For me at least, this week’s episode was fascinating. It is a testament to the strength of the direction, good acting and well written script that I am desperate to know what happens next. As usual Wali Baksh did not say much, he and Mahjabeen seem to have a monopoly on long drawn out silences. Wali seems to be finally warming to Neelam and perhaps understanding how much of an immature child she is. He kept glancing at her lying in her mother’s lap on the car and he listened patiently when Ammo lectured him about marriage. To my mind he is finally seeing things from her perspective and perhaps feeling a little empathy for her situation. A more subdued Neelam showing love and consideration for her family and Ammo rather than being rude or confrontational may have shown her in a new light .Kanza still cannot pronounce her dialogues really well but I think she is doing much better overall, either that or I am getting used to her. In a few of the scenes I actually felt for her character more than Mahjabeen’s.
Ammo’s death brings Neelam’s grudge against poor Mahjabeen out very clearly. Despite the assurances of Mahjabeen being ‘just a Vani” Neelam’s judgment of the situation is quite accurate. I am not sure how to take Mahjabeen, I understand that this poor character is under a burden of guilt and sorrow but she doesn’t look depressed, just quiet and she often looks better groomed than Neelam. She is a strong woman who knows how to talk back to Wali when she needs to and is quite brusque with the servants but suddenly becomes subservient when she sees a Man of their clan.
The most touching scene this episode had to be when a young Wali is shown asking her who she is in a flashback sequence. Sanya Saeed is a good actress and she manages to make the silences speak volumes but this is the 2013 not 1930 and a little dialogue would make her more accessible. Someone like her would probably annoy the heck out of people in real life. We see her meeting what looks like her brother in secret and I am wondering why? Wali is surely not so cruel as to forbid that , she has complete run of the household and does most ever of what she pleases in general ..Mahjabeen cannot have been above 21 or22 when she was romancing Sarmad and THE MOUSTACHE, count ten, perhaps thirteen years on and she should be in her mid to early thirties. That is still very young, but Sanya seems to be playing her as a woman in her forties or fifties …it really does not click with me.
Wali’s scene with Barey Sahib showed us their relationship is not just about power and control but one of real affection and perhaps even respect. I was beginning to think about fast forwarding Usman Peerzada’s scenes but this episode he was perfect. As if to show who is in charge now, gathers the staff and Mahjabeen for a general scolding as if to declare that he is now in c
harge and will brook no interference from anyone. He seemed to be blaming Mahjabeen for Neelam’s attitude which is ridiculous. Mahjabeen’s only fault is that in her attempts at being a saint she goes overboard. I mean who drinks milk on their wedding night these days and yes, how delicious when it is brought to you by your husband’s older first wife. The reason Neelam ran away was actually Wali’s indifference and barely tolerant attitude towards her, the slap being the icing on the cake.
So Wali has decided to let Neelam complete her studies and start his own PhD …so he is not as materialistic as might have been thought in that he at least values education and he seems to be a person moved by kindness rather than harshness or cruelty. Fawad Khan is a good actor, with that rare quality called star presence. He has made this story more interesting than it might have been otherwise.
This was a simply gripping episode, despite the not exactly spectacular production values the director Ahsan Talish has managed to make a very compelling drama serial. Myra Sajid’s script is good and so far has not lost sight of the main narrative while slowly enfolding us into this strange feudal world which should have disappeared long ago. Just one plea: PLEASE someone turn down the background music …I want to hear what the actors are saying.
I want to end by saying Numm and Aunn Zara prove that great things can come from modest budgets if the rest of the ingredients right. Nothing beats a good story, directed well and played by actors sincere to their craft.
I am covering For Maria ,who will return next week :)
Written by Sadaf