For 21 episodes, Sadaf Sarmad was on a rampage- unstoppable, uncontrollable, or to put it in the context of the drama- be lagaam. Sadaf was a woman who dictated how her family should live every second of their lives. She ruined her daughter’s life and never flinched for a second and continued plotting and scheming thinking money could buy her happiness. Sadaf came from humble beginnings but married into a wealthy family and somehow that got to her head. She started looking down at those around her and put herself on a pedestal from where she felt she could critique others and judge them.

Sadaf’s nikamma brother, Safi was a failure in her eyes and the mere association with him was an insult to her. She hated her Bhabi Ayesha and felt no love towards her niece Inaaya and nephew Ahmed. Her elder sister, Shahana was also married into a privileged family but wasn’t as affected by her newfound wealth as Sadaf. As Shahana prospered, Sadaf realized she wanted Tooba to be married to Taimoor as he had a promising career. An unfortunate accident resulted in a disability that for Sadaf was too big of a deal breaker. She called off the wedding and arranged for a better prospect- Fawad. Being Sadaf, she started finding flaws in Fawad too and ultimately when she came to know Fawad was previously married and divorced, she forced her daughter to demand a khulah. Tooba didn’t want to leave Fawad and didn’t have the courage to justify herself to her mom and decided to run away with her husband but he ended up getting killed in a car accident. Instead of consoling her daughter, Sadaf started playing matchmaker again and upon realizing that Taimoor made a miraculous recovery soon after being married to his aibdaar cousin Inaaya, she was determined to get rid of Inaaya by playing with her insecurities and using that as an excuse to wreak havoc through ganging up with her sister Shahana.

Be Aib was no journey at all. There was no realization on Sadaf’s part- except when her useless husband threatened to divorce her and leave her minus the luxuries that Sadaf had a nervous breakdown and then she rushed through her maafi naamas. The breaking point wasn’t due to his daughter’s pain but rather the humiliation he felt when Shahana’s husband pointed out that Sadaf was meddling with Ahmed’s business and defaming him. Ahmed carried a torch for Tooba but knew he wasn’t elite enough to ever be considered as a suitable match. However, once Tooba was widowed and her fiancé Taimoor was married to Inaaya, Ahmed’s confidence grew leaps and bounds. His journey from rags to riches further solidified his eligibility yet Sadaf thought nothing of him.

From the beginning, the drama made its stand clear- we were supposed to hate Sadaf and empathize with Safi & his family. Yet, Safi’s family didn’t earn an ounce of my sympathy due to their selfish motives. Ayesha was a woman who was perpetually unhappy with her financial condition and she left no opportunity to mock her husband. I never saw her having a meaningful conversation and her entire focus was on envying everything Tooba had which eventually became Inaya’s. Once Inaaya was married, never did she worry how her daughter would get settled into married life but her conversations were always about how much money she had at her disposal. Safi was no less- he was perfectly okay relying on his sister for financial support and even happier knowing he didn’t have to return it.

Be aib lacked in many ways- the storyline was an utter failure and the make up artist and stylist lacked vision too. The director tried his best to minimize the chaotic mess but there was really no saving it. The acting in my eyes was the biggest sore spot. Samina Peerzada is a phenomenal actress but her portrayal of Sadaf was horrendous. Alishba Yusuf looked whiny and bored as Tooba. Noor Hassan’s puffy hair and coloured kurtas were too distracting to take him seriously. Asmat Zaidi’s flower accessories and wooden expressions let her down.

Urdu 1 really needs to up its game. It’s becoming renowned for high quality productions but they’re not working with the audience. Although most times I tune into a show for its production values and cast, it really needs more than that to deliver. The storylines aren’t the greatest and I feel the directors fail to extract a fine performance which is what makes all the difference. They are managing to rope in big names and I’m hoping their creative department will awaken from their slumber and take charge of much needed change.

Kanwal Murtaza

The past four episodes had a lot happening- Taimoor & Inaya’s wedding, Tooba’s helplessness and ultimately Sadaf’s big win with a grand wedding for Tooba & Fawad- there were all of two extra guests present! Sadaf gave detailed instructions to Tooba about keeping secrets and more pointless banter but Tooba moved from one master to another and spilt the beans about Taimoor and how her mother got in the way of her happiness. Hearing Tooba’s tragic tale, Fawad decided he needed to let the cat out of the bag and disclosed the details of his first wedding. Tooba behaved sensibly- okay no, I’m giving her far too much credit here. She thought it was acceptable since she now does everything Fawad tells her. But Sadaf isn’t happy with Fawad anymore since she’s cuckoo and her useless husband can’t seem to muster the courage to give her a much needed jolt and snap her out of her hysteria.

Sadaf was unhappy that Fawad didn’t obey her the way she expected and that Tooba was getting comfortable with him. She didn’t like seeing Tooba voicing her thoughts as she felt insulted and hated losing control. Sadaf started meddling in their lives which made Fawad think that for his marriage to work, they need some space from Sadaf. They made plans to relocate but since Tooba can’t think for herself to take any decisions, she procrastinated and that gave Sadaf time to snoop further and she found out that Fawad was previously married. The whole text message scene was sickening- but then nothing about Sadaf surprises me anymore. Sadaf’s determined to get Tooba divorced and will start seeking another perfect match for her supposedly perfect daughter… sigh…

Even though Taimoor and Inaaya are married, they are far from a couple and only put up an act in front of their families so as not to upset them. The doctor who confirmed that Taimoor will forever be subjected to living like a handicap had a revelation-Taimoor can recover and walk again! All he needed was some TLC and Inaaya provided buckets of that. Shahana and her mister are forever stuck in their living rooms dressed up like they’re going somewhere. The monotony is really irritating. I only wish they’d teach their beloved bahu how to dress up.

Out of all the characters, I must admit I actually think Safi and his wife Aisha are the absolute worst- don’t get me wrong Sadaf is outright evil but these two are deplorable. I can’t help but wonder why we are constantly made to feel like we should empathize with them- why??? Especially when we hear their private conversations where they hope Shahana APA won’t ask for money back and they are hoping to buy a new home. Safi admitted he’s made countless mistakes, severed his ties with Sadaf over a jointly owned property, caused Shahana Apa’s husband to suffer huge financial losses yet they’re the ones we should be rooting for? Their constant pity parties are revolting and I can’t seem to find a single good thing to say about them. These are the kinds of relatives who harbour jealousy and feel they are entitled to a share of their wealth. For some odd reason, the writer seems to have oodles of sympathy towards them and has ensured they get their happy ending- having their daughter married off where they had hoped, having their son become an overnight business tycoon who’s now setting up a base in Dubai and finally having a brand new home, they seem to have their lives sorted.

Why do I continue watching this? I honestly don’t know. Maybe I enjoy torturing myself with stupidity every now and then to test my tolerance…

Kanwal Murtaza

I find it amusing how these supposedly grown up people- Taimoor and Tooba who were engaged to be married are controlled by their parents like little, misbehaving children. Sadaf thinks she’s won the golden ticket by convincing the uber rich Fawad to agree to a huge haq Meher and not once did she wonder why this guy has come all by himself to get married and wants to expedite the wedding. Tooba sounds like a little lamb every time she belches “Maamaaa” and Fawad has developed a strong liking for her even though she’s not uttered a single word yet. Hasn’t he even considered the possibility that she may not be interested? Or that she is mute? Or is suffering from some psychological trauma that prevents her from social interactions?He came to the conclusion that she has no personality and he can’t tolerate Sadaf so why would he pursue someone who lacks a personality? What sort of a marriage is he hoping for?

Taimoor needs to tone down the melodrama- this dude has an accident and is still alive. Surely there’s got to be a silver lining visible somewhere. Instead, he’s constantly moping and sulking hoping Nurse Tooba will help his recovery. Instead, he finds himself under the care of Nurse Inaaya who is more than keen to prove her abilities as a caretaker/ wife/ therapist/ friend… Facing rejection from Sadaf, his parents decide that the ultimate solution for his misery and depression is a rushed wedding with Inaaya! Because marriage is the cure for everything.

I might be mistaken but there was a scene where Inaya’s face was scar- free. Was that a mistake or did she finally figure out how to use a concealer? I don’t get who’s responsible for styling these characters. Inaaya hasn’t worn a single outfit that passes as ironed! For someone who’s self- conscious, couldn’t the make- up artist figure out how to conceal her birthmark? Or couldn’t she wear a scarf? And what happened to all the clothes Shahana Phuppo bought for her new bahu? Coz she simply woke up looking like she does everyday.

Then we have Sadaf and her outrageous saris. And Tooba and her unkempt hair and uneven liner… You’d think someone who fancies herself to be a perfectionist would run a comb through her daughter’s hair!

I’m aching to know Ahmed’s success story- he went on a student visa, found work almost immediately and a fancy shmancy apartment and now he’s setting up his business? Did he find a magic lamp while he was down in the dumps crying over Tooba?

Aisha and Sadaf are more alike than they realize. Aisha is a poor man’s Sadaf. Both of these women are obsessed with money and that seems to be the only criteria they consider when choosing a partner for their children.

It’s one thing that the story is predictable but it’s another for the dialogues to sound repetitive. Many times even when a drama might not have something extraordinary to offer, the dialogues catch my attention. Here, the dialogues are a complete letdown- not that anything else isn’t! The choppy editing, weak script, mediocre acting, and substandard direction all contribute to a very disappointing drama. Despite the pace, there’s just not enough substance to keep viewers attention.

What do you think?

Kanwal Murtaza

Lagta hai kisi Ki Nazar lagi hogi… I wonder kis Ki Nazar lag sakti hai? Aib, Nazar, harghwiz nahin… These few choice words were used over and over again to imprint the obvious. Taimoor is completely shattered- poor boy can’t believe he’ll live the life of a cripple thanks to Doctor Hopeless who’s on a mission to suck any hopes left for a recovery. Tooba’s caregiving skills were bringing Taimoor back into his world of flowers and unicorns but Sadaf realized she needed to seize control and find a better suitor for her daughter.

Without mincing words, Sadaf called off the engagement and I still don’t get why Safi and Aisha felt they would manage to get someone like Sadaf to change her mind. I think it was important to hear the obvious: 2 Be Aib log = 1 perfect match. I could see the $ signs light up in Aisha’s eyes the moment Sadaf suggested something she’s been hoping for. I always knew Aisha was a cunning woman but I didn’t realize Safi was no less- the way he manipulated the Rishta and made it seem like this was their way of expressing gratitude and convincing Shahana APA and Her husband to accept it was well played.

So Sadaf has started the hunt for an eligible bachelor and neither her husband nor her daughter can do a thing about it. Tooba’s body language shows her lack of decision making skills and Inaya tried to stir up emotions but Tooba couldn’t respond except shrug her shoulders in defeat.

Be Aib is so full of aibs it’s ironic. Just as Tooba will be pressurized into marrying a man of Sadaf’s choosing, Taimoor will have to accept Inaya to fill the void in his miserable life. I wish Taimoor would quit throwing himself a pity party and face his situation with a bit of determination and will power. It seems like Inaya will be the one to rescue him from drowning in his tears.

Isn’t it strange how none of these people have a life outside of their homes? They sure seem to live in a bubble. Inaya and her mother are inching close to the kind of life they had only dreamt of. I found it amusing how quickly Inaya jumped to accept the qurbaani– seriously?!? No prizes for guessing what happens next…

Kanwal Murtaza

Be Aib reminds me of sitting through Sesame Street- the characters are exaggerated to the point it feels like a children’s show. Those who are good are very very good and those who are bad are horrid. Aisha’s envy ended up consuming Tooba and Taimoor’s happiness after all. Just as the wedding preps were underway, Taimoor had a terrible accident and ended up with multiple fractures and a potentially life long disability. It didn’t help that the doctor portrayed a very grim outlook almost forcing his patient to accept that he will be living a life of dependency…

As expected, Sadaf was more concerned about having to postpone the wedding than Taimoor’s accident. Tooba has been by his side comforting him but there’s only so much she can do with Sadaf huffing and puffing like the big, bad wolf. Samina Peerzada is getting on every last nerve with her character- those eye rolls and hand gestures are extremely irritating. And whoever is responsible for her styling seems to have gone a little carried away with the colour palette. Plus, what’s up with Alishba’s eye liner? My OCD is seriously driving me up the wall every time I see her uneven eye liner.

So Ahmed landed in the UK with borrowed money for his ticket but managed to secure a fine home for himself and seems to have a steady flow of cash in the blink of an eye… Since he’s supposedly in Landhan, I wonder if he’s being funded by MQM’s Bhai…

Aisha and Safi’s squabble over the money was so pointless. I wonder why their story is getting unnecessary screen time? We’ve already established that a) they’re poor b) they argue day in and out c) Aisha is a thankless woman who continues blaming her husband for his lack of resources d) Inaya pines for Taimoor e) Aisha still holds a beacon for Inaya to end up with Taimoor…

The ghareeb rishteydaar felt obligated to do their bit by offering Inaya to help her Phuppo Shahana look after Taimoor. The poor girl lacks self esteem as it is, subjecting her to see her beloved up close must be disturbing. I would like to think there’s more to this story and with that hope, I continue tuning in. Sadly, nothing seems attractive enough to justify watching 40 odd minutes every week. Even the OST isn’t appealing and that’s usually one sure reason for me.

Urdu 1 needs some good shows that will make them compete with the big 3. Thus far, besides Mere Humdum Mere Dost, nothing has caught my interest. In contrast, A Plus seems to have upped their game which is a refreshing change.

What did you think of these two episodes?

Kanwal Murtaza

Directed by Ali Hassan, produced by Big Bang Entertainment, written by Qaisra Hayat, Be Aib aired on Urdu 1. Be Aib is the story of three siblings – Shahana (Ismat Zaidi), Sadaf (Samina Peerzada) and Safi (Tariq Jameel). Shahana has lived in the US for the past few years but has returned to Pakistan. Even though Shahana is affluent, she doesn’t discriminate between her siblings. Sadaf shares a similar social status as Shahana but unfortunately it seems to have gotten to her head. Sadaf doesn’t think much of her brother Safi as he hasn’t enjoyed the same fortunes his sisters have. While Shahana welcomes him with open arms, Sadaf mocks him for his low class mindset.

Sadaf is a self- proclaimed perfectionist and control freak. She has shrewdly arranged for her daughter ( Alishba Yusuf) to be engaged to Shahana’s son Taimoor (Noor Hassan) seeing that he is the sole heir to their wealth. Sadaf judges people on the basis of their social status and avoids those less fortunate like the plague. Safi has two children, Ahmed ( Imran Aslam) and Inaya ( Mariam Ansari). Ahmed seems to have feelings for Tooba but knows better than to act on them and Inaya is fascinated by Taimoor and Tooba’s fairytale life- Inaya has a visible black mark (Aib) that covers the left side of her face. She seems very conscious of her mark and her mother fears for her marriage and hopes that somehow she ends up marrying Taimoor even though she knows he’s engaged to Tooba.

Ahmed has applied for a student visa to UK and hopes he can be financially sound and change his family’s living conditions once he’s settled. Safi feels confident that Shahana APA is the only one who will support him by lending him money for Ahmed’s travel expenses and she doesn’t disappoint.

For a first episode, all the characters were well introduced. Samina Peerzada could’ve toned down quite a bit while still capturing the essence of her character. Alishba Yusuf is always selective in her roles and after Pehchaan, she’s back as Tooba. She’s effectively portrayed the role of a daughter completely under her mother’s control so much so she comes across as being under her spell. Noor Hassan’s puffy hair was distracting. Cousin marriages seem to be a topic our writers find very hard to let go off but there’s more to this story- however, Urdu 1’s promo department seems to have revealed the entire story through their teasers and OST so it takes away the excitement of finding out what happens next.

Still, it’s always nice to see actors who don’t appear in dramas as often and I’m hoping this turns out to be a good watch. How many of you tuned in to Be Aib?

Kanwal Murtaza

The second episode of Be Aib started with the engagement of Tooba and Taimoor. Sadaf finds it necessary to upstage everyone around her which is why she gifted Shahana APA and her husband with exquisite presents. Sadaf’s fake pride and controlling nature was further highlighted during her scenes with Tooba. The pact between the mother- daughter duo is supposedly for Tooba’s benefit. Tooba doesn’t have a personality of her own- she’s caught between what her mother expects of us vs her inability to think for herself. Overpowering mothers can impact children negatively as they never let their children grow into themselves but expect their children to be an extension of themselves. This pressure results in low self esteem and leaves them incapacitated to make their own decisions. Something as simple as taking her friends out for lunch becomes a topic of debate. Even though Sadaf has secured a suitor like Taimoor for Tooba, she feels insecure which is why she discouraged Tooba from introducing him to her friends and also instructed her to maintain a distance from Taimoor until they are married. Typically, I would’ve expected Sadaf would be encouraging Tooba to spend time with Taimoor but that’s not the case here.

Samina Peerzada’s gaudy saris, chokers, make up and those headphones are just too much. She’s such a fine actress and could’ve effortlessly conveyed this character minus the razzmatazz. I wonder why the director envisioned her this way instead of keeping her more real.

Alisha Yusuf has been very convincing albeit monotonous thus far- let’s see how her character shapes up in the upcoming episodes. Much of this episode focused on Inaya’s rishta. Shahana APA referred a rishte wali to Aisha and Safi to find a suitable rishta for Inaya. Not only is Inaya very self-conscious about her birthmark but as she parades back and forth with her tray of chai, every rejection is taking a toll on her. It’s hard enough for girls who have to walk the walk in front of countless rishte walis and potential suitors, but for someone like Inaya it’s even tougher.

It didn’t help that Sadaf lured a prospective proposal elsewhere. Sadaf seems to loathe her brother and his family because of their financial situation. She couldn’t even say a few kind words to Ahmed before he left but made it a point to stress on him working hard and not wasting his life like his father. The contract between Sadaf and Shahana is nicely done. Shahana genuinely wants to see her brother and his family doing well and without making them feel less than her, she tries to encourage them with her warm word and gestures.

The promo for the next episode revealed the turning point in the story. I like the pace of the drama so far and I hope they keep it moving. I don’t know who recommended that hairstyle to Noor Hassan but it is awful. It would’ve been a suitable look post his accident to signify his trauma. Let’s see if someone in the styling department makes any changes soon…

Kanwal Murtaza