Iss ghar ko aisay saja daina jaise meri baraat aanay walee hai… Aakhir dil ki baat zubaan par aa hi gayee na.
In the past few weeks, three to be exact, Bunty I Love You has given us one guglee after another, to use a very cricketing term. In quick succession we have seen the departure of Zain, Abdul Samad, and Beenish, the return of Amir, and Bunty finally coming to his senses. With so much happening is it any wonder that I’m hooked?
Let me begin by tackling an often cited critique of this series. Yes, it’s finally that time!
Some of us called BILU cheap, others said it was vulgar, other still said Saba Qamar can’t act, and a few of us silently watched from the stands as we usually tend to do. Ding-Ding-Ding. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. And well… we’ll still silently watch from the stands so there’s no point dinging that one.
There are many flaws in Bunty I Love You, I agree, but vulgarity is not one of them. Neither is Saba Qamar’s acting. I think the problem lies with us, the audience. Why is it that we cry ourselves hoarse about “creativity”, “innovation”, and “new story lines” yet refuse to accept them when our directors and writers hand them to us on a silver platter? Why is it that our level of tolerance let alone acceptance is non-existent when it comes to difference? Are we so blind, deaf, and dumb that we cannot acknowledge a good piece of work and the people behind it? Why is it that making fun of difference is perfectly acceptable, in fact, even encouraged, when that difference is “light years” (to quote a commentator) ahead of what you’re being served on a daily basis?
Is it okay to lambast Dania by calling her vulgar, cheap, and trashy yet not once bestow the same courtesy on Chauhan, Mirza and Patel? What is vulgar, cheap, and trashy – I ask you – a twenty-something-year-old widow falling for a younger guy or fifty-something married-men tadoofying and actively soliciting the attentions of a young widow?
Is she a piece of meat or better yet a toy to be played with as and when the men wish?
Is it okay to assassinate Dania’s character because she’s unwilling to bend down to the very men be it Patel, Bunty, Amir, or Zain who would rather have her locked in prison (both metaphorical and literal)?
Moreover, why is it that attacking characters is becoming a norm? Recent suggestions include things like she “dresses like a slut” or he “should wear pretty pink dresses atop a float“? Let me see any one of us in front of the camera doing a better job under a given set of circumstances and I’ll be the first to retract my statements. The people who make these suggestions are the very people who hide behind the veneer of societal respectability all the while indulging in its worst traits.
What was it that Manto once said… khair chodo…
As if all this weren’t enough many amongst us like to wear our simpleton glasses. For the love of God take them off. Life isn’t simple nor is it black and white, we juggle more than fifty shades of grey, I assure you, and hence, our stories should reflect that diversity – of emotions, of characters, of plots, of locations, all of it!
It is exactly this diversity that Bunty I Love You exhibits and it is precisely the reason I like it.
Not only does this series( notwithstanding a stale and fragmented few episodes in the middle) throw one surprise after another at the viewer, it does so in a manner that is both aesthetically pleasing and good food for thought. Is it over the top? Not any less than Bashar Momin or a slew of other dramas. But does that mean it’s best avoided? I think not.
In fact, as we quickly approach the final few episodes the director is tying up all the loose ends and (might I add) doing so rather well. The Dania-Amir track reaches its logical conclusion. If last week I thought Dania was using Amir to make Bunty jealous, this week I think she’s finally searching for closure. After all, it was Amir’s betrayal that led us to this entire sequence of events.
Sometimes, they say, letting go is better than clinging on. If Dania’s finally letting go I’m all on-board and ready to see her move on. High time too!
The first eleven minutes of this episode were simply perfect with cuts back and forth between Bunty/Qutub and Dania/Amir. The editing was fantastic such that the cuts flowed seamlessly. This coupled with the dialogues made for one smooth transition into the second half of the episode.
Take, for instance, the word maafi, which was used as a concluding statement between Qutub and Bunty but became the point of departure for Dania and Amir. Beautifully done, Team BILU! Here’s a full five snaps up! This is what happens when you have an entire team on-board and working together – a lesson some of us can learn here as well.
As for Boy Wonder how the tables have turned. Isn’t it fun to be the one waiting? Although, I must say, Bunty’s finally found a girl that’ll send him packing on the right path or at least I hope.
The dynamic between Qutub and Dania is taking an interesting turn. There’s more here and I’m sure we’ll be seeing it come to some (ill)logical solution sooner rather than later. What did surprise me was Qutub’s blatant: “Aapnay ussay maaf kar diye, Ma’am?” Hain… Je suis confused.
Again, Patel was flawless with good advice too. “Galay mein patta dalo aur usko apnay dog house mein baand kar do”, “Dekho Dania bawafa mardon ki koi kaami nahi”, “Tum aurat ko nahi samjhtay, Patel, aagay nikalnay kay mamlay mein woh tum mardon ki tarhan chaloo nahi hoti”, “To phir tum sisak-sisak kay maar jao gi”, this ladies and gentlemen is strong writing delivered with mature acting. What more can we ask for?
I could go on and on and on. Suffice to say this was a stellar episode simply because everything came together perfectly! Clearly, BILU is anything but boring. It’s dare I say it “new” and I have no qualms admitting that I absolutely love it!
Take a bow Siraj ul-Haq and Khalil ur-Rehman sahab for giving us more than just filmi. Let’s hope you keep the momentum going and PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don’t Numm-Shukk us again (as one very witty commentator noted!).
Until next week,
Shaba Khair aur Rab Rakha
This is RB signing off. (Tweet me!)
