Murad In Mannat Murad is helping us realise the many pressures only sons and brothers in our society face. Here are some to give you an idea.
Mannat Murad is bringing to us a young love story, complex familial relationships, the troubles on the path to love marriages and possessive, overbearing mothers and brothers while being centred around our favourite, all-in one desi weapon, saviour, vaccine, hobby, pre-emptive measure – the one and only, yes you guessed it – Shaadi. Murad is the only brother of 4 sisters and the apple of his over possessive, overprotective and extremely intrusive mother’s eye, is kind of a bechara trying to be the son and brother his family wants him to be, expects him to be. Nothing goes past his mothers’ eyes, and she makes sure she keeps emotionally blackmailing him at least a couple of times in a day.
We always do talk about the pressures girls face to get married and settled as soon as they begin to take control of their lives but also what exists is the pressures for boys. In most cases being the sole provider in households, the pressure for boys who are the only sons and brothers is just as troublesome? Maybe for them prevail much bigger challenges, great expectations and life long issues. Murad sure is the apple of his mother’s’ eye and the sole provider for his sisters and mother. He loves them as much as they do but it doesnt change the fact of how suffocated he feels. There are numerous expectations placed on him, both expressed and implied. He is almost avoiding being crushed under the weight of them.
He thought he cleverly managed to turn his love marriage in to an arranged one, hid the reality from his mother but what he didn’t see coming was how his life will get even more stressful. Managing his mother’s dictatorship, running the ship both at his own and his sister’s home and dealing with his sisters, all while he soon starts a new life.
But how will he accomplish all that?
Is the happiest moment in his life soon going to become an added stress? The drama has successfully highlighted the pressures and dilemmas only sons and brother face and struggle to get through. Here are 5 moments many like Murad will be able to relate to:
1. Murad’s Mother Can Not, Not Mark Her Territory
Imagine right now, even when everything on the face of it, is happening as per the wishes of Razia Sultana (Murad’s mother) and yet she leaves no stone unturned to obviously and subliminally announce to Mannat’s family while finalizing his and Mannat’s marriage; that even when Murad has free time, spends it pressing his mother’s head or feet. It had us squirming in our seats as she deliberately marked her territory on Murad in front of his soon to be in laws. We didn’t expect Mannat’s baray bhaiya would take it so positively, but he did, which was nice of him because we aren’t sure how any other person in his place would have reacted. (Birds of a feather perhaps?)
On the other hand, we do appreciate how Murad was still respectful to his mother while she implicitly announced how he shall keep his mother always first. But he certainly had out sympathies!
2. Razia Sultana Can Not See Her Son Giving Importance To Her Future In Laws
Even when his almost and soon to be in laws are leaving, he doesn’t do anything out of the ordinary, he just bids them farewell as does anybody with courtesy but that too leaves Razia Sultana insecure, confused doubting her son from the corner of her eye. Mothers like Razia Sultana just can not see their sons giving importance to their in laws or the family of the girl they are about to marry. Their behaviour is a direct result of their insecurities, the fear that they will lose their only son, that he will now give preference to his wife’s family, forgetting her, forgetting his responsibilities and in turn, they make his life even more difficult.
3. Murad Tip-Toeing Around His Happiness As He Faces His Sister’s Unhappiness
Once everybody leaves and while his family should be harmoniously celebrating the joyous occasion, Murad’s sister Fazeelat turns the mood sour and hurtful. She might not have meant it or have particularly ill intentions but the venomous talk and pushing away the plate of mithai Murad offered was sad to watch. All she was concerned in the moment was how his wife would lead them to be thrust further away from him, given no importance and forgotten, despite Murad’s assurances. Perhaps her own struggles and loneliness have made her bitter…albeit yet another factor for Murad to deal with and consider every step of the way as he tiptoes around his happiness. Not fair…the poor guy deserves to also be happy.
4. Running 2 Household & Compromising On His Future One
Murad goes shopping with Mannat, it’s their first time going out and shopping together for their wedding, is a happy occasion, right? But even then, Murad is on edge. He anxiously examines each price tag Mannat persuses and worries about getting back home or completing his household chores.
We feel for Murad and many others like him, in his position. He supports two households with an average pay, pays the fees of his niece, runs the household for his married sister whose husband is a gambler and is not actively employed. This should not be Murad’s responsibility but he very gracefully takes it on too.
Leaving him stretched from both ends and now even unable to enjoy what should be the most happening and beautiful time of his life. because he worries how he would afford it all.
Oh, to be an only son in the midst of 4 overbearing sisters and a mother to match!
5. Unable To Enjoy All The Firsts Of His New Life
Out with his fiance and friends, while he should be enjoying their first official wedding shopping trip and then dropping her back together (because they came together), Murad, on the other hand is, unfortunately, perpetually worried about his mom calling him. He knows his mother wants him back home…Mannat may have a supportive bhabi on her side but Murad is not as lucky in this case. Scrambling and stressing, he leaves Mannat at the shopping mall – a grown man so afraid of his mother is not the best thing to watch. Will he ever be able to enjoy his time with Mannat?
How Will Murad Survive It All?
Seems like though they might think they have succeeded and have it all, Mannat and Murad’s honeymoon period will be cut short, much shorter than many. Murad is going to need some serious help, more like a therapy session 101 if he plans on having a successful marriage and also dealing with his family because his family’s tactics and troubles won’t stop. His mother will keep emotionally blackmailing and bullying him until he develops a coping mechanism. Does she bully him because she knows he will keep.on taking it?
It’s not that we feel he shouldn’t respect his mother. Yes, respect is crucial but the need for the other person to fairly live a happy life is also important. It is human, he cannot be at the sacrificing end every time, he can’t be the submissive son she expects at all times. Murad also deserves to not worry about dealing with everybody’s expectations at all times. His mother needs to now understand he WILL change as a person once he marries, his responsibilities will also change and it’s high time she let’s his son live a little.
Though we must say, there were a couple of particularly positive moments too in this episode. We appreciate how Mannat’s family doesn’t judge Murad solely on the basis of how much he earns, or how well off or not he is. They know he is educated, hard working and will hopefully progress in his career. There was also thankfully no archaic talk of Jahez. But now it will be interesting to see what many other challenges lie ahead for Mannat and Murad.
Will they both have a journey along with Razia Sultana and Mannat’s brother? The story has just begun for them, and we wait to see how Murad will manage his mother’s wish that Mannat wears her family heirloom jora on her wedding… because, ahem, Mannat and her brother have other plans!
