Drama Flashback: Mastana Mahi

Writing an out-and-out review for this is going to be hard for me, because I can't hold on to one constrained thought - it's all fleeting.  So instead, I'm just going to jot some thoughts down about this drama overall.

I started this drama back in November of 2011.  It's been a long time.  I made it into episode two and then, for some reason, I never had the time to finish it.  Yesterday, I picked it up again and stayed up late into the night (until 4:00 AM to be exact) and finished it.  Overall, I was hooked.

When the drama starts off, Aleena (Mehreen Raheel) meets a young photographer Adil (Fahad Mustafa) while out with her elderly boyfriend Mike (Imran Aslam).  The scenario is unusual but the character of Aleena has been so well-developed that it makes sense (especially when you hear it from her parents' mouth).  Sure, you feel she's being foolish, because who would fall in love with an old zombie like "Mike" without any real personality?  But that aside, they seem to have an OK relationship.

From there onwards, the relationship between Aleena and Adil is developed - and so NATURALLY so!  From the first second, the chemistry between Fahad and Mehreen is in your face.  You believe that they are friends, slowly getting to know each other, sharing feelings and secrets, gradually falling in love.  Adil is Aleena's biggest supporter and accepts her (and helps her) for who she is.  Their friendship is endearing, which makes you root for them.  Adil helps Aleena achieve her goal of marrying Mike.

Adil takes a week-long trip to Pakistan, where it's revealed that he comes from a political family and is expected to be a politician.  At a rally, the men of the family are killed barring Adil.  Adil is asked to take over the position, which includes marrying Sohai, a young 10 year old child.  Horrified by the turn of events, Adil takes off to Europe again for a month.

Here, he meets Aleena again, now broken and hurt from her divorce.  Their friendship is rekindled and grows into much more.  But how will they face Adil's present situation?

Performances

Fahad Mustafa as Adil was good.  He was so light-hearted, loving and really a great partner as Adil.  His inner-turmoil with his obligations was presented so well by Fahad.

Mehreen Raheel as Aleena was the heart and soul of this show.  You felt for her.  Her growth from young girl to divorcee to supportive wife and then to jealous wife was so natural.  You believed it.  And even in her weakest, worst moments, you were still rooting for her.

Sajjal Ali as Sohai:  Half baked, weak and really annoying character.  There were moments where I wished I could reach into my screen and slap her.  This character was poorly written.  She didn't make any sense.  It was like something out of an Ekta Kapoor show.

Pros:

*  So many beautiful scenes between Fahad Mustafa & Mehreen Raheel.  You believed in their love.
*  AMAZING chemistry between Fahad & Mehreen.  The scene when he sleeps in her bed after his rukhsati night was really powerful.
*  Gorgeous locations in the first half.

Cons:
*  What on earth was the need of that entire track with the hotel, Julie and the prostitute?  It was so completely useless and "filler."  Who would've thought a 16 episode drama would be capable of having filler episodes?

*  Sohai is depicted as this angelic, sweet girl and is always trying to "do right," especially in the last few episodes.  This is a case of terrible writing, because this girl was EVIL in the first few days of her rukhsati when her crazy friend filled her head with ideas against Aleena and told her to demand her "haq."  Up until that point, Aleena was suffering, but still holding it together and trying to do the right thing.  This girl OPENLY challenged Aleena's position in the house and then pretended as if everything was her fault.  In "Women War" lingo, this witch brought it on!

*  What was with Adil randomly stealing looks at Sohai and then agreeing to the marriage?  It was so......seedy and perverted.  It almost killed me inside, because does that mean men can't be loyal to their wives?  I don't know what it was about that whole situation that bothered me so much.

*  The scene where Adil finds out about Aleena's motives, slaps her and then throws these horrible taunts about Mike in her direction - given, he didn't lie, but to hear stuff like that out of the mouth of the person you love.....LOW BLOW.

*  The scene when Aleena says she's leaving.....this whole sequence bothered me a LOT.  It really diminished Adil & Aleena's love.  Adil had almost no reaction and put down the phone  Sohai was ultimately the one who stopped her (with.....social work?  WTH?) and THEN Adil stepped in again.  What made it worse was that while he was hugging her, he was staring at Sohai.  EW.  Messed up!!!

Ending Verdict

I think the chemistry and love story between Fahad & Mehreen's characters made this show worth a watch.  Everything else kind of ate away at the story.  It's worth watching in boredom, I guess.