Ruling the Roost Series: #2 - Dillagi

Every once in a while, a show comes along that is sheer magic.  Dillagi is what Mann Mayal promised to be (and failed).  Dillagi may not be receiving as much attention as Mann Mayal, but it delivers so much more in quality, content, heart and soul!

I went through a long phase where I refused to watch anything with Hamayun Saeed as a hero (as he went on a spree of terrible shows in the mid-2000s like Ana and Riyasat).  When he shifted to production, I heaved a sigh of relief (despite some great shows like Uraan and Ishq Gumshuda).  But....what a comeback!  Hamayun has not only done a great job, but has actually gone a step further and created Mohib into a heartthrob character! 

A show about an unrelenting lover, Mohib (Hamayun Saeed), and the object of his affections, Anmol (Mehwish Hayat), quickly evolved into a game of wills - will Mohib's love win or Anmol's ego?  

This drama boasts of women empowerment.  We have strong female characters at every turn, whether it's a single mother, a mother fighting against injustice towards other women, a mother fighting for her child to be born, a woman fighting for her right to live on her own terms or a young girl trying to find her place amidst the chaos.

Anmol's mother (Asma Abbas) and her sister Mishal (Maryam Ansari) are Anmol's anchors, not only supporting Mohib in winning over Anmol's affections, but in encouraging her to accept her marriage and Mohib's love, not simply because he's her husband, but because he's a good man! Both actors do a great job with their roles, playing then with utmost sincerity and believability.

On the other end, we have Mohib's support system in his mother, Zulekha (Saba Hameed) and Sabiha (Uzma Hassan).  Zulekha is a strong woman, an advisor to the women in her area, fighting against abuses towards women and encouraging women to get their husbands under their control rather than suffer at their hands.  Her daughter Sabiha has fallen victim to this ideology, as her husband had the audacity to strike her in a heated moment, causing Zulekha to bring Sabiha home and forbid her from seeing her apologetic husband.

What's refreshing about the side characters is that they are not simply supporting characters - they all play a heavy role in the story and their scenes move the story forward rather than hinder it.  In fact, their scenes are a treat to watch!

The story involving Sabiha's pregnancy and Zulekha's insistence at her aborting the child was not a wasted story and has, in fact, come back to affect Mohib & Anmol's present, despite Sabiha's current happy state.  This further shows Faiza Iftikhar's power as a writer and Nadeem Baig's brilliance as a director!

Credit has to be given to Saba Hameed, as she is a powerhouse of talent as Zulekha.  She's a fiery character, ruthless and willing to do whatever it takes to protect her children.  Her heart is loving and loyal, her exterior hard and intimidating.  Her nok-Jhok with Anmol is one of the highlights of the show!

Dastageer (Imran Ashraf) and Mishal (Maryam Ansari) are such great supporting roles on this show, giving the audience another great couple to root for.  Imran Ashraf has been given some of the best lines in the show and he proves his acting mettle and impeccable comedic timing with his delivery.  One does wish that Mishal would give more in the sparring with Dastageer, but whether that's Mishal's character or Maryam's limitations as an actress, who knows?  Regardless, I am thoroughly enjoying their scenes, especially with Dastageer going back to school!

And finally, coming to the leads of the show -  I've already spoken about Hamayun's comeback as a heartthrob with this role.  That's quite the feat given his age.  But that's not all his role offers.  In fact, his role is an endearing one with complex emotions.  Mohib is a man fighting to win over his love the right way, but finds himself succumbing to insecurity and sadness, as his wife won't confide in him.  The complex emotions are portrayed so naturally by Hamayun that you can't help but applaud.

Mehwish Hayat as Anmol is perfect.  Anmol is a woman who believes that while everything may not be in her control, who she chooses to love is her choice - a choice that was, in her opinion, ripped away from her by Mohib. Married to him under unusual circumstances, Anmol lives to instill discomfort in Mohib regarding their relationship.  Mehwish is brilliant here, irritating the audience as much as she dumbfounds her own family and in-laws. Yet Anmol is relatable - while she may not be making the best choices, she's doing what we can imagine any headstrong girl would do (though maybe not as extreme), fighting against her idea of injustice.  

While we waited with baited breath this week to see Anmol finally confess her feelings to Mohib, the scene quickly snowballed into something else entirely, bringing forth a whole new wave of drama.  The intensity with which the scene was carried out and the acting from Hamayun, Mehwish and Saba alike was outstanding.  I can't wait for the next episode!

Dillagi has won me over with the simplicity of its dialogues, simplicity that wield real power and leave a lasting impact.  The ensemble cast is doing a great job and I can't recommend this show enough.  Nadeem Baig is fast proving his mettle as a director, while Faiza Iftikhar's name is synonymous with quality. 

Happy watching!