ARTICLE
His hugely popular *Pyaray Afzal* and the autobiographical Sadkey Tumhare are bittersweet romances with
unhappy endings.Today, where every second drama is
about second wives, third wives or unfaithful men, simple devotion is just as romantic as any flowery speech.
In Pyaray Afzal, the hero Afzal accepts Farah’s rejection
but her hold on him and his own dedication to that dream
of love never ends. Similarly in Humsafar, Asher's sitting alone reading a newspaper a few years after Khirad
has left makes it clear that he has not conveniently married Sara. This may have been more romantic than all
the other more contrived scenes we're shown. Of Khalil
sahib’s current drama on-air, Mera Naam Yousuf Hai,
director Mehreen Jabbar suggests that romance is “all
about the things that are unsaid and the silent moments
that can create the best romantic scenes.” This exemplifies another fundamental of subcontinental romance:
the unconscious language of romance, where lovers
interpret each other’s emotions without speaking.This
subtlety is perfectly translated in Jabbar’s earlier drama
Daam, with the 'blink and you'll miss it' quick change of
scenes as Junaid insists that Zara wear another gajra at
his sister’s engagement, leaving a quiet glow on Zara’s
face and the viewers hearts.This works under the expert guidance of a good director like Mehreen Jabbar,
who knows how to edit and shoot actors' expressions to
show that unspoken rapport. In less able hands it can
be confusing. Numm is a recent example of an emotionally charged story with great actors whose silences were
very difficult to interpret.
Unconventional romances: we'd love to see more
Pakistani dramas have never been shy of presenting unconventional romances. Sometimes couples who don't
take center stage and more unorthodox romances are
definitely a breath of fresh air. The older couple Nusrat
(Shamim Hilali) and Mutmain (Syed Mohammed Ahmed)
in Coke Kahani, Phopoo (Sabeen Hisbani) and Colonel
sahib (Adnan Jaffer) from Aun Zara were adorable. Here
humour was the key, their easy, unqualified acceptance
of each other made their romance just as meaningful as
any star crossed lovers. More recently the mature relationships in Jackson Heights with Bhatti sahib’s (Nouman Ijaz) and Salma (Ameena Sheikh) worked because
you could see the growth that they brought in each
other. The beginnings of the relationship between a
younger man Jamshed (Adeel Husain) wooing the older
Michele (Marina Khan) too was also well done. In each
case the screen chemistry was palpable. The idea that
love can heal the deepest wounds is often behind some
of the less traditional romances portrayed on our small
screens. Writer Zanjabeel Asim Shah’s romances offer
surprising combinations. Her recent take on Beauty and
the Beast, drama *Bashar Momin,* carried this theme of
redemption telling the story of a cruel, psychologically
damaged criminal who is transformed by unconditional
love. Similar themes of redemption flow through her stories like Aik Nazar Meri Taraf where two victims of their
respective spouses' adultery and infidelity find love and
hope in each other. In another story, Saat Pardon Main,
she shows a transgender man finding himself through
the love of a girl betrayed by another man. Shah’s adaptation of the classic movie Anjuman also had more romance than the earthier original. Anjuman is no innocent
girl but a courtesan used to controlling and manipulating
men till she meets a man she actually loves. The wonderful scene picturised by director Yasir Nawaz, where
Anjuman asks her disdainful captive Asif “kissi nay aap
ki nazar uttari hai?” is hard to forget.
To wrap up, here is a list of our favourite romantic scenes
from various TV dramas:
1) Aanch: When the hero declares his absolute faith in
his wife’s character despite their impending divorce
2) Anjuman telefilm: When Anjuman asks Asif to leave
because of her promise to his bhabi
3) Aun-Zara: Aun and Zara brushing each other’s hair,
there is a great deal of implied intimacy involved in such
a simple act
4) Bandhan: The “sort of” proposal when the hero played
by Nouman Masood keeps asking Nadia Khan’s character “Haa, Ya Naa”
5) Dastaan: When Hassan proposes to Bano: “Mujh sey
shadi karogi?"
6) Dhoop Kinarey: The last scene which has all the elements of creating romantic tension and Dr Zoya and Dr
Ahmer end up at the same place and he holds her hand
and says he won’t let go. Le sigh.
7) Humsafar: Asher takes his reluctant bride Khirad to
eat ice cream after a party and notices she is wearing
the bracelets he gave her
8) Pyaray Afzal: When Afzal says he knows he is not
worthy of Farah but he still has the right to love her
9) Tanhaiyaan: The last scene with Zara and Zain’s
voice taking center stage over the chaos of the party in
the background and their silence and thoughts (literally)
say it all
10) Zindagi Gulzar Hai: Kashaf goes to sleep troubled
and alone ۛ H