Have you ever heard any of the following snippets of conversation around you or have been part of these conversations?

•  You still don’t have a job? I say you start applying outside of the city if there are no jobs being offered in your field?
• Achaa app india say hainnnn? Ugh it was -27 degrees yesterday, yet we still had to go work, I am sick of living in this tundra!
• Did you know dad hired a Pakistani international student that just landed a few days ago, he will probably have to hire someone else to make sure he works!
• What? Gurpreet’s family got sued because the goray living across from them figured out that they were renting out their basements again?
• I am looking for two FE-male roommates because… 500 dollar rent? But I am a struggling international student and still have to receive my work permit…
• Tumharay baap din raat taxi chala kar is ghar ka kharcha nikalta hai, kuch karlo apni zinagi ka…

If you have been part of these conversations or have lived them or heard of them, you probably have lived or live outside of Pakistan and have probably come across at least one of the above snippets. Sadly our media has always failed to portray the less glamorous side of struggling Pakistanis whether they are students, immigrants or families. Mangoes, a new serial directed, written and produced by Suhrwardy Brothers, set in Toronto, Canada has just currently broadcasted its first episode on youtube and well its different!

The episode began with a brief introduction to Canada and some of the struggles it faces as a country both at social and economical levels, especially in terms of jobs for international students. The prologue of introduction to the country was short visual treat and we are introduced to Sami (Adeel Suhrwardy) a struggling Pakistani student who has still to land a job and carve out a career in a competitive work field. His Uncle Rehan who lives in Pakistan has generously provided him with his house, while he maintains his business in Pakistan. Uncle Rehan warns Sami to steer clear off from RENTING the house and what does Sami do? He goes exactly against his wishes and posts flyers in Desi fashion at local desi stores to rent rooms so he can earn extra money on the side. We are then introduced to another international student from India Asha (Maha Warsi or Liz from Bilqees Kaur) who is a headstrong young woman, earning her degree in psychology looking for a cheap option to rent. She also feels less then easy about telling her mother on skype that her soon to be two roommates aren’t exactly females. Last but not least, Rakay (Khurram Suhrwardy), the newly arrived “FOB: Fresh off the boat” adorning his Team Pakistan Shirt, along with boxes of National Masalas and “Ghar Ka Khana”, “Daal” while sustaining his struggles to flag down the bus, to talk to a girl who is from other side of the border are brilliantly portrayed. And then there is Daddi who has been asked by Rehan Uncle to keep a eye on Sami’s activities. It remains to be seen how much Daddi really knows what Sami has been upto!

So why just in first episode has become an A+ in my books? Here are my reasons why:

-The characters within the first episode are very well etched out and they personify majority of struggling South Asian students living in North America. As I was watching them unfold on screen, I could not help but relate to Samis struggle to find a career fulfilling job, Asha’s hesitancy and guilt in not being able to convey that she is indeed going to be living with two men to her parents or Rakay’s struggles to grasp crucial culturally sensitive conversations that he is still not aware of (no dude, there is no maid here, you have to do all the work and doest means if Asha is a girl she will automatically be responsible for all house chores). Kudos to the writers for making dynamic protagonists out of usual archetypical characters that grace our screens!

-The wonderful acting and expressions, the looks are priceless. All the actors are acting wonderfully so far. Excellent job guys!

-The music, the camera angle, the cinematography is top notch and adds brilliantly to the narrative. Also the changing voices, the alteration between first person & third person voice is a wonderful addition which gives us audience even more insight into the characters world and thoughts.

Finally, bringing an old age story of struggling Pakistani’s living aboard but giving it new shine by actually portraying a more realistic picture of life abroad, the drama has clicked with audience has evident by its YouTube ratings. In next episode, we are going to be introduced to even new characters and I am eagerly looking forward to see how the three opposing personalities maintain order in their new house.

[youtube]www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2-8c9c8Ffs[/youtube]

Written by Maria Khan