Rutba: The story takes a turn as Pakistani dramas enter a new era that stands on the precipice of storytelling versus messaging
For quite a few years now, Pakistani dramas have sent out strong messages as a way to reach out to mass audiences and nudge a shift in mindset.
But narratives like the recent Muamma, starring Saba Qamar, and now, presumably, Rutba, starring Talha Chahour and Hiba Bukhari, attempt to play it differently.
The story is refreshingly unpreachy (so far) yet sends out subtle reminders through the love story of Hadi and Mahnoor as their happily-ever-after world collides with that of Sheely and Meer.
Hadi’s visible discomfort at Meer’s party (aptly called out as insecurity by Mahnoor) shows how easy it is for the best among us to feel threatened by all the glitz and glamour we try to deny, but which is just within our reach if we falter even slightly in our principles.
Sheely is unabashedly throwing her charms at Hadi. And it is interesting to see (without judging Hadi here) how a man who is so devoted to his wife can be made to feel uncomfortable to the point that he is not even coming clean with Mahnoor when she asks him about the gym and his Sheely encounter.
It is not that Hadi is cheating on his wife or has a roving eye for other women; it is just the forced circumstances he is faced with. Unpredictable, polished players like Sheely and Meer are able to unnerve him, despite all his honesty and resolve.
When Meer smooth-talks Mahnoor about her art, and Hadi’s gaze slips to the tattoo on Sheely’s ankle, and then Hadi blames Mahnoor for being overly forthcoming with Meer, we shift from feeling amused at the tattoo and Sheely flipping her hair in Hadi’s face, to smiling at Hadi’s stereotypical husband remarks to Mahnoor.
And all the scheming, plotting, and sharp moves wrap up with a serenade across the bathroom door, Hadi trying to cajole Mahnoor and apologizing for his previous remarks—utterly sweet and almost as if we had imagined the previous Sheely-Meer interactions—so bizarre is the story, and yet, totally absorbing.
Well played, Rutba, for allowing us to enjoy the story and leave our moral policing at the door.
The characters are gripping, the situations unexpected, and the dialogues intriguing. And that’s why, despite all of Hadi’s discomfort, seemingly insecure feels and hiding the whole truth from Mahnoor, we ask: Is Hadi about to give in to Sheely’s charm game, or is it all a game for him too? Is he secretly playing along? Who’s fooling whom? That’s the question!
Two thumbs up to Rutba this week. Let’s see where the story goes from here. Fingers crossed for a drama that pulls us in to the story.
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Drama Rutba is penned by Umera Ahmed, directed by Haseeb Hassan and features Hiba Bukhari, Zahd Ahmed, Mehwish Hayat, Talha Chahour and others.
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