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Review • Mann Mayal: Episode 14

Ahhh, finally an episode that compelled me to write another one of my reviews! Brace yourselves - or alternatively, skip this post altogether!

'Wait, Bia and family JUST moved in yesterday, didn't they? She's already married and is being ruksatified off to America? What? NO! How many episodes did I miss?!' *has a freakin' panic attack*

This ^ was my legit reaction when I watched the first few seconds of episode 14. Fun, right? Lol. Haseeb - KYA?! We wanted to see Bia's shaadi. WHY WEREN'T WE INVITED TO HER WEDDING?! Aur humne toh larka dekha bhi nahin - what's he like? Does he even deserve our Bia? You did the same with us when it was Zarmeenay's turn to get engaged.. all we (those who haven't read the novel) knew was that Ibaad is Laila aunty ka beta. Bas! *crosses arms and sits naraaz*

Alright, now *gets up and dusts hands* since the director isn't going to come manaao me,I'll just get on with the review!

Meekail isn't believable as human being.(Also, the prick needs to die a slow and painful death.)There,I said it.

I'll say one thing though, in a (drama) world, where shouhars are shown as heartless kya-kahoon-abs, who wouldn't think twice before striking their wives, Meekail keeping his anger limited to pulling his own hair, was refreshing! *sigh* Oh, I live for these little Mann Mayal-y surprises.

Kudos to Gohar Rasheed for pulling off this character so well - Meekail is a loathsome douchebag but it's your acting prowess that makes such a hateable character so interesting to watch.

Phew! Now that that's out of the way..  Fat Owl Favourites, girrrrrl (or, the occasional guy)!

MAYA ALI. Ali's performance this week was outstanding. I especially loved her during the scene where she's lying on the bed, writhing in pain, as Meekail—unapologetically indifferent to his wife's suffering—has an adolescent meltdown. Her acting here left me speechless; especially the way her voice was coming in choked spasms.. and that 'amma', at the end, was the cherry on top! Incroyable! *cries uncontrollably as she books a flight to Karachi, Pakistan so she can go and give Mannu a big hug*

AISHA KHAN. Alright, because I can't decide, I'm going to pull a 'Hum Awards' and say that I LOVED both Maya Ali and Aisha Khan's performance equally this week. Reason? Although she seems a little older for the character she's supposed to be playing, she pulled it off so brilliantly, that I didn't even think of the age factor until AFTER the episode was over! But by that time.. it was too late. I fell in love with her character from the word go—especially because the Mannu-Meekail story was so darn depressing—her scenes were like a warm-fuzzy hug in midst of all the chaos.

JEENA! Yes, I admit, I had certain preconceived biases about her character—because, well, I was abroad the 'Mannu Sadi For Life’ train and I didn't want anyone to come in between them—but she's so adorable, you can't HELP but fall in love with her. I literally squealed 'OMG, SHE'S SO CUTE!' every time she appeared on screen - the childlike look of wonder on her face, her sadqafiable dialogues ['Aap jayenge mujhe chorne?!' and 'Allah miyaan, yeh aadmi mujhe itna KYUN pasand hai?! were two of my favourites], her adorable facial expressions and lastly, that warm-fuzzy-feels-inducing background music (Jeena's Theme) that kept tugging at my heartstrings!

Jeena is the perfect personification of the term 'fangirl'. You could literally see the 'heart eyes' form the second she lays eyes on Salahuddin. The way her face lights up whenever Sadi calls and when says 'mere liye zaroori hai ke aapki neend poori ho, taake aap bemaar na hon,' is adorable. Although this scene was really cute, I remember my eyes welling up, because I thought 'oh my God, she's all alone in this big bad world and in desperate need of familial affection. Please Allah miyaan, Jeena ko uske hissey ki khushi dein - aur jaldi!'

Iss emotion mein aake, I started shipping Salahuddin and Jeena—rather intensely—and wanted nothing more than to call a Qazi and Nikkah-fy them right then and there because I knew just HOW much joy it'd bring her! Plus, they're adorable together! *grins sheepishly and shrugs* Fangirling dil nu samjhaawan ki?

SADI-JAMEEL'S RELATIONSHIP. I just LOVE what Salahuddin and Jameel's relationship has become - they're total BFFs now! It's adorable how, no matter how ridiculous the task, Jameel doesn't question Sadi even ONCE and jumps straight into action mode. One scene, in particular, that I found very cute was when Jameel responds to Sadi in English and Sadi's reaction, that follows - adorable!

Lastly, I'd like to give a little shout-out to little Tipu - kid, you are such a little munchkin! *pulls your cheeks* I wuvz ya! *BIG HUG*

Show: Mann Mayal Cast: Maya Ali, Aisha Khan, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Gohar Rasheed, Aiman Khan. 

[fariyasays]

LOL. THIS ENTIRE THREAD!

when I arrive at school

[fariyasays]

Boo? What’s Boo? That’s what I decided to call her.

[fariyasays]

i’ve charted stars and they’re always constant– but these – they appear every year on my birthday - only on my birthday. and i can’t help but feel like they’re meant for me.

[fariyasays]

Review • Janaan.

Is it #EidUlAdha yet?! 

First off, apologies for the uber late post. Now, without further ado, let's just get to it!

Yes, I usually post a collage with my #FatOwlReviews but the teaser for #Janaan demanded more. Just.. you'll find out why!

I had a bit of a bipolar reaction when I saw the release date: at first, I got excited seeing that the movie will release on my birth month, but that excitement was short-lived (literally, five seconds) cause I realised ke Eid-ul-Azha se pehle toh Eid-ul-Fitr aati hai; but THEN I thought, 'hey, there's a #HarryPotter reference here!' This way, when the movie FINALLY comes out, I can yell "I DID MY WAITING! TWELVE [MONTHS] OF IT!" Aen? Come on, you're smiling, admit it!

Eeeeeeeeeeeeee! Alright, you need to know that I've been OBSESSED with all things #Janaan ever since I first heard about this movie, back in August - so much so, every time I thought 2016, the movie's poster (the one with Armeena wearing that gorgeous white dress) would come to mind! I can't pinpoint the reason why, though.

Was it Armeena? Was is that the script's been written by Obi? Or was it the fact that it was based on Pathan culture?

We'll probably find out by the end of the review. Saath denge mera? [I just can't shake the #BinRoye references]

Waise, jo bhi tha - I was in love! So, fair warning: my views on this teaser WILL be a little bias!

COLOURS. COLOURS EVERYWHERE! The trailer is so gosh darn cute and colourful, it just oozes khushiness! I've already watched it over 20 times and I'm still not sick of it! There's music, there's dance, there's a shaadi, more festivities.. and Chinese lanterns (another obsession of mine)!

CINEMATOGRAPHY. From the tracking shot that opens the trailer, to the Birds-Eye view of Armeena twirling on stage, the cinematographer has NAILED every scene. Tremendous work, Rana Kamran.

MUSIC. Honestly, is the soundtrack out yet? Cause I fell in LOVE with the music as soon as the promo opened with the beautiful sound of the Rubab. The song that plays in the teaser is both happifying and sukoonifying. One more to add to my Pashto/Persian collection! Woohoo! *Fingers crossed* we get some #ZebBangash-surprises when the music finally releases!

THE CAST AND CREW. A beautifully talented lot - Wali se le kar Arjumand tak *coughs* sorry, let's try that again.. writer se le kar producer tak - #Janaan's team includes some of the hottest new talent on the Pakistani TV/cinema scene. I am really looking forward to seeing what their collaborative efforts will bring us!

And last, but definitely not the least:

PASHTUN CULTURE. The first thing, about this movie, that caught my attention was it's title, Janaan (if you know me, you know my love for this word) - which I know, is a term of endearment in Pashto. When I dug deeper and found that this movie is, in fact, based on a Pukhtun family, I was freakin' ecstatic! I am obsessed with Pashtun culture (this obsession dates WAY back, before #DiyarEDil days, but that show only increased my love) - their language, their music, their clothes, and culture, fascinates me!

*clears throat* Jannan teaser der ikhkoley au. Desi au che sahar yakha siley...ma der khauk shu, yara. [Shout out to this munchkin, Jia, for helping me with translating this into Pashto - I appreciate it! *BIG HUG*]

The teaser reveals so much, yet so little.. so many questions that need to be answered.. questions that will be answered on the 13th of September! *sigh*

I. CAN'T. WAIT!

My review was actually shared on Janaan’s official Facebook page. Lookee!

How cool is that?!

[fariyasays]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my favourite, FAVOURITE Pakistani drama, Diyar-E-Dil! Eeeeee.. my baby turns one today! *wipes away khushi ke aansoo and hugs tablet*

When I realised that Diyar-e-Dil's anniversary is coming up, mujhe samajh nahin aa raha tha ke main kya karoon. Kuch karna chahti thi, itna toh pata tha, but kya karna chahti thi.. woh pata nahin tha. I had used up ALL of my creativity in my 'Ulti Ginti to DeD Finale' series. Ab koi ideas bachey hi nahin the. Then, it hit me!

'Goyan keshkaaqbat taskeen astawal shor astaaqbat namkeen asthar chanz aasiyatsang zaereye surat-e-beqrarbarbin ast.'

Nahin samjhe? Let me explain!

I'VE ALWAYS, ALWAYS WANTED TO MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF THE PERSIAN LYRICS AT THE START OF DRAMA'S TITLE SONG! You have no idea ke kitne projects shuroo kiye, aur scrap kar diye. Lol. Yeh ek hi complete hua hai.. and you have NO IDEA how super-duper happy I am about this fact! *does happy jig*

I've tried quite a few new techniques with this one - special occasion hai toh socha ke thora sa, you know, kuch different ho jaaye! I hope I haven't totally screwed it up! Putting this together was a bit of a pain—new stuff is fun, but it's, at the same time, kind of (read: very) challenging—but I'm GLAD I stuck by it till it was complete!

Before the show had even started, the teasers got me so darn excited and I already had a list of favourite scenes I was looking forward to and this is funny of me to notice, but I did and well, I found that all of those scenes have one thing, in particular, in common: the colour blue [Lol. You already know (well, maybe if you're new, you don't know) that blue and purple are my absolute FAVOURITE colours]:• the scene where Farah is sitting on the balcony and Wali us'sey apni balcony se dekh raha hai,• the scene where she wakes up to find Wali staring at her ['ab aap uth jaayey'],• the snowfall sequence *sighs*,• when she's sitting on the balcony, surrounded by candles, crying her heart out.

You get the idea! ^ Lol, waise, how's THAT for a walk down memory lane?!

Anyway.. I HAD to include some, if not all, of these scenes in my tribute and I actually ended up using 2.5-ish of those scenes (let's count the one where he's watching her sleep, cause woh doosra wala scene bas next subha aane hi wala hai, lol).

Jab maine dekha, ke balcony waala bit bohat khoobsurati se lyrics se fit ho raha hai, I had an idea! I wanted for that scene to stand out. Aur phir, as you can see, maine apni saari vidding techniques uss 5-second ke sequence mein daal din. Lol.

Let's go a little behind the scenes and I'll tell you what the idea behind this VM was! I was actually trying to match the scenes [pause for effect] with the Persian lyrics.

*cue crickets*

A visual representation, of sorts, of the words

*crickets, again*

So that you understand the meaning, without actually knowing what the words mean.

*aaaaaand silence*

*speeds through sentence*

Ifthatmakesanysense! *shrugs* Just, VM ke feel pe jao!

I've tried my best and have made this with a lot of pyaar and I hope that comes across!

Happy Diyar-e-Dil day, Fat Owlians! Love, the fat owl ツ

Couples: Wali & Farah, Arjumand & SuhaibShow: Diyar-E-Dil​Actors: Osman Khalid Butt​, Maya Ali​, Hareem Farooq​, Ali Rehman Khan​.

[fariyasays]

Review • Mann Mayal: Episode 10.

Aaaaaaaaand it's back! Yup, it took 9 weeks, but Mann Mayal is back to it's warm-fuzzy ways. I haven't enjoyed an episode THIS much in a while. Episode 10 had wohi pyaari pyaari episode 1 waali feels! Nahin samjhe? Let me explain!

It's endearing to see how much Sadi still cares about Mannu. He's such a pyaara little munchkin. His conversation with Bia, when he's sitting in his office, was uber cute. That line when he says 'tumhare saath rehti hai toh bohat khush rehti hai woh,' was especially touching. Abbasi was wonderful in that scene - that concerned expression on his face and his general adorable awkwardness at the conversation - I just want to pull his cheeks! In fact, Sadi scenes - whether with him, or about him - were my most favourite part of the episode.

In fact, iss baar sab tracks ki stories bohat interesting thi.. sawaaiye Mannu ke. I felt so bad for her. Ali barely had 2 scenes in the entire episode, but she was spectacular in the little screen-time she had. Mannu has so many emotions bottled up inside of her and they all come bubbling up at the aunts' mention of Meekail's name. Ali expresses that frustration and internal struggle beautifully - that permanent sadness on her face she tries to cover with an awkward smile, her lowered, panicky gaze, trying to avoid any eye contact with her aunts, her fidgety hands, her restlessness and finally, her sudden outburst.. in short, she nailed it! The way she runs after Phuppho and Chachi and hugs them, apologising while weeping uncontrollably, like a little child, was heart-wrenching. My Mannu! *le sad face* SPEAKING OF! I am so glad Meekail's parents are ACTUALLY taking action and doing something to sadhaarofy their bigra hua beta. At first, I didn't pay much attention to his father, but now, he's bae - way to go Baba Meekail! Waise, my favourite character, from the Meekail Clan, has got to be his mother. I am so glad that I was right about this lady - she is so cute. I loved that scene when she's sitting cross-legged on Meekail's bed, feeding him soup. Hehe. Jaisa bhi hai, unka toh beta hai. Lol. I can't believe I'm saying this but aaj, pehli baar, Jameel bura nahin laga. I don't know what it is, but I think, deep, waaaaaaaaaay down in his heart, he does care about Rehman Uncle. I was actually looking forward to more of his scenes. Lol. I loved his scenes with Hamza, especially the one in the kitchen. Oooooo.. I can't wait, let's just fast-forward and JUMP to the #FatOwlFavourites! SADI & JAMEEL. The scene in the kitchen, between Sadi and Jameel, was hands down my favourite bit in the entire episode. That scene - from dialogues to direction - was GOLD; especially Abbasi! He goes from sehma sa Sadi, asking Jameel for a loan, to annoyed Sadi, walking out on him mid-sentence with a 'yaar, WTF' expression on his face - all within the span of a minute. Lol. Their back and forth was so hilarious, it became the highlight of episode for me.. I kept rewinding it. Jameel ka chup na hona (he's such a dheet, lol) aur baat karne ka tanziya style, aur Sadi ka masoom-to-bezaar expression.. 'twas brilliant - 60 seconds of hilarity! Also, the mystery of where Sadi gets all the money for Uncle's diapers and medicine is finally solved.

THE CUTENESS. The 'feel' of the entire episode was like—I don't know—that feeling of returning home. Back to what's comfortable, what's familiar! *hugs laptop while episode 10 plays* Most of this had to do with the fact that we FINALLY saw the return of (and proper scenes with) characters from Mann Mayal, 'the early years', and also, the music. MUSIC. I haven't mentioned it in a while and I am so glad it's making a comeback because the music was on.. freakin'.. point! Especially at that scene between Sadi's parents! *wipes away tears of khushi* Bar that one questionable dialogue, how touchy was that scene?! SADI'S BABA. It was such a delight to see him again - I missed him! He is one of my 'low key' favourite characters on Mann Mayal - a sensible authoritative figure who actually uses said authority properly, also his views on equality between men and women are awesome.. in short: in a world of typical drama dads, he's a breath of fresh air! His line 'maine to usko kab ka maaf kar diya' brought tears to my eyes - baba naraaz hain, lekin iska yeh matlab nahin ke woh ussay pyaar nahin karte! *BIG SQUISHY HUG* GOHAR RASHEED. While Sadi was my favourite 'character' this week, Gohar Rasheed was my favourite 'actor'. I'm so glad we got to see more of Rasheed, this episode. As marranjoga as his character his, I actually enjoy his presence on screen because of the fact that he's such a fine actor. It's a treat to watch him work his magic. I especially loved him during the phone call scene. Woh bechara pehle se mummy-daddy ke saath was in the middle of an argument and uppar se Baba Teddybear decides to give him a call at that exact moment and play a game of 21 Questions! Although it was supposed to be a serious scene, I couldn't help but laugh at Meekail's situation - on one side, there's father-in-law's consistent insistence in his ears ke 'ajaao', while, on the other, his dad is giving him the death-stare- woh bechara kare toh kya kare?! *falls off chair laughing* BABA TEDDYBEAR TO THE RESCUE! Waise, Meekail ke outburst ka ek faida toh hua: Baba Teddy ko realize hota hai ke Mannu, in fact, khush nahin hai. When Baba said 'yeh wapas nahin jayegi,' I literally did a happy jig.. dil main! And last, but definitely not the least. YOLO. Need I say more? *giggles* Uncle Rehman's 'YOLO' speech and Sadi's reaction that followed.. *kisses fingertips* epic!

[fariyasays]

Review • Mann Mayal: Episode 9

First things first, *climbs up on roof with megaphone and shouts* UNCLE IS AAAALIIIIVVVVEEEE! *drops megaphone and does happy jig*

SIGH. OF. FREAKIN'. RELLLL-IEF!

Eeeeee.. when Salahuddin decides to stay and take care of Uncle, I was like 'YAASSSS!' I am SO happy that he's FINALLY doing the right thing.. and I fully support his decision to stay!

Before I do too much khushi, let's dive into the negative bits and just get those over with.. first up: our drama queen, Meekail! Honestly, aap mein se KISI ko Meekail ka Mannu se shaadi ka reason samajh aata hai? This GUY! I don't even.. he's like a.. UGGGHHH! I WISH DADO WOULD KICK HIS BUTT! I felt so bad for Mannu when she said 'koshish toh kar rahi hoon na!' Babe, you're doing MORE than koshish - this guy's just a hardhearted, ungrateful little douche.

Okay, am I the only one who feels this way (it's a little complicated, but bear with me - alternatively, skip this paragraph): although I'm not down with Mannu's little makeover, I'd kinda made my peace with it. I got used to her new look after a couple of episodes, simply because she blended in with the rest of the 'modarrn' log. It was only when she visits her 'maayka'—seeing her all short-hair-and-loud-makeup, compared to her more traditionally dressed, sar-par-dupatta-clad ghar ki khawateen—did I feel weird! IT JUST DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT! WHY DID SHE CUT ALL THAT HAIR? WHY?! *cries a river*

The moment Mannu walks into her home, I couldn't stop looking at Saba Hamid - the pained expression on her face as she watches her little girl feign happiness, was heartbreaking. She waits until everyone was about their business before she wraps Mannu in her embrace. That subtle sadness on her face - loved Hamid here!

And now, presenting, the heartbreaking of the heartbreaking-ist, Baby Teddybear's dialogues from this week: when he said 'tum toh choti ho na (tumhe logon ki kya keh pehchaan),' tears literally FELL from my eyes, then.. the final blow: 'main jisko apni zindagi ki sab se bari doulat hawalay kar raha hoon, woh uske kaabil bhi hain ke nahin'.. and, I was done for! I just sat there, crying into my pillow. Every line, every word was like a dagger to the heart. It was heartbreaking to listen to Mannu's dialogues that followed - it's depressing to see how much she's grown up, so fast. Y U DO THIS SADI AND BABA? WHY?! My precious little Mannu!

Is it just me or was Bia's mum interrogating Mannu, like that, weird? Honestly, it made me a little uncomfortable - that sawaal pe sawaal.. give the girl a break, Khala! Waise, one area they've showed consistency in, is that Khala's character - she's judgey as EVER!

Wow - there was much more negativity than I thought.. guess you don't really know until to sit down to write about it. Anyway, onto the happier moments - onto some #FatOwlFavourites, y'all!

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE. Hehe, every time I think of that scene, it brings a HUGE smile to my face - you know the one: where Rehman Uncle grabs that slice of apple from Sadi's hand, eats it and they start laughing and the scene fades into Mannu and Sara baji having a laugh. IT WAS SO HAPPIFYING! *sigh* I'm so glad she's back!

THE MYSTERY GIRL. Eeeeeeeeeee.. when Sadi's combing Rehman Uncle's hair. That scene was so beyond cute! [I LOVE Sadi in that blue shirt.. no surprises here though!]

Uncle: Jis larki ki bhi shaadi hogi tumse, sar pakkar kar roye gi!Sadi: Aap jitna marzi bahane bahane se pooch lein, main nahin bataaunga aapko!' Hehe. The way Talat Hussain said that line was so adorable, I couldn't stop giggling! 

WHEELCHAIR. Hands down, THE highlight of episode 9 - the scene where Uncle Rehman, grabbing hold of Sadi's hand, takes a little walk by the poolside, ON HIS OWN TWO FEET! Eeeeeee, the smiles on their faces are priceless. Dado sadqay! The scene made me happy AND sad at the same time - when was the last time Uncle was out, in the open air, like this? *shakes fist at Ifti* MANNU-BABA REUNITED! Eeeeee, that never-ending hug between Mannu and Baba TeddyBear - I'm so glad I finally get to type these names together again - was love!

[fariyasays]

Review • Mann Mayal: Episode 8.

First things first, Meekail, 'Manahil' is not Hannah Montana (a reference I stumbled upon on Twitter - so on point, lol), stop expecting her to live a double life - uss actress ka anjaam kya hua tha, woh hum sab ke saamne hai. Tread lightly, marranjogay!

He gets points for liking Nutella, but that's about his ONLY redeeming quality. He wants her to be the 'perfect bahu' by day and pull a 180 and turn into a party animal, by night [*read in 'T&Cs applied' voice* sleep not included]. This guy, and his demands, are getting more and more ridiculous with each passing episode.. and his parents aren't any better.

I couldn't believe it when Meekail's mum says 'tumhara asal kaam usko sanwaarna hai.' Like, say what? She's his WIFE, not his therapist! Shaadi isn't some magical 'fix' to sudhaaro your spoilt brat of a son. Raising him right was YOUR job, don't thoppo your responsibility on some innocent girl who's barely keeping up with your son's ridiculous lifestyle. Ugh, they make my blood boil!

Speaking of.. I don't like to forward through an episode, skipping scenes, because I'm afraid I might miss out an important detail, but if I could, I would forward through this marranjogay's scenes in a heartbeat! Jameel's treatment of Rehman Uncle infuriates me - kisi majboor ka iss tarah mazak uraana and jaan bouj ke ussay takleef dena.. I'll say what I said last week: Jameel, tenu Allah poochega!

Whenever Jameel, Ifti or Kuki - bunch of ungrateful freeloaders - make an appearance, I swear, I want to walk out the room before they open their mouth, especially Kuki! I wanted to strangle her when she was trying to sell off Uncle's books. I LOVED it when Sadi confronts her and Ifti - that'll teach her them to mistreat their elders!

Waise, I'm not sure if I'm the ONLY one, but it makes me extremely uncomfortable when Ifti and Kuki address each other as 'jani' in front of company - it's just distasteful! They have no respect or regard for anyone.

I apologise for all the negativity, but, I had to get all that off my chest! Acha, *shudders* enough negativity, onto the ‪#‎FatOwlFavourites‬! Prepare yourselves for some tears, because this section, is ALL about Sadi and Rehman Uncle! Look:

SALAHUDDIN-REHMAN UNCLE. Alright, I'll be honest, filhaal, inn dono ke scenes are one of the BIGGEST reasons why I'm still watching (and reviewing) Mann Mayal. Inke scenes aur cute si baatein, give me life. The whole diaper-drama was such an uncomfortable scene to watch, but what followed, brought tears to my eyes. Sadi, jo ek proper meal nahin afford kar sakta, runs to the grocery store, in a heartbeat, to buy diapers for Uncle. The way he silently leaves them on his dresser and walks away and the expression of Uncle's face, reflected in the mirror, was priceless!

SALAHUDDIN & BIA'S BOND. One of the cutest, most heartwarming scenes in this episode was when Rehman Uncle asks Sadi about his family. The way Sadi's face lights up when he says 'ek choti behan hai, Bia!' Okay, I'm not kidding, my eyes have welled up just typing that out. Hamza Ali Abbasi's smile is so genuine here - his is a smile that reaches his eyes and penetrates right through to your heart and, for a second, you forget all of your Mann Mayal-y troubles! *sigh* Dado sadqay jaaye!

STORY-TIME! Salahuddin jab bhi Rehman Uncle ke room be bahar iss tarah khara hua hota hai, it brings me so much joy cause that means we're about to get more Sadi and Uncle CUTENESS! The scene where Sadi is reading to him, was love! Okay, I know I obsess a lot about scenes with books, but, before you think I'm crazy, let me tell you this: I personally feel that a book is the BEST gift you could give a person - as Stephen King so accurately puts, 'books are a uniquely portable magic' - and when I see a person reading to someone, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! Sorry, not sorry!

IJAAZAT? It's a tiny little detail, but I love how - when Rehman Uncle lies that 'mujhe yahan bethna acha lag raha hai' - Salahuddin sits on the cold floor next to Uncle's wheelchair to give him company; and asks 'ijaazat?' before leaving. In terms in acting, the moment when Sadi holds Uncle's hand and kisses is so lovingly, was my most favourite! Abbasi looks so genuine and the way Hussain Sahab wipes his tears away.. I can't get over that scene! *sigh*

Sadi's love and respect for this adorable little buzurg is heartwarming! I couldn't stop smiling (through happy tears) throughout this scene - aur ek dialogue pe toh mujhe waqaai hansi aa gayi, when Rehman Uncle says 'Jameel ko tum jaante hi ho, zara si baat ka batangar bana deta hai.' Itni horrible situation main bhi this little old man has kept his sense of humour alive! Sadqay!

TALAT HUSSAIN. Mr. Hussain has, once again, stolen the spotlight! His presence just makes every scene that much more special. I personally felt that the diaper fiasco was a bit too much (and in bad taste) but Hussain Sahab's acting here was.. I have no words! The man leaves me speechless every time. His shaky hands and stammering voice, in Jameel's presence, tells you just how helpless and hopeless his situation is! Aur jis tarah Sadi ki presence mein woh smile karte hain.. I just.. I hope Sadi never leaves you! *gives Rehman Uncle a hug*

MANNU'S FAMILY. The scene where Mannu calls home was another lifeboat-in-a-sea-of-despair type of scenes - a feeling I last felt in episode 6. Maya Ali was adorable here, the sadness in her smile hurt my heart.. God, I miss her happy waali smile!

I said it in part one, I'll say it again - Uncle better not be dead. If he dies like this, I am QUITTING Mann Mayal! *drops mic and walks off stage*

P.s. UNCLE BETTER NOT BE DEAD! That final scene was heartwrenching! P.p.s Who else cried at that 'yaar, do samosay le aao' scene?! Sadi! 😢

Show: Mann Mayal Actors: Talat Hussain, Maya ali, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Gohar Rasheed, Aisha Khan, Aiman Khan.

[fariyasays]

Review • Mann Mayal: Episode 7.

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 #FatOwlFavourites 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. 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 #FatOwlFavourites for this episode.

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.. #episodeonewaalifeels! *sigh* THAT CAMEO. Hehe, ek mazey ki baat share karoon? [If you'd been following #MannMayal ever since the day it was announced, you know who their makeup 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*

Well, that's it for now! 

[fariyasays]

Review • Mann Mayal: Episode 6

I've said it before, I'll say it again.. and I hope our dramas keep giving me a chance to repeat myself over and over again: I love, Love, LOVE how Pakistani dramas challenge societal ideologies and are slowly conditioning people to think a little differently. Salahuddin's Baba's dialogues, in the opening sequence of episode 6, were winning! I literally started clapping after he said 'izzat aur beizzati larka aur larki dono ke liye baraabar hua karte hain!' Kudos, Baba Salahuddin.. or, Samira Fazal. Hehe.

Waise, baaqiyon ka toh pata nahin, but I couldn't stop laughing throughout the post-Nikkah, Mannu-Meekail scene. That 'shakal dikhai' was.. just.. LOL. [I find myself quoting that line at the most RANDOM of times!] One exchange, in particular, was hilarious! *Mannu, after she addresses him as 'aap', seconds after him asking her not to*

Mannu: Sorry Meekail: Phir se sorry? Mannu: Sorry bhi na kahoon?

Meekail's character has taken a 180 degree flip.. and, well, that was expected, so I decided to overlook that and just enjoy the scene for what it was. So, apparently, Meekail is a 16 year old, American teenage girl, who'll throw tantrums at the tiniest little thing. Lol. I'm sorry but.. 'I can't share rooms,' marranjogay? *splashes a glass of ice-cold water on Meeku's face* YOU'RE MARRIED - yeh baat Nikkah-nama sign karne se pehle sochni thi! Eh pehle vyaah hon diya hai kya khaandaan vich?! Waise, #MayaAli's expression during that scene says it all - 'JUDGING YOU!' [Dekho, collage main] 😄 Yaar, yeh Jameel Gul-e-Rana mein bardaasht nahin ho raha tha, aapne Mann Mayal mein bhi daal diya isko. Ughh, I hate him.. what is his PROBLEM? It's disgusting how he and Cuckoo (yeah, that's what I'm going to call her cause woman's crazy) treat Salahuddin. I'm not even going to comment on that good-for-nothing, opportunist, Ifti! With friends like these.. *facepalm* Honestly though, Salahuddin, aap CSS kar rahe ho? Itne samajhdaar toh aap honge ke thori research hi karke aate. How can such a highly-educated man not tell when he's being taken for a ride, like that? I'm sorry but that aspect wasn't the least bit believable. Although I have my reasons for watching and reviewing this show, there are a lot of holes in the plot. I really hope that gets better with time. Anyway, onto the #FatOwlFavourites for episode 6!

SALAHUDDIN AND BIA. Eeeee.. that conversation between Salahuddin and Bia was adorable. After so much drama and sadness, I found that scene very comforting, like a lifeboat in a sea of despair. Watching those two talking on the phone took me back to the days of when the show first started - that cute little charm from episode 1 was back! Salahuddin ka Bia ko parhaane ka promise.. eeeee, I shall look forward to those sessions! MANNU & MAMMA MEEKAIL. I felt so bad for Mannu when she was speaking to her mum on the phone. That conversation was DEEEEEpressing, but as soon as Mamma Meekail walked it, the scene changed! I thought she might scold Mannu but she surprised me! Maya Ali was adorable in this scene. Hehe, the way Mannu automatically surrenders her phone to her mother-in-law was so cute - dado freakin' sadqay jaaye apni masoom dhee ton! SASSY SADI. 'Warna Jameel ko meri wajah se khamakha problem hogi.' Ooooooo.. Sadi brings the SASS! *woot, woot!* Jitna gussa mujhe Jameel or Cuckoo par aaya tha woh saara ka saara evaporate hogaya cause Sadi finally, FINALLY retaliated! Enough is ENOUGH.. glad to see Sadi growing a backbone! That, 'Ifti, zara bahar aaoge.' 😄 The look on Cuckoo's face! Love it! ROLE REVERSAL. I love how, in Mann Mayal, we often see people's roles switched - first, Sadi's Baba's dialogues at the start and then the male lead being portrayed as the typical 'bechari bahu', where - since Sadi isn't exactly shaadi'ed - the noukar is filling the stinky shoes of 'sassy saas'. Although that saas-bahu drama wasn't welcome, it sure was interesting. I felt so bad for Sadi throughout the episode but during this scene, I was so damn shocked, I kind of froze in disbelief. Is that douchebag for real?! You know which scene I'm talking about.. the dinner wala scene. Jameel - that marranoga - outright denies having even spoken to Sadi at all that day, when, only five minutes ago, he literally FORCED Sadi to have dinner cause 'humare ghar wale saath beth kar khana nahin khaate' I mean.. what the actual HELL man?! EXPLAIN YOURSELF! Isse koi zehni bemaari hai kya? P.s. Ifti is so whipped! Lol.

Show: Mann Mayal Cast: Maya Ali, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Gohar Rasheed, Aiman Khan, Aisha Khan

[fariyasays]

Review • Mann Mayal: Episode 5.

Mujhe honestly Salahuddin ki samajh nahi arahi. Tutor Zehreela's bipolar tendencies are getting on my nerves. He acts aloof for an entire episode (and a half); jumps into a 'secret' relationship with Mannu in the next; makes a half-hearted attempt at asking for her hand in marriage; literally, shuts her out of his life; convinces another guy to marry her; and after he puts her through ALL of that, he calls her and asks her to meet him in secret [and these are the events, as they happen, in chronological order; *insert Jackie Chan confused meme here*] WHAT THE FALOODA, SADI?! Let the girl move the hell on!

Waise, if you consider the Mannu-Salahuddin meeting independent of the entire episode, it was very cute and well, kinda heartbreaking at the same time. Call me a masochist, if you will, but I liked the second half of their meeting more.. yeah, the sad bit. The dialogues, here, were just so darn beautiful. When Mannu says that 'aap ko dobara kabhi nahin dekhoongi?' line, I got choked up and I couldn't stop sobbing for the rest of the episode. There was such sadness and finality to that line. You could see the heartbreak on her face. Then they added the 'Aaj Jaane Ki Zid' instrumental in the background and I died! I remember screaming 'noooo, why are you doing this to me?!' Yeah, I literally said that out loud - it was just so cruel, I couldn't stop myself! While we're on the topic, I wanted to share something interesting, regarding that ghazal, with you guys. I kid you not - and this is freaky - I was planning a Mannu-Sadi VM on THAT very ghazal for two weeks. Freaky, right?! Waise, I don't think I'll be able to top THAT now. It was such a perfect song and blended so beautiful with the situation. Kudos, music department. You guys are ace! Now, onto my ‪#‎FatOwlFavourites‬ for the week!

ABAYA. Alright, this is a tiny little thing, and probably overlooked by many, but I can't get over that scene where Salahuddin helps Mannu into her abaya. I mean, I've seen the opposite, the girl helping the guy wear his jacket, a million times but this.. this, in Pakistani dramas, was a FIRST for me. THE MUSIC. Aaahh, the music. That melody that plays as Mannu sneaks out of her house was beautiful! The love for classical desi music is real! That 'Aaj Jane Ki Zid Na Karo' was the cherry on top. A sad cherry.. but a cherry nonetheless! Also.. I can't get over that VM-waala coincidence! MANNU. Mannu seems to be the ONLY consistent character in Mann Mayal. Just for that reason, I am - regardless of her childish antics and general marranjogi-ness - ‪#‎TeamMannu‬.. all the way! THE 'PODA' METAPHOR. One line that hit me like OUCH was when Mannu says 'uss poday [par] hawa aur paani band kar dogi toh woh khud hi tarap tarap ke mar jayega.' I love it when so many things come together to create one perfect moment and Mannu's monologue, about that poda, was one such scene. I can't stress how much I absolutely LOVED Maya Ali here! At first, it was just a random dialogue about a plant, it's when her actions start to mirror her words is when you slowly start to realise that the poda is, in fact, a metaphor for Mannu herself. She tries to keep it together at first but, as she goes on, the metaphor becomes more and more familiar, which then sends her spiralling into a state of melancholy. First, she starts gasping for air between words, then, as her speech becomes more slow and drawn out, her posture changes and she tries to make herself as small as possible, eventually breaking down as she sits down on the chair, where she lets her tears flow free, to 'teri deewani hui tera kasoor hai'. The way Ali's facial expressions and body language change, throughout, was BRILLIANTLY done! *standing-ovation for Maya bae and her director, Haseeb Hasan* MAYA ALI. I can't praise the girl enough. She has, yet again, stolen the show. From beginning to end, episode 5 belonged to Maya Ali! What I love most about Ali, is that whenever she's a part of a show, she makes the character her own. Her performance is always so natural, that I don't even, for a second, think that yeh woh character nahin, par Maya hai. She is especially effortless at those emotional scenes - which we had plenty of, in this episode. THE LAST 10 MINUTES. Gold. One of the most awaited scenes: the one where Sadi protects Mannu from ghar waalon ka attack was in THIS episode and it was GLORIOUS! Baaqi sab kuch toh tha hi AMAZING.. I have NO words, but I can't possibly end this review before talking about that last line of the episode. BABA TEDDYBEAR SAYS IT AS IT IS AND SLAM-FREAKIN'-DUNKS SALAHUDDIN! Teddybear said EVERYTHING we've been thinking for the past few weeks and man, did it feel good! Now for my two cents: *clears throat* Salahuddin.. you are a good-for-nothing, confused, spineless little coward who doesn't deserve Mannu! *drops mic, wears sunglasses and walks off stage in slo-mo* 

Show: Mann Mayal Cast: Maya Ali, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Gohar Rasheed, Aiman Khan, Aisha Khan

[fariyasays]

Review • Mann Mayal: Episode 4

I am speechless.

Salahuddin has rejected Mannu—aage jo hoga, dekha jayega but right now, mujhe Salahuddin waqaai zeher lag rahe hain—her ego is hurt and now, to take revenge on #TutorZehreela, she's on a mission to self-destruct! IN YOUR FACE SALAHUDDIN - wait.. what?

I'm just going to say it, Mann Mayal isn't what I expected it to be.. and I don't mean that in a good way. I just wanted a cute, pyaari, old-timey si love story, but, this is turning into some Bollywood ish!

Ek baat mujhe samajh nahin aayi: agar Mannu ne shaadi ke liye 'haan' keh di hai, toh what was the point of taking Meekail to meet Salahuddin?! I mean, I understand that you're angry.. but GIIIIRL, aise karke bachpana dikha diya na! Yeh toh woh baat hui—to quote a random line from a movie whose name I can't remember right now—'logon ka paer kulhaari pe parta hai, maine toh kulhaari pe paer maar diya!' *facepalm*

I know a lot of people seem to be sympathising with Mannu here but I'm sorry, I have zero sympathy for her right now. What she did was very, VERY stupid! No one forced this decision on her, in fact, she said 'yes' before they even asked her, then why go sabotage your future with this guy for someone who doesn't want you in the first place? That Mannu-Sadi-Meekail sequence was one of THE most awkward scenes in the history of Pakistani television. Honestly, it was like watching a trainwreck in slow motion.

As soon as tutor sahab comes to the door, Mannu has eyes only for Sadi, and in that, she misses the subtle change in Meekail's facial expression after he sees this 'tutor' she 'pyaars' so much—I won't lie, the way he eyes her with suspicion, scared me half to death. What follows will, inevitably, seal her fate to a life of unhappiness.. and she has only herself to blame. With every thing she does and every word she says, she digs her grave a little deeper, and that 'kya aap meri aankhon mein dekh kar keh sakte hain,' well, that was just the final nail in the coffin, wasn't it!

I was just sitting there, like, 'Mannu puttar SHARAM kar.. haya kar kuj!' It was so painful to watch, especially every time they turned the camera to Meekail. Ek ke baad ek, the expressions on his face.. just.. ouch! Salahuddin tries his best to fix the situation by ascribing Mannu's strange behaviour to her 'naraazgi' towards him—if there was ever an understatement..—but the damage has been done. You can see it in Meekail's eyes—the guy is already plotting his revenge in his head!

Aah Meekail.. the perfect segue into my #FatOwlFavourites for this week.

GOHAR RASHEED. Wowzi-wowzah! Every time he's in an episode, he just steals the show, no matter what. Rasheed didn't have much dialogue here—much like his first appearance in episode two—so most of what he had to say, he conveyed through his facial expressions; and boy, did he nail every scene! The one I've included in the collage, above, was one of my favourites; I can't get out of my head! It was, actually, right after Ali says her 'meri aankhon mein dekh kar..' line. The way Meekail turns from Mannu to Salahuddin, at that dialogue, was almost comical! He's just like, 'yaar, yeh ho kya raga hai?!'

SARA BAJI & MANNU'S TALK. I love the sisters' bond, how they share everything with each other and the way they support each other. Love! Although I don't agree with her, I found it quite endearing how Mannu is willing to sacrifice her 'khushi' for #Sarabaji. The little heart-to-heart between the two was one of my favourite scenes from this week's episode because a) we get to find out what's going on in Mannu's mind and b) because it was so beautiful, visually. I loved the dreamy nighttime, rooftop setting with the moonlight reflecting off their faces. The lighting was PERFECT.. again, well done Zaib Rao!

MAKEUP. Babar Zaheer, you've generally done a wonderful job on everyone's look in Mann Mayal, but, this week, I wanted to give you a special shoutout because I can't get over just how gorgeous Maya Ali looked in this week's episode. I especially loved her makeup when she's wearing that pink outfit. Kudos! Show: Mann Mayal Cast: Maya Ali, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Gohar Rasheed, Aiman Khan, Aisha Khan

[fariyasays]

Review • Mann Mayal: Episode 3

First things first, you're probably wondering why this review took so long. It's because.. MUJHE NAI KARNA [THA]! Bringing myself to watch the episode, in itself, was an IMPOSSIBLE task; writing about it is ten times worse! Lekin, ab dekh liya hai, toh, likhe bina raha bhi nahi jayega. Kya karoon, Fat Owlians, 'aadat si par gayi hai!' 😄 So, *deep breath* let's do this!

Mannu and Bia's conversation at the start was adorable. Even though the situation, on Salahuddin and Bia's side, looked rather bleak, Mannu's enthusiasm gave me hope. Thori derr ke liye, I, forgetting what fate had in store for her, started to dream. So much so, I didn't think much of the line [if there was ever a bad omen in dramas, that was it!] 'main tumhare phone ka intezaar karoongi.' But, like I observed in episode one, every dialogue and every scene of this drama, serves a purpose! I only understood the importance of those words when a restless Mannu, pacing on her terrace, keeps checking her phone, waiting for a call that never comes.

One of my #FatOwlFavourites, for this week, was the sequence between when Mannu's praying, early in the morning, to when she rushes off to Salahuddin's house to see ke aakhir hua kya. Her tears, while she prays, tell us, that deep down, even she knows that something isn't right, here. The background score did wonders for this simple scene.

Jaise waqt guzarta jaata hai, Mannu ki bechaini bhi barhti jaati hai and, in the next scene, thanks to Zaib Rao's excellent cinematography skills, I could actually feel that anxiety. The way he uses the camera here, starting off by focusing on Mannu's hands—absent-mindedly fidgeting with those marbles—then slowly moving upwards, to reveal the worried expression on her face, really helped build that tension.

Waise, mere waterworks toh episode shuroo hone ke saath hi shuroo hogaye thay! My prediction of 'the talk,' between Salahuddin and his Baba, was totally wrong. Baba ne toh Sadi ka dil torrne ke liye ussey bulaaya tha. My heart was breaking with every word his dad was saying because, let's face it, it was the truth! The way Sadi kept saying 'main sirf unse waada chahta hoon,' that hit me right in the feels. My heart was crying for the poor guy. SOMEONE GIVE THE GUY A WAADA, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE.. ALL HE'S ASKING FOR IS A PROMISE! #HamzaAliAbbasi was BRILLIANT here. I've said it before and I'll say it again, this guy doesn't need dialogues! Inke facial expressions hi kaafi hain!

Although, the episode on a whole, was rather heartwrenching, we did get a cute moment or two: Mannu's confession; her signature 'Chal Jhoota!'; the way her face lights up when Sadi tells her that he's found a job in Karachi; her talk with Sara baji, which, by the way, made for a wonderful sibling bonding scene. I love how Sara is so protective of Mannu! While Mannu's busy gushing over Sadi, Sara baji—knowing well what her mother, i.e. 'Chachi', is capable of—tries to make Mannu realise the reality of her situation but Mannu, being the dheet she is, is having none of it. She has complete faith in her Baba and #BabaTeddybear, too, doesn't disappoint. Despite his khandaan's protests, 'kuri da abba mann [jaata] hai!' 😄

Aage jo hota hai, woh.. khair! 😔 

It's difficult for me to divide my #FatOwlFavourites for this week.. so let me put it this way: everything that happens between the moment Salahuddin's parents step into Mannu's Haveli, to Mannu standing outside Sadi's door, pretty much counts in my 'favourites'. I loved every second of the final 10 minutes. The whole sequence was like, poetry in motion. Incroyable!

That haunting melody, with those sad vocals, that starts to play as soon as Sadi opens the gate to Mannu's house, was enough ishaara for the samajhdaar (fangirls not included - we hope against hope). Of course, what follows, was inevitable, but what hurt me the most was Baba Teddybear's silence. A part of me died when he apologetically lowers his nazrein as Sadi's father's hopeful eyes meet his. I never would've thought HE'D be the reason why they would return ulte paaun, rishta-less. What happened?! Aakhir aisa kya hua between 'kar doh uski shaadi,' and Sadi's parents arriving at their doorstep, to ask for said rishta?! Yeh toh pehli manzil thi, #Babajaan.. aur aap abhi se ghabra gaye? #SayNoToPeerPressure.

Iss poore sequence mein, although there wasn't much dialogue, every word uttered, was so powerful, and combined with the actors' facial expressions, it was enough to break even the most sakht-dil of hearts. Baba Salahuddin's 'wapas chalo,' made me want to physically walk into the TV, grab him by the hand and plead to him ke, 'Baba, yeh aap kya keh rahe hain?!' Those two words he said, and Mannu's immediate reaction, crushed my soul!

It was like, how do they say, jaise Mannu aur Sadi 'ek dor se bandhey hon'—he moves, she moves. It's almost automatic how she follows after him.. aur agar Mannu ki Chachi beech main na aati, toh aaj situation kuch aur hoti. That scene, where Mannu's struggling to loosen the death grip Chachi Evil has on her wrist, was one I was looking forward to ever since I saw it in the promo; and I'm happy to say, I was not disappointed!

Again, the music, here, did wonders to increase the emotional intensity of the scene, especially as Mannu maniacally runs up to the chhatt, in a desperate attempt to, somehow, stop Salahuddin. That heartwrenching, haara hua expression on both their faces says it all. Oh my God, the way he LOOKS at her. 'Ek [chota sa] bacha jo sitaare ko sirf dekh sakta hai, uss tak pohanch nahin sakta.' *cries a river* When I saw Sadi's face, that song 'hai dil ko teri aarzoo, par main tujhe na pa sakoon,' started, involuntarily, playing in my head! *holds up two fingers, on each hand, forms a hashtag and mouths 'life of a vidder'* Call me a masochist, but I love watching this scene over and over again.. it was just so brilliant; especially Maya Ali. She was, woh kaise kehte hain.. jitne-adjectives-daalo-utne-kam-hain wali FLAWLESS. I have NO words! Nah, I'm kidding.. I'll find some! 

The episode I've enjoyed the most—after the premiere, of course—was this week's. Reason? Well, apart from the amazing dialogues and powerful performances, this episode, much like first one, was very properly structured and focused on the one issue: the rishta. It held my interest from beginning to end - and what unfolded, defied my expectations! God, I never thought Sadi and Baba Teddybear.. 😞 Anyway, let's continue with some more #FatOwlFavourites from this week. Waise, fair warning, review ki iss instalment mein, sab Maya hai.. well, mostly anyway!

MUSIC. The background score—in a lot of scenes, making up for the lack of dialogue—has beautifully intensified the drama in this episode. I constantly kept getting goosebumps for the last 10 minutes, especially when Chachi grabs Mannu by the wrist - the music, with that expression of utter disbelief on Mannu's face, was brilliance!

One more thing: [haye Allah, I'm so HAPPY I finally get to say this] the use of the OST in this episode was PERFECT. That scene where Sara Baji drapes the dupatta over Mannu and 'tohmatt tumhare ishq ki, orh li chaadar ki tarah' cues, I couldn't stop crying. I'm literally getting choked up typing this, lol. I don't know whether it was the scene or the fact that they were finally using the OST to it's full potential.. hehe, I kid, I kid; it was the scene!

CINEMATOGRAPHY & EDITING. Zaib Rao and Mehmood Ali, you beauties! You guys already know about my love for those scenes where the camera 'follows' Mannu and guys, Rao has brought that technique BACK, for this episode. Jaise hi Mannu Sadi ke ghar ke taraf kadam barhaati hai, Rao's beautiful camera gets to work and between QB's soulful 'teri deewani hui, tera kasoor hai' and Maya's wonderful acting, my eyes ran out of tears.

PHUPPHO. Pakistani dramas have this thing against Phuppho's and I'm glad to see they're finally being portrayed in a positive light. Which I love, cause, aage jaake humain bhi phuppho ban'na hai ek din; and I won't stand for us being shown as evil creeps in our dramas. Dono bhai-behan are the sanest of the lot. I love how THEY'RE the ones willing to get Mannu married to Salahuddin - aur kyun nahin? 'Woh mohaleydaar hai, samajhdar hai, aqalmand hai, shareef hai!' 😊

Last but DEFINITELY not the least: *takes a deep breath, followed by a happy jig*

MARIYAM. TANVEER. ALI. I've been dying to say these words for three weeks and today.. today I get my chance.. THIS episode, ladies and gentlemen, BELONGED to my bae, Maya Ali. [Wow, I legit got choked up typing that.] Isse zyaada mujhse kuch kaha nahin jaa raha, I just don't know how to put my feelings into words. She's made me speechless with her performance this week. I am SO proud of my girl! My Maya carried this ENTIRE episode on her nazuk shoulders!

Although, she absolutely SLAYED during the emotionally intense scenes (God, the way she cries.. I just want to take a flight to Pakistan, hunt her down and give her a BIG HUG), the scene I loved the MOST, personally, was when she's wearing that sadqafiable smile on her face as she heads towards #SalahuddinBia's—you could almost FEEL the euphoria bursting through the screen. BLESS YOU, BAE!

This was the shortest episode we've seen so far and yet, it's where we've seen the most growth in Mannu's character. Shuroo mein, from the dreamy-eyed, shy, lovestruck teenager—jo keh rahi hai ke ussey 'unke saamne aane se sharam ayegi'—to the woman (literally) fighting for her love at the end—Maya has acted out that transition flawlessly. The range of emotions she's displayed, in these 30 minutes, is incredible! Episode ke middle waale sequence mein Mannu kehti hai ke 'main nahin darrti kisi se,' and she proved it! Drama ki asli hero(in) toh Mannu hain.. step aside Salahuddin and Meekail.. in other words, aap rehn do!

Hehe.. nai, on a serious note, I want to give Hamza Ali Abbasi a special mention for supporting Maya Ali's scenes so beautifully. These two are two of the BEST criers in the industry and, although it sounds ajeeb, I mean it as a compliment!

Show: Mann Mayal Cast: Maya Ali, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Aiman Khan, Aisha Khan

[fariyasays]

DAYUM DANNY! I haven’t updated this page since my review for Mann Mayal’s episode. Get ready for some serious spammage!

[fariyasays]

LMFHO. THAT CAPTION!

Wali being an adorable vindictive asshole (part 1)