If Gen Z could see themselves in a Pakistani drama, perhaps Burns Road Kay Romeo Juliet might just make the mark. Read on as we deconstruct the finer layers of a script that’s both entertaining and sending out messages in two back to back episodes.
The characters in Burns Road Kay Romeo Juliet feel like one is savouring a mug of full-bodied coffee – well-brewed, smooth to the taste, a hint of buttery, undiluted aroma that hits the palate like a finely balanced melange of flavours – simply perfect. Which is why, every character feels like a story in him/herself, a living, breathing representation of someone we know, or are.
The People We Know
Perhaps it’s okay to say that we walk along with Freeya and Farhaad, for better or for worse, not judging them because, we might see a reflection of ourselves in them. Maybe it’s about time we start writing characters that are more human, flawed, yet, not toxic, merely to fuel conflict, but because, well, that’s how some real life people are? Perhaps that’s why we are drawn to Shahzain and Kiran’s story. Shahzain is, alarmingly, a man we might recognize, and Kiran, even more disturbingly, is a young girl we have encountered, or heard of, know or … even are? Kiran’s mother too, is a reality hit that disappoints yet exists, and Kiran’s dad, oh well, Kiran’s dad tells us that Karma is unforgiving.
Perfectly Flawed Characters Make Perfect Sense!
Burns Road Kay Romeo Juliet offers us characters that are perfect, yet flawed. And you know what, it’s okay. Because in this blend of flawed perfection, we see ourselves – real human beings, responding to genuine situations, often in similar ways. When Farhaad’s mom implores him to return home alone, and tries to make him feel guilty for abandoning her, we see a desperate mother’s plea in her eyes.
When Freeya’s mom asks her to leave Farhaad and come home, that a mistake in youth can be redressed, that a meagre lifestyle does not a happy marriage make, there was a relatability in the dialogues she uttered – there was no forced mention of class distinction, or looking down upon Farhaad’s family, it was a genuine feeling that her daughter had made a wrong decision and all could be fixed, if only she’d come home, alone, just like waving a magic wand – bam, all sorted!
Kiran’s mom explaining to her that women have to sacrifice in order to build long lasting relations and Kiran asking her, in all earnestness, with a glimmer of hope in her eyes, that if she were to live her life over again, would she make the same choices? But her mom, (disappointingly for us, yet reflecting reality for many) responds from a place of deep sacrifice. Have we seen her before, or have we … ever been her? When it dawns upon Kiran’s father that his daughter might have been physically harmed by his son in law, the pain was palpable, yet, denial crept in, just like it does in real people who find it heavily painful when the truth hits them in the face.
Jojo too, in his simple, as he termed “malang” ways, is a sorted character, who merely wants the best for his friend. Shaggo and Hamid, survive their marriage, bracing themselves for a family backlash, and even as we judge Saqib’s toxicity, he comes out with a lifelong list of resentment against Freeya, which, somehow, makes his toxicity just a bit digestible.
Lessons for the young and old
Burns Road Kay Romeo Juliet is a story in which a young couple elope, tie the knot in haste, and are now facing the ground realities of living on their own, with no help from their families. Financial hardship features high on the list of challenges, but it is how they resolve their daily friction that makes for a watchable viewing experience. From Freeya demanding Farhaad to cook for her, to managing the house and kitchen all by herself now, to Farhaad, going off by himself with friends, to introducing them to her, so they can spend time together, life is about the small yet thoughtful changes a newly-married couple makes in order to settle in for the long ride.
There is a story there for both parents and young children – parents, for being too rigid and not accepting their adult children’s decisions, be they right or wrong in their eyes, and children, perhaps for not considering the long term effects of their impulsive life choices.
A Well Balanced Script
But what makes Burns Road Kay Romeo Juliet stand out in Pakistani drama story-telling is the manner in which the narrative juggles the sober, intense moments with the lighter side of life. Both moments are reminiscent of our own life experiences where we may smile one moment but then, often feel teary eyed the next. Freeya and Farhaad talking out their respective parents’ reactions, letting off steam but then, trying to understand each other’s dilemmas is not only heartening but also a lesson in open communication in a marriage, especially in times of high pressure situations, and how life is not always a bed of roses.
Freeya not forcing Farhaad to meet her relatives when they visit their home, and Farhaad, asking her to go with her mom, though in his heart of hearts, wanting her to stay – isn’t that what real life conversations are made of? We often speak words contrary to our inner desires – human beings are complex creatures, but when you’re in love, you can interpret the unsaid. And when you’re a sensitive writer, you articulate the unsaid in words that come together like a jigsaw puzzle, each piece, a different shape, yet falling into place precisely, when the puzzle is done right – just like a well-written story!
On the other hand, Kiran and Shahzain’s story is a spine-chilling reminder that not all couples are as they seem in public. A courteous son in law might be hiding more behind the scenes (terrifying realization that), and a quiet daughter, who always says that all is well at her in laws, might be hiding more in her silence and unsaid moments, than meets the eye. Shahzain’s mental manipulation of Kiran, where he makes her feel she cannot turn the tables and leave him, is both terrifying and a stark reminder to young girls who might be stuck in a similar relationship, that speaking out is better than staying stuck – the sooner the better. Albeit, it’s easier said than done. Kiran, despite being the strong minded girl we saw before marriage, still needs a final push to run for her life. And viewers are invested in her story perhaps as much as in Freeya and Farhaad’s, thanks to fab performances from both characters.
As the story builds up towards an intense-feel climax, let’s hope the drama continues to retain the same mix of humour, reality and messages with impact so that the narrative hits home, like it has so far, for a majority of audiences watching at home.
Tell us if you’re watching Burns Road Kay Romeo Juliet and what it is about the story that resonates with you.
The drama is airing on ARY Digital. It is directed by Fajr Raza, written by Parisa Siddiqi and features Hamza Sohail and Iqra Aziz in the lead pair, alongside Shabbir Jan, Zainab Qayyum, Atiqa Odho, Shaheera Jalil, Sami Khan child actor, Ayesha Jahanzaib, Khaled Anam, Raza Samo and more
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