Awoooooooooo… Una Loba’s on her way peeps but I digress…
We definitely had some bang, bang action this week! Between confessions, letters, and chilla-nashini this was one time-pass episode, and one too many if you ask me.
Before I begin recounting the rather compelling (or lack thereof) events in this week’s episode let me begin by asking the drama Gods a few timely and (at least in my opinion) rather apt questions: Why are you punishing us? What have we done? Why are we being bombarded with the likes of Roamisas (Mohabbat Subha Ka Sitara Hai), Rudabas (Bashar Momin), Sabas (Bhabhi), and Danias (Bunty I Love You)? You think the men are any better…? Here, choose from this selective list: Bashar (Bashar Momin), Etesham (Shukk), Shahabb (Aseerzadi), Zain (Bunty I Love You), and Asad (Maang)? Which will it be: a gangster with a penchant for shouting or a spineless son/husband/brother ::you may insert male relation of choice::?
None… why? Don’t float your boat? You think they float ours…? And this is not the end of it.
As if the leading characters weren’t enough we have sasumas from hell. Sasurjis that aren’t far behind. And husbands that use the dreaded (or not so dreaded depends on your perspective) talaq-talaq-talaq card at the drop of a false eyelash. In this topsy-turvy universe where things like insaaniyat (humanity) and yaqeen (faith) are nowhere to be seen what are we supposed to infer? We are instead flooded with scenes of betrayal, infidelity, and suspicion, our channels thrive on the obscene (and no I’m not referring to the HUM Awards – really with calling them obscene?! Get a life people!), cheap, and for the most part ridiculous, while our “critics” turn a blind eye at a self-destructing drama industry.
Whatever happened to unique and innovative stories? Why can’t I see a woman like Dania survive and succeed without a man in her life? Why can’t I see Romaisa living happily with the support of her sasural in the aftermath of Nabeel’s death? Why can’t there be a Seherish who’ll let go of ‘Sham and his house? Why can’t Sania leave for Australia and start life afresh with a gora (::insert dreaded shudder::)? After all, I want to see my experience reflected in the dramas that I willingly (or sometimes not so willingly) choose to watch.
Our language (Urdu) has for the longest time adapted to the challenges modernity has thrust on it. Beginning with Amir Khusro who gave us the qawali with its many layers of meaning to the Urdu novel that became a benchmark in documenting urban social life, literature – adab – had kept pace with changing times. It was with these changing times in mind that Nazir Delhvi penned Mirat ul-Uroos and Bina-tul-Nash. Similarly, it was to cope with changing civil and urban structures that Manto, Chugtai, Premchand, and (Qurratulain) Hyder spoke of men, women, society, and everything in-between.
Where are their lessons? Have we forgotten them in a race for TRP’s and advertising revenue? Has money become the end-all and be-all for our channels? Let me assure you ARY, GEO, and HUM TV – a good story speaks for itself – it doesn’t need expensive sets or fancy camerawork, what it needs is a strong plot with enough food for thought, it needs actors that are willing to believe in the script and perform to the best of their ability, directors who can bring out the best and when needed the worst in their cast, and editors that can do their job without interfering hands from the suits above.
So, dear drama Gods, if you’re listening, please, I implore you, deliver us from our misery.
Now back to scheduled programming. We start with Zain looking sultry and seductive as he blackmails Beenish, little does he know Abbuji is on his way! In what can only be described as half-assed “act”-ing we have a showdown between Zain and Abdul Samad only to have the former rushed to the hospital and the latter to a lockup. Asal kahani to ab shuru hui hai!
Beenish is this week’s budding Nancy Drew. Girl has a honing device installed cause there is no way in hell anyone could find those letters but she manages, and finds two at that! Special shout out to the writer! Khalil ur-Rehman saab every time we hear a letter penned by you there’s so much pain and pathos in it. Job well done ! Now if only Beenish could spruce up her act.
Elsewhere Ma’am Dania and boy-toy Bunty continue to annoy with their does-he, does-he-not story. All I can say here is that Dania might truly be in love (and hats off to Saba Q. for pulling this role off because I crack up every time I see Bunty’s face!).
What’s up with the dargahs and Babajis? Daniaji you’re already frequenting babaji, you’re on some stepford wife version of repentance (seriously I though she was doing yoga!), do you really need to visit a dargah in this already complicated picture?
Speaking of complicated, SHO sirji twadi tay khar nahi. Tussi kithay phas gaye oo? Kinno-kinno phadoo gay? Zain, Bunty, Dania, Beenish, Abdul Samad…
If there’s really someone they should catch it is Bunty. I confess I have no idea where this story is going (which in many ways is a blessing) but from what I can gather Bunty is capital-T trouble! Escape while you still can Beenish!
Until next week,
RB (Tweet me!)
