Pakistani Drama Udaari Episode-21 Review & Watch Online.

After a spate of regressive and flawed dramatizations like Sangat, Chup Raho and Gul e Rana, which touched on rape; Udaari in contrast is well researched, authentic and more importantly champions the victim. Unlike previous storylines it does not rely on ridiculous twists or lurid details to grab the public’s attention; the rapist is not in love with the victim, and she doesn’t spend hours thinking about forgiving him “for her own good”.

Regular viewers will know Udaari revolves around Sajjo (Sammiya Mumtaz) and her daughter Zebo (Hina Altaf Khan) who is raped by step father Pa Imtiaz (Ahsan Khan).An outraged Sajjo attacks Imtiaz, leaving him for dead and begins a new life in Lahore with the help of the an NGO ( the Kashf foundation) and her old friends Sheedan ( Bushra Ansari ) and Meera (Urwa Hocain). Seven years later, Imtiaz finds them and tries to take his ultimate revenge by taking Sajjo to court for attempted murder, secure in the knowledge that his victims would never dare to speak out. Meera’s old friend and lawyer Arsh (Farhan Saeed) has been assigned to defend Sajjo but his client’s silence is making the case near impossible to plead.

Farhan Saeed’s controlled performance as the shocked and angry Arsh serves as the perfect conduit for the audience, bringing home the depth of the savagery Zebo has faced at such a tender age. There are none of the graphic flashbacks, or ambiguous dialogues too often used in to describe such crimes. Adding another layer to the tension to the situation Meera rejects Arsh’s proposal. His cold withdrawal weakens her resolve enough for her to reveal the truth. Her deep distress at giving up this information lays bare the all too familiar dilemma of such cases. Prosecuting such cases can mean reliving a nightmare, which combined with the public exposure of what is the most intimate of crimes in front of prying, skeptical eyes can make it feel like a further violation.

This is amply illustrated by Pa Imtiaz’s vindictive testimony in court, painting a modest widow like Sajjo as a “loose”, greedy woman and hinting at her affair with an employer. Ahsan Khan’s portrayal is magnetic and one of his best. He plays the ultimate in evil but never goes beyond the boundaries of the credible. For his deposition he changes his body language, putting aside his cheap sunglasses and shiny watch, delivering every subtly, poisonous word with an almost helpless sincerity. Like many such criminals he is incredibly manipulative and can put on the most believable front.

This serial is studded with some great performances from Bushra Ansari, Urwa Hocain and Sammiya Mumtaz among others ; but what sets this serial apart is the sensitive and knowledgeable treatment of the story from both writer and director. This week Udaari takes its message to an entirely new level by telling victims they can break free of the past. The importance of visiting a doctor and actually making some kind of report is laid out and normal court procedures depicted so people can understand what happens at a hearing. Most significant of all, instead of lecturing Zebo to do the right thing, Arsh becomes a true hero by empowering her and showing her a way to take control of her life. He explains that any shame or guilt is not her burden to carry; all of it should be firmly placed on the perpetrators shoulders, never the victims. In a brilliant sequence that should be highlighted over and over again Zebo repeats the affirmation that Arsh teaches her :

Main Victim Nahi Main survivor hoon . Main Beychari Nahi banoo gee Main apne Mujrim ko sazaa dilwaoon gee . Sharm mujhai nahi ussay karnee chahiye .

This simple but highly effective dialogue written by Farhat Ishtiaq, cuts to the heart of the matter making a quiet moment in front of a mirror vibrate with the strength and energy only magnified by Farhan Saeed and Hina Altaf Khan’s powerful execution. If any further testament to the potency of these scenes was required Facebook and drama review pages are showcasing stories from victims mustering the courage to face the abuse they have suffered. The women of Udaari are indeed inspiring change .

Director Ehtashamuddin has managed to spin a fine thread of tension throughout this serial, winding the audience closer and tighter with each episode . While the idea behind Udaari has always been raising awareness about sexual abuse and rape , this team has never forgotten that the first job of any drama serial is to entertain and engage its audience . Music, romance and humour all have all made the main focus more palatable. As the drama comes full circle ,we ask the question will Zebo and Sajjo ever overcome their past , or will they always be haunted by the long shadow cast by the evil Imtiaz ? Will Meera be overcome her own fears and trust Arsh enough to believe in the future?
written by Sadaf

A version of this review also appears HERE