It was a long wait, but we are finally back to the high standards of Pakistani dramas I thought had disappeared under a sea of mediocrity. Sometimes the story was good, but the cast was not up to it, sometimes the direction was great but the writing was weak and sometimes the direction let a perfect script and hardworking actors down. Then suddenly the stars align in the heavens and all three notes combine to make a perfect harmony and we have this episode of Dayar e dil.
I watched with a little trepidation , because as usual the promo department had done their level best to ruin any interest anyone might have by trying to give away as much of the story as they could , but by the first break I knew that we the long suffering viewers had finally hit the jackpot. In this emotionally charged episode, Behroz (my apologies to Farhat Ishtiaq for changing her character’s name to Bayzaad last week.. can I ever live it down ?) tries his best to break off his engagement to Arjumand. Behroz is the typical spoilt, headstrong elder son but he has no wish to actually hurt his family, Arjumand and especially not his father. However, what he considers a diplomatic approach is more like a lion charging a heard of peacefully grazing Gazelles. The entire family has accepted this engagement into their hearts and till his meeting with Roohina, so had Behroz. Perhaps there was nothing that would have made this easier in a culture where children however lovingly treated are considered property rather than human beings with individual hopes and dreams.
The scenes between father and son, but most especially between brothers were so moving that like the soppy person I am, I was crying throughout. Abid Ali and Mikaal were amazing. I have a little list of the scenes that were so good they made me cry : 1) Episode 11 of Humsafar 2) Durr e Shehwar losing her earrings , 2) Falak praying for guidance in Sheher e Zaat 3) Bano’s misery in Dastan .4) Zara crying after breaking it off with Junaid in Daam. These scenes are definitely on par. Mikaal is always a favourite at Drama Pakistani and thank goodness he is back from those other dramas which I am sorry but I cannot bear to mention ugh…He definitely seemed on caffeine high in this episode, pitch perfect as Agha Jaan’s much younger mirror image; just as stubborn and just as determined to get his way. Those who have read the book will understand this better. Meanwhile the adorable Ali Rehman is dressed in angelic white, ready to give all for his father’s love and so called honour.
None of this wonderful flavor is lost at Roohi’s household where Sanam Saeed and Mikaal have another standoff with Behroz Sabswari. Here was another skillfully balanced equation, in which all the characters reactions and motivations are normal and reasonable without resorting to shouting and broken vases. Sanam Saeed’s acting was flawless; her one glance of entreaty from those doe like eyes to her brother was worth a thousand words while spoilt Behroz still cannot see what the fuss is about. Mikaal’s air of polite bewilderment at having been refused anything is priceless.
The house which looked like a haven in the first episode now looks like Suhaib and Arjumand’s prison, where they are being forced to marry to uphold the pride and what can only be described as the arrogance of their elders. Haseeb Hassan and his Dop Zaib Rao didn’t overdose on the scenic shots but used the settings to subtly capture the mood of each protagonist. While I can understand the pain of breaking off this engagement in the rigid context of the conservative culture shown, If anyone was really concerned about Arjumand they would ask her opinion , they would not treat her like a piece of furniture to be passed from brother to brother. Arjumand, (beautifully played by the beautiful Hareem Farooq) knows that any relationship between her and Suhaib can only lead to a lifetime of misery yet in the promos for next week we see their Nikkah. This is giving me a bad feeling all over and I am hoping that she doesn’t end it like Sara from Humsafar.
If there is a weak spot in this episode I think it is Suhaib and Laila’s feelings for each other, a bit sudden but still full marks to Eshita Sayed and especially Ali Rehman for making that wafer thin plot line actually plausible. Ali Rehman is fast becoming the highlight of this serial holding the story together by underplaying his “good guy” role which makes it much more relatable. Speaking of good guys and highlights, we got a few glimpses of next generation …Wali , giving a wistful voice over in Osman Khalid Butt’s voice , asking if happy days would ever return to their family home . I can guarantee they will, once I get to see Wali.
I have read that this serial is 30 plus episodes long. That does sound ominous but if Haseeb Hassan can keep up the expert direction and crisp, seamless editing we have seen so far it may well work. After all this is a multi-generational story , the only thing I ask is that it have a definite beginning and end , I am praying Pakistani dramas do not become victims of their own success and follow Indian drams down this sad route. Indian drams often have excellent stories and good acting but by about episode 229 my brain gives up. Thanks to Haseeb Hassan, Farhat Ishtiaq and Momina Duraid for what is, so far, the serial we have all been waiting for.. Now please, please don’t mess it up. I probably sound like a broken recording.. I don’t know how many times I have said it and been disappointed to various degrees. Brace yourselves everyone we may actually have a good time
written By Sadaf
