The latest episodes of Main Manto Nahi Hoon were fast-paced, slick and carried as many questions as answers. From Ms Maria revealing the identity of the murderer, to Hammad losing his life, the drama took on a crime thriller – suspense mode even as we contemplated the future of Hazrat and Mehmal’s relationship.
Ms. Maria took matters into her own hands and revealed the name of the culrpit to Siraj Amritsari. Should we hold her responsible for Hammad’s death then? Or is it Farhad, whose actions caused Shamrez and Siraj Amritsari to act? But then again, can we trust Manto’s story? Was he really present at the scene of the crime, or is he merely trying to implicate Farhad into a murder he’s not really guilty of? When Ms Maria mentioned “Manto never lies,’ we wondered if that was in fact an irony in itself.
Was Manto lying just this once?
Earlier, at the police station, Manto couldn’t recall the name of the shooter but then, the dots connected and one wonders if it was a strange coincidence that Manto Sir manages to be present everytime the drama takes a critical turn; from the very first when the kabootar was hit, then Farhad grabbing hold of Mehmal’s hand at Ms Maria’s birthday, then at the shopping mall, and subsequently, the murder of Hazrat’s father. And what was the relevance of the supposed business proposal by the Bin Yameen family to the Hazrat’s? Did it have anything to do with the murder?
Farhad turning over a new leaf, we weren’t buying for sure, even though Bin Yameen seemed to believe it earlier. Hence when we saw him speaking over the phone to the alleged shooter, in preparation for the murder, we were convinced that Farhad is the culprit. But are things as they seem, or… is there more to the events than meets the eye?
When Bin Yameen and Hammad spoke to SSP Ejaz at the police station, Bin Yameen first denies Farhad’s involvement but later, asks the police officer (once Hammad left), that if Farhad was guilty, what then? Later, when he seemed to be sure that it was Farhad because of whom Hammad lost his life, Bin Yameen turns on Farhad, telling him that all will be forgiven if he can exact revenge by taking Shamrez’s life. The remark seemed like an open and shut case – the killer was Farhad and everything else is a conspiracy theory. Or is it?
It is interesting how the two families are notching up numbers to balance those fallen on either side, and poor Hazrat who has lost his father, is not even trying to seek revence for his father’s death. Does he even know who’s responsible? The police trying to diffuse the situation rather than pursue the accused shows the desperation of the law enforcement agencies to keep the truce between the two families.
Hammad’s funeral pulled at the heart strings. Where a part of the audience was certain Hammad would be the first to fall victim to the age-old rivalry between the two families, the funeral, a mother’s grief and a father’s helplessness were so well portrayed that the entire scene came together impactfully, driving home the feeling of deep loss which tied in with Bin Yameen’s rage later, demanding revenge for Hammad from Farhad.
Farhad depicts all the traits of a cowardly bully. If he is the one who killed Ifrah and planned Hazrat’s father’s murder, he is also the one who revealed extreme fear when face to face with a shooter, saved last minute by brother Hammad, and also the one who turned on his heel and ran rather than saving his brother for a murder he had committed. One wonders how he plans to kill Shamrez with the same cowrdice he displayed in these instances?
The conversation between Mehmal and Hazrat was deeper than all the others we’ve seen so far. There was an air of deep tragedy as Hazrat dealt with the aftermath of his father’s murder. Also, Mehmal’s feeling of guilt, finally revealed a sensitive and human side to her – one that was not revealed to this extent earlier. Suraiya’s dialogue to Mehmal that to be in love with someone, and to be engaged to be married to another has its conseqences, made us wonder – what is Suraiya’s own backstory – do the dialogues mirror her own life? Is there a deeper connection between Bin Yameen and Suraiya that will be revealed later?
Is Manto involved in the murder of Hazrat’s father somehow? Is there more to him than meets the eye? Or is he really telling the truth about the eye witness account of the murder? Give us your best guess in comments.
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The cast includes Humayun Saeed, Sajal Aly, Azan Sami Khan, Sanam Saeed, Asif Raza Mir, Saba Hamid, Saba Faisal, Saima Noor, Babar Ali, Usman Peerzada, Musaddiq Malek, and others. Main Manto Nahi Hoon is written by Khalil ur Rehman Qamar, directed by Nadeem Baig, and produced under the Six Sigma Plus and Next Level Entertainment banners. It airs on ARY Digital on Friday and Saturday evening.
I think the relationship between Suraiya and Bin Yameen resembles the relationship between Mehmal and Farhad. Maybe that’s why Bin Yameen is able to understand Farhad’s situation and has been patient with him being a father. As far as coincidence of Manto being present at the site of murder, I think it is only written that way show the difference between Manto and Farhad. When they are threatened with their own life, Manto seems to push his cowardice and somehow comes as this courageous man who wants to die for a noble cause whereas Farhad is someone who runs away when his own brother is being held on gun point despite being born in a gangster family. Futhermore, as Manto is constantly exposing himself to danger posed by Bin Yameen’s family, Mehmal will agree to marry Farhad to save Manto and his kidnapped brother Shamraiz. I think Suraiya is pushing Mehmal for Manto because by marrying him she’ll defy his parents and Farhad’s aim to marry her. By this, Mehmal’s own family will be against the marriage which could lead to some bloodshed. Suraiya is not just aiming to kill Bin Yameen’s children but she’s aiming to sacrifice his brother’s children as well. That dialogue of her in initial episode underlines this intention where she says to Siraj that “Apne bacche bacha kar rakhoge kya”. Then her conversation with Siraj’s wife where she says ” Wahi ladki ka mamla, wahi tum logo ki gayrath”. Hope this helps. But I think they released the teaser of shaadi way too early last week as the build up to that scene is way slow.