Despite not being advertised as or seeming to be a thought-provoking show on the outside, “Muhabbat Gumshuda Meri” tends to leave a lingering impact each week. Focusing on relationships and the mistakes made while fighting against parental opposition, “Muhabbat Gumshuda Meri” is connecting with the youth and the older generation alike with its realistic depiction of young love. Starring Khushhal Khan and Dananeer Mobeen in lead roles, Omair Rana, Ayesha Toor, Farah Sadia, Ali Tahir, Laila Zuberi, Naureen Gulwani and Ali Raza make up the supporting cast. The story has been written by Rahat Jabeen and directed by Shahid Shafaat.
Episode 17 is yet another action-packed episode which delivers on all fronts. After Zobia (Dananeer Mobeen) leaves Saim (Khushhal Khan), she is struck by a car – a car which happens to belong to her Khala (Madiha Rizvi). Zobia is taken home to safety while Saim remains in a frenzy, physically and mentally injured, and comes face to face with Daniyal (Ali Raza). Daniyal, the absolute livewire of this show who we would happily want to see accidentally slip off a cliff, beats Saim to a pulp, leaving him unconscious – though he survives. Daniyal’s reign of terror continues at home as he attempts to assault Zobia as well, forcing her to sneak around the house for basic things like food while the family blames her for their loss of “izzat.”
There’s so much to be said about this episode – and the show in general. The lead characters have been written in such a way that any member of the audience can insert themselves in their place and empathize with the emotions of the young couple. Young love is sweet, it’s innocent, new, exciting – and inexperienced. While feelings of conquering the world together do not necessarily last, Saim and Zobia’s age comes into play as well, neither emotionally mature enough to handle the tough reality of their situation.
Quite honestly, there’s a lot of hostility to be felt towards Zobia’s family. Everyone from her father, mother, brother-in-law, sister……this is not how parenting is done. Rushna (Naureen Gulwani) has never played the role of a supportive sister. She did not stand for Zobia early in Saim and Zobia’s relationship either – and now, she’s acting like a proper enemy. Her mother is behaving like her eldest daughter’s marriage is more important than Zobia’s life when her son-in-law, Daniyal, is an absolute monster of a human being. Why is he so invested in Zobia’s life anyway? It’s utterly creepy. Zobia’s father never listened to her wants and then accuses Zobia of breaking his trust. Do children not have a right to trust their parents to care about their wishes? From the beginning, we’ve heard that Zobia is “laadon mein palli,” pampered and spoiled by her family. What’s the point of such a loving upbringing if she’s not allowed to have a voice, an opinion or choice? This environment is oppressive and it’s no wonder Zobia and Saim had to run away. Was there ethically, religiously or morally anything wrong with Saim and Zobia getting married? The answer is no, which is why Faiqa and Ibrahim came around to support their son.
Faiqa (Ayesha Toor) and Ibrahim (Omair Rana) have been the perfect depiction of healthy parenting. They have wanted the best for their child from the beginning. Whether it was initially pushing him to focus on his education and stay away from romance (rightly so) to now supporting their son’s recovery, Ibrahim and Faiqa have always stood on the side that protects their child. They fought, they had discussions, they tried to reason with him – but they listened. Omair Rana and Ayesha Toor are solid in their roles, truly great performers. Their roles are not relegated to simply being parents – they are young parents raising a teenager and learning how to navigate a messy situation by their son’s side. They deserve a round of applause.
Of course, our leads deserve an enthusiastic mention this week. Khushhal Khan is always excellent and is a star in the making. This week, even though most of his scenes are relegated to a hospital bed, he portrays Saim’s heartbreak so beautifully. The moment between Saim and Zobia where the fear grips him over Daniyal’s actions coupled with Zobia’s words is perfect. Saim has always stood strong for his love, but in that moment, he realizes how weak he is – and that right now, in that moment, he needs his parents. Khushhal just earns more praise each time he appears on screen, proving he has the ability to show both angst, romance and pure vulnerability with equal conviction. Dananeer Mobeen arrived as a social media craze, but she has moved beyond that image. This week in particular, she proves that she’s a true performer. Zobia’s fear on the streets and insecurity at home is mirrored in her expressions, our hearts breaking for her as she stops eating mid-chew, tired of the taunts over simple things like eating or sleeping – or even leaving her room. Dananeer has proved herself as a solid, true performer. She matches Khushhal Khan in their scenes together, the two making a genuinely good team.
We see Zobia’s Khala stand up for her, stating that Zobia will go mad if left at the mercy of this family – and we’ve never heard truer words. The bonding moments between Khala and Zobia are beautiful. Will Khala’s arrival benefit Zobia – or will she be yet another obstacle in Saim and Zobia’s way? If “Muhabbat Gumshuda Meri” continues on this path without any unnecessary obstacles, this show will be a winner at the end. It has all the makings of being something memorable years down the line.