After watching each episode of Mann Mayal, I keep asking myself, “How much worse can this possibly get?” And each week I’m not disappointed to find that the story line actually manages to get worse. Thank you Samira Fazal for penning this disaster filled with caricatures, whack jobs and a completely lacklustre script. This drama has been a complete letdown- expectations were sky high from actor Hamza Ali Abbassi after the blockbuster Pyarey Afzal and director Haseeb Hassan after the sublime Diyar e Dil. Although I’m not the greatest believer in Samira Fazal, I’ve loved Vasl, Mera Naseeb and Dastaan. Lately however, she seems to be the mastermind behind one disaster after another- Shukk, Chup Raho, Aitraaz and Mann Mayal will definitely fall in the same category.

So far, none of the characters have shown any progression. If anything, they seem to be stuck in a repeated loop. Salahuddin can’t move on from the guilt of ruining Mannu’s life and has vowed to remain celibate despite giving mixed signals and inviting his stalker Jeena at every possible hour of the day into his home. Mannu can’t move on from the heartbreak at not finding her one true love and vowed to destroy herself by marrying the first Rishta that came her way. Mikael is a compulsive gambler with no aim in life. The guy has zero interests other than gambling and finding his pjs. Maybe his casino might work- if he decides to introduce pj nights. Jeena is obsessed with Salahuddin so much so she’s more than happy to be his servant! Pakao master- that’s barely scratching the surface. I’m curious to know how far is too far for these people? In what universe does a woman toss her self respect aside and force herself into the life of a man who has literally pushed her out of his house before? Both the leading ladies are on extreme ends of the spectrum- Mannu is the meek little lamb who can’t do anything except hope her husband will come around; Jeena is the sly vixen who’s dying to get her claws into her boss… And similarly we have the men – every time I see them, I imagine Salahuddin sporting a halo and Mikael with the Devils horns.

Thanks to Hum TV’s promos, nothing spectacular happened in this episode unless we discuss Jeena’s advances on her cutie patootie. If ever I was nauseated at the mere sight of a character, Jeena and Mikael offer a weekly double dose. Jamil was AWOL – just goes to show how bored I must be to want to see the servant! Mannu’s parents are exactly the kind of parents you wish you never had. Such hopeless characters – I don’t know what was running through Mannu’s father’s mind when he called Salahuddin. But if I try really hard, I think there was an episode where he he reached out to Salahuddin (her daughter’s tutor/ love interest) . That’s messed up!

Pretty much everything going on is messed up- Mannu and Salahuddin’s baynaam talluq, Jeena’s jazba for khana, Mannu’s parents leaving her at the mercy of their gambling damaad, Mannu’s bechaargi reminded me of Bollywood movies from the 80s where the young widow would find herself and her young, starving children on the streets… Who knows maybe Tipu will get a tattoo that reads “Mera baap chor hai”…

P.S. Dedicated to Sadaf Haider…

Kanwal Murtaza