“Jaan E Jahan” aired its finale on Friday, May 28, 2024, drawing to a close one of Pakistan’s most beautiful romantic dramas in recent years. Starring Hamza Ali Abbasi and Ayeza Khan in lead roles, “Jaan E Jahan” reunited the beloved “Pyaray Afzal” duo after a gap of ten years – and it has been worth the wait. The supporting cast includes Savera Nadeem, Haaris Waheed, Raza Talish, Asif Raza Mir, Nawal Saeed, Saqib Sameer, Srha Asghar and others in a story written by Rida Bilal and directed by Qasim Ali Mureed.
In the finale, Kishwar (Savera Nadeem) is left to mourn the loss of Tabraiz (Haaris Waheed), the son she sacrificed it all for. Tabraiz was her “vessel,” her prized son who she fixated on, ignoring both Abdul (Raza Talish), her younger son, and Shehram (Hamza Ali Abbasi), the son she never wanted. Ultimately, children are a product of their upbringing. Kishwar has always had an ego and went as far as murdering her own husband to secure control of wealth – and yet, she “loved” her eldest son, Tabraiz, to the best of her own ability. It’s from this love that Tabraiz himself learned to love, a love which was murderous, controlling, manipulative and wound up leading him towards death. On the flip-side, Shehram grew up in the shadow of his mother, Rehana, and his loving father Murad, a young man taught kindness and compassion. When Kishwar entered his life, he openly accepted her into his heart – but Kishwar only saw Shehram as a tool to further her own progression in life. She even neglected her youngest son, Abdul, who only found happiness once Shehram took him under his wing. Kishwar’s mothering left a lot to be desired and it’s because of her unfair treatment that, in the end, she is left all alone. This is a woman who has lost her husband, mother and son all of her own doing. And now, she is left with two sons who she has victimized and abused throughout their lives. Kishwar is left in a place where no one likes her. Her own mother died without forgiving her and her youngest son has removed her from his heart. Is there any redemption for such a character? And yet, the outcome for Kishwar is one which leaves us, as an audience, cheering, avoiding any psychological breakdowns and suicide cliches. Rather, Kishwar has always been a woman sound of mind, a woman who has made her own choices and lived life on her own terms – and her end is exactly the same. The end of “Jaan E Jahan” is the beginning of Kishwar’s journey towards self-discovery. Savera Nadeem has been brilliant in each and every one of her scenes, often her moments with Hamza Ali Abbasi being some of the best scenes in the show.
In the end, Shehram wins the election, Abdul successfully takes over the factory, Aaliyah (Srha Asghar) and Abdul re-establish their bond, indicating a move towards romance, and the audiences are finally given the moment they’ve been waiting for. “Jaan E Jahan” winds up with one of the most lavish, visually stunning on-screen weddings in recent times, a real treat for fans. Shehram and Mahnoor get their happy ending with moments which leave us grinning from ear to ear. The highlight of “Jaan e Jahan” has always been the dialogues and the character sketches, the way these characters have been written as good, real people and that remains true to the very end. Hamza Ali Abbasi and Ayeza Khan are simply wonderful in the finale, reminding us that good does win over evil when we are strong enough to fight our demons.
When “Pyaray Afzal” released, it left audiences with a traumatic ending. A decade later, “Jaan E Jahan” has stepped in to heal that trauma. “Jaan E Jahan” moves on to join the ranks of classic Pakistani television dramas as a show Pakistani drama audiences will remember for years to come. Not only has this show given us a beloved on-screen couple in the form of Shehram and Mahnoor, but it has also given us a strong example of a supportive relationship, a green flag male lead and the depiction of how individuals are essentially a product of their upbringing/surroundings. This show has been a gift, one that Pakistani drama audiences will treasure.
