To suggest A-Plus is on a roll with it’s television programming would be overstating things. A bit too much.
One Aunn Zara and another Pehchan “make-up not” a stellar line-up. Of course, I am fully aware and in agreement at the quality of these productions, which only makes me wonder (out loud!) whatever happened to Adhura Milan?
Do I still have that Summertime Sadness? If it’s confession time, yes, I still do, and I probably will till I see more of Iffat Umar.
Since we are at confessions there are three reasons I’m tuning in to Adhura Milan. First, of course is the lovely Iffat Umar and her on-screen beau Faisal Rehman but more on this as and when it happens.
Second, the Peerzadas especially Samina Peerzada. Finally, Alyy Khan and his dastardly self.
Yet, even with many things firmly in its favour Adhura Milan is as fake as they come. As I have the pleasure of reviewing Bashar Momin at the moment, I am at point where I can very adeptly distinguish between the filmi and not-so-filmi, and please kid-yourself-not Adhura Milan is just as FILMI as Bashar Momin, if not more so.
Why you ask?
There’s so much filmi here that I must bring our (not-so-)loved Bashar Momin into the picture. The production values, the chatak-matak (the aankhon mein chubnay wala kinds) costumes, sets, and everything in-between, the excessive background music (seriously!), and melodramatic acting all signal a rise of cinematic tendencies in our slowly dying drama industry.
Maut kay moon mein phasee drama industry par mein tabsara zaroor karun ga lekin aaj nahi.
Is there something to watch here? Yes, yes, and yes. I think Dilawer makes a more convincing desi don than both Shahrukh Khan and Faysal Quraishi. Sorry, Quraishi sahab, I remain a loyal fan, but even I cannot look past how mahlati saazishain you’re becoming. I think Samina Peerzada is a perfect match for Dilawer. I like how Faisal Rehman’s Tabrez is gentle, soft-spoken, and wise, a trait much needed in our waderas.
Many amongst us have grown up or at least know of such waderas in our families. Thus, seeing both a shrewd woman and a wise man was a welcome relief. Why only have one side of the coin?
While we’re at the subject of wadera-waderni, Samina Peerzada breathes fresh life into a rather abused role. Her firm command over all matters of this house coupled with Tabrez’s unquestioned respect are easy to see even for us as viewers. Her ability to effortlessly relate to her young step-daughter (in Angrezi no less!) is a sign that there’s more here than meets the eye. Noor-ul-Aain is no old, dahati first wife relegated to some sequestered corner of the house rather she is educated, well-spoken if a bit harsh, and enjoys tremendous control over anyone and everyone. Solely because of her am I tuning, so, Samina Peerzada sahiba please, meri aapsay darkhawst hai, don’t ruin it for us!
And she’s not the only powerful woman around. Power comes in many forms and as woman to be able to make decisions, to have that agency, also counts as powerful (it’s rather ironic that I’m a man writing this!).
Nayyab and her Chachi give us the other half of this power quotient. Not one to sacrifice willingly Nayyab escapes right into the arms of Tabrez Alam. Shudders! Ab kya hoga?
Dilawar hoga aur kya.
Alyy Khan, I must say, is an excellent choice for Dilawer. In fact, I would suggest hiring him as Bashar Bhai as well. This man definitely exerts a presence even if it’s dark and dastardly. How about that for a nickname: DD? His four commandos all packed with asla and all, with a Khan-like sidekick, and two questionable women in his life, now here’s villain material, GEO TV!
With the story moving rather quickly I see no particular flaws in the writing but there are many in it’s execution. A point I’ll come back to next week.
Until then,
Rab Rakha aur Shaba Bakhair
RB (Tweet me!)
P.S. Who uses long stem glasses for juice at breakfast?
