A spoiled rich guy falls in love with an upper-middle-class girl, stalks her, and doesn’t take “no” for an answer. But does that make it okay if it’s the theme of an 8 p.m. prime-time drama starring some of the country’s top actors? That’s exactly what Meri Zindagi Ho Tum (MZHT) makes us question.
There are some good parts — a few interesting camera angles, some surprises and then plenty of predictable moments that, though questionable, still make you smile. Ah, the unseen perils of portraying “extreme love.”Swipe Kamyar is a traumatised man scarred by his parents’ relationship. He shows no responsibility or interest in business, drinks, has little respect for women (treating them like disposable plates), and carries an air of arrogance.
Ayra, on the other hand, belongs to an upper-middle-class family. She’s fearless, bold, and studying to become a doctor.
After a car collision, Kamyar hits Arya’s brother and Arya takes revenge by destroying Kamyar’s expensive car and puncturing his tyre right before an important meeting. As expected, Kamyar falls for Arya and becomes obsessed with making her love him back at any cost.
The drama does catch your attention with its cinematography. Director Musaddiq Malik uses master shots beautifully, showcasing buildings and breaking the monotony of repetitive indoor scenes. The car showroom sequence was particularly well shot. The aerial and side shots of Ayra’s college also add a refreshing 2D visual feel.
Kamyar and his Dadi’s (grandmother’s) interactions are adorable. Bilal Abbas wins hearts in several scenes, especially when Dadi asks if he started the fight with the girl. His subtle expressions and emotive eyes make that scene particularly heartwarming. Similarly, when Arya slaps him and demands his car keys after he burns her car, Bilal’s confused yet surprised reaction is spot-on.
Ayra’s reaction when Kamyar burns her car is both surprising and refreshing — for us and for Kamyar. He’s stunned that this girl isn’t impressed or scared. She refuses to let him bully her and demands his car instead. It’s the classic “you defy me, I’ll fall for you” trope, executed decently. (Though one can’t help but wonder, where was the other car Arya’s brother had?)Kamyar, however, confuses us as a character.
What’s he really doing with these girls? He doesn’t talk to them, doesn’t flirt, just keeps them around briefly and leaves. Is it his extreme loneliness at play?
If the drama intends to show him as a playboy with no respect for women’s feelings, that part is underdeveloped. If they can’t depict physical relationships, they should at least establish his flirtatious or manipulative behaviour more convincingly.Why are the women in full glam even when the husband/father is in the hospital in the middle of the night? Arya’s mother and sister look perfectly made up, with flawless hair and eyeliner. Even Arya could tone down the mascara game a bit for realism.
We appreciate the positive, supportive father figure in Ayra’s family — clearly the source of her fearless attitude.But here’s where it gets tricky. While Kamyar’s persistence and Bilal Abbas’s charm make us smile, it’s still deeply questionable to show a man relentlessly chasing a woman who’s clearly said no. The drama stirs that old, problematic fantasy, the idea that a man’s obsessive love is romantic, not toxic.
If someone can’t take no for an answer, how will they ever truly listen to you in a relationship?
Why do our dramas keep romanticising stalking and forceful pursuit? Some degree of persistence can be shown, sure, but when it crosses into harassment, like Kamyar blocking Arya’s car in the middle of the road, it becomes scary. If that happened in real life, it would be terrifying.
Surely our writers and creators can come up with better, healthier ways to show someone winning another’s heart in ways that don’t blur the line between love and obsession.
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The ensemble cast includes Hania Aamir, Bilal Abbas Khan, Meher Jaffri, Ali Rehman Khan, Vardah Aziz, Alyy Khan, Javeria Abbasi, Adnan Jaffer, Shamim Hilaly, Arjumand Rahim, Atabik Mohsin, Shazia Qaiser, Muhammad Fawad, Fatima Gohar and others. The drama is Written by Radain Shah, directed by Mussadiq Malik and airs on ARY Digital every Friday and Saturday at 8p.m.
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