From Jami becoming totally unhinged, to Subuk becoming the force everyone can rely on in the family, Kafeel flips the script to show that a man in the house can be the deal breaker or maker in the lives of his family
While Zeba’s character has received her fair share of criticism for not walking out of her marriage, bearing 4 children and sticking it out with Jami, possibly from habit, or a sense of cowardice to take that dreaded step towards divorce, one must understand that women like Zeba exist around us, and to judge them on their life choices is to judge ourselves too for not being a society that could embrace their decision and help support their life as single, divorced women and mothers.
What made Zeba stay back? Her daughters, as she says, or her mother, who would consider her divorce a death sentence from society, or perhaps, her own weak will, not being able to take a decision and now, witnessing the trauma it has caused to her children as well. The reasons are multiple and perhaps, instead of judging the character, taking the story as a narrative steeped in multiple messages is the way to truly appreciate Kafeel.
Zeba’s friend and colleague in school Sumera, delivers quiet messaging. Modestly attired with a dupatta covering her head (that too, a message for all those who still consider divorce a taboo in a society, and there are many), she urges Zeba to reconsider her decisions through mapping her own life choices. “I did not want to normalize a life where my children see their father hit me or that they must protect me from him. I am supposed to be their protector.” The drama is a call to all those women who are watching whoi might experience similar circumstances. There is another side to the story too, and that’s the strength in deciding to leave rather than stay. This in no way means to undermine the struggle Zeba and women like her experience everyday, but merely a different perspective on our life choices.
Zeba’s perspective that she cannot leave because of her daughters opens up multiple debates. Firstly, isn’t the trauma that the children have undergone and are undergoing too heavy a price to pay for their marriage? Secondly, with a husband like Jami, why would Zeba assume he would not be a roadblock rather than a facilitator for the marriages of his daughters – consider Javeria and Rohan’s imminent marriage. All it could take is one flip from Jami to make Rohan’s parents back off from the proposal.
Also, the family has unfortunately normalized Jami’s behaviour – from his meltdowns to stealing money, even from his youngest daughter, everything is brushed under the carpet and life goes on – a sign Zeba’s friend had warned her of. When Zeba told Saif she’ll deal with Jami and leaves the dholki, she mentions that this is an everyday affair. Imagine a family who takes a person like Jami and his toxicity in their stride and after the tantrum and drama is over, carry on as usual as if nothing happened. This is what domestic abusers want us to do, and Zeba’s family has settled into this cycle. Additionally, her daughters question their mother’s decision to stay on, even stating that she enjoys this life of misery. This resentment is deep-rooted and will show up in various aspects of their lives in future as well as their personal relationships.
The drama takes care to show the trauma each child is undergoing in the house and how they deal with the situation. Zoya thinking of her past and how Jami used to emotionally blackmail her with a knife, Javeria in trauma after he shouted at her, and Tanya, utterly broken as she realizes her money has been stolen by her father. The bond between Subuk and his sisters is moving and Aashir Wajahat has delivered a great performance, both when interacting with his sisters and his face-off with Jami – a balanced, well-tempered performance.
Subuk’s character reveals traits that are practically nonexistent in his father. Jami is irresponsible, insensitive and quick to flare up at the slightest provocation whereas Subuk is kind, considerate, has a sense of responsibility for his family and also wants to support them financially. A small but significant exchange was when he tells Javeria he will iron his own clothes, in a house full of 3 sisters and a mother, and living in traditional Pakistani society where sisters often take on their brother’s domestic chores, this was an all round win and great messaging for audiences. Subuk’s interactions with his mother, sisters and Daneen underline a sense of respect for the women in his life which again, is such a great messaging. Even the fact that he does not flip with his father at moments when Jami is at his worst, his exchanges with his father are restrained, firm where he needs them to be yet always in control; from appreciating his mother when she was dressing up for the dholki, to being the pillar his sisters could lean on, to not taking advantage of Daneen, a girl he knows likes him immensely and who is willing to do anything for him, is a character we needed to see on Pakistani drama screens – late coming, but better late than never and he certainly deserves appreciation.
Furthermore, Zeba and Subuk’s reaction to Javeria coming home with Rohan was so uplifting, The sense of trust both brother and mother displayed is important to softly usher in a shift in perspectives on how young people can be responsible in their relationships. Javeria and Rohan’s intention to marry and the family being a part of their understanding again, sent out responsible messaging.
Perhaps it is in Jami’s character that we needed to see the multiple red flags he is still able to reveal to us. Imagining he has some business deals underway, supposedly carrying on extra marital affairs, stealing from his children, lying to his wife, and then victimizing himself by threatening to slash his wrist are all narcissistic signs we have seen to some extent in people around us, knowing that they spell trouble. These behaviours not only make the character muti-dimensional but add nuances to a negative character by peeling off layers that show us just how ‘beyond help or hope’ are people like Jami and how they affect and wreck the lives of those around them.
Although the daughters’ trauma is very apparent, it is perhaps Subuk’s emotional trauma which will be most telling later (we suspect). As he takes on everyone’s problems in the family and also continues to stand like a rock behind his mother. He is, after all, a young adult with too much on his plate. Will he buckle? Will he fly? How will he react to Daneen’s proposal? All that remains to be seen. But we assume the drama will go there in future episodes to address the pressures on children and especially sons in a marriage that should have never happened in the first place.
Daneen’s character is a breath of fresh air. Areeka Haq is doing a great job at adding a mood to a character we have never seen essayed quite like this one onscreen before – cute, innocent, and yet, witty and sharp enough to take in people’s reactions around her. The scene where she gifts Subuk a new phone made us smile.
The girls chilling in their room after the recent traumatic events in the house shows how families like Zeba’s normalize the challenging events in their daily life and in fact, often inhabit two parallel universes – one that triggers them, and one that they live daily just to carry on – a very relatable picture that must have resonated with many watching.
Sanam Saeed and Aashir Wajahat share great onscreen chemistry. It is a pleasure to watch them both onscreen as it is Emmad Irfani who’s doing a notable job of making us despise Jami. In addition, all four young cast members, Areeka Haq, Hania Ahmed, Nooray Zeeshan and Haya Khan are delivering notable performances.
Mariam Ansari as Sumera, Zeba’s friend delivers a natural-feel performance. It’s great to see new characters make a dent in a story that’s almost halfway through.
Shout out to the direction for executing scenes that shifted the camera lens. Both times as Jami has a meltdown and a struggle ensures, the characters shouting at each other, Zeba and Subuk standing before the girls, the drops of blood on Subuk, staining the kitchen tap as well, the camera angles when he sits at his desk and Daneen enters his room, the moment in the kitchen when the camera lingers on Subuk’s expression and then Daneen’s, the fallen bouquet of flowers that triggers Javeria – these and multiple more scenes evoke a sense of nervous tension that keeps the storytelling deeply emotive and crisp.
Finally, what is Saif’s bride up to and where will this plot will take us in the story? Possibly, a life lesson for Zeba who will see a divorce play out in front of her. Saif and Zeba are close to each other, and she regards him as a brother. Will he come to her for advice on his marriage? And what advice will she give him? Will this be part of Zeba’s journey?
Tell us if we missed something in the latest episodes of Kafeel and drop us a comment below.
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