Today while watching Coke Kahani’s episode two and submerging myself in Asfand’s shoes, I was reminded of RR and the fond memories i had attached with it. There was a Red Robins, RR for short (a burger joint) which became our (my friends and classmates) hub for social activity. During my four years of undergraduate degree, RR contained our most profound secrets, crushes, gossips, amusing, hilarious, sad and angry moments and even a substitute to the library for last minute studying sessions, filming spot and project space. It was a place we all became ease at with. The waiters knew our orders, knew our exam dates and stress days, sang us happy birthday along with other patrons present, and sometimes even gave the awesome “Mother Robin’s Brownie Sundae” for free. Today while passing by the area, i could not fail to notice the red building that stood against the green backdrop had been erased to be replaced by some murky grey looking newly built restaurant. Apparently RR had gone under bankruptcy due to rising competition and as student population depleted since the new cafeteria opened within the university. The red building still stood there for me, even if its foundations laid in my nostalgic memories.
Asfand like me was also immersed in evocative memories of what this restaurant had stood for. He is hesitant to sell it off even more so especially after meeting the local (best could be described as thugs from Muna Bahi MBBS) who have their own renovation ideas already spinning. Meanwhile, Zoya decides to prolong her stay to distaste of her mother. The restaurant crew worried about losing their own jobs help Zoya and her crew hatch a plan to save and perk up the restaurant. Although other characters were slowly revealed, today the majority of episode revolved around Rayaan and his idiocracies, nonconformist ideals and less serious attitude about life, well the fact that a horn as loud as of a Pakistani bus is required to wake you up and you still don’t yield says a lot to me. What is funnier is that when Rehan says that he can do something, the unbelieving look on everyone’s face is priceless. I would love to see Bedil becoming a chinchi driver with halala, tera mun kala on back of his rikshaw. and most of all Mutmaeen uncle look quiet mutmaeen with his toupee. I am hoping the toupee will play a major role (hopefully :) ) Coke Kahani has a beautiful sense of humor. It’s not over used and dry yet its more conversational humor which adds a whole other dimension to dialogues. Mohammed Ahmed and Yasir Rana beautifully done and you are a great duo together. Thankyou
I am overwhelmed by Coke Kahani and not in a bad way. There is seriousness to the story as job insecurity and running business especially are hot button topics in time of recession and economic downturn and they are affecting people quite negatively. It is a topic rarely explored in our dramas industry. I might be over analyzing here but i feel that Coke Kahni, as simple as its narrative may seem has a much deeper meaning that when appears on the surface. How many Pakistanis find themselves in Asfand’s shoes? They have love, fondness attachment with their country but agar Pakistan main kuch nahi mila to lets sell and leave everything and move to States or any other foreign country. We as a country and its citizens have started to sweep our problems under the carpet instead of working on them. I guess Zoya is a symbol that maybe instead of moving away, if could work on our problems at home first and try to improve our own processes, we might be better off. Let’s see how the narrative continues and if my suspicious about the deeper meaning are correct.
My biggest fondness for Coke Kahani however comes from the fact that i can play this story in any part of the world, be it in America, Europe, Asia etc and the narrative and characters are universal, and so are their underlying emotions. Also the lighting and the crisp camera angles, the transition cuts highlighting the life of city and connecting it to the bigger picture of the drama, can i say i am absolutely in love with Farhan Alam (DOP). Hence underlying such a sombre topic with humor and giving innate universal emotions and characters, Coke Kahani is a winner all the way.
P.S. MJ you are back with a bang! keep it up and bring more shows like this :)
Written by Maria Khan
