Meeran’s unexpected reveal of how he was fully aware of Nisa and mammoo’s activities, how he wanted to save himself and Nisa, the embarassment of coming clean right at the beginning and how he felt it was not in his upbringing to react with hostility to such behaviour has won audience’s hearts, and can you blame them? Khushhal delivered a cracking performance and we’re so here for it! Read on for a Biryani review…
Biryani is weaving a tale against a cultural backdrop that is strongly suggestive of past and present colliding in one story – with mammoo and Baba Saeen taking on the old guard, Gul Mehar possibly stuck in the middle and Nisa and Meeran rooted in the present and future. Hence we hear stories of partition, an era that mammoo’s generation cannot ever really move on from, Baba Saeen, unable to comprehend the need for a landlord’s son to obtain a business degree and Nisa and Meeran, progressive young people, Meeran determined to do things differently from his forefathers, and Nisa, determined to succeed in a world that throws her perpetual curved balls, but she, representing the average middle class girl who has more courage than just dreams, soldiers on, unfazed.
And that’s Biryani in a nutshell for you. How these characters navigate the past and present is poetically rooted in flavours of the food that have carried through over the generations; beautifully and ironically blending a bygone era with present times. This is why Meeran partaking of pulao, biryani, and mithai as well as holding family conversations over kahwa, Tanvir bringing Sohanjana (Moringa) ka saag in the first episode, then later boli made from karha (goat’s milk), and preparing Kasturi, all hint at the power of traditional recipes and tried and tested home remedies from natural health-boosting foods passed down over generations – a hit of nostalgia right there. And also a reminder (from mammoo) to the youth that their traditional foods locked in countless health benefits that are presently trending in the world.
Nisa rejecting the old, yet holding on to her father’s watch and collar shirts as precious belongings, memories of a loved one, is also a layer in the ‘Biryani’ storytelling that we expect to be tapped soon.
But onwards to Meeran’s reveal and how he delivered it so well that our hearts melted for him. Nisa appreciated him for his ‘Aala Zarf’ and requested mammoo to lay off. But despite the fact that Nisa and mammoo’s strategies were certainly sneaky and unethical, does that take away from the fact that Nisa was forced to tutor someone despite her consent? And in fear of losing her scholarship? It was in the way that the conversation played out, upholding Meeran’s courteous, polite nature as opposed to Nisa’s straight forward, no-nonsense attitude that we felt he had been wronged, and she, the one committing the wrong.
It also revealed the contrast in their backgrounds, where Meeran, coming from a zamindar family and Sindhi background will always appear gracious, regardless of the favours others are forced to shower on them – because they come bearing gifts. Even when they seek to impose, they do it gently, and in larger than life actions, be it with mithai kay peray from their village or, one day, biryani?
And it is this very graciousness that supposedly masks the privilege that mammoo despises so much in the likes of Meeran and his family. As if they represent to him, the British at the time of partition. This is why mammoo, for whom partition is still an open wound, loathes the class difference in people who should be just like him, but aren’t. Mammoo’s family migrating from a land to create a new life, still struggling in a small apartment while those who owned the land, lord over it, even today, is what he finds hard to digest. But will Biryani have the answers for us?
The layers in Biryani run deep no doubt and the flavours will possibly reveal themselves when one eventually stirs the pot. Which means, in simple terms, that the progressing story will unlock the flavours of the tale, just like a potful of biryani that must be shaken and stirred to reveal the full flavour within. And can we as a nation, also succeed in merging our different layers, of class, ethnicity, language and culture, or continue to struggle through the divisions (taqseem as mentioned by mammoo) created by partition even after over 70 years, never truly becoming one, never allowing the Biryani to mix properly to get a homogenous flavour – a nation with all its multicoloured, rich ethnicity. That is the question Biryani asks, but does it have the answers?
Gul Mehar schooling Meeran on revealing that he was aware of the planning also upheld the graciousness and courtesy of the culture she comes from where she mentioned that the Ustaad should never have to be embarassed or ashamed in front of his student, precisely the sentiment Nisa felt when she discovered that Meeran knew of their plans. The story is weaving a gradual tale, reminding us of the hospitality and values that guided us in our past generations and why they’re still important.
But now to the story
Why does Gul Mehar want to know what Nisa looks like? Is she feeling jealous? Does she secretly harbour feelings for him, the way she told Meeran that anyone who looks at him would fall for him because of his good looks? Gul Mehar occupies a special place in Meeran’s life, he is very close to her and confides in her on a daily basis. Although we are still not aware of the relationship between these two (purposely kept ambiguous), we understand Meeran looks up to her as a confidante, an anchor, a guiding figure in his life, the one who will stand by him before Baba Saeen when he needs support in completing his college degree and delay joining the political playing field like his past ancestors.
Rashid bhai has eyes for Nisa but no one’s even faintly interested. One-sided love is going to strike a fatal blow, and we see it coming.
Gul Mehar overlooking local women’s embroidery skills, teaching them how to refine their colour sense and quality of craftsmanship, and aiming to market the products to global markets was an uplifting scene, one that sends out positive messages.
Mithhal and Jannat represent the gender dynamics in many couples where a man’s ego prevents him from lauding a woman who’s better at him in certain chores (making Biryani for one) and a woman’s conditioning that she is below him in stature, prevents her from owning her skill. Every character has a reason to be in the frame. How Meeran perceives this, and wants to promote Jannat, is a glimpse into his progressive mindset. Has Meeran escaped the ‘silent curse’ of the male ego so far? This will matter as the story moves on. Apparently, there are no coincidences in Biryani.
Shout out to an incredible performance from Khushhal Khan, the way in which he carries himself, holds a phone conversation, speaks to Nisa about how he knew about the electricity outage, wedding next door and the chillies, revealed an actor who has totally slipped into his character. Khushhal Khan is Meeran for the next few months and he has us convinced.
Sarwat Gilani as Gul Mehar holds an aura all her own. Her dialogue delivery, slight shifts in expression when she contemplates what Nisa looks like, and the charm that Gul Mehar carries is a pleasure to watch onscreen.
Ramsha Khan reflects the confusion in a young person’s mind when they are caught between what they believed to be right so far and what their inner voice is telling them, stronger now with her mother making her feel the guilt and reminding her how her late father, whom Nisa holds in high regard, would never approve of her (Nisa’s) scheming.
But the questions on top of our mind
Will Nisa and Meeran enter a new phase in their relationship? Was Meeran feigning disinterest when he mentioned to Gul that Nisa is very careful about not raising a scandal, is he more interested in her than he lets on? Did we spot a masked shift in Meeran’s expressions at the mention of his future children? Is Nisa’s guilt soon going to be mixed with a tinge of likeness for Meeran, as she already appreciates his gracious behaviour. And finally, who is going to be the impediment to their relationship – Baba Saeen or Gul Mehar, or both?
And, curious to know, which flavour of Biryani was Jannat brewing on slow cook – Sindhi, Hyderabadi or Bombay?
Biryani holds as many mysteries as it reveals.
Drop us a comment if you have the answers while we wait for the next Biryani episodes, coming up next week.
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Biryani is written by Zafar Mairaj and directed by Badar Mehmood. It is produced by Big Bang Productions. The cast features Ramsha Khan, Khushhal Khan, Sarwat Gilani, Laila Wasti, Javed Rizvi, YBQ, and more.
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