from here on since the real story will begin now. This is what I found most appealing about this drama, the honor killing takes place in the beginning therefore the main focus should be on the aftermath which I hope will have a good lesson and will be handled intelligently. The next episode showed Usman and Adnan coming back home; I am wondering how that will happen. Will Usman’s mother forgive him so that he can be out of jail?

So far, Ghairat has been an interesting play which keeps giving you a reason to tune into it every week. It has a solid story which is executed well and all the actors are doing complete justice to their characters as well. The pace of the play so far has been impressive too.

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This episode of Ghairat covered all the developments flawlessly and I definitely liked it more than the first episode. I feel that this entire episode however could have been far more impactful if the promos of the drama did not reveal so much. Viewers (like me) who had already watched the promos knew that Iqra’s character would end up like this therefore there was no surprise factor at all. For instance when Usman pretended he had forgiven Iqra, I wasn’t wondering what his next move was going to be. Overall, the situation leading to Iqra’s decision and Usman’s actions were covered convincingly. Some of the dialogues in tonight’s episode however sounded too artificial perhaps because of the way they were delivered. Sundas Tariq was phenomenal in the scenes in which she had no dialogues because her expressions and body language was faultless but her dialogue delivery in tonight’s episode especially when she tells Saba to change her outlook towards life was disappointing. Iqra Aziz and Muneeb Butt on the other hand have been performing surprisingly well throughout. Both of them are likeable in their respective roles and look good together too.

This episode opened with Shagufta telling Saba’s mother that her brother had spotted her with Zohaib. This particular situation was handled in a wise manner by her mother and as a result of that Saba had reason to hope that it won’t be that difficult to get married to Zohaib after all. The entire situation changed drastically when Iqra decided to elope with Junaid. This part of the story was shown brilliantly and it was covered quickly. The fact that Iqra was killed after she entered into nikkah with Junaid gives him the right to file a case against her murderers. Also, Junaid’s SHO friend is not going to let Usman get away with this easily. I feel that ultimately Usman’s mother will forgive him and that is how he will be released. While talking to her friend, Iqra mentioned that her phupo too had been killed which basically goes to show that what happened to Iqra wasn’t happening for the first time in the family. I also liked how the mother’s reaction to this entire situation was covered. It was good to see that the writer did not make the mother an accomplice to the murder. She tried to stop Usman but she was dragged away. She has been shown as someone who does not have a lot of influence in the house but at the same time it was hard to believe that she could not predict what Usman was going to do to her daughter and tried a little harder especially since this wasn’t the first murder in the family. Overall however it was much better than showing that the mother supported Usman and did not try to stop him.

The contrast between Zohaib’s family and that of Saba’s was once again very obvious in this episode as well. Zohaib’s character has been translated on screen in a fine manner by Muneeb Butt. Zohaib can give Saba the kind of life every girl deserves but it is not going to be easy because Shagufta will probably want Saba to get married to her brother. Saman Ansari is continuously seen playing characters which are completely different from each other and she excels in each one of these roles; I truly appreciate her versatility.

The last scene of tonight’s episode was directed really well which is why it was also very disturbing. It made you question the sanity of all such brothers out there who kill their sisters to save their so-called “honour”!

This episode of Ghairat was fast-paced and had a lot of important developments to its credit. I am looking forward to the next episode and most importantly want to see how this entire incident has effected Saba.

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Ghairat has been pretty logical so far with the exception of few characters and the latest development in this episode which made my blood boil! Why would having a daughter be the perfect punishment for Usman?? I am waiting to find out!!! I was expecting him to have a son like himself who would make him realize how wrong he had been and then he might have confessed to his crimes since he isn’t just another man with double standards but he is also a murderer. A son Usman would do everything for and love dearly who would eventually one day treat him the way he treated his mother would be poetic justice! Yes, someone like him would never want daughters since he has no respect for women but then what kind of a “punishment” is that?

Usman’s mother’s character is turning out to be the most annoying character in the play. Although the writer has explained why she is so helpless and why even her daughter’s murder couldn’t change her stance but even then watching her witness such cruelty and not doing much about it is quite frustrating. In the beginning it seemed like her character will gradually undergo a transformation and she will help Saba get stronger but so far she has done nothing but explain how helpless she is. Aani’s character is the only one which gives you hope but it would have been so much better if Saba’s mother played this role in her life. Saba’s bholapan was slightly overdone in these two episodes and there were plenty of flashbacks scenes as well in which Saba thought about Zohaib. The viewers also found out more about Aani’s background which also explained why she was so willing to help Saba. Aani’s advices to Saba were the best part of these episodes.

Saba turned to Kashif for help and instead of going out and looking for Zohaib, he was shown hoping Aani might be thinking about getting Saba married to him. The way Kashif’s likeness for Saba has been shown on screen isn’t very likeable! The reason for this also is that the actor playing Kashif’s role keeps you guessing about his actual intentions! For the longest time, he gave the impression that he might have evil intentions but apparently that is not the case. Zohaib and Saba’s relationship however has been translated on screen in such a way that you can’t help but root for them. Muneeb Butt and Iqra Aziz have acted superbly throughout and their on-screen chemistry makes their scenes work. Saba’s track is also headed towards the right direction and it is definitely good to have Zohaib back.

Overall, these two episodes were slow-paced and some of the scenes could easily have been chopped down. The drama needs to pick up pace and there is a desperate need for some character development.

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I have to say that I expected better from Ghairat since the story seemed quite focused in the first 9 weeks or so. Unfortunately, Ghairat too is turning out to be one of those dramas in which scenes are stretched beyond limit and multiple tracks added in the story after 10 weeks, which may or may not bring something tangible with them. Kashif falling for Saba has to be the worst development in the story especially because of the way it has been covered. The actor playing Kashif”s role is wooden to say the least and the way his “attraction” towards Saba is covered gives the impression that he feels more lust than love for Saba!! If Kashif is the bad guy than everything that we are being shown would definitely make more sense. It is good to see Saba’s friend being so concerned about her but there were times tonight when she gave the too good to be true vibes. There was a time when I had absolutely no trouble connecting to all the characters and happenings in this show since everything was quite logical but now most of the situations are repetitive more than anything else.

Iqra’s husband is also completely out of the picture and Usman’s mother’s dialogues suggested that she was waiting for Allah to help her which means that we will see many more tragedies before something finally happens. Sometimes it feels like there isn’t a world outside Usman’s house. When Saba was in the house, there was a reason why her mother was helpless but now there is absolutely no reason why she can’t run away to a shelter home. The whole situation has been blown out of proportion. Also, the fact that Saba was not shown thinking about Zohaib even once in this episode made it even more difficult to connect to these latest developments.

This episode showed that Asad was willing to do whatever it took to help Zohaib but his wife was not going to let him do so. I am waiting to find out what he wants to say to Usman and I definitely think that Zohaib’s memory loss is yet another scenario created to drag the story. Zohaib’s will to take Saba out of that situation was the best thing about this drama but for now his character has been relegated to the background in this particular aspect.

Saba was always shown as an intelligent girl who looked for solutions even in the worst of circumstances therefore I hope that her character will have more to offer in the future as well. She also has the perfect support in the shape of her friend’s mother. These two episodes of Ghairat were too average and the kind of episodes which rely on rona dhona and majburis to gain the sympathies of the viewers. I definitely expected better from a drama which started off so well. For now Ghairat is just another one of those dramas which completely go off track. However, there is hope that it might get back on track therefore I will be tuning in next week to find out whether it does or not.

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Written By: Edison Idrees Masih
Directed By: Ahmed Bhatti
Produced By: iDream Entertainment
Schedule: Every Monday at 8pm on ARY Digital

Ghairat promises to be a drama which will highlight the issue of honor killings. When I watched the promos I found Iqra Aziz’s character appealing and it seemed like this drama might have a different take on the issue. The first episode was decent enough because it introduced all the main characters in the story clearly and also highlighted the kind of relationship all of them have with one another.

Jibran Syed’s character Usman is that of a controlling, abusive, narcissistic brother of two sisters Iqra (Sundus Tariq) and Saba (Iqra Aziz) who are not willing to take dictation from him. They have another brother too (played by Faizan Shaikh), who seems to endorse Usman’s behavior. Samina Ahmed plays the role of a docile mother who tries hard to keep peace in the house by making his daughters compromise. Her conversation with her sister also showed that her concept of a “perfect life” could be the reason why her sons in particular were brought up like that. Through other conversations as well the viewers found out why the brothers were raised with such a mindset. It was however odd that daughters who were brought up in such a set up were not subservient especially because both of them believed in doing whatever they could to take charge of things. If Saba alone was like that it would have made more sense.

Although Iqra and Saba’s circumstances do not allow them to live their life the way they would want to but even then they are not completely resigned to their fate. The opening scene showed Saba mustering up the courage to speak her mind even though she knew it could lead to infuriating her brother even more. The hitting part however wasn’t needed and I also felt that the aftermath wasn’t covered properly but it did go to show how far Usman could go if his sisters did not act according to his wishes. Because of her circumstances Iqra has a mental disorder which her mother and brothers fail to understand. They think she is possessed until Shagufta tells her husband that Iqra might be faking her condition. Saman Ansari plays the role of Shagufta, Usman’s wife, who will probably play a major role in instigating Usman to be even more cruel towards his sisters. The fact that Usman instantly believed her went to show that she exercised great influence on him. Iqra is numb and does not even share her feelings until Saba gives her hope. Saba on the other hand probably sees hope in Zohaib (Muneeb Butt) because he can give her a life which would be very different from the one she is living right now. Usman does not even like Zohaib or his family much probably because they are too open-minded for his taste.

Jibran Syed did complete justice to his role but his character. Iqra Aziz and Muneeb Butt have great on screen chemistry and their scenes together were shot well too. All the other actors performed superbly in tonight’s episode and it was directed well too. Although I did not feel an instant connection to the characters but I am definitely interested in finding out what happens next. Like I said I found it difficult to relate to Saba and Iqra’s rebellious nature since both of them were completely different from their brothers. Would such brothers allow their sisters to go to college even? Saba and Iqra looked like well groomed girls therefore I am wondering where they got this exposure from since their father was probably like their brother too.

The preview of the next episode was intriguing. I have a feeling that the first few episodes at least will be fast paced.

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