So Noor Jahan comes to an end and viewers thoughts range from: Well done Noor Jahan in giving us positive messages, to how could Noor Bano forgive her father’s murderer, to furthermore, contemplating Safeer’s ability to evade any retribution right to the end and oh, of course, Safeena’s birthday – we remembered Safeena’s birthday , but did the creators forget?
For a conversation on this and more, scroll on as we give you a deconstruct of the many Noor Jahan debates that raged high and low.
First up, Noor Jahan and Bua’s conversation highlighted two integral thought points:
- That if a mother dedicates her entire life to raising her children, bringing them up despite all personal challenges and spending sleepless nights and days, sacrificing on personal dreams and goals, to give them a stable childhood, which is their right and your duty. The guarantee that they will live with you forever after is not written in stone. And that cross is not theirs to bear.
- Wishing and subjecting your daughters in-law to the same Fate as you have experienced is unfair and depicts a flawed state of mind. Just because a mother in-law underwent hard times when she was a wife and mother, does not mean she has to write the same Fate for her daughters in-law. They arrive in this world with their own destiny, and no one should try to shape that for them.
Both these mindsets reveal a novel way of thinking, one that Pakistani dramas have rarely adhered to. It has always been about guilt, revenge, trauma, or often, one or more characters passing away to conveniently bring an end to the question of retribution.
The Letters Of Retribution
Secondly and perhaps the most moving part of the finale were Noor Jahan’s letters to her sons and then to Noor Bano. While she admitted she was wrong, she also sought a compromise, a fresh start and an admittance that she wasn’t always right in her thinking and ways. Her subsequent treatment of Insiya, her grand daughter and welcoming her sons back into her life, setting aside her ego, was a positive coming to terms with her journey and evolving mindset. Noor Jahan, even in her defeat and in this grand gesture (because Noor Jahan is after all, about grand gestures always), won hearts as the curtain drew on the final scene. She managed to gather her family around her and more importantly, finally won over Noor Bano as well.
Noor Jahan’s letter to Noor Bano addressed the generational trauma that families experience, setting off an unending cycle of toxicity. Both Mukhtar Shah and Noor Jahan had poisoned their children’s minds in ways that would ensure the cycle continues. Has Noor Bano not found it in her heart to break the cycle, to rise above and beyond, perhaps for the sake of her child, if nothing else, the drama served up a message, especially since Noor Bano made the decision without any pressure – it was hers to choose or let go.
Should Murad Have Been Forgiven?
Which brings us to Noor Bano forgiving Murad and his family for her father’s murder. This was perhaps the hardest point to navigate for the makers. And one has to say that although we appreciated Noor Bano for taking the higher route, and Murad for questioning her planning, we wonder how tough was it for Noor Bano to cleanse her heart from all the negativity it held against the family and Murad in particular. Sometimes, forgiveness is easier said than done. And there is a lingering question of whether Noor Bano can ever trust Murad and his family fully. Oh well, a sequel in the works?
One never knows. But for now, the story tried to make peace of it, despite the naysayers.
Sumbul’s Story
Sumbul’s story was perhaps equally sensitive and one that was a tribute to everyone who attempt to give themselves a second chance at love – hesitant, unsure, and cautious about the future. Sumbul and Kumail’s marriage showed respect for her feelings and her reservations about finding happiness ever again, the social repercussions of marrying a divorcee and Sumbul’s own fears about navigating this new life path. Kumail sent out positive messages to all those watching that with patience, and a genuine desire to forge a loving bond, anything is possible.
In stories such as Sumbul’s, Noor Jahan has sent out subtle messages to a lot of judgement calls on life stories such as hers, hopefully allowing people to judge less, and be more empathetic in their approach towards women and men who deserve a second chance at love and marriage.
Safeena’s Journey
Safeena and Hunaid’s journey had audiences invested from day one. The prejudice against daughters is one that dates back in time and Noor Jahan showed us that despite our many advances and seemingly modern lifestyles, our mindsets are often dated, stuck in a cobweb that evades evolution. Our preference of grandsons over granddaughters has led to multiple social traumas where women have been mistreated for bearing daughters, sons have received preferential treatment as opposed to daughters, giving birth to a generation of misogyny.
Safeena’s gradual conversations with Hunaid about how his mother is also a woman, so how could she undermine her own gender and later, Hunaid telling his mother, that he didn’t want Insiya to grow up with complexes if she grew up in Noor Jahan’s presence, highlighted a critical message for society. Many watching must have seen themselves onscreen, either as Safeena, or Hunaid, or even Noor Jahan.
We hope the messages stuck.
Maha And Safeer
Finally, Maha’s journey depicts that women must eventually take charge of their own happiness and well-being. Men like Safeer will stumble, disappoint and even abandon their life partners unfortunately) for lack of a backbone. And although Safeer never really made up for making two women very unhappy, perhaps that was Safeer’s journey, or the lack of it. He will now, do exactly as Maha says, as opposed to how his mother says. Which is, although sad, but perhaps relatable to many individuals who prefer to follow rather than lead.
Noor Jahan the drama gave us some stellar performances, storytelling, dialogues, and execution and while the drama might be called out as a typically toxic saas-bahu narrative, we feel it’s important to note the shades that set this one apart from the rest.
A shout out to the entire team for making it a worthwhile watch!
Have something to add? Drop us a comment and tell us how you found Noor Jahan/ Should it have a sequel or a prequel? Or are you happy with the happy ending in Noor Jahan?
Catch Up More On Drama Gup With FUCHSIA
Zanjabeel Asim Shah wrote the drama Noor Jahan, and Musaddiq Malek directed it. Six Sigma Productions produced it. The cast includes Saba Hamid, Ali Rehman Khan, Kubra Khan, Ali Raza, Noor Hassan, Alina Abbas Shah, Hajra Yamin, Yousuf Bashir Qureshi, and others.
