Dobara Drama Delivers A Riveting First Episode
She untied her hair, luxuriating in the sense of delayed freedom. Her expressions, blank. In the event of her husband’s death, Mehrunnisa seemed to get a new lease of life, and even in that very first instance, we knew she’s already past mourning her husband (if she ever did).
Because she was still mourning her own lost youth, the one that revealed itself as she invited the little girl to play with her on her husband’s soyem.
If Hadiqa Kiani bowled us over as Sakina in Raqeeb Se, her 2nd project is already giving her glowing reviews, and it’s been barely 24 hours since the first episode. She is showing us why roles for older women & non traditional heroines can be both captivating & socially pertinent.
Is Hadiqa bringing a transformation in the Pakistani drama industry?
She managed to catch the death-like stare as she gazed into nothingness, then cried her heart out as she lamented her lost youth, or was it her husband? Then turned around to question Durdana (sister of Hidayat) why she needs to die along with her husband? And not once did we turn around and wonder at how old she was, whether she needed to play the heroine or not, because … she already fit the role – like a glove!
Shohar Mara Hai Mera, Mein Toh Nahi Mari …
Pehle Hidayat Ki Mohabbat Kay Hisar Mein Thi,
Ab Unki Yaadon Ki Qaidi Bun Jaoon?
Yes, retorts the exacting sister in law, played by an even more exacting Sakina Samo (remember her in Log Kya Kahenge?) same, same, yes! Fans are already comparing Durdana to their phuppos, not us, we’re just letting you in on popular sentiment!
Zindagi Mein Agar Shohar Biwi Ko Khush Bhi Dekhna Chahta Ho,
Toh Uske Jaane Kay Baad Biwi Khush Nahi reh Sakti Hai
Women do not have a right to stay happy after their husband passes away, let alone live a full(er) life.
And that, my dear viewers, marks the central premise of the drama. Everything else is secondary. But let’s move on to discuss multiple messages delivered in an under 40 minutes watch!
Consequences Of Early Marriage, And Partners That Have a Considerable Age Gap
It might have worked in the olden days, but, as they say … gone are the days! I eagerly await to see more light shed on this one. By the likes of it, in the fleeting glimpse we caught of Hidayat – he was used to having his own way. Hence, Mehru became Mehrunnisa and the rest was history. Dominating or assertive, that doesn’t mean he was a ‘bad husband’ as our desi aunties would have us believe. He probably tended to all of Mehru’s material needs, kept her secure, sheltered and comfortable. He has, apparently, also left his entire property to her, so that speaks volumes on his ability to plan & care for his very young wife.
But with all the comforts and care, he probably couldn’t give her back her lost youth. We assume (since we are yet to see more flashbacks to connect more with Mehru’s story), that she toed his line, more often than not. She crossed her t’s and dotted her i’s exactly how he wanted it.
But Mehrunnisa, now Mehru again, we assume, is feeling the loss 10 times over.
Just a pause here.
I did feel the revelation could have come a tad gradually. A woman, any woman, who has spent many years of her life, borne children, to a man whom she lived with, or perhaps, co existed with, would take some time to realize she’s free. It is, but human.
Or perhaps, Mehru is in a trance, or perhaps, the drama makers felt the need to drive in her sadness, or perhaps – Mehru really can’t wait to go back to a liberated independent female, and now, with a fortune under her thumb, she feels she has another chance at life – the possibility to live life on her own terms, eons away from the intensely toxic sister in law – I grant her that much. I’m all for Mehru giving in to her womanhood. Let’s break free from tradition, say audiences. But remember, Mehru hasn’t said too much yet. What’s brewing in her mind, or maybe she’s sorting things out, no one really knows. Hadiqa played this one with a sensitivity that resonated with many young widows probably.
Yes folks, I’m coming to Bilal Abbas Khan!
The Plight Of Children When Parents Choose To Remarry
Na idhar ke, na udhar ke
We are already watching Mahira Khan aka Mehreen in Hum Kahan Kay Sachay Thay throwing light on how children are deprived of a childhood and bear hidden scars that puncture their adult life stories. In Dobara we see a refreshing turnover, as it is the son who bears the burden.
Unwelcome guest in his mother’s home, forced to live like an alien in his father’s home, Mahir played by Bilal Abbas Khan, juggled a comical, careless young man who is moon phatt with a don’t care attitude, yet gains our sympathy in the very first scene.
5 Saal Pe Hi reject Kar Diya Tha …
And then soon after
Hain Buhat Paise hain Mere Paas,
Muft Mein Zaleel Nahi Hota Hoon
The litmus test of a fine actor is to see if he makes the crossover from a recently successful character to a new one, in the leap of one episode. It is like a leap of faith, where you shrug off the old and wear the new, and hope it fits just as well!
For me, it was the way he perched atop the kitchen counter, thumping his hands to a tuneless beat, threatening, yet harmless in his stance, proudly (flauntingly rather), tipped Rs.1000 to the waiter, yet cursed himself internally for spending Rs.5000 and then, generously handed over the leftovers – that for me, summed up Mahir!
Bilal Abbas Khan is already Mahir in the audiences hearts. They have forgotten Haider, Abdullah and all the others who came before him. In a matter of a few minutes, a young man appeared on screen, showed us a raw, quirky, upbeat, amusing, sad, and intensely proud character who sports flowery shirts – loud, just like his personality. He seems good at heart, lekin zindagi ka maara huwa. And let’s not even visit the mother inlaw factor here – that relationship is lit and fans are loving the comic/sad element there!
Mahir is not our traditional hero from any stretch of the imagination, yet, he already has us, and we’re waiting to catch his story every episode.
Expecting Widows To Mourn Their Way Through Life
Our society imposes huge expectations on a woman. From the moment she is born, till she breathes her last, it’s all about what she can, or cannot do.
Expecting a woman to appear broken, tragic and unable to go about her business is what paints the perfect picture for the widow we want to see. How dare she look otherwise? Calm, sedate, controlled, sambhli huwee? Naah, that’s not cutting it.
Not just that, but the traditions attached to mourning the dead often take over our lives and often, even deny space for family members to really grieve.
Dobara is sending out clear messages in the first episode already
The central message though, as I mentioned earlier, is the expectation of society to not allow women to carry on living. Why must they die a silent death with their spouse?
Mehrunnisa is perceivably younger, but there are many older women whom we’ve all come across who have a great deal of life and companionship left in them – why not let them live a little bit longer?
The story has been well laid out with a smooth blend of flashbacks and current events. We wait to see how our very untraditional hero & heroine will cross paths of course.
Writer Sarwat Nazir & director Danish Nawaz have just given us Pardes and Chupke Chupke respectively. Dobara is riding on high hopes. When Sakina and Haider hit the high notes with audiences, Mehrunnisa & Mahir should be able to ace this one – a riveting watch!
