Main Manto Nahin Hoon: The parallel universes of MMNH. On one side you feel there is an exciting, thrilling story where we have characters like Khadija and Suraiya, who are thirsty for blood and revenge that blinds. We also have multilayered villains like Farhad.
Then there is the other MMNH universe which makes you question the logic and reasoning behind the love track of Mehmal and Sir Manto, which at this stage completely falls flat and is probably the weakest part of the entire script. Even Hazrat and Mehmal’s interaction is more engaging than the Mehmal-Manto equation. Do you agree?
The drama threw surprises: Khadija set Farhad free to take revenge for Hammad. This brutality and ruthlessness were something we were probably expecting from Bin Yameen and Siraj, but it turned out to be Khadija who portrays this intense rage. She is even willing to sacrifice Farhad for the sake of revenge.
The 2nd surprise occurred when Farhad shot Manto. Since Farhad is not brave and does not have guts. But then we are reminded that he shot Manto because he had his goons with guns along with him. Which is why Miss Maria asked him to fight without his weapons but of course, he would never do that. So yes the twists and turns in this track were intriguing.
The way the script was arranged for all three: Manto, Hazrat and Miss Maria to be at the same place when Farhad reached Manto’s house was also interesting.
Looks like it was Farhad’s call rather than Mehmal’s conversation which finally caused Hazrat to spring into action.
The first episode of the week was slow, but the 2nd grabbed our attention. We still don’t get it – why Suraiya and Miss Maria are bent upon convincing Manto and Mehmal that they love each other. What does Suraiya want?
Miss Maria we can still understand is just tired of this whole confusion and wants Manto to be clear in life. Does Suraiya really think Siraj would let Mehmal marry Manto?
Or was that entire phone conversation between Manto and Siraj, where Manto pledges that he will ensure no harm ever comes to Mehmal, enough to convince Siraj that he is in fact, the man for his daughter? Unbeknownst to others, Manto also has a fortune he had inherited now, which would make him an eligible suitor for Mehmal…
What was that phonecall from Manto’s house? We hope more will be revealed in next week’s episodes. So on the one hand, you are enjoying those thrilling, exciting and engaging series of twists and turns on this track, but then comes the ridiculous love angle between Mehmal and Sir Manto.
Till now, proponents of MMNH were giving the benefit of doubt and hoping there must be a larger scheme and purpose for this teacher-student relationship, even defending it subtly at some points.
But that last scene of Mehmal reaching the hospital and holding Manto’s hands, Suraiya saying, “some girls have the power to bring back life into another’s body” came across as fluff – these moments majorly undermine the drama and script. This weak effort at showing romance comes across as wannabe romance.
There is no depth in the relationship, no connection between the two parts of the script and all of this is worsened by the relentless barrage of confusing dialogues from the characters about “Why Manto and Mehmal can’t confess their feelings.”
Until now we were expecting there would be some logic, some reason behind showing the Manto-Mehmal track, but there doesn’t seem to be any, so why show something that is really questionable? If you are not able to justify it, if your story doesn’t need that connection then why does a script that otherwise seems to have a lot going for it, need this?
Would we be less interested in Farhad’s track if there were no romance between Manto and Mehmal? No, we would still be interested. Manto could have been anyone: Mehmal’s colleague, her neighbour, anyone… and there would still be a love story.
Why bring the provocation of forbidden love into the story, and undermine the entire script?You question the willingness of the actors to say yes to the project.
Catch Up On The Latest Drama Gup Here:
The cast includes Humayun Saeed, Sajal Aly, Azan Sami Khan, Sanam Saeed, Asif Raza Mir, Saba Hamid, Saba Faisal, Saima Noor, Babar Ali, Usman Peerzada, Musaddiq Malek, and others. Main Manto Nahi Hoon is written by Khalil ur Rehman Qamar, directed by Nadeem Baig, and produced under the Six Sigma Plus and Next Level Entertainment banners. It airs on ARY Digital on Friday and Saturday evening.
