Fictitious But Not Frivolous

Fiction has been my coping mechanism in trying times. Losing myself in fictional characters is such a fascinating diversion!! I watched a few Pakistani dramas of late.

A well narrated story, be it any genre, can be highly entertaining and engaging.

My recent watches are a mix bag. Some have disappointed me but many  I have enjoyed wholeheartedly.

Ishq Murshid (Love Guide)

Shahmeer Sikandar, son of Zubaida Sikandar and  Dawood Ali Khan,  returns from abroad to find the political party, founded by his late mother and currently helmed by his corrupt and manipulative father, dwindling in image.

Dawood wants Shahmeer to take over the reins. Shahmeer is willing but constrained by the interfering presence of Haroon Baig who does not leave one single opportunity to remind that the party is sustained by his financial and political backing. Baig’s over possessive daughter Mehreen wants to marry Shahmeer.

But he is head over heels in love with Shibra, a well educated girl of a modest middle class background, unswayed by money , power or social status. She is also the elder daughter of Suleman Ahmed,  who was the most trusted follower of Zubaida Sikandar.

Shahmeer, in order to woo Shibra, takes on a fake identity of a poor commoner called Fazal Baksh and manages to secure a job in Suleman’s department. Subsequently he comes to stay with his family as a PG and win hearts.

Ishq Murshid, despite having the elements of a serious socio political drama, loses track and drags on like a comedy of errors.

Yunhii (Just Like That)

Naveed, a US based surgeon, returns to his estranged extended family in Pakistan , with his daughter in toe, after twenty seven years to seek forgiveness of the patriarch, Haji Karamat or Dadajaan. Naveed was engaged to Dadajaan’s daughter, Khursheed. However, after migrating to US he refuses to marry her. A heartbroken Kursheed dies of tuberculosis. An enraged Dadaajaan cuts all ties with Naveed. The family is astounded when Dadaajaan decides to welcome Naveed and his daughter, Kaneez Fatima, with a warm heart after all these years.

Naveed wants his daughter to be married in Pakistan. However, Kaneez or Kim, as she prefers to call herself, considers all Pakistanis unworthy of marriage. In due course, however, she agrees to get married to her cousin and Dadaajaan’s favourite grandson, Dawood to “experience marital life”.

From the very beginning, Kim makes it clear that she intends to settle in the US because Pakistan is not fit a place to live. She keeps on urging Dawood, who is a doctor and a devout Muslim, to accompany her back. But Dawood   wants to serve his own country.

Amidst crusades devolving into fiascos, Kim, unsteadily bungles her way into the hearts of her in laws and cousins. Surprisingly, she finds her husband supportive and open to her fight for personal space.

The fabric of an orthodox patriarchal set up imperceptibly transitions into a more flexible and adaptive family under the grudging influence of the impulsive, vocal and tactless Kim. In turn, Kim also comes to acknowledge that the western stereotypical image of a conservative Pakistani Muslim as an out and out anarchist is a misconception.

The serial ends on a positive note with Kim’s return to Pakistan after a year’s sabbatical – a period which she devotes to learn more about her religion and culture.

Qarz-e-Jaan (Loan Of Life)

This is the story of Nashwa and her strife to gift her mother, Bisma, widowed at a very young age, a life of love and peace. However, Nashwa has to lock horns with her autocratic grandmother and crooked paternal uncle, Bakhtiar Behzaad,  to fulfill this mission. Of steely grit and determination, Nashwa, agrees to enter into a contract with Bakhtiar to marry Ammar , her cousin (Bakhtiar’s son) in lieu of her mother’s freedom.

Nashwa is a practising lawyer. Ammar has a criminal past of rape and murder. Being of a rich and influential family, Ammar is still at large.

On the other hand, Burhaan, Bisma’s step son and Nashwa’s professional mentor, is madly in love with her. Nashwa’s sacrifice for her mother stuns and pains him. By a twist of fate Burhaan is pitted against Nashwa to defend Ammar in court. But Nashwa is hell bent on putting him behind bars.

Qarz-e-Jaan begins promisingly and effectively portrays the ills of flawed parenting. Though it ends up converting a repentant villain into a hero, still its an intense watch.

Kabhie Main Kabhie Tum (Sometimes Me Sometimes You)

Two offspring of the same family.

Adeel , the elder brother, well qualified and over ambitious, wants to reach the top of the social ladder by hook or by crook.

Mustafa, younger brother, laid back and lazy. A drop out but also a computer genius, does not want to get bound in any routine job.

Adeel is set to marry Sharjeena, a brilliant and modest girl of a middle class family. It’s a marriage arranged by the family.

Adeel’s lady boss, Rubab has a secret crush on him.

When Rubab comes to know of his marriage, she  proposes to Adeel. A greedy Adeel readily agrees and calls off his marriage at the last minute. 

A humiliated and heartbroken Sharjeena requests Mustafa to marry her so that her family is saved from social embarrassment. In a daze Mustafa says yes.

Sharjeena and Mustafa are poles apart. But surprisingly they bond and cling to each other.

Bitter turns of fate make Mustafa realize the importance of money. The carefree genius, once taunted  for being good for nothing, makes his mission to be rich so that he can give the best of everything to his wife and the baby growing inside her womb.

His talent gets recognised. His passion becomes his livelihood. But a lonely Sharjeena misses the erstwhile Mustafa –  his care and company.

A fast paced narrative keeps the viewer hooked. Sadly, the end is a bit of a damper.

Meem Se Mohabbat (L For Love)

Roshii aka Aayat Sultan is a fun loving, happy-go-lucky girl who hails from a family of engineers. Her mother wants her to pass the aptitude test for  engineering too. But Roshii makes it a point to fail  seven consecutive times because studies will prevent her from having fun. She tries all the tricks up her sleeve, including getting married, to avoid  enrollment in college.

Roshii’s father gets her into his friend’s office as an intern so that her restless energy and overactive brain can be engaged in healthy pursuit. Roshii is not interested in the job but  definitely intrigued by her stern and disciplined boss, Talha Ahmed.

Roshii’s whirlwind presence  turns Talha’s life upside down as she works less and troubles more.

Unknown to Talha, Roshii is a witness to his break up with his fiance, Sabika. She jells well with Talha’s father and young nephew suffering from speech impair. They too, in turn, like her very much.

Talha carries a baggage of a traumatic past. He thinks it will be unjust if he encourages Roshii to fall in love with him. On the other hand, Roshii passes the aptitude test and gets admitted in college to please Talha and change his opinion about her.

Meem Se Mohabbat is a romcom in its truest sense. Trending in India and Pakistan it has grossed million views on You Tube.

Hum Tum (Me And You)

They are neighbours. They have grown up together. They are  college mates. This is the story of two  genius kids embroiled in personal rivalry. Their goal is to seek the attention and appreciation of Professor Qutub-ud-din.

Qutub-ud-din and Sultan Ahmed are best friends and neighbours. While Qutub-ud-din is a highly qualified Chemistry Professor Sultan has spent his entire life in frivolous betting and losing hoping that one day he will surprise everyone by making it big.

Qutub-ud-din has three daughters – Maha, Neha and Sasha. Maha wants to do a PhD in Human Psychology. Neha is a brilliant student with a streak of evil. Sasha, a school kid, is an ace hacker. Qutub-ud-din’s father, Safiullah, is a celebrity tick-tocker by the pseudonym, Daddoo Handsome. Qutub-ud-din’s wife Ulfat’s daily project is to hide from her husband whatever does not fit into his rigid views about life, family and relationships.

Qutub-ud-din is not a happy man. He cribs about being deprived of a son. He is ashamed of his father’s insane online fan following. He is dissatisfied with his wife for not being a perfect homemaker and cook and nor having adequately trained their  daughters in these departments. However, he has a very soft corner for Sultan’s younger son, Aadam.

In sharp contrast, Sultan has two obedient  sons – Sarmad and Aadam and a daughter, Milie who is a karate champion. Sarmad is an excellent chef running the family restaurant. Aadam is Neha’s competitor in class and assistant to Sarmad in business. Both the sons are perfect in home management too. Milie and Sasha are school mates and best buddies. Sultan’s wife Halima valiantly puts up with her jobless husband. Her stressful marital relationship has made her attention deficit and forgetful. Halima’s mother, Tamanna, runs a marriage bureau. However, matches made through her agency have a history of running into divorces.

Neha and Aadam have grown up in fierce one-upmanship playing pranks on each other. However, both realise the other’s talents though they don’t express it in so many words. However, their equation changes drastically with the entry of Sarim, son of Professor Javer, Qutub-ud-din’s colleague.

Hum Tum is a spool of quirky characters coming to terms with the imperfections of their lives in quaint ways. A spoof on role reversals this is a must watch.