Mann Jogi is not coming slow on the intensity meter; with the story of Aliya, Ibrahim and Shabbir keeping us on the edge of our seats from the moment we set eyes on them. Interestingly, with a narrative from Zafar Mairaj and direction from Kashif Nisar, despite the drama throwing off “old world” feels, the pace wasn’t coming slow.
The Story Of Ibrahim, Aliya & Shabbir
Aliya is married off to Ibrahim in a rapidly arranged ceremony devoid of guests, celebration or any of the accompanying rituals other than the minimum requirements of Nikah, that too, in a somber ceremony in a masjid, before a maulvi sahab. As one wonders at the strangeness of the narrative, suspecting that lots is amiss (photographs in the episode point to an earlier marriage between Aliya and Shabbir), one wonders at the need for such a dire step where none of the participants – Aliya, Ibrahim or Shabbir are at peace with the union.
What must have happened to compel the characters to enter into this marriage?
The Concept Of Halala & Its Execution
The sets are very Kashif Nasir-ish, a signature raw feel to the drama makes one slip into another vintage-like time zone, almost as if Mann Jogi is your period drama, PTV times revisited. The camera angles, at one point, Aliya’s mother-in-law and Aliya pictured from overhead through a mirror is especially intriguing, adding an outsider’s perspective to the scene. Although one can argue that Kashif Nisar dramas carry the same, old world feel – Raqeeb Se and Kabli Pulao being recent examples, it is also interesting to note that the writer-director pair Zafar Mairaj and Kashif Nisar have come together once again after Kabli Pulao, to deliver a story that has a similar feel. The question is: how will they make it different?
Yes, the issue at hand, apparently Halala, has unfortunately been a dilemma for many couples, yet, the level of intensity, vibe of the frames and of course, the presence of Sabeena Farooq as Aliya is giving strong throwback feels. However, don’t be too quick to judge a first episode, says the mind, the story is powerful, certainly relevant, and carries with it, a sharp creative team, and a stellar cast, hence, Mann Jogi is one that should stay on our watchlist as more of the story reveals itself.
Performances & The Narrative
The performances in the first episode matched the intense feels – from Bilal Abbas Khan as Ibrahim, lamenting his fate with a wow performance, to Aliya essayed by Sabeena Farooq, frightened, nervous, and then wholly calm, to Mirza Gauhar Rasheed as Shabbir, strong one moment and weak the next, Mann Jogi’s cast has everything going for it. This drama promises to give a narrative that’s set apart from everything else airing on television at present. The story is set to be a journey of hearts and souls, navigating human emotions and relationships as only Zafar Mairaj and Kashif Nisar can. If you’re one who misses the vintage in Pakistani dramas, this one might just be for you!
Catch Up More On Drama Gup With FUCHSIA
Mann Jogi is a film directed by Kashif Nisar and written by Zafar Miraj. It is produced by Sultana Siddiqui. The cast includes a star-studded ensemble featuring Bilal Abbas Khan, Sabeena Farooq, Gohar Rasheed, Asma Abbas, Adnan Shah Tipu, Mahira Khan, Saad Azhar, Tahira Imam, Syed Tanveer Hussain, Shehrezad Peerzada, Chaudhary Muhammad Usman, Jannat Asad, and Shabana Qureshi. It airs, every Saturday on Hum Tv at 8 pm.
