Mann Jogi starts with Aliya and Ibrahim getting married as opposed to Aliya and Shabbir getting married as everyone was expecting. A fast-paced and engaging episode that tells you what is happening at this point in time and then connects with the past in non-linear storytelling yet leaving you curious about the next twist.
The Story
Why is Ibrahim so scared, what is happening? This question rules your mind, and you are totally invested in discovering the truth. The promos have already given us a hint of what the story might be about, so you know that story is being told from a point later in time and not from the beginning. The how, what and why play their role and you wait to find out more details. Being an expert storyteller, Kashif Nisar takes you to the past and connects the marriage of Aliya and Ibrahim in the present to the marriage of Aliya and Shabbir in the past. The 2nd half of the drama reveals the events that led to the current situation.
Ibrahim’s fear, hesitation and constant repetition that what he is doing is a sin, makes you wonder what is going on, only to make sense later on when the drama shows Aliya buying shoes for Ibrahim and telling her friend how he is a harmless guy who sometimes does some work for her husband Shabbir. You understand why Ibrahim is so scared and completely devastated at the idea of marrying his fearsome boss’s wife.
Performances
Great performances by the entire cast which make viewing this drama so much more interesting. The overall color-grading and feel of the drama is dark and a bit gloomy matching the seriousness of the topic at this moment. Shabbir is not a just a toxic and negative character, he has been scarred mentally in his childhood. Those experiences are now taking a toll on his personality and his behavior. From making the wedding bracelet, a wedding gift to his wife, a kind of ownership chain on Aliya’s wrist, to completely losing it with her for his own mistakes, he is clearly someone whom Aliya despises and fears.
Was she scared of marrying someone else and spending a night with another man or was it the fear of living with Shabbir her entire married life that was haunting her and that made her choose to commit suicide?
Halala Deconstructed?
Is Mann Jogi addressing the topic of Halala or is it just an interesting story about two people who might find comfort in each other? The drama though, will certainly start a conversation on the topic of halala. Appreciation for the following:
- 1. Bilal Abbas portraying Ibrahim’s dilemma brilliantly and delivering lengthy monologues in a way that didn’t lose the audience.
- 2. The director using supporting cast in a way that added to the essence of certain scenes like Shabbir’s mother, played by Asma Abbas, being extremely scared when he is about to divorce Aliya, building up the fear element of Shabbir, miserable yet still going about things as she gets Aliya ready for the nikah, which made the overall situation even more gloomy and dark.
- 3. Gohar Rasheed balancing the psychotic angle which makes him weak, with extreme anger issues.
- 4. Sabeena Farooq portraying Aliya’s emotions silently without much dialogues.
Drop us a comment if you’re watching Mann Jogi and what did you think of the first episode?
Catch Up More On Drama Gup With FUCHSIA
Mann Jogi is a film directed by Kashif Nisar and written by Zafar Miraj. It is produced by Sultana Siddiqui. The cast includes a star-studded ensemble featuring Bilal Abbas Khan, Sabeena Farooq, Gohar Rasheed, Asma Abbas, Adnan Shah Tipu, Mahira Khan, Saad Azhar, Tahira Imam, Syed Tanveer Hussain, Shehrezad Peerzada, Chaudhary Muhammad Usman, Jannat Asad, and Shabana Qureshi. It airs, every Saturday on Hum Tv at 8 pm.
