Episode 5 of Mitti De Baway was a reminder of what an extraordinary actor Samiya Mumtaz is.
We knew Samiya Mumtaz could act. That is not the debate. We have watched her play a ruthless, selfish mother in Sadqay Tumhare and then turn around and give us a completely different kind of mother in Zanjeerain – selfless, devoted and deeply loving. But watching her as Mai Phathan in Mitti De Baway made us realise there was still a side of Samiya we had not seen before.
Episode 5 was hers
What stayed with us was how much work went into making Mai Phathan feel like a real person rather than a character simply made to look old. Look at the way she gets up. The difficulty she has standing, the way she walks, the slight bend in her body, even the way she sits and turns her head. Her costume and makeup do their part, but Samiya’s body language sells the whole thing. You can almost feel the weight of age and everything else Mai Phathan has lived through.
The car scene between Baala and Mai Phathan is where Samiya really gets under your skin. As she talks about her struggles and then asks Baala whether he will get her eyes operated, there is so much vulnerability in that moment, but she never lets Mai Phathan become completely helpless. And that makes the later scene at Nazeer’s house even more satisfying. Baala brings her in, and in front of Nazeer and his father, Mai Phathan starts dropping truths about the woman they know as Billo. The way Samiya delivers those details, with that unmistakable sharpness still lurking underneath her frail appearance, is brilliant. She may not be able to see very well, but Mai Phathan clearly knows exactly what she is talking about – and you can still sense that old, slightly wicked streak in her. It is this mix of vulnerability, mischief and acridness that make her scenes with Baala, and especially the eventual revelation, so intriguing to watch.
Then there were her eyes, or rather, the fact that Mai Phathan could not see. Samiya had to perform so much through someone who is literally struggling to see the world around her, and you could feel that struggle in the way she moved and reacted to people. But what made it even more interesting was that losing her sight had not taken away the dark, raw side of Mai Phathan.
And perhaps that is why this performance has landed differently. We have seen Samiya Mumtaz disappear into characters before, but Mai Phathan feels like a particularly detailed piece of work. The makeup, the costume, the physicality, the eyes, the accent, the dialogue delivery – nothing feels separate from the other. Everything is working together.
Social media seems to agree. Viewers have been particularly taken with Samiya’s performance, with many praising her expressions, body language and the sheer believability of Mai Phataan. Actor Zahid Ahmed also praised the performance, calling it “beautifully haunting” and describing it as pure artistry. For an actor with Samiya Mumtaz’s range, perhaps the biggest compliment is that she still managed to surprise us. We knew she could play complicated women. We knew she could carry emotional scenes. We just did not know she could become Mai Phathan quite like this.
Episode 5 belonged to her.
What do you think of Mai Phathan? Did you watch the latest episode of Mitti De Baway? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
Catch Up All The Latest Drama Stories Here
Mitti De Baway is penned by Faiza Iftikhar, directed by Wajahat Hussain. The drama airs on Green Entertainment and features an ensemble cast comprising Wahaj Ali, Mahira Khan, Samiya Mumtaz, Mubashir Mehmood, Aena Khan, Fazal Hussain, Amar Khan, Junaid Khan, Dawar Mahfooz and more.
Follow us on Instagram
Mitti De Baway is written by Faiza Iftikhar and directed by Syed Wajahat Hussain. It is produced by Tehreem Chaudhary and presented by Multiverse Entertainment. It stars Mahira Khan, Wahaj Ali, Amar Khan, Hina Afridi, Noor Ul Hassan, Junaid Khan, Sohail Ahmed, Mubashir Mehmood, Uzma Hassan, Samiya Mumtaz, and more.