Zindagi Gulzar Hai Episode 5 Review

As soon as the credits rolled at the end of fourth episode today, I immediately thought that Asmara really needs a reality check, I mean seriously come on woman! Think! I do understand and sympathize with her fascination and infuriation with Zaroon, he is a childhood friend, rich, has a same upper class family background, is getting educated, the most good looking boy in class (even our Kashaf admits it, although subconsciously), so what is there not to like? Right! Clearly what Asmara fails to see is that the guy is simply not interested in being pushed into this commitment. To begin with, in the past four episodes, Asmara and Zaroon are unable to clearly establish proper communication between each other. Her needs or attention come second to everyone else’s in his life and he sees her as nothing but “time pass” and to sling more mud at Asmara’s self-respect, he even admits to flirting with other girls, makes it clear to her that his education and career are placed way above her and he even has the nerve to let her know that he does not likes her interactions with the opposite gender, nor the way she dresses. If I was Asmara, I would really sit down and have a good self-reflection and reality check with myself if I am able to make a long term relationship work with someone like Zaroon! Sometimes, being childhood friend or knowing someone for a long time doesn’t really cuts the deal! Asmara wake up and dump him already!

Zaroon on the other hand is not warming up to the idea of taking a huge step and responsibility of a long term commitment with someone who he has established a split mind about. Zaroon admits to his sister that he hasn’t left out the thought that Asmara might just be perfect for him but Zaroon also understands that underlying all his so called liberal personality, is a very conservative and an insecure man who consistently is in need of an “ego massage”. He doesn’t want another Ghazala or Sara in his life. From what I have concluded in the past four more episodes it that Zaroon wants someone who will yield themselves to his wishes, needs and pleasures and in turn also pushes him to move forward and challenge him, maybe someone like Kashaf. It’s ironic how Zaroon says “us churail ka kis ko gham ho gaa, zindagi main aur museebatain kam hain kiya?” yet that churail influences Zaroon subconsciously more than anyone else currently in his life. The irony is that in Zaroon’s thoughts we have heard about everyone else that is important and matters to him, Usama, Sara, his mother, father yet he doesn’t spares Asmara a single thought and writes more about that churail. Someone please go give Asmara, Zaroon’s computer or link to his blog :P bahi jaldi mukaooo is qisay koo!

Kashaf might come out as really crass and rude to her classmates, but in one of the most poignant scenes of today’s episode, Kashaf lies in her bed and stares into her thoughts and even though she doesn’t admits to herself, it’s clear that she could trade places with Asmara if she could. At the end of the day, we are all humans and we all have this yearning, to be loved and wanted and are fascinated by materials or relationship that we don’t have e.g. I always wanted my own sister, even though I have been blessed by friends that people cannot even imagine, in my heart I still wish I had my own, apni sister! I hope Kashaf comes to see soon that Asmara with all her designer clothes and looks has not done anything for anyone but Kashaf breathes life into other people. I think that UA has presented an interesting contrast between Asmara and Kashaf. Asmara fascinates people because of her background, her materialistic goods and god gifted beauty yet Kashaf without all the worldly materials, still stands tall because of her strong sense of self, personality and a passion to move forward and achieve a valuable sense of identity not only for herself but for her own family as well. Kashaf doesn’t need a man’s love to validate her existence, yet these thoughts don’t escape her mind either. Kashaf is one of the most humanized character on screen and I hope to see more of her and Zaroon together which brings me to my next point.

Has ZGH managed to live up to its expectations at episode 5 concludes?

–ZGH in my current book is almost at the deep end and if the story doesn’t picks pace soon well good luck to it trying to retrieve viewers back. The pace of the story is very slow and even though it’s understandable that Zaroon and Kashaf’s personalities, thoughts and character developments are by products of other characters that interact with them, I just wish we had more of the scenes like the one today in which Kashaf insults Zaroon. We had quite a bit of discussion last week and from what I have been hearing from everyone else; there is a general consensus that the whole beauty of the story was in the university life or K ashaf’s and Zaroon’s nook jhoonk. That very first scene in the novel where Zaroon establishes himself as Mr. arrogant snob in front of the entire class, which was the highlight of the story for me. It clearly established a very negative view of Z’s arrogant and over confident nature in Kashaf’s mind and that is where they butted heads. I know the novel is not the same as the screen play but we have too much telling at this point and when it comes to establishing a proper setting in a university, we have 0 showing.

– could Zaroon perhaps shed light on the fact that what makes Asmara attractive to him other than the fact that she is a childhood friend? In the novel, he like hanging around with her because she was outgoing, bold and confident (other than being described as very pretty).

– has anybody who worked on this production team ever attended graduate or undergrad school? I mentioned last week in my review that it looked like the narrative was taking place in an American high school! This was one of the best chances for them to highlight the ever growing rivalry between Kashaf and Zaroon. Let them join some clubs, debate teams, let kashaf have a few more friends…there was a lot of potential to grow the story within this integral setting but alas, they never took advantage of it.

-I also would like to slap the continuity director for the obvious mishaps that are so clear that your head spins e.g. when Asmara and Zaroon have their engagement discussion dinner they are in a completely different get up, yet in the next scene when they are both in the car continuing their discussion; they are in a completely different getup! What the heck was that?

-Congratulations to the Durr-e-Shwear music sheets and compositions for making a regular appearance as ZGH background score. Like the mommy night gown blinds the eyes, the DeS music becomes an ear sore after a while as well, because it has no place in the drama here, it was specifically made for DeS.

All in all, even though ZGH is not the top rated drama in my list, I won’t give up on it easily. Next week’s episode promises to be more happening and I sincerely hope we move the story forward a little bit more and we are not stuck on Rafia’s dilemmas now! Please spare us the asmara scenes and lets please add some more Kashaf Zaroon interactions: D

What was your guy’s favorite scene today? Do you agree or disagree that the dramas pace is quiet slow, if so what other factors do you think are contributing to it?

I am team Zaroon today, do you guys know why! Because at least he is not leading Asmara on and he honestly upfront told her that he is not ready to make a commitment! Go boy go!

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p.s. A very humble request to MD productions and HumTV!

I emailed, messaged and did everything to ask the humtv youtube channel to also upload the subtitled version of the episodes and majaal hai kay in kay kanoon main koi baat jatii hai! Please upload the subtitled versions of the episode along with the non-subtitled one! Buhat guzarish hai app logo say…agar app logoon say hooo sakay tooo