Set in an era that mimics the 90s, Kafeel has just dropped its first two episodes and one swings between anticipation for an Umera Ahmed script, a Meesam Naqvi execution and a cast that brings it all together.
The opening scenes of Kafeel added a poetic flair to the story, possibly hinting at how the narrative will go forward – the narration by Fahad Mustafa and the couplet by Mirza Ghalib with the screen moving to the quran recitation was a win for the storytelling right there.
The drama moves through chapters, defining the period at the time, and so far, the first two episodes have screened Chapter One, set in the past.
The Story So Far
Zeba gets married to Jami, believing he is the man with the same name whome she had met at an event earlier and began liking—only to have her entire world come crashing down when she discovers that this Jami is not the same person. Kafeel is an out-and-out Umera Ahmed script. Whether it will pull us in or not, we cannot predict just yet. Viewers might be asking themselves, even as they look forward to the watch, that can her stories still survive today’s dynamic drama landscape, or will we see a more evolved approach as the episodes unfold?
The drama is directed by Meesam Naqvi, previously known for Mayi Ri and Parwarish. He has been credited with incorporating the younger generation’s issues, points of view, and language into his dramas, winning over an entirely new audience. Will we see the same here? Will he maintain the classic Umera Ahmed feel while adding a new flavour with his own flair, or will we now see a hint of Gen Z influence in Umera Ahmed’s writing as well?
The first two episodes hit you hard with nostalgia and bring back the classic PTV drama feel. The pace is fast, keeps you engaged, and dives straight into the main plot, preparing you for the real drama within the drama. We appreciate that the show respects the time and emotions audiences invest in watching the drama.
Zeba is her father’s favourite. He encourages her to study, tries to fulfil all her wishes, and refuses to marry her off early. Zeba’s mother, however, is a traditional housewife who views the world through a narrow lens and is easily swayed by materialistic things. Her friend Farhana wants to marry her brother to Zeba, and Zeba’s mother is instantly attracted to the proposal, while the father vehemently refuses the match. Farhan’s family is supposedly wealthy and her brother Jami lives in Pakistan with his father, th eonly one left to tend to him as his siblings are settled abroad.
Meanwhile, Zeba meets a singer at her friend’s wedding who picks up her dropped earring, gives her a small handwritten message, and asks her to call him.
Zeba, being a young girl with no prior experience of love or interaction with men in this manner, falls for Jami, the singer she met. But alas, this relationship is discovered by Zeba’s mother, (Zeba has no idea) and as a result, Zeba ends up marrying the wrong Jami.
You question why Zeba is so naïve as to believe that this is the same Jami she met at the event. Perhaps the drama wants us to assume that girls in the 90s were overprotected and simple. However, watching this story in late 2025 does feel a bit challenging.
One also wonders how a mother could do this to her daughter. Was she happy, enjoying her “win” when Zeba’s world came crashing down, or did she feel guilty but believed she was protecting her daughter from being taken advantage of? These are the thoughts of a 2025 viewer. Those who lived in that era and time may find it far more relatable.
We wish Zeba’s appearance matched the college student character she portrays. It is a struggle to accept that she is college-going. More effort needs to be put into her appearance, her outfits and perhaps her mannerisms. While we understand that the first few episodes were set in ‘The Past’ and the same character will develop further in the drama’s timeline and also show emotional maturity, this should not come at the cost of compromising the early episodes.
Catch Up On The Latest Drama Gup Here:
Kafeel is produced under the banner of Big Bang Entertainment. The drama is written by Umera Ahmed and directed by Meesam Naqvi. The cast includes Sanam Saeed Mirza, Emmad Irfani, Hassaan Khan, Kashif Mehmood, Munazza Arif, Momina Bajwa, Abdullah Khan, Sabiha Hashmi, Ashir Wajahat, Nooray Zeeshan, Hania Ahmed, Haya Khan, Javed Rizvi, Rabia Rizwan, Momin Durrani, Mina Rehman, Baakh Pirzada, Yasir Yazdani, Saira Arif, among others. It airs on ARY Digital every Monday and Tuesday at 8p.m.
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