TV shows: Dishing it out

An in depth look at your favourite drama serials.

ISLAMABAD:

“Mata e Jaan Hai Tu”

Episode: 14

Aired: June 1

Channel: Hum TV

Haniya continues to be inappropriately intrusive but Uzair and Hajra have been equally hasty in allowing her into their lives. Ibad’s mother Hajra seems to be casting Haniya in the role of a surrogate child to make up for the loss of Ibad. Haniya admits to Ibad’s father Uzair that it’s unprofessional to be coming to his house so often but that she won’t stop visiting.

I just think this relationship is rushed, inappropriate and unconvincing. The problems with the pacing of the story are still there; first the story wasn’t moving at all and then suddenly it is moving so fast.

It’s great to see Haniya’s sister Yameena get more screen time. Her relationship with her former lawyer Shoaib is developing, but she’s not ready for a relationship and wants to remain friends. Her ex-husband Adam has been following her but surprisingly he only wanted to apologise. I’m not entirely convinced — he didn’t seem like the kind of villain who would reform so easily.

The cliff-hanger of this week’s episode is the same as last week’s preview; Uzair sees Haniya, in Ibad’s shirt, going up the stairs.

Next week we see the toll that Ibad’s separation has taken on Haniya and Hajra and we’ll find out if Uzair has guessed who Haniya really is.

“Thakan”

Episode: 4

Aired: May 31

Channel: ARY Digital

When Sadaf tells her family she left her job at the store, they all say she’s been ungrateful and inconsiderate to quit without thinking about all of them, not understanding that she wasn’t willing to compromise on her values for a job.

Sadaf learns that her sister Mehak has been skipping school but doesn’t yet know that she’s been out with her boyfriend when not at school. When she confronts her, Mehak threatens Sadaf with the fact that she knows about her friend Jawad.

Sadaf’s been consistently refusing her friend Jawad’s proposals because of her responsibility to provide for her family. She even tells him if she gets tired of all the work she’ll opt to marry someone who can help out her and her family financially.

Sadaf soon gets a job teaching home tuition and another as a door-to-door salesperson, but the latter is tough as the customers are rude and insulting.

Meanwhile, Sadaf’s grandfather returns from meeting an old friend with news of a proposal for Sadaf but her mother, Zubeida, tries to make excuses but grandfather is adamant. Later when he asks her if she spoke to Sadaf about the rishta, she lies and says Sadaf didn’t like him. How long is she going to stall like this?

“Emaan”

Episode: 3

Aired: May 30

Channel: Express Entertainment

Everyone is at the airport to receive Kathy, except for Aazi’s poor father who is still at the Edhi home, apparently forgotten by everybody in all the excitement.

Kathy, played by Dubai-based Ukrainian model Anna Liko, shows up in a culturally sensitive burqa, but is eventually convinced that she can reveal her ‘English’ clothes.

All their English language lessons were unnecessary as she’s taken an Urdu language course and speaks it quite well. Kathy isn’t ignorant, she comes to Pakistan prepared; she’s sweet and pleasant and everybody likes her.

Kathy’s parents are separated and both have remarried. She’s come to Pakistan in search of happiness and family and probably romanticises eastern family values and traditions, and unbeknownst to Aazi, she might just want to stay in Pakistan, while he thinks Kathy is his ticket to America.

Sajid asks Maulvi to watch the internet cafe he runs with Aazi where Sumbal arrives looking for Aazi, unaware of the Kathy situation (she seems to be the only one!). Maulvi, in all his self-righteousness, interferes because he can’t accept that Aazi’s marrying Kathy while he’s been leading Sumbal on.

What exactly has Maulvi told Sumbal? She’s been waiting a long time to marry Aazi so there’s no telling what she might do once she finds out what’s going on. Hell hath no fury…

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2012.