The Good Life
Humsafar: A comic review

Humsafar: A comic review

This show is planting the seed of trouble in happy households. But Khirad is kind of hot. I approve.

Hammad Ali January 30, 2012

If you’re a human being and you know a Pakistani woman, then you’ve probably heard about Humsafar.

[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnDYZgkp28s]]

I could write pages on how this show is planting the seed of fasaad (trouble) in perfectly normal and happy households and how it’s basically just a guide on how to break up pretty normal marriages. The fact that most women like it says a lot. I’ll end the casual sexism now and just give you the review. Enjoy it!

A couple of things to remember: this review is supposed to be funny. If you do not find it funny there is a little 'x''on the right side of your webpage - just click on it!. I’ve seen only 15 minutes of this show and made the rest of the comic from the word on the street. If there are any Urdu phrases you don’t understand, please leave a comment.

Also Khirad is kind of hot. I approve.

Lastly, ignore all grammar and spelling mistakes and click on the image if you have trouble reading the text.

This post was originally published here. Follow Hammad @Hamster41.

WRITTEN BY:
Hammad Ali An engineering student who tweets @Hamster41

The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (81)

Atif | 12 years ago | Reply The Blog clearly shows that the Blogger has watched the complete drama, but saying "I’ve seen only 15 minutes of this show"

shamaeel | 12 years ago | Reply This is my first comments on any page because there's something special Humsafar was a invaluable drama. splendid cast splendid drama over all was superb. Marvelous story prominent characters outstanding O.S.T. Fawad's role was apotheosis. Mahira's role individual. television nothing without Humsafar. it was lunacy for every one. it was best from the best. brilliant.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

ayesha | 12 years ago | Reply humsfar episodes r really good why don't they make episodes???????

ayesha | 12 years ago | Reply Humsafar episodes r really good why don't they make more of it

Rida | 12 years ago | Reply I dont understand you people...... i like humsafar.... but not like other gals...

Shahzeb Javed | 12 years ago | Reply lol....well done !!!

Rehan | 12 years ago | Reply "Hum Suffer" is like a never ending nightmare for any respectable viewer !!!!

Shahid Munir | 12 years ago | Reply hahahaha.....nice piece of writing.. In your next article please explain how it is affecting........the boys......they are also the humsafrer....

engr MAK | 12 years ago | Reply for all HYDERABAD is not a village :/ ....it is the second biggest city of sindh.....

Shania | 12 years ago | Reply Oh come on People , Why are so biased about the serial plot. did you read this comment about the same comic image. http://goo.gl/NlhRD

ali | 12 years ago | Reply exellent serial.can you plz tell me which brand of eye glass is used by ashar in this serial

Y-man | 12 years ago | Reply Most of the comments here shout, "Yes we know Hamsafar is pathetic and so are we, we are just ashamed to admit it, and instead of considering MAYBE the dimwit who wrote the article is right, we will instead talk about how wrong many other things are, i.e. star-plus dramas, the humour in the article, the government, veena malik, two holidays in a week instead of seven, etc, to make this seem less pathetic in comparison. Way to go ladies.

Khalid Farooq | 12 years ago | Reply Brilliant Hammad! TRULY! Brilliant! :D

lisa | 12 years ago | Reply Hahahha @ staring each other for long spans of time and Khirad saying 'sharm' at every instance. But seriously, it seems as though Sara has had a nose job.

Zarqa | 12 years ago | Reply Yes, it is just a drama. But isn't a drama that's touched so many people (men AND women, BTW) worth a thoughtful response? Yes, this was an attempt at humor. But the responses to it have bordered on hateful. The comic said he only watched 15 min of it, so of course his response isn't going to be well-thought out or even accurate. (eg. what were the lapses in logic in the plot? when did Khirad just stand there silent and not give as good as she got? when did she flirt with Khizer? Asher didn't just happen to run into his daughter, he went to Khirad's place specifically to meet her and "ran into her" outside her home....all of these are just unfounded and false remarks for the sake of "comedy") So, yeah, it's a comic, but, still, there is no doubt that this drama holds a very significant place in Pakistani art and entertainment, for very specific reasons. Any 'review' that doesn't acknowledge that fact is just not a review.

Hira | 12 years ago | Reply Everyone's entitled to their own opinion and in my opinion i didnt find this funny... Also, give me one instance where Khirad unknowingly flirts with Khizer as you mentioned in the beginning.

engr MAK | 12 years ago | Reply i dont know why you people taking HUMSAFAR so serious.its a good drama thats all. but the positive thing is that through out the world people are watching it as a pakistani product...so feel proud and rock the HUMSAFAR to be very honest after watching this drama i am seriously planing to get maried...lolz but dnt know how to find khirad....;)

Best | 12 years ago | Reply Very funny! :)

Lala | 12 years ago | Reply He got a nose job? Proof please or it didn't happen.

koogee | 12 years ago | Reply Dude, you are my hero. Thank you. I soiled my self laughing.

shagufta | 12 years ago | Reply If you are not bothered..then why are you writing on this drama in the first place. This means this is something noticeable. Also, honestly, i DIDNT find this piece of article remotely close to something comic, as you self-assessed it to be. For anything to be funny, it has to be less text and brief and the rest is left to the imagination of the reader. As the saying goes...lengthy text makes comedy a tragedy and so is your article.

Omair Ali | 12 years ago | Reply Spot on with this write-up, I truly think this blog needs much more consideration. I’ll probably be again to read much more, thanks for that info.

sara | 12 years ago | Reply @insight: And you would know this how? This show, be it whatever you choose it, has touched thousands of women's hearts. Who are you to say that it is overrated? I bet all of you commenting are low life loners who can't seem to understand plain beauty. It is a simple show with beautiful dialogues and romantic moments that touch us. There is a reason why we are crazy about this show. It is a phenomenon worldwide. But then again, who are you to understand this! Say this (what all of you are commenting) to any girl in Pakistan, and I am sure you will get the same response possibly worse.

Salimah | 12 years ago | Reply i can't stop laughing and agreeing with the fact :)

SweetTreat | 12 years ago | Reply @the Author: How dare You sir? How dare you make fun of a show that is followed by hundreds of thousands of womenfolk who have nothing better to do but cuss the thorn that is "the other woman"..I have a good mind to teach u a lesson............"sharm..." ;-)

alicia | 12 years ago | Reply Yawn.... Hate hamsafar but this was one of the most boring comic strip I ever read

Mariyah Khan | 12 years ago | Reply You not only murdered the irony but also came with an old approach of making people laugh. Too bad! You might as well watch the serial again or perhaps watch the 'humsafar' parody which is indeed more entertaining. P.S good 'koshish'

Mani Khawaja | 12 years ago | Reply Dude! you are my hero.. =D

Asma Shah | 12 years ago | Reply Com on! It seems that it has become fashion to react in a witty way for this drama....Chill every one...its just a drama like many others :p

Maryam | 12 years ago | Reply @London: i loved your comment and i can't agree more :) very well-said!

leila rage | 12 years ago | Reply @emmas: short-sightedness? Ohh sure, the city guy's mum was a witch, and there was a difference between the style of living in the small town and the city---but thats where the similarity ends. That's all. No need to get so offended and touchy about it.

Lady | 12 years ago | Reply where was the "comic Review" in this?

uff | 12 years ago | Reply khirad character is so beautiful. her character has made her so innocent. i like the way she performed this character, wearing simple cloths, efforts for the good health of her child, guiding to her daughter, its all beautiful. but about ashar, only thing i like, sincerity with his relation

Nsamajh | 12 years ago | Reply @London: spot on, man!!

emmas | 12 years ago | Reply @leila rage I am surprised at your shortsightedness. No body wanted to hear the whole story please! I mentioned Sweet Home Alabama was because it shows that the difference between rural & urban people exists even among the advance society. The city guy's mother was clearly a bitch....

Anon | 12 years ago | Reply @muhammad shahzad The biggest irony is that in real Aitqa Odho is an NGO aunty. And let me tell you something, even though I agree the gharelo and modern girl stereotypes are no longer black and white in real life - the NGO aunty stereotype still rings true. The NGO aunty portrayal in this drama is SPOT ON, I cannot tell you how many rich aunties of this sort I have come across in real life, who indulge in NGO work to pass off their free time and to score social points. Some of the meanest people I have come across in real life are NGO aunties, who tend to be absolute hypocrites when it comes to principles, treat their servants like crap and are extremely condescending and elitist towards those less well off. Also if they disgree with someone's viewpoint they will write them off as chadarlaptihui/paindo/extremist/ghairatbrigade as if calling someone that constitutes the entire substance of the argument itself. If you dont believe me please google and follow some these NGO aunties on twitter to see for yourself how they behave, and I know for a fact Hammad will agree with me on this point.

Reema | 12 years ago | Reply LEVEL! LMAO! TOOOOOOOO GOOOOOD!!! =D

Kashf | 12 years ago | Reply lol @ 'sharm' but how does 'Ashar' become 'Fawad' over this strip..

SA | 12 years ago | Reply @Fahd: Just to correct you its a novel by Farhat Ishtiaq and not Umera Ahmed! Just loved the write up Hammad.. Keep writing.

Hina | 12 years ago | Reply hahahahahah sharam

Farooq Anees | 12 years ago | Reply Come on guys, see the lighter side of it and enjoy it. Laugh on it and you will feel really relaxed, i have shown it to everyone who are crazy about Humsafar and they have loved it. Infact the lady writer of this drama is a cousin of my sub-ordinate and she also loved this humor from Hammad. This is not like a hate propaganda its just the lighter side of Humsafar so chillax and enjoy :-)

Eymaad | 12 years ago | Reply Dude, i am not a hum-sufferer;) .. but i love the way you wrote it ...

Xyz | 12 years ago | Reply Probably the crappiest pieces I've come across so far on ET! Comments being more interesting,I'd like to add that it's not the stereotyping that has the audience (worldwide I might add) gripped. It's the theme and script and acting and the presence of all extremely well thought of characters. Yes, the typical saas bahu, evil Sarah fiascos exist in other plays too but lets enjoy art for arts sake people. Do we all not enjoy cliched predictable hollywood bollywood films? Let's for once start appreciating our talent and not crtisize the meaningless things. Doesn't the nation have bigger things to debate about anyway?

Sh | 12 years ago | Reply Sooooooooo glad to read this post here! I read it on your blog a few days ago..was in fits. Great work!

siddiqui | 12 years ago | Reply @muhammad shahzad: ahhh... you are reading too much into it... i guess you havent read much literature then...

Raza | 12 years ago | Reply Haha. Good for a couple of amused chuckles. Liked the 'sharm' part. p.s. for someone who's seen only 15 minutes of the show, thats a pretty rigorous following no?

Hammad | 12 years ago | Reply In more important news that's one ugly photo of me. Also women dissecting this comic like it's some kind of academic research piece on Humsafar really do prove my point how they're taking the show a little seriously. :sharam:

Humaira M | 12 years ago | Reply This is a rip off of "What if Humsafar was on facebook" Tribune please post that in your blogs, it is much funnier. The link is http://i.imgur.com/3Nc1E.jpg

Zarqa | 12 years ago | Reply @London: Absolutely agree. In fact, it blew me away the lines Khirad was given to say. I've never seen a stronger Pakistani woman depicted in drama. And she doesn't gain her strength by evil and manipulation, as many so-called "strong" women are shown doing. Khirad's sole strength is her unwavering honesty. Wow, honesty as an admirable character trait. In Pakistan, of all places. No wonder there's the backlash. LOL

Zarqa | 12 years ago | Reply As a jeans/t-shirt wearing Pakistani-American woman who has lived all her life in the States, even in the infamous cities of NY and LA, I have to say that I LOVE Humsafar. It shows stereotypes but in no way does it promote them. Khirad is shown as a backward country girl, but she is the strongest female character to have come out of Pakistan in my memory. She is the heroine, not the evil MIL or the jealous girlfriend. And THAT it what makes it different from other dramas. Most other dramas have good vs. evil where good is shown as some quiet doormat type character and evil gets the most interesting lines and is the most fun to watch. Such dramas do promote stereotypes. Having a masoom girl like Khirad say the kick-ass totally intelligent and thoughtful things she does is a boon to women, Pakistani or not. As for Asher: Yes, he allows the green eyed monster to take control over his brain and he behaves irrationally. But, in the beginning, he is a husband who truly SEES his wife for who she is. He listens to her and appreciates her for who she is. He doesn't want to change her to fit his household expectations. When is the last time you saw a husband like that on a desi serial? His mother is the one who purposefully clouds his vision and hurts her own son in the worse ways possible. But, again, the drama is not about the evil MIL. It's about two people who love and respect each other and have seemingly insurmountable obstacles thrown in front of them. A classic beautiful love story. It isn't about "fighting over a man", it's about trust and respect between two mature adults. Themes that Pakistani drama would be served well to keep exploring. Of course Sara is the foil, but, we don't hate her as much as feel sorry for her. What woman hasn't longed for a man and a life out of her reach? We "masoom" but "westernized" girls can certainly relate. Finally, Fawad Aslam Khan is HOT. There I said it. So hate away. But that's a fact, brother.

leila rage | 12 years ago | Reply @Emmas: Have you even bothered to watch 'Sweet Home Alabama'? The storyline is hardly anything like Humsafar. The girl LEAVES her husband and her small town life (HE doesnt throw her out of the house on suspicion of adultery, and his mum isnt a scheming witch). She makes a good life for herself and finds a lovely guy who she wants to marry, and so returns to alabama to convince him to divorce her, spolier only to fall in love with him all over again . Humsafar is about a poor wife thrown out of her house thanks to her witchy mother in law. Said wife has a child, and the child is ill so she needs the father to pay for surgey.... eventually the child begins to bridge the gap between her parents. Its actually like they lifted the plot of an old star plus drama called 'Kasautii Zindagi ki' which was extremely similar. Nothing alike. and to the others, yes it may seem stupid, but sadly evil mothers in law are a REALITY in pakistan, and they DO get PSYCHOTICALLY possessive of their sons and they DO sometimes ruin perfectly happy marriages.

Awien | 12 years ago | Reply your handwriting sucks brother ... :)

Natasha S. | 12 years ago | Reply Hammad, I like what you write most of the times. Didnt quite like this post except for a few parts and that is NOT because I like Humsafar. Sharm :D Keep blogging!

Jeans | 12 years ago | Reply was expecting comic,,but cldnt b able to laugh 4 once.

London | 12 years ago | Reply Just wondering about people who think this drama promotes stereotypes and is sexist. I'd be the first one to be offended by sexist stereotypes but one thing that attracted me to this drama was that it challenged ideas within stereotypes to show all is not as it seems. For example: 1- Khirat is an innocent, chaste girl from the village who Asher and Sara think is not up to Asher's standard, won't have a mind of her own etc etc. Turns out Khirat challenged their stereotypes by being not only academically smart, but also having views of her own and pride in herself. 2- Khirat starts off as fairly niave and trustworthy but rather than crawl back to her husband and keep trying to convince him of her innocence, she takes control of the situation when she realises he has made his mind up. She brings up a child on her own and takes up a job to bring her up. She doesn't remarry to have financial support - I don't think a single working mother in Pakistan is exactly a stereotype. 3- Lastly, when she returns 4 years later with her daughter, she is a much stronger woman. She is not broken, she hasn't depressed herself or cried for 4 years over her life. She became stronger. Surely that isn't a stereotype is it. The drama is challenging stereotypes beneath the surface by employing what seems to be stereotypes.

Sheharbano Khattak | 12 years ago | Reply Really enjoyed your post. Read it twice :-)

Subbyel | 12 years ago | Reply This Blog Sucks!!!! Just to grab the attention b/c "Humsafar" is most searched local keyword and It's good tactics to increase the search traffic on "WEB" nothing more then this. Anyway "HUMSAFAR" rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

K | 12 years ago | Reply @ muhammad shahzad, faiza amjad, Haniya and everybody who thinks that women with low self esteem watch this show or whatever ... then explain to me that why is there twilight saga phenomena??? you would say that people with self esteem issues are watching it??? People don't watch these dramas beacause they have self esteem issue but because it is entertainment and because at the end of the day you can learn something from it. I agree that the drama is promoting stereotypes but that tell me that we do not have real people like that in our society? and what you guys are failing to understand is that they are showing the transformation of a girl to a woman, how she is equally strong and helpless, so those are stereotypes as well??? there are real women like Khirad, Sara, and Fareeda. There are mother-in-law/daughter-in-law quibles. Heck there are pea brain dudes like Asher and Khizar out there.

Fatima | 12 years ago | Reply Spot on !!!LOVED IT !!

Fahd | 12 years ago | Reply @ Emmas & Shazia Exactly my point! Its a novel for god sake and that too by humera Umera Ahmed. Ever wondered why hardy boys were so lame? How James Bond 007 treats all the dumb women to fulfill his lust..While mostly they turn out to be dumb & weak but pretty. Pretty degrading eh ? Why so ? James Bond isnt a Pakistani Character!

طفیل | 12 years ago | Reply one of the best Play of our time

insight | 12 years ago | Reply Bravo. Thoroughly enjoyed hilarious blog . great piece . Hamsafar is so over rated :)

antiq | 12 years ago | Reply @Hammad Ali you make me lol! i wonder what is so special about this drama i mean c'mon people its just another saas baho drama with some good looking people and a catchy OST!

Bee | 12 years ago | Reply Just cant understand whats so unusual about this drama? The typical love-trio, Saas-Bahu rivalry, good looking,well-off Sheher ka larka n a pretty,innocent village gal (Hyderabad is not really a village though!!), conspiracies but eventually they meet up...HAPPIES ENDINGS :p It should have been telecasted on "Sitara wala Channel" :p

Shazia Yousuf | 12 years ago | Reply it is just a drama based on a novel come on!! why can't you guys just let some people enjoy a drama be it stupid or over rated! No body complains when people are hooked on to the tv set during cricket matches...chill karo yaar :)

emmas | 12 years ago | Reply Why not talk about the insane star plus dramas? Now that are local channels have started showing Indian crap i think its far more damaging than any Pakistani serial. Dear writer, do you not understand symbolism at all? The girl in dupatta represents a backward society. Its a fact that the people around the village and small cities are simpler in nature. The ones living in Big cities like lets say L.A or New York dress up and think differently and are often cold in nature. We have seen similar story lines in many many holly wood movies..umm like "Sweet Home Alabama" or the one in which Jeniffer lopez marries this very rich guy? . The Drama is novel based. Its fiction, please take it as novel only.

Nazi | 12 years ago | Reply Extremely boring ! Nothing New , and nothing funny at all

Habiba Younis | 12 years ago | Reply hahhahahaha awesome!

Abeera | 12 years ago | Reply What a boringgggg .. too boring i wish u had written it in a better way.. was expecting better!!!

Shahzad | 12 years ago | Reply You not only wasted your time in writing this , but wasted our time too. But anyhow, keep writing

Brrr | 12 years ago | Reply Sara's mommy dear wears shalwar kameez too. And she's still pretty evil. Bottom line: stop taking everything negatively and STOP thinking as if every single person on tv is conspiring against a "so and so" class.

MK | 12 years ago | Reply You nailed it - lol :) P.S. Try getting this on Humsafar's Official Facebook page - am sure they'll like it..seriously! https://www.facebook.com/HumsafarHumTV

Ed | 12 years ago | Reply dude...u need to the write another article explaining the psyche behind guys having humsafar posters in their rooms

Haniya | 12 years ago | Reply Couldn't agree more with the first para. Its massive popularity is only indicating the mindsets our society beholds. People (women, in particular) actually derive pleasure watching other women beeching eachother for irrational stuff!

Madiha R. | 12 years ago | Reply LOL - Loved it!!! :D ... the best part is sharm :p

abdul jabbar | 12 years ago | Reply so,tshirt jeans wearing girls are automatically evil? the shalwar kameez housewife is automatically an angel? and all the women fight over the ' prize' of a man? the man is always the bichara victim being manipulated by evil women.

Sharjeel | 12 years ago | Reply lol!!! i wonder why you're so pissed of at this humsafar drama..

Azra | 12 years ago | Reply U have a very FARIGH time...

faiza amjad | 12 years ago | Reply i can't understand what kind of girls with how low a self esteem would continue to admire a man who throws out his wife over a suspicion that she slept with someone else.thousands of wives in our society continue to live with husbands/fiances who sleep around ,who go on foreign tours and business trips and have physical relationships with women there.none of the wives leave their husbands in those cases then why do our women forgive a man who throws out and treats like garbage his wife only on suspicion of infidelity.how much do our girls think is the female gender inferior to males that this type of double standards are not only tolerated but admired by our female population? if a man does it,it's not wrong but if a woman dares even to think about it she's branded a loose woman and thrown out of the house.This hypocrisy and such men need to be condemned not admired or swooned over.

muhammad shahzad | 12 years ago | Reply this is a terrible drama.it promotes stereotypes.the shareef,seedhi saadhi victim khirad,always with the dupatta on her head,always on the jaanamaaz offering prayers while the evil,english speaking,jeans wearing,working woman sara is portrayed as the enemy.the NGO running aunty as the evil mother in law.and all these women fight over a prize which naturally is a man.the poor,innocent,farmabadaar asher. this show is disgustingly sexist as it teaches our women that men are the ultimate prize over whom you have to fight amongst yourselves,that your life cannot be completed without a man.and it's always the women who are evil especially the jeans clad,unashamed career girls who are the most evil because of course no one in shalwar kameez and dupatta ever does anything wrong.

Mangoman | 12 years ago | Reply Mr Hammad is now Mandatory ul Murder. From A Hum-Sufferer

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ

Humsafar: A comic review

FOLLOW US