Yahya is the drama that’s telling us a story we’ve seen played out many times, in real and reel life. From essaying the agony and ecstasy of being a lone son in a line of sisters, to fielding the perpetual taunts and resentment from of an unmarried older sister who is way past “marriageable age”, Yahya might come off as a been there, seen that before kahani, but wait… here’s the catch.
The story is being told with engaging performances, great casting and characters that are already endearing us to them. Yes, it’s just two episodes on, yet Yahya has a feel to it – it seems to be a drama that’s not over promising, yet delivering on the script.
What you see is what you get?
Yep, that just might be Yahya for you.
Enough of the rhetoric, and here’s the story
Yahya played by Khushhal is the only son in a line of sisters. He is looked upon by the elders in his family as the crown jewel – the son who soaks in all his dadi’s duas, showered with love by his mother, and some by his sisters too (but not all of them). The eldest sister, Bushra, played by Zara Tareen, is a complex hash of bitter resentment. She resents Yahya for hoarding all the love, blessings and favours from her parents and dadi, more so, because she remains unmarried so far, and blames her present on her parents lack of attention to get her married as they dismissed eligible proposals earlier in her life.
But just as we’re about to roll our eyes at the unfortunate, yet oft-seen scenario – jealous sibling – we are introduced to Mili, girl next door, played by Madiha Imam, who is an only child, adored by her parents, and also, adoring her neighbour, i.e. Yahya. Mili is a willful young girl, outgoing, not afraid to speak her mind, yet seems to strike the right balance of enthusiasm and relatability in one character – a rare trait in present-day heroines, who are either too outspoken, or too timid. Either way, they escape relatability. Mili is fun to watch though, and we hope she can sustain the high notes in her character, despite inevitable challenges that are destined in a drama that will certainly be no exception to conflicts and challenges to mark their characters’ journey and growth.
The twist in the tale
What adds further spark in the story is Yahya’s passion to make it into league cricket. He has to sneak out of the house to participate in the game though, as his father will have none of this cricketing business at home. It is interesting to note how young men too, face their own challenges of not being able to follow a passion as elders in the family reroute their ambitions towards more practical career choices. Yahya being an only son has his work cut out for hi, with his father, protecting him like a mother hen. Hence the poor guy has zero to no social life, misses out on friends meeting up and also, suffers from a fair degree of humiliation by his elder sister who feels she has been wronged due to all the attention he gets at home.
But it is not only in the telling of the story, but also the casting and performances that make the first two episodes an engaging watch
Both Madiha Imam and Khushhal Khan are delivering powerful performances. Madiha for her refreshing take on a young girl who is amusing to watch in her interactions with Yahya. She’s clearly interested in him and doesn’t mince words in letting him know. Her uplifting nature and ability to blend in with his family appear normal and not over the top, as if she’s trying too hard. Her antics are both amusing and endearing to watch and the performance seems to justify the casting decision.
Khushhal Khan, on the other hand, seems to be playing the perfect son who is obedient, yet lost, as his father, overly strict, refuses to allow him, well, to just live the life of a young boy who can enjoy the simple pleasures of life – from playing cricket in the streets to dining out with friends. The combination of these two lead actors onscreen is pleasing to the eye and it seems that we have a well-matched pair to look forward to this drama season.
Sabra played by Marina Khan as Yahya’s mom, was a surprise onscreen. The actor adds her touch of subtlety to a character who feels for her eldest daughter Bushra, guilt-ridden for depriving her of living her dreams as a young girl, but who also loves with all her heart, her son Yahya. Sabra earns our sympathy, not by being pathetic or overly sugar-laden, but by merely being flawed and human.
Of course, it is in the juxtaposition of the main characters that the story will move forward – Mili, the only girl (and child) in her family who gets all their attention, and Yahya, the only son with many sisters, who is reminded of his importance in his family’s hierarchy nearly every moment of everyday.
Promising watch
Yahya has managed to catch our watchlist this week with fast-paced storytelling, a script that fields multiple plots, yet each plot having substantial bite to invite interest. E.g. Yahya’s cricket circle also injects conflicts between team players, which adds a layer of depth to the narrative. Bushra’s marriage woes might see the light of day, but only to be thrown off possibly by more plot twists, and Mili’s intentions towards Yahya are finally being met by a subtle response from him. Lastly, the drama might also throw light on Yahya’s career aims that are vastly different from what his father wants him to follow. His passion to work in the field of Tech, a very Gen Z-friendly career choice, and his father’s hesitance to understand or appreciate this profession will open up possibilities to make the narrative more relatable to the challenges faced by today’s generation.
Attention to detail in the story-telling, scenes where Yahya goes to play cricket, cutting out a part of his shoe to allow his injured toe room to manouver, then Mili bringing unfried kebabs to Yahya’s place, the arrangements for the hurriedly arranged birthday party, all added to the viewing experience, making for a breezy two episode watch in the week.
Want more?
Then go watch Yahya this week, airing two episodes weekly on Geo Entertainment and drop us your thoughts in comments below.
Yahya is a project of Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi’s 7th Sky Entertainment. It is written by Saira Raza and directed by Shehrazade Sheikh with a cast that features Madiha Imam, Khushhal Khan, Marina Khan, Behroze Sabzwari, Zara Tareen, Ismat Zaidi, Farhan Ally Agha, Hira Soomro, Tara Mahmood, Maham Amir, Osama Tahir, Agha Mustafa Hassan, Madiha Rizvi, Aina Asif, Hamza Tariq and others.
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