I gave up on Mann Mayal ages ago but recently my five year old nephew was watching it with his grandmother and was intrigued by the show:
My five year old nephew: Woh Mannu na uskey do bachey hain aur woh koi aur legaya. Mannu Phir royi, Salahuddin gaya bachey laney, Daadi ne pocha bachey kahan hain… Uss admi ne bola- nahin, bye bye, thanks for stopping bye… Aur Jeena, Jeena toh hat waqt shikayatein lagati hai Salahuddin ko- uskey na maa baap nahin hain…
Yes, even a five year old is aware of Jeena being an orphan and I suppose it’s safe to say that this drama caters to that age group since it stopped making sense a long time ago.
Sleep, pray, love… In a nutshell, the convenience with which the writer works her Houdini is interesting. Mannu’s family have either slipped into a coma or vanished into some other realm since there seems to be no contact with them. Mannu’s piety reflected by her lingering dupatta and her prayers for getting her life back on track- was it ever on track? As far as story progression is concerned, Mann Mayal is going around in circles. Mannu’s love for Salahuddin has destroyed any chance of happiness she may have had if only she took a moment to reflect what a poor role model she is for her children. Either she owns up her desire to be with him and end this cat and mouse game or she walks out- not back to her ex Mikael though. Speaking of Mikael, this ruthless, heartless addict who never cared for his parents or family took a few seconds to soften up to his children and realize he can’t live without them? Mikael has been a waste of space so I don’t see how adding an emotional angle to him makes any difference whatsoever.
Sleeping with the enemy… Jeena’s manipulating ways drove Jamil into her home- but Jeena took advantage of his aggression and lured Salahuddin back by pretending to be the damsel in distress who was potentially being harassed by an obsessive Jamil… If only Salahuddin knew her true face… In an attempt to play saviour, Salahuddin decides it’s essential that he spends the night at Jeena which makes her heart flutter with hope of a reunion.
Salahuddin, who’s sulking after being disowned by Mannu thinks it’s okay to swing back to Jeena. I like how conveniently these characters switch back and forth and yet have the audacity to complain about one another. Mannu’s showdown with her barey bhaiyyah Salahuddin where yet again she wishes death upon him made me think is this drama going to end the way Pyarey Afzal did? To be honest, I feel nothing for these characters so if all of them were to be run over by a truck, it really wouldn’t matter.
In Samira Fazal’s universe, anything is possible which explains the sub chalta hai rant Salahuddin gave his mom. Mannu is seriously considering moving back in with Mikael while Salahuddin has invited Jeena to move in with him. Salauddin’s parents are moving back to their humble abode since they find themselves helplessly supporting Salahuddin’s idiotic decisions without sitting him down and helping him snap out of his perpetual stupor.
Because this happens to be a love story- Mikael will eventually be written off but before he exits, he will handover his ex and children in the capable hands of Superman Salahuddin.
Wow. Just wow….
Kanwal Murtaza
