When “Khushbo Mein Basay Khat” first began, audiences were more than aware that they would be entering a world with different norms, values and practices – and yet, this story is set within our world, within Pakistani society. Artists tend to be labeled as eccentric, living in their own realm, borrowing from life to write their poetry and/or stories. “Khushbo Mein Basay Khat,” a show about poets and poetry is equally as poetic of a story, subtly making strong points about how women fall victim to patriarchy and the double standards they face. Starring Adnan Siddiqui, Nadia Jamil, Kinza Hashmi, Sidra Niazi, Faiza Gilani, Nazlin Mirza, Saleem Mairaj, Rashid Farooqui, Vania Ahmed and Zainab Qayyum, the story has been written by Amna Mufti and directed by Mohammad Saqib Khan.
In episode 23, Adeela (Nadia Jamil) has found herself lured back in by Ahmed Zaryab (Adnan Siddiqui) and, her memories jogged by the rain, she heads back home to rejoin her husband. While Ahmed has been waiting for Adeela’s reappearance, expecting it even, and is all too happy to see her – that does not mean anything in the grand scheme of things. Ahmed Zaryab is a notorious flirt and while he is appreciating Adeela for her return (and also singing his own praises, declaring how irresistible he is), he is also calling Husna (Kinza Hashmi) and making pledges of his undying love to her. Ahmed Zaryab is a fascinating character. He is a flirt, a womanizer, charismatic, emotionally abusive and, when it suits him, suddenly develops a moral conscience – if only to put down others. The way Adnan Siddiqui has performed this role is exceptional. On the other hand, Adeela can be seen in two ways – first, she is an enabler. She has turned a blind eye to Ahmed’s behavior all these years, seeing how he has been conducting relationships right under her nose, even targeting young college girls, and has allowed it. It’s only when it came into her house when she decided to leave. But second, she is also a victim of narcissistic abuse. Ahmed Zaryab’s world is his own and everyone in his world – and in this show – is enveloped in that world. Adeela has always been told by Ahmed that she is lucky to have him, always made to feel that she doesn’t deserve anything better. Adeela represents the average South Asian married woman, a woman who is constantly told to keep her marriage together and that her value is based on that – even if she is independent and successful with or without her husband. Nadia Jamil is flawless as always.
Meanwhile, Penny’s (Sidra Niazi) life has fallen into chaos. Penny is an emotionally weak character, one who has escaped a bad marriage where she was mistreated and she found solace outside the home – in Ahmed Zaryab. She made a bad choice, but society judges women with a much harsher lens than men and so Penny winds up being a pawn in this story. She is used by Ahmed for his own pleasure before disposing of her after she has left the safety of her home for him. She is used by Afaqi (Rashid Farooqui) and Sheheryar (Saleem Mairaj) for personal vendettas against Ahmed and for financial gain, not realizing how they’re throwing her to the wolves. Sidra Niazi has been absolutely wonderful as Penny, truly a stand-out role for her career. She is elegant, she is graceful and her downfall has been tragic to watch. Sheheryar and Afaqi represent society as a whole – empathetic, willing to help, aware of right and wrong, but equally judgemental, users, jealous and often the reason for a person’s destruction. Saleem Mairaj and Rashid Farooqui express all these attitudes convincingly.
Coming to Husna, Kinza Hashmi is ethereally beautiful in this role as a young girl who is manipulative, young and magnetic, willing to do anything to achieve success and independence through every shortcut possible. Husna is aware that Adeela is back home, but that does not stop her from pursuing Ahmed, a man twice her age and a man who has no intention of leaving his wife. She likes the attention – both at home from Pervez and outside the home from Ahmed. While having an outright relationship with Ahmed, she is also planning a marriage to Pervez and encouraging him to build his home away from their current neighborhood. But will Husna destroy her own life by trusting the wrong people – including herself?
And that brings us to our real “hero” of this story. Faiza Gilani as Sajda is, if looked at from the perspective of Husna, the “villain” of the story. She is always plotting against Husna, she is always turning others against Husna or at least this is what Husna would have the world believe. Husna is such a cunning character, she even manages to turn her parents away from Sajda, asking her to move out. Husna’s parents are, in fact, responsible for this attitude of Husna, always trusting her even when they should not. This is a low blow, because in reality, Sajda is the hero of this drama. She is a character who was once a part of this world as has had her interactions with Ahmed Zaryab, but is now completely removed from that world and so, she is able to see the reality of the situation. She is the moral conscience of the show.
There is so much to praise about “Khushbo Main Basay Khat” and it’s a tragedy to see that it’s not getting the viewership it deserves. We are eagerly anticipating the reveal of Zainab Qayyum’s backstory with Ahmed Saryab – and how Jahan Ara reacts. This is a PTV era style masterpiece – poetic, meaningful and a slow burn story with complex characters. “Khushbo Mein Basay Khat” is absolutely wonderful, a must-watch show.