Bheegi Palkein is our guilty pleasure as we return week after week in anticipation of the destruction of the tallest ‘ samaj ki deewar’ that separates Hasan and Mehrbano. However, in many ways the last few episodes have taken the pleasure out due to some unsavory events in the story-line.
This drama has a great cast and the actors have done their best to do justice to their individual roles but the biggest problem with this drama is the weak script by Nuzhat Saman and Mansoor Ahmed Khan. My limited understanding of our drama industry is that most actors agree to a part after getting an initial draft of a drama- an overview of sorts. Most of the writing continues while the shooting of the drama has commenced. What freedom the actors have to refuse to do a scene or request a change in the storyline thereafter, is debatable. Yet we blame actors first and foremost when things go wrong.
A successful drama is a direct consequence of good writing and likewise, if it falls short despite a great cast, it is because the writing is weak. The star power of Faysal Qureshi and the chemistry of Hasan & Mehrbano is the main pulling power of this drama, despite the obvious holes in the story.
In Episode 15, Mehrbano was kidnapped by Bilal thanks to the informant Fareeha. In the meantime, Hassan was forced to realize the intensity of his feelings and was overcome with a sense of great loss. He was contacted by the Police when they find Mehrbano and thereafter Hassan brings her home and informs the women of the house that he intends to marry Mehrbano. This takes Mehrbano by surprise and as usual, in her bid to be the angel, she refuses Hassan’s proposal, telling him that such a marriage would confirm the suspicions of the entire household.
Episode 16 made me rather angry- to the point that I have delayed writing this review in order to compose my thoughts. In a nutshell, Bilal puts an objectionable video of Mehrbano on social media which he manages to show Hassan in person (and the latter doesn’t beat him to a pulp!). This video is eventually seen by Mehrbano’s colleagues in the work place (Mehrbano even says ‘ dekhiye Fari na mere saath kya kiya hai’ rather than hiding away in shame! More odd behavior:-/). Mehrbano suffers a nervous breakdown and has a mini fit at the sight of Fariha. Bilal refuses to marry the woman that he compromised in the eyes of the world and Hassan’s mother and Khala spend most of their time worrying that Mehrbano had come up with another scheme to entrap Hassan. Fariha on the other hand has a new mission as she spends most of this episode acting innocent and trying to win Hassan’s trust.
First of all, I would like to believe that women (even manipulative women) would have some scruples in making a video of another woman in a compromising position. Then they would have some sense of ‘sharam’ and would not share that video with another man (in this case Bilal) .This man could not get away with uploading such video on a social media platform like Facebook without the video eventually getting reported for obscenity. You can displace your sense of reason for a good cause ( even a cliché like love at first sight) but I do not want my imagination to run wild in support of a rather distasteful concept like that video of Mehrbano going viral.This episode shows the world a new and unique way of destroying a woman’s reputation. Where is the writer’s sense of responsibility ?
Episode 17 shows Mehrbano pleading her innocence with Hassan and he in-turn tries to find his way out of the confusing and hurtful turn of events. He focuses his energy on getting the video removed. ( Did I miss something- Hassan seemed okay with Fariha in the previous episode and then out of the blue, he confronts her in this episode. It almost felt like an editing glitch as Fareeha seemed tearful from the word go and referred to some previous meeting when he had forgiven her?!). Bilal escapes after a tip off from Fareeha and when noone picks Mehrbano from hospital, she ventures out onto the streets. ( Our Cinderella isn’t very wise!). Her Prince charming finds her there and out pours her version of events. Mehrbano accepts that Hassan may not believe her and confesses that she isn’t inclined to marry anyone. When Hassan tells her that he believes her, Mehrbano asks Hassan to marry her! Either Mehrbano is confused or she manages to confuse me with her erratic behavior!
Episode 18 sees Mehrbano return home with Hassan and at this sight, his mother Ameena gets ready to leave the house in protest. Hassan agrees to try and forget about Mehrbano – his mother requires that promise, in exchange for agreeing to take Mehrbano with them to their village. A change of scene may do her good. Fariha and Samina throw a tantrum but a khagina acts as comfort food as they deal with the latest blow.
Hassan tries to convince Mehrbano to look to the future and focus on her recovery. When his words get through to Mehrbano, she again asks him why he doesn’t marry her ( one track mind).The screaming session of Fariha in front of the servant in this episode was a bit silly. Doesn’t she know her daal will not gallofy with such a display in front of her saas- to- be? That may explain why Ameena starts considering another proposal for Hassan as soon as she arrives home. The naik parveen Mehrbano even helps put the stuff in the car and Hassan gives her a piece of his mind afterwards. Kal raat ko shadi ki baat aur aglay din Hassan kay shagun ki taiyari mein madad ! Raat gai tu baat gai kya Mehrbano ?
The next episode is going to be one step forward and two steps back- Ameena agreeing to their match somehow (a change of scene certainly did her good, if no-one else!) and Mehrbano ruining everything by her offer to go back to look after Omar’s mother? Clearly she is in the running for the award of ‘ Naik Parveen of the Year’.
But focusing on the positives- the biggest one continues to be Faysal Qureshi. He is not only Mehrbano’s rescuer but all of ours too, in this maze of confusion. We enjoy the drama most of all because of him and he is a joy to watch. The second biggest plus point in this drama is the chemistry between the two leads whenever they are on screen together. That is the reason that most people (including myself) continue to watch this drama week after week.
Ushna Shah looks very fetching in some scenes and her make up is natural and brings out the best in her. Faryal Mehmood continues to be a force to reckon with and does her best in every scene. Her character is the complete opposite of our ‘naik parveen Mehrbano’.
Lets see how far Mehrbano goes until she realizes that being such an angel is not to her advantage (and not good for our nerves)….
Paz
