Dayar E Dil episode 25 review

First of all a message to the Shaaney at the Hum Tv Promotional department and our old friend Moiz (because they seem to be aubergines from the same tray): we are not stupid and neither is Faraa. The producers at Hum now realise they shouldn’t have stretched the story like this so we are treated to these ‘two episodes in advance promos’ like last week’s Agha Jan breakdown, to make sure we don’t skip what is basically a filler episode . There really wasn’t any need for such Machiavellian tactics , most of us are so hooked on the Wali/Faraa Saga that we will watch anyway, just stop playing with us it could end badly for you. Similarly Moiz , you have already lost when your supposed fiancé is a) already married, b)isn’t excited to see you, c) trusts and respects Wali’s honour and intentions so much she doesn’t have the time of day for you let alone open your dabba attempt at …cough… splutter… romance ..That parcel.

This week wasn’t a pivotal episode but there were some interesting developments. Faraa has definitely accepted her grandfather’s love and affection and Wali have also picked up on the thawing. This is a different Wali (and I suspect the original-conspiracy theory kicking in ) who observes without comment , not the firebrand we were so surprised to see in previous episodes .He doesn’t rush in on the Faraa and Moiz meeting and he doesn’t make constant jabs at Faraa either. Faraa has calmed down too, she feels comfortable enough at the haveli to claim it and the people there as her ‘own’ and doesn’t rise to the one time Wali does taunt her. The goading scene went on too long in my opinion but it did go to show Faraa doesn’t wants to fight any more, in fact she seemed really hurt. If I read it right,

Wali views Faraa’s lack of reaction as part of patiently waiting him out till the divorce comes through, coupled with his mother’s reminder that Faraa’s loyalties lay with her Lahore family, and he has lost any hope against hope he may have had. All that confrontation and challenge worked like a great substitute for all their issues of unresolved, unacknowledged attraction. The absence of that friction is like a subconscious door closing. I am sure everyone knows the ghazal “Ranjish hee sahee Dil Dukhaney kay leeye aaa” – those words work perfectly here.

There was something slightly broken about this Wali which Osman Khalid Butt managed to convey with eloquent subtlety. This withdrawn, disappointed Wali is a man trying to immunize himself from the pain of any further attachment he might form with someone, whom all good sense tells him, will leave as soon as she can. The Angry Young Man Wali got a bit of a pass from the audience because of OKB’s own charm and gentleman-like personality toning down all the vadera/jagirdar type tendencies that would have made us hate this character if someone else played him. Less dialogue requires a lot more emotion and projection which OKB has handled with equal skill and ease. Maya Ali is also playing her role with great finesse and charm, whether she is bonding with Agha Jaan, facing off with Moiz or backing off from Wali.

I don’t blame Arjumand for warning Wali about Faraa , the girl and her family have not given her son a moments peace since their Nikkah. As a mother she wants to protect him as much as she can. I noticed Faraa manages to keep a civil tongue in her head in front of her Mother in law despite the rather mean “hum Mehmano se kaam nahi leytey”- translate you don’t belong here. Again , I don’t blame Arjumand, Faraa has not made any effort to connect with anyone except Aga Jaan . Perhaps later ?

Back in Lahore Moiz is blowing fuses left right and center. Beychara had made so many plans with Faraa’s money and now it looks like they are all falling apart fast. This seems like a weak point in the plot , a Khulla takes some time and he seems to want the money ASAP .Still , I personally enjoyed the telling off he gave Roohi . Roohi and her pretty lineless face, is just incredibly immature with little capacity for critical thinking. There is no doubt in my mind that she loves her daughter so why is she listening to her family and not calling her child. It all has to do with her insecurities and “poor little me “attitude which is mostly Behroz’s fault. I think He spoiled her so much that she really hasn’t had the time or space for growth. It’s funny how Moiz seemed to echo his Phupo in his meeting with Faraa (well done Farhat Ishtiaq). There was the same, “if you love me, do what I say” test which Faraa has decided not to fall for from her mother or anyone else. Quite frankly I had been expecting him to be a lot cleverer about the whole thing, a wiser man would have asked after her grandfather, even gone to greet him after picking up on Faraa’s softness but it was the usual Tajamul family my way or the highway approach which blinded him to all the red flags he should have seen in Faraa’s conversation. Faraa didn’t greet him with any warmth, she didn’t ask him to stay or give him any sign of having even thought about him. I really don’t see how that translates as love in any language but ok Faraa …

Maya Ali and OKB are always a pleasure to watch on screen. This episode was a complicated one with a lot of nuanced feelings to convey which they both managed to convey seamlessly. The star of the show has to be Abid Ali, his Agha Jan is the glue which holds the story together. His admission of guilt to his confused granddaughter Faraa made a fine contrast to her mother Roohi who is convinced that she is innocent as the day she was born. I am so waiting for Roohi’s character arc to come full circle and we get to see her growth. Meanwhile Sanam Saeed and Hareem Farooq look improbably lovely as the ‘older’ ladies.

Although this episode was well made and I could see some character development, this is where the stretching of a good storyline wears thin. I can just imagine this serial at a generous 23-25 episodes. How much tighter and stronger the whole thing would have been.Both writer and director can only do so much under such diktats. Having said that , bar one or two other serials like Mol or Farwaa ki ABCD , Dayar e Dil is the only good quality serial on Tv ..at least for me. Next week’s promo, (if the magicians in the promo dept. aren’t lying again) show us the worm has turned. It’s Faraa who is following Wali around, while Wali plays “pathar kay sanam “. I cannot say I won’t enjoy that, some people have to lose something before they can appreciate what they had. Oh and I cannot wait for Moiz and his degree in emotional manipulation to fall flat on his face, hard. Ahmed Zaib is doing a great job making us hate his character and please all my ‘hate ‘ is for the character not for the actor .There is a storm brewing in Faraa over Zarminay’s engagement and it maybe the storm which finally clears away her misconceptions and confusion about Wali and the her Family in the Haveli. I hope it’s resolved in a reasonable way. BTW I noticed Faraa in some semblance of eastern wear i.e beige and black kurta ….