It is a simple love story – Director Muhammad Ehteshamuddin on Maya Ali and Bilal Ashraf’s upcoming drama.
The upcoming HUM TV drama written by Sarwat Nazir, starring Maya Ali and Bilal Ahraf will go on air soon and it was a pleasure to hear my phone buzz with a message from the director, along with an image – Shazia, here’s the first look. I remembered my promise!
Yunhi – That’s the name of the story that’s about to unfold on our television screens very soon!
I recalled having reached out to Mohammad Ehteshamuddin when news of the project hit the internet. At the time I was deep in contemplation between two divides – Jo Bichar Gaye and Khaab Toot Jaate Hain – the latter, a project from the same director. Having bumped into him at pre-Eid premieres in Karachi, I wanted to share my appreciation of his Art. There are few projects that touch my heart, and his always seemed to top the list.
So here I am, contemplating January ki sardian under a razai and moong phalli s in Basel, Switzerland, and Pakistani dramas (only the best please) running on my screen – because memories of Parizaad and Raqeeb Se keep me up at night – when will we get another masterpiece, I ask my dramatic self! Will Yunhi be the one?
Why Yunhi? I asked Muhammad Ehteshamuddin, director of this upcoming Hum TV project responded almost instantly, “because the name sticks. Because very often, things just happen, Yunhi.”
Buhat sari jeezain zindagi mein aati hain, wo yunhi dhari ki dhari reh jaati hain. Unki jhaar poch bhi nahi ki jaati. Baaz dafa unki safai bhi nahi ki jaati. Yeh faisla insaan ko karna hai keh jo yunhi nazar aaraha, wo yunhi rahega ya us mein kuch tabdeeli aayegi?
Muhammad Ehteshamuddin on upcoming project Yunhi
Two people meet, they share the same roots, but they have grown up or matured in different societies. Call it a love story, how these two fall in love, tolerate each other, respect each other, change each other.
On inquiring about the issue addressed therein:
You will not need anti-depressants to watch Yunhi – Director Ehteshamuddin tells us of the Maya Ali-Bilal Ashraf Love Story to hit our TV screens in January
As I breathe a sigh of relief on that one, he continues to tell me more: “It is a very relatable story. Those living outside Pakistan will also relate, especially. Those whose children grow up abroad and then return to Pakistan, those issues have also been addressed. How norms vary between cultures, moving to a foreign country and then moving back home.”
“Yunhi is about cultural diversity. How people from different societies come together and live with each other.” This is the topic. The director explains why it is a project close to his heart (as all projects are, I assume, he takes them on one at a time, in order to do justice to them): “I loved the simplicity of the story and I have also tried to relate it on screen with the same simplicity.”
The shoot began in October, we are halfway through shooting. It should go on air in January even though the shooting will continue and wrap up that month.
Maya Ali and Bilal Ashraf are the main leads
I have worked with Bilal in Superstar. So this is my second project with him. I have worked with Maya for a Quetta Gladiators song as well on an Azaan Sami Khan song Ik Lamha. I am also working with her on an ongoing project in the pipeline. So, more details later.
On the casting, he divulged: First experience with Maya Ali in drama and I felt both Maya and Bilal are perfect for the roles. Momina agreed as well.
“It is a love story”, reveals Ehteshamuddin. Family drama, social messages, it’s all there! There is a main house where the story takes root, we move on then. There will be multiple locations, but we come back to the house.
It is a simple story of the hearts. Once you start watching, you won’t want to stop. This I can say with complete surety, responds the director, confident about his creation. Once you watch, you can’t stop! It is a relatable story, audiences will resonate with it.
“Ensemble cast includes veteran actor Manzoor Qureshi of Hasina Moin’s Kiran Kahani fame, Behroze Sabzwari, Deepak Perwani, Tahira Imam, people you have seen rarely will make a comeback. Tazeen Hussain, daughter of Talat Hussain and Uzma Baig are also part of the project. A mixed casting as well as some new talent with a fresh feel” – signs off the director!
Why Yunhi? I asked the director
The name was decided by writer Sarwat Nazir. And yes, it’s a very apt name, quips Ehtehamuddin. Sometimes things happen in life – Yunhi.
Yunhi has been scripted by Sarwat Nazir of Main Hoon Abdul Qadir, recently Dobara and Pardes. Produced by Momina Duraid Productions at HUM TV and directed by Muhammad Ehteshamuddin of Superstar, Dum Mastam, Aangan, Udaari, Sadqay Tumhaare, and most recently (and close to my heart) Khaab Toot Jaate Hain.
Shooting days will be about 60 odd days and hopefully, the story will cover about 22 – 23 episodes. Rolling out in January for viewers.
On finding inspiration for new projects, the director opined: “One should never stay in a bubble. Taking inspiration is not bad, and then I experiment with the inspiration I get. I try to move the experiment ahead.”
“I would love to do more workshops with the cast. But it is hard because of the restricted timelines. I would love to have more interaction so that the work and performances are even better. Unfortunately, time does not permit us, managing time, cost, and everyone’s dates – creativity suffers. I’m hoping that a time will come when we give projects more time, bring about change and improve our quality and project. Once, if we get that, we will see even more improvement in what we deliver.” Spoken like an artist who is in constant pursuit of perfection
On Beehive productions, a creative venture of Ehteshamuddin and Bilal Ashraf
We plan to create more 4-to-6-episode serials. And other production houses are also considering it. To prevent the unnecessarily stretched narrative. And then, if there is potential, we can always bring Season 2. Hmm, kind of Netflix Limited Edition, I’d say, and I bet audiences are looking forward to the anti-thesis of soaps!
My question on Yunhi– will we need anti-depressants and a box of tissues?
He lets out a laugh. I hope you won’t need anti-depressants; it is uplifting. People will like the story. Characters are in grey shades. Not black and white. And the narrative moves forward at a pace. Interesting events that will make you think hard. For sure, like I said, you watch a few episodes, and you will want to keep watching.
He signs off philosophically on his quest to do more and better work, yet keep the balance.
It is hard to do more than one project at a time. It weighs upon you, especially if it’s a heavy one, you need time to recover from it. So, I let go of many projects because I wanted to get over the delayed ones I was involved in over Covid.
