My twisted take on the weekly Pakistani drama, Mann Mayal. 'Dekhiye Peer sabh, raat aath bajey.. sirf Hum par, *cue 'Hum jaisa koi nahin' voice-over*. Seriously though, watch it.. even if Mannu's silliness, Salahuddin's general backbone-less-ness, M...
Although Mann Mayal isn't the cute-ish, old timey love story I was expecting (read: was in denial even though the promos promised me a tragedy), I'll give it this - it never ceases to surprise me! Mann Mayal's treatment of everything is so different.. I can't not watch it. Main har week sochti hoon, ke aaj pata nahin kya naya kareinge? Kis stereotype ko break kareinge? That's one thing I really love and respect about Samira Fazal's writing. Brilliant!
The opening sequence was love (honestly, count it in my Fat Owl Favourites for this episode) - pichle episode mein mujhe nahin lag raha tha ke Sadi phone pick karega, but he did! He diiiiiid! Their conversation, while a little awkward, was kinda heartwarming as well. Watching these two finally talk, after their little meeting, jheel ke kinare, warmed my heart. It felt like.. home.
The way Salahuddin puts on a fake smile before he picks up Mannu's call - that subtle sadness in his expression was heartbreaking; and the way Mannu's face lights up hearing a familiar voice from her carefree past.
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I've spent the past few weeks praising Maya Ali's performance but, this time, even Hamza Ali Abassi deserves praise. I am SO glad to see him back in action. That was some top-notch acting by both - dialogue delivery, body language, the ronaa - like they were trying to out-act each other. Brilliant, brilliant!
Acha, time for some shikaayat: although she looks rather sAXy, I really wish Mannu hadn't completely changed her look just to please Meekail. THE HAIR, MANNU! WHY DID YOU LOSE YOUR BEAUTIFUL LOCKS?! *le cries* The whole concept of changing the way you LOOK just to impress someone, needs to die! She's trying too hard and I felt like her efforts and sacrifices will go unnoticed and unappreciated - which, they do.
Waise, Gohar Rasheed is nailing it as the shameless shouhar. That scene at the party made me so mad - they made my Mannu so uncomfortable - bunch of bullies!
I won't even go NEAR that marranjoga Jameel's treatment of Rehman Sahab. Watching that scene where he's feeding him, made my blood boil! Jameel, tenu Allah poochega! *composes herself* Allah ma sabireen.
Alright, now that the shikaayat is out of the way, let's jump to my Fat Owl Favourites for this episode!
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A WINDOW TO THE PAST. Although the scene was tiny, it was a VERY welcome change from the sadness that's taken over the show over the past few weeks. I loved the 'Balle Balle' dance sequence. Haye, I miss the hasnti khelti Mannu. Waise, there's another reason I liked that scene. It reminded me of my VM on Aunn Zara on the same song! *hides* I mean, wahan bhi Maya, yahan bhi Maya - I couldn't NOT think of it. Hehe.
THE PINK, THE TURQUOISE AND THE DOVES. Eeeeeee.. that Mannu-Bia scene Ali shared the behind-the-scenes shot from, was in this episode! When the whole Mannu-Salahuddin 'purana zamana love story' track ended, I was worried that we won't get to see that scene but it was in THIS episode; I need to make a VM and somehow fit that scene in - it's gorgeous! Plus, their conversation was so cute! Haye.. I got so emotional watching that scene.. episode one waali feels! *sigh*
THAT CAMEO. Hehe, ek mazey ki baat share karoon? [If you'd been following Mann Mayal ever since the day it was announced, you know who their make-up artist is.] When Mannu said that she wants to get a hair cut, and jab scene shuroo huwa, I was like.. 'oh my gosh, this BETTER be Babar Zaheer' and you won't believe the squeal that escaped my mouth when it WAS, in fact, him!
MAYA & THE MIRROR. Acting is probably difficult as is it, but then to sit there with the camera focusing just on your face, and the whole cast and crew staring at you, can NOT be an easy task. I want to give Ali a standing ovation for nailing the scene where Mannu is "practicing" smiling in the mirror after that marranjoga hurts her feelings for the umpteenth time, this time, calling her a 'roti basurti'. Pata nahin kyun, but as soon as she starts "laughing", I started crying.. that 'phir se aagaye manhoos' made it worse cause then tears start flowing from HER eyes. TV mein Mannu, aur yahaan sofay pe bethi main, dono rou rahe thay. It wasn't a pretty sight.
TALAT HUSSAIN. Need I say more? Can we just skip all of the Ifti-Jameel-Kukki trio and just jump to Sadi-Rehman Uncle scenes? That kitaabein waali conversation was cute! Hehe. I already love him! After Mannu got married, I was missing Baba Teddybear's presence.. but ab koi shikaayat nahin! *sends Rehman Uncle a mental hug*
