“Jub koi acha lagta hai tu us ka bura bhi acha hi lagta hai. Mohabbat andhi nahi faragh dil hoti hai, aaib dekhti hai magar nazar andaz kar deti hai!” After watching this episode of Dil Lagi I don’t have the words to praise Nadeem Baig’s direction in particular and Faiza Iftikhar’s script which deserved to be directed with such dedication. This play is a visual treat; the sets, the clothes which the actors wear, the camera work and the picture quality especially in this episode was simply flawless! All the beautiful colors in the background, on the rooftops, those which the actors wear are definitely a deliberate attempt to make this drama visually pleasing and the director has definitely succeeded in doing so. Having said that I must add that the direction and camerawork alone cannot save the day if the script lacks depth and meaning. Like many other scripts written by Faiza Iftikhar, this one too has plenty of situations and surprises in store which are not over-dramatic but truly impactful! It is good to know that there are directors and writers out there who realize that we expect more from them than a stellar cast and beautiful locations. This episode had a few scenes which could qualify as somewhat clichéd but the bits which were anything but clichéd like always managed to stand out more than the dialogues uttered by Anmol’s mother in this episode especially because the context is completely different from what we see normally in dramas.

Mohid’s character is turning out to be very balanced and likeable. Unlike Anmol he believes in soul-searching. He knows that Anmol lied about her love affair with Fareed even then he does not judge her primarily because he loves her. When Anmol questions him about his priorities he pauses to think about what she said and in the morning he also pleads Sabiha’s case in front of his mother. Also, although he has been brought up by a mother who holds him very dear but he does not have an inflated ego. There was a time when Mohid thought it was alright to do whatever he needed to do in order to get what he wanted but Anmol has taught him many things which he would not have learned otherwise. Anmol, of course does not believe in practicing what she preaches. The character development has been convincing and has made this character more appealing. Hamayun Saeed is very convincing in this role, he has made Mohid’s conviction in his love for Anmol very relatable.

Although Anmol is still as stubborn as she was in the first episode but there are times when she has to be slightly flexible. My most favorite part of this episode was when Anmol decided to free Mohid’s pigeons! I could totally see that coming when Mohid’s mother mentioned how dear these pigeons were to him even then I was left wondering if Anmol would have the guts to take such a step. Now the question is whether these pigeons really want to be free?? Or do they love Mohid so much that they will return!! I am looking forward to Anmol’s reaction and the conversation between Mohid and Anmol in the next episode already! This was one of the many scenes in tonight’s episode which was beautifully shot. The expressions on Anmol’s face said more than any words could!

Tonight both the mothers in the drama decided to take charge at the same time! After Anmol’s mother made her promise that she will not brainwash Sabiha to go against her mother’s wishes, Mohid’s mother made sure that her bahu took care of her son. Anmol felt helpless and decided to do something that would make Mohid upset. The conversation between Mohid’s mother and Dastagir in tonight’s episode went to show that Mohid wasn’t really the rough and tough person he appears to be. It also showed that Mohid was taking payments from people who had rented properties owned by them and wasn’t doing anything unlawful.

“Mohabbat nahi ho sakti koshish karne se aur na karwaye ja sakti hai.  Yeh tu wahi ki tarah hoti hai, Aasman se utrti hai kub kis se kahan kese ho jaye, yeh koi nahi janta.” Mishaal and Dastagir’s brief scene together made this episode complete. It is truly refreshing to watch a drama in which all the characters get the screen time they deserve and their stories are being taken forward gradually. Mariam Ansari is doing complete justice to her role and Imran Ashraf is adorable as Dastagir. The conversation between Mohid and Dastagir was also beautifully written, it was definitely one of those scenes that deserve to be watched over and over again! There was a major development in Sabiha’s track in this episode too. It remains to be seen how her mother reacts to this latest development.

I must say that Dil Lagi is much more entertaining now that Anmol is not getting her way! Loved the expressions on her face when she ran to the rooftop to see how Mohid would react when he doesn’t find his pigeons there! Can’t wait to see what happens next. Like every other episode of Dil Lagi this one too had some remarkable dialogues and beautiful conversations to its credit which stay with you long after you’re done watching the show. The director Nadeem Baig has turned this drama into a masterpiece by details which we rarely get to see in dramas. The person in charge of editing has also done his job really well. Anmol and Mohid’s story is getting more interesting with every episode. At this point Mohid is way ahead of the game because he is not focusing on scoring points!

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

Fatima Awan

This episode focused on Sabiha’s track just as much as it did on Mohid and Anmol’s. It seems like there is finally going to be some development in Sabiha’s track. The most important aspect of tonight’s episode was that Anmol revealed her true intentions behind ‘helping’ Sabiha. Anmol’s selfish reasons for asking Sabiha to take a stand for herself and do something against her mother and brother’s wishes were obvious in the previous episode as well but in this episode she made it quite clear that she did not want Sabiha to be happy, she only wanted to see Mohid and his mother suffering. It is ironic that Mohid has been able to convince everyone else in Anmol’s house that he only wants to make his marriage work and does not want to play games but Anmol is the only one who remains unconvinced. Mohid did not succeed in making Anmol confess that she was lying all along but it was definitely good to see her feeling annoyed and frustrated.

Anmol’s mother’s character has to be one of my most favorite characters in the play. She always makes sure that she tells Anmol why she is wrong with logic and reason. The viewers find it easy to connect to her because she is one of those very few on-screen mothers who do not want their daughters to make their marriages work because they are scared of people or what they will say. She knows that her daughter is at fault and that is the reason why she wants to make her realize that things are not the way she sees them.

The ‘supporting characters’ in this play have definitely been playing a very important role right from the start and except for Sabiha all of them are very interesting. Mohid’s mother has taken a backseat after realizing that Anmol will never listen to her – thankfully this track isn’t one of those typical saas-bahu tracks in which the saas feels that it is her mission in life is to make her bahu’s life hell!! I cannot praise Dastagir and Imran Ashraf enough; his love and sincerity for Mohid coupled with his amazing sense of humor makes his character one-of-a-kind. He is the sort of friend /brother/partner everyone wishes for and he comes with a very pleasant personality. Imran Ashraf’s acting has been top-notch right from the start. If he had gone overboard, this character wouldn’t have been as likeable as it is now. For the first time tonight, the viewers got to see Mishal and Dastagir having a ‘normal’ conversation and I must say that these two have made-for-each-other written all over them!!

Anmol continued to justify her actions based on everything that had happened in the past. While Mishal and her mother have forgiven, forgotten and moved on, Anmol finds it impossible to do so. The reality checks from her mother make her feel like a victim – she cannot tell why her mother cannot see that Mohid deserves to be miserable. These scenes in which Anmol’s mother tries to make her understand how wrong she is and Anmol reacts by crying or justifying her actions have been written beautifully and directed superbly. Mehwish Hayat is always very convincing in these scenes because of which I never have a problem relating to how Anmol feels, her expressions say it all! Anmol hasn’t questioned her actions ever even once therefore  she finds it impossible to believe that her mother finds everything about her actions so wrong.

“Tumhare dil ki murad mei aise kisi sahare ke beghair puri kr du ga.” The scene in which Mohid gets up to get water and every other scene in which Anmol feels frustrated and scared was hilarious! I am sure I am not the only one who loves Mohid’s new found confidence. Hamayun Saeed makes you feel for his character and the fact that this character is so well written helps too! The opening scene at the shrine was beautifully shot yet again, the director Nadeem Baig made the most of this location. “Maaei tu sub ki sanjhi hoti hei” scene yet again proved that a good director and a good script can bring out the best in an actor! The actor we all found highly unimpressive as Asher in Gul-e-Rana manages to steal the show every time in this play! For the first time we saw a man being ‘accused’ of not being able to give his wife children – now that was something brand new which could only have come from someone like Sabiha’s mother! Saba Hameed continues to be faultless in every scene. Asma Abbas manages to fit into every role like it was written for her, she is very versatile and immensely talented.

This episode of Dil Lagi was entertaining; this drama has it all, the right kind of emotions and it makes you laugh! It isn’t easy writing or directing a play which is dead serious and funny at the same time. The emotions of the people in this drama are not a joke but the situations can be so funny most of the times. Mohid is fighting a real battle and he needs to win it, Anmol takes her ‘struggles’ very very seriously yet their scenes together are always funny in some way. Thank you team Dil Lagi for another remarkable episode.

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

Fatima Awan

P.S: Readers who want to discuss religious matters in particular are requested to find an appropriate forum online and discuss such matters there. This thread is only for drama serial Dil Lagi – just in case there is any confusion – and there is absolutely no need to drag religion into Mohid/Anmol’s relationship or anything else!!! I managed to discuss the whole episode without bringing Islam into the discussion, I am sure we can all do that.

This was a beautifully shot episode with so many wondrous moments. I am sure some viewers will be very tempted to talk about how right or wrong it is to go to shrines, I personally feel that there was much more to this episode than just that therefore I would appreciate it if we discuss the developments in the story, acting and direction instead of sticking to that one topic!!

This episode opened with Mishaal refusing to accept Dastagir’s offer to drop her back home. The dialogue about the smirk on Dastagir’s face was very true and funny! Later on his conversation with Mohid also showed how fascinated he was with Mishaal. Dastagir is cute, witty and very funny. Mishaal is simple but at the same time she knows how to refuse an offer she is not comfortable with and she definitely believes in speaking her mind! Love both these actors in their respective roles and I find Dastagir’s fascination with Mishaal really cute!

The information Mishaal gave Mohid breathed new life into him and gave him yet another reason to try harder to make Anmol realize that his love for her was far stronger than the hatred Anmol felt for him. The way Mohid kept on dragging Fareed into their conversations was hilarious! He now knows that Anmol does not love this man but she despises him and she wouldn’t want to talk about him therefore he kept on talking about him to annoy her! As far as the scenes between Mohid and Anmol are concerned this had to be my most favorite episode because Mohid was a clear winner in this one. Also, for a change we did not hear the same dialogues from Anmol which were gradually becoming a part of every episode. There were also plenty of light moments between these two. Hamayun Saeed is very convincing in this role; he makes you like Mohid more than any other actor could have. Mohid is genuine – that is one thing about his character which is admirable. He has never lied to get what he wanted. He is also very intelligent and believes in speaking his mind just like his wife but he does not hurt people with his words, especially people who care for him and who he respects. There is an undeniable chemistry between Mehwish Hayat and Hamayun Saeed which makes their scenes complete.

This episode was full of meaningful conversations which were very touching. Mohid’s brief conversation with Mishaal and the one he had with Anmol’s mother showed that although he had not been able to win his wife’s heart but he has definitely succeeded in convincing Mishaal and her mother that he is a good person. Mohid does not need to show the kind of love and respect he shows to Anmol’s family but he does that because he thinks of them as family. Unlike Anmol he is not ‘using’ them for his short term goals. Anmol tried to convince Sabiha to run away because that would have worked in Anmol’s favor. Sabiha on the other hand proved that she was not as selfish as Anmol was! Mohid and Sabiha both have one thing in common – there are times when they put other people’s happiness before their own. Tonight for the first time we saw Anmol actually listening to her mother because she did not want to upset her again. There was definitely a change in Anmol’s character in tonight’s episode, she seems to be softening up or maybe she cannot find a way out yet! Anmol’s desperate phone calls to Fareed and his reaction was also an interesting addition. The scenes at the shrine were beautifully shot, they were meaningful and visually pleasing. The only problem was that it was supposed to be really hot but Mohid and Anmol were wearing very warm shawls and it was quite apparent that it was actually quite cold since Mohid was wearing a jacket before they left also!

Another scene which I thoroughly enjoyed was Mohid’s mother’s brief conversation with the woman who was sharing her problems with her. That woman’s remark was spot on!!! Mohid’s mother was always seen siding with the woman never the in laws before but now she knows better! All these ironic yet funny scenes were the highlight of tonight’s episode. Saba Hameed’s wardrobe just like her acting in this serial is superb. I love all these colors on her and the grace with which she carries these outfits. I especially liked Mehwish Hayat’s acting in those scenes in which she was clueless!

What makes Dil Lagi different from many other plays which showed similar scenarios in the past too are the intriguing characters, the subtle yet impactful gestures by these characters which define the relationship they have with each other and most importantly the fact that every single dialogue and every scene is beautifully written and directed. Tonight’s episode had to be one of my most favorite episodes of Dil Lagi because all the scenes were very meaningful and I love the turn the story has taken. Watching Mohid start afresh with no doubts in his mind was definitely better than watching Anmol play games with him. I am waiting to find out what exactly does Mohid have in mind. He is not the kind of person who will do anything which Anmol will find insulting in any way therefore it is impossible to guess what his next move will be.

I am eagerly looking forward to what turn the story and Anmol and Mohid’s relationship will take in the next episode. How many of you watched this latest installment? Please share your thoughts about it.

Fatima Awan

Although our heroine blames halaat very often for all the twisted decisions she made which changed the course of her life forever but actually Anmol’s overactive imagination and an obsession with assuming things is what landed her in the position she is in today. All through tonight’s episode Anmol kept on judging Mohid and while she did that she did not of course give him even a little benefit of the doubt. Even if Mohid does something good, Anmol manages to think of at least one solid reason which will convince her and everyone around her that he is not a good person. Anmol’s character has always been bold right from the start but until she made the decision to get married to Mohid, she used this strength for the right reasons, now all Anmol does is find ways to convince herself and even Mohid that he is the most despicable person on earth!!!

This episode opened with Sabiha telling Anmol details of her married life. There was nothing new about this conversation except for the part about the ‘kasm’. Anmol is someone Sabiha can confide in and it was rather ironic to see Anmol who is anything but happy telling someone else ways to be happy!! Anmol’s ego might have been satisfied the day she decided to take revenge from Mohid by getting married to him and investing all her energy into making his life a living hell but is she really happy? Anmol also tried to prove to Sabiha that sometimes you have to be selfish to win your happiness. Anmol is stubborn, egoistic and yes at times very unreasonable but somehow I don’t see her as a selfish person.

The references to all those Indian films which Anmol mentioned made me laugh because she said exactly what might be going on in the mind of some of the viewers but she made it very clear that this story was not going to end the way these films ended. Anmol and Mohid continued to argue about everything and anything in tonight’s episode. Although Anmol is no longer my favorite character in the play but Mehwish Hayat has certainly done what was expected from her character. Every time Anmol is around Mohid, she has disgusted expressions, which pretty much sum up how she feels about Mohid. She will do anything to hurt this man with her words and actions and there isn’t anything which Mohid can do to prove that he isn’t that bad after all! Anmol is so full of hatred for this man that she fails to see anything he does in a positive light.

It is so good to see a drama for a change in which the girl’s family in particular has not disappeared completely after she got married. All the characters in the play are given enough screen time in every episode which is something that should certainly be appreciated since nowadays there is a new trend of introducing the characters in the first few episodes and then completely relegating them to the background until they are needed to take the story forward. Anmol’s mother and her sister are a very important part of the story and even when they do not add to the story in any way they are given ample screen time. You are not left wondering where they went!!!! In this episode Anmol’s mother gave the same advice to her daughter which she gave in the last episode but this time she had a different tone. The reason Anmol’s mother gave for coming to meet her was touching! Good to know that there are still mothers in our dramas who we can relate to unlike Mannu’s parents who have decided to play numb all of a sudden!

The twist at the end of the episode was the most interesting part of this entire episode. Mishaal finally told Mohib the truth and the most amusing bit was that she had no idea what she had done!! The music in the background every time Mishaal and Dastagir meet and their nok jhok is always spot on! Dastagir’s character and Imran Ashraf’s acting is simply brilliant. There was a time when I thought that Dastagir was not the right match for Mishaal because she is a completely different person than him – much more groomed and educated – but now I think they look really cute together. And honestly speaking I would like to see Dastagir getting his happy ending.

I have not been able to connect to Sabiha’s character right from the beginning. Her track is repetitive and I find it really hard to feel for her. Mohid and Dastagir have to be the most interesting and likeable characters in this serial. Hamayun Saeed has managed to bring out the best in his character. I always find myself rooting for them. I am waiting to find out what Mohid will do now that he knows that Anmol had been playing games with him. Saba Hameed’s wardrobe and acting is always flawless but there are times when it is very difficult to like her character. She has a lot in common with her bahu.

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

Fatima Awan

Written by: Faiza Iftikhar

Directed by: Nadeem Baig

Produced by: Six Sigma Plus

Channel and Timings: ARY Digital – Saturday – 8pm

This episode just like any other 1st episode focused on introducing the viewers with all the primary characters involved in the story. The story revolves around two households which are completely different from one another. Surraya Khatoon (Asma Abbas) is a widow who worked very hard to raise her two daughters after her husband passed away and she was shown struggling even in tonight’s episode. Mohid’s household on the other hand is quite affluent and his mother (Saba Hameed) is very different from Surraya Khatoon. Anmol (Mehwish Hayat) got more screen time than any other character in tonight’s episode. Anmol’s character is definitely very “unusual”! She takes boldness and courage to a whole new level. This episode opened with showing how far Anmol will go to teach someone who wronged her a lesson and all through this episode the viewers saw Anmol doing just that! Whether it was the lawyer or the people who come to take over the house Anmol did not spare anyone including Mohid (Hamayun Saeed). Anmol is not just bold but she is also very practical. She works to earn a living for her family and when her family is faced with a problem, she goes out looking for solutions.

Mohid is the aklota beta we see in dramas all the time. He belongs to a very affluent family, he is maa ka ladla and he had absolutely no plans of tying the knot until he laid his eyes on Anmol! The first time Mohid saw Anmol, she was beating the man who snatched her purse and the second time he saw her she was beating up the men who came to throw their furniture out therefore one can safely assume that Mohid liked Anmol’s bold nature. Mohid’s dialogue “jhoote insan ke baad mujhe sub se ziada nafrat buzdil insan se hei” pretty much summed up why he would fall for someone like Anmol.

Mohid’s mother is another unconventional character in the play. She is someone who does not have a high opinion of men in general and her advices to the women who came to her for guidance clearly showed that she believed in a marriage in which both partners had equal rights. Not much was revealed about Mohid’s sister (Uzma Hassan) but I couldn’t help but wonder why she wasn’t married. She made a phone call which did appear to be “suspicious”.

To be honest I found Anmol’s character too Over The Top. There was a lot of screaming, running and hitting in this episode – just watching it on screen made me tired!! I found this episode more chaotic than anything else. Hamayun Saeed appeared on television screen after such a long time but he failed to make his presence felt. I always find his make-up extremely distracting and there was nothing special about his character as well. It is obviously too early to judge the characters therefore I am looking forward to finding out more about all these characters. I found Uzma Hassan’s character intriguing and I am hoping that there will be a ‘human’ side to Anmol as well. It is always good to see an unconventional leading lady who is bold but somehow I had a difficult time connecting to Anmol’s character in this episode. Both Mehwish Hayat and Hamayun Saeed failed to blow me away in tonight’s episode but I am very willing to be pleasantly surprised in the upcoming episodes. Saba Hameed made her presence felt just the way she always does. I liked the way the actors playing the leading roles in the drama were introduced in the beginning of the episode.

Overall, this episode was strictly okay. There was absolutely nothing about the story or the characters that instantly wins you over. The preview of the next episode showed Mohid asking his mother to go to Anmol’s house to ask for her hand in marriage. Will that lead to even more ‘chaos’? The interactions between Anmol and Mohid in the preview did suggest that they will have “rocky relationship”!

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

If you missed the first episode of Dil Lagi watch it on http://www.dramasonline.com

Fatima Awan