Here we go, when the going gets tough the tough get going. And it was tough to watch dramas this week! From Faiza faking a head injury in Farq to Dilawer seriously missing a link, in fact several, in Bakhtawar, did we even need the return of Shaji in Fraud and why can’t Faraz just send Anum packing home in Wabaal?
Yeah. Dramas make you tough, coz you battle with the desire to switch off the TV as opposed to watching yet another extra marital affair play out and that too, with a censor board that leaves much to your imagine – how colorful is that? Okay but jokes apart (I was serious though), here’s something that is not being watched enough and should be!
Pinjra
Abaan is in serious trouble, but what’s worrying me is Javed. Because his bubble has just been popped and it’s not long before he starts questioning his own parenting skills, or the lack of them. Many question if we needed to see the micro details of Javed’s anger, but I do feel it will reflect on his journey later on in the narrative. This is Javed, the put together, calm, unshaken patriarch who is about to be shaken from his high horse, in fact, pulled off entirely. He will pick on Wajiha’s children next, coz that’s what people with insecurities do. He will mentally (and physically) torture his family to the end till he turns his wrath upon himself … eventually. My prediction coz something’s gotta give in Javed and soon!
Dua revealing that she was S### scared of her dad and would lock herself up in her room was a revelation and a half for a mom who thought she had excellent communication skills with her children. That’s the bang of parenthood, you never know what hits you till it hits you! Wake up all you parents of teenagers and start talking and listening to what your children are not saying. In short, Pinjra expects us all to become mind readers, therapists and more with our children, but believe me, parents are that and more. All you need is a whole lotta love actually, and the rest shall come!
And that’s me and Pinjra because I’m not spending too much time on Daraar – dare you ask me why? I don’t plan to answer.
Fraud
So, Fraud it is, and I think Maya is going so slow that Shaji will be through her husband’s financials, leave him high and dry before she utters a word – that is the kind of non-disclosure agreement only valid in Pakistani dramas, but, onwards to Nyle and Maya’s conversation.
It was just love on many levels! Two emotionally injured people can marry not from love as well, but mutual comfort and companionship. Adnan Samad and Rabya Kulsoom aka Nyle and Maila delivered a heartfelt scene as two lost souls seeking a way to overcome, and hopefully, they will. Most importantly, the writer Zanjabeel Asim Shah has validated Nyle’s story arc, redeeming him of his poor decisions and actions earlier and that is a refreshing break from the likes of KTK where we are forced to be all starry-eyed for Mehak and Shamsher’s romantic turn of events. Get what I’m saying? Hope so! If not, go on and watch KTK and forget I said that. We are not from the same planet and that’s okay too!
One point to note in Fraud, women can move on in life without getting married – a job, career, and fulfilling life await. Maya and Maila’s parents can be shown to be more progressive too, however that is not the story here, so I’ll let it rest!
On To Wabaal
Wabaal and is Faraz being too gentle on Anum or he’s just given up? I fear it’s the latter. Faraz’s mom is giving her a piece of her ‘mother-in-law’ mind, but somehow, we’re not complaining. Anum is a slippery one and needs to be set straight. Unfortunately, there are parent-daughter (and son btw) relationship dynamics like those shown in Wabaal where the parents have zero influence over their grown-up children and prefer the spouse deals with behavioral issues. That is a sad place to be in, but it reflects some real-life issues, so I get it.
Problem is, yet again, that Shagufta and Anum household share nothing in common, the two stories are running in parallel, yet very carefully avoiding each other, which is making us wonder if there will be a forced crossover soon, like a forced marriage? Which will be kind of sad as Maham is all set to be the qurbani ki bakri – and btw, her job termination was a strange one. I mean, why couldn’t she have called up her place of work and informed them? That’s not what Mahum is, so a tad careless in the character development here!
For someone who didn’t want to watch dramas, this is a fairly long piece. Call it the gift of the gab but I’m on it! Only for you, dear readers!
So, I march on to Wehshi. Khushhal Khan aka Asif is turning out quite the performance. His enunciation and delivery, expressions et all is on point! Sobia is in a fix, but she has zeroed in on the kill now. Did she not realize Asif wouldn’t take this lying down? For all those thinking how she’s juggling 3 men in one narrative, (and studying medicine) you have to be Sobia I guess, the question is, would you want to be one?
Wehshi & Khushhal Wows!
A word on Sobia though. The three men in her life reflect the three possible life choices she had to make, but she could only pick one, right? (Duh, I know) So Tahir was the family favourite, but not one she would have picked for herself, an obvious compromise! Asif is the one after her heart – perfect meeting of hearts and mind if he could, but he fell short on the financial front. Aamir ticked all the boxes. She will teach herself to fall in love with this one and enjoy the good things in life – I fear there are many Sobia’s among us. Hopefully, they can learn to be less calculating, more human and accountable for their actions. Interesting that Komal Meer has played the character in the grey and we don’t despise her as much as we should, or do we? So much hidden behind that pretty face!
Lastly, Agar
Agar it is! Loving Shahwez’s Shakespearean dialogue in Urdu. Junaid Khan is a favourite, so I am a bit biased there. Both Juggun and Junaid are working up quite the literary romance. Interesting to note that our prejudices on ageism, marrying the right partner with the right looks, age, background, etc. etc. come into play again and again but this time, the drama has taken on a very subtle bias. She’s old but not that old, he’s young but not that young. So, we wonder what’s the fuss, right? Wrong, most of us reading this might fight our prejudices even as we root for Annie and Shahwez – take that for changing mindsets. Well done there for trying Agar, one drama at a time creates the ripple effect!
And that’s all from the drama front folks. Tell me if you’re waiting for Sanam Jung and Iqra Aziz to set the screen on fire in upcoming dramas, who’s watched Tich Button and why Bakhtawar needed to end, like, yesterday! Adios till next week!
