Ye Dil Mera Episode 32 Review

This review of mine got lost in the shuffle between two sites, so I thought I would share it here!  What are your thoughts on "Ye Dil Mera"?  Share your thoughts in the comments.  =)

Ye Dil Mera Episode 32:  Aina Discovers the Truth About Farooq

Sajal Aly continues to steal the show in “Ye Dil Mera” as Aina discovers her mother’s dead body and realizes the harsh truth about her own father’s involvement in her death

With each episode, “Ye Dil Mera” brings its share of criticism.  Each week, viewers notice problems with editing, problems with direction and even issues with props.  However, one place the show never falters is in the performances of its three main leads.  Ahad Raza Mir, Adnan Siddiqui and Sajal Aly have given stellar performances consistently from beginning and now leading into the end.  While episode 32 is also not a perfect episode and does have its share of flaws, once again, the performances continue to garner the show rave reviews. 

Episode 32 sees Aina (Sajal Aly) weighing on the realization that Ali Baksh (Paras Masroor) murdered her mother – but who commanded him to do so?  Heading back to Farhana and Bua, the dream-team duo without any answers or plan of action, Aina questions them about her mother’s death as both stare on.  Angry, Aina begins her own sleuthing before being overcome by memories of watching her mother’s burial.  She eventually does uncover her mother’s “remains” (a bracelet) and is overcome with grief while Farhana Khala and Bua console and mourn with her.

Meanwhile Farooq (Adnan Siddiqui) reaches Amaan’s (Ahad Raza Mir) home and the two face off.  While one would ordinarily imagine a character like Farooq would back down, his desperation does not stop him from telling Amaan that he wishes he had managed to murder him too along with his family.  Amaan tells Farooq where Aina is and Farooq, shocked, makes his way to his old Darya Baagh home.  This scene has Ahad Raza Mir and Adnan Siddiqui giving incredible performances, both men strong and unwilling to back down.  Again, the editing/direction falters here because we never witness Farooq actually leave Amaan’s house and is suddenly in his car while Amaan leaves shortly after in his own car – and that transition could have been more effectively executed. 

Of course, the most powerful scene is the confrontation scene between Aina and Farooq as Farooq tries to console Aina and explain himself, but is unable to do so.  Farhana confronts Farooq and calls him out for being her sister’s murderer.  Aina is no longer willing to accept lies and holds a gun to her own head in order to pull a confession from Farooq, but it’s a confession she didn’t really want to hear.  Unable to wrap her mind around the lie of a life she has been leading, Aina yells, screams and pleads, trying to process the fact that Amaan’s words have been the truth all along.  Farooq, for his part, only wants the best for his daughter – and if he’s loved any person in his life, it’s been his daughter.  Witnessing her slip out of his hands, Farooq breaks down in front of Ali Baksh after Aina abandons him. 

What I love most about this episode is that each fan base is given enough solid material where Ahad Raza Mir fans can rave about his performance, Adnan Siddiqui fans can rave about his performance and, of course, Sajal Aly simply steals the show.  Sajal’s performance as Aina is on a different level this week as she carries the episode on her shoulders, holding the secrets to Neelofar’s death in her own memory.  As these memories come tumbling out, so do the horrors in Aina’s life and the lies Farooq has been concealing from her.  For much of “Ye Dil Mera,” viewers wondered why Sajal Aly took a character like Aina, a character that had not been given much scope to act.  However, within the past few episodes, the answer has become clear and Sajal has given an amazing performance simply in the last two episodes, bringing viewers to tears. 

As the finale rolls closer, the preview for the next episode (is it the last?) seems to be yet another great one to look out for with promises of romantic confessions from Amaan for Aina.  With another hospital scene in the previews, viewers are comparing the scene to “Yakeen Ka Safar.”  Will the show end on a happy note or is there more turmoil in store for Amaan and Aina? 

Episode Rating:  4/5

Ishq Zahe Naseeb: The Upcoming Finale

Hey guys!  Whoever is still reading, it's been a while since I've written on here and I've previously explained the reason for that.  To keep up with my writing regularly, please visit the television section on Masala.com, where you can find my articles on Pakistani dramas.  I did want to come here and write something a little less informal though, so here we are!

If you've been keeping up with me on Masala.com or on Twitter (@SophiaAQ), you know that Ishq Zahe Naseeb on Hum TV has been my favorite show on television lately.  It's a brilliantly written and directed show with incredible acting.  Of course, people do have their complaints and I've had my moments as well.  With the finale coming up this week (on Friday), I am hoping the loose ends are wrapped up, particularly regarding Shakra/Suraiyya and the sequence of events in Sameer's life.  While they have laid out the details, there's still a lot that requires clarity. 

I've seen a lot of discussion regarding what should happen at the end of the show and there seems to be a lot of discontent amongst viewers regarding Sameer's potential death.  The way I see it, there are two ways the show could end, but there are drawbacks to both endings.

First, if what many viewers want happens, Sameer will live and Goher will nurse him to good health with the help of a good psychiatrist.  Kashif will move on with Donia and that will be the "happy" ending many want.  As a Pakistani drama viewer AND someone who has lived out my own reality, there's a big GLARING problem with this ending.  While yes, Sameer does technically deserve happiness and rise above his problems, Sameer's death has been an imminent part of the show from the first episode alone with the Fakirni's prediction.  It was almost laid out for viewers to understand that Sameer's character will pass away - and went on to take viewers along for the ride.  However, if we put all that aside and say Sameer will live, this plays into a concept that has played out on our television screens for years now.  This concept of sacrifice on the part of the woman.  This concept of a woman "curing" a man, submitting herself to her fate and making lemonade out of lemons.  "Settling."  Does Goher need to "settle" for a man who is a man and a woman?  A man who has murdered someone before?  And yes, it's correct to say that none of this is actually Sameer's fault.  It is not and he has suffered a lot as a child AND as an adult.  But does Goher have to be the sacrificial lamb to ensure Sameer's happiness?  For the record, Dissociative Identity Disorder is a disorder that does not have a cure.  And looking at how long Sameer's condition has been neglected - of his own choice, by the way -, even controlling it would be very difficult. 

Let's look at option number two  Sameer dies.  He confesses that he killed himself before passing, leaving Goher in the clear.  She marries Kashif - the man who loves her and the man she loves.  A man who has been there for her through everything - even if he hasn't physically been there.  He has been unwavering in his love and doesn't even question Goher regarding what happened with Sameer, his faith in her is blind and true.  Why doesn't Goher deserve this ending?  Of course, this what I WANT to happen, obviously.  But let's look at the negative.  Does this mean that those suffering from mental health issues are destined to suffer forever?  As someone with anxiety and depression, I don't believe that particularly sends out a great message.  BUT that being said, the chosing of dissiociative identity disorder is an intelligent one then, because there actually is not a cure for the disorder.  Many psychiatrists still continue to debate about its validity, which is one of the many reasons that makes it so difficult to treat.  And again, treatment is simply attempting to control it in some way, as there's really no way to "cure" it.  Sameer suffering from this illness makes his predicament much more dire, again, especially because he has left it untreated for so long.  He himself had a refusal to treat it and chose, instead, to simply lock himself up each night and this has made it worse.

These are just thoughts, not providing the "right" ending.  It could end either way - either Goher helps Sameer through his illness OR he passes and Goher gets a more stable ending with Kashif.  There are positives and negatives to both options, but it will be interesting to see which way the writers go with this.  I'm obviously rooting for a specific ending.  Which one are you hoping for?  Leave it in the comments!  As always, happy watching!