The bittersweet story of Haji Mushtaq and Barbeena takes us on a journey where there are tender and heart-winning moments but then there are also harsh perceptions conditioned by society, thrown at us like little pebbles which jolt us out of our dream world.
Stellar Performances
We witnessed stellar performances from both Sabeena Farooq and Mohammed Ehteshamuddin as Barbeena and Haji Mushtaq respectively. The drama gradually, beautifully and with great care, depicted tender moments between Haji Mushtaq and Barbeena, and how they are becoming more and more aware of each other. Haji sahib is affected more than Barbeena; a sensation that he had not expected, a feeling that he doesn’t have the courage to say out loud or even admit to himself, something that scares him. Maybe he believes it will be unfair to a young girl like Barbeena, again, a thought that we hold as a society and is aptly represented through these characters.
Setting The Mood
The family interactions and the dinner table conversations are so endearing and won our heart. The singing by Barbeena, so simple yet so lovely. Sadly, Haji Mushtaq is also living in denial, he didn’t realize what the future can hold for Barbeena. She cannot go on, living like this – something that he might have to face very soon as she gets more marriage proposals.
Moment Of Realization
What stands out most in this drama is Barbeena’s innocence, her purity and honesty. She has accepted Haji Mushtaq without any bitterness and is 100% honest with him. An emotional, yet a monumental step in their relationship occurs when Haji sahib is reluctant to let her touch his head when he has a headache. She cares for him, respects him but also realizes what he really means to her, her husband, as she reminds him gently that she is not a “ghair aurat”.
The Moment Of Truth
While we take in all these precious moments and want them to be together, maybe, like us, we are also waiting desperately for the moment when Haji will declare his nikah to everyone. The drama doesn’t forget to remind us how society views such relationships. The age difference is highlighted with references of “like a daughter”. It makes us question, are we really justified in frowning upon, disapproving or labelling marriages with an age difference, (by passing certain comments and assumptions)? The story really prompts one to think hard.
Endearing Moments
The final scene where Haji tells Barbeena about her brother’s successful surgery was another moment of joy that they both shared together… and maybe they drew even closer to each without even realizing it as they shared their sorrows and joy. Barbeena’s sacrifice was eventually worth it.
The beauty of Kabli Pulao is how the narrative presented us with a story that could have been judged in a negative light, but now, has unexpectedly made us fall in love.
Produced by Q & K Production in association with Multiverse Entertainment, Kabli Pulao features Sabeena Farooq and Mohammed Ehteshamuddin as leads, alongside Nadia Afgan, Abdullah Farhatullah, Saqib Sumeer, Adnan Shah Tipu, Haseeb Khan, Munazzah Arif, Farzana Taheem and more. Kabli Pulao is directed by Kashif Nisar and written by Zafar Mairaj, the drama airs every Tuesday at 8 pm only on Green TV.
