Mataa-e-Jaan – Episode 4
OK, you all are most welcome to call me one confused character. Oh yes, I had harped the most about the lack of chemistry between Haniya and Ibad last week, so much so, that I was actually quite prepared to write another long-winded, negative review of this week's episode. However, I was pleasantly surprised to note that the episode, by and large, picked up this week, and all Haniya/Ibad scenes left me with a smile on my face.
For one thing, I was glad to note that the Haniya's and Ibad's "date" was spread out over the half the episode, instead of ending in a jiffy. The scene where Ibad explains to Haniya how he was going to propose to her was VERY well done. It was a long but gripping scene. Adeel Hussain and Sarwat Gillani finally made me realize why I had looked so forward to this drama serial as a whole. With spot on expressions, this couple actually entertained me more than Yamina and Adam - Sanam Saeed again had flat expressions though Junaid Khan is surprising me every week.
Another very positive thing about this drama serial is the way attention has been paid to small details. For example, Adeel (Ahsan Khan) was eating out of a plastic storage box - how typical. Haniya was sitting on the kitchen counter, trying to get in touch with Ibad. When Mama Jani comes in the kitchen, Haniya has to move away away from the cabinet door her head was blocking, and gets a friendly smack from Mama Jani. These are such minor details but somehow, they made the episode come alive in a different way.
Now, on a concluding note, call me a complete whack, BUT I actually think Adeel would make a better couple with Haniya. Sorry folks!
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hoorean Says:
Didn't like Adeel Hussain's acting even today :( Liked the scene between haniya n Ahsan khan. Sarwat Gillani is too gud but Adeel hussain seriously very disappointed:(
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 12:43 am
marvi Says:
db i totally agree with u....ahsan n sarwat chemistry was just awsome....their 2 minutes scene was more fun to watch than all adeel sarwat scenes....
if fawad was not available than they should have casted ahsan as aabi or imran abbas ....y adeel.... he badly needs some acting classes n he is not looking cute at all like aabi was described in novel....
other than that all the actors are doing gr8.....camera work is just awsome....mehreen jabbar n shehzad kashmiri are real gems of our country....hats off to u....
n db excellent review again....
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 2:20 am
SZ Says:
Ok, so call me a party pooper, but I LOVED Adeel Hussain in this episode. I ended the episode with a huge smile n my face. For me, he is the perfect Ibaad. He is understated in comparison to the larger than life overstated character of Adeel. Adeel Hussain is so natural here, his Ibaad could be my next door neighbor (ok, well, my next door neighbor looks nothing like him - but thats another story!). I guess over the years we've become so used to the over exaggerated tones and gestures, characteristic of our desi dramas, that any character that is played as close to real life as possible, seems to fall flat. And thats what I like about Sanam Saeed and Junaid as well. They speak and behave like normal people, no OTT screaming or hand gestures, or melodrama. In the same vein, Sajida Syed was another actor who shone today. She is another one who I could easily adopt as my Mama jaani. Sarwat Gilani, I'm still waiting for her to grow on me :( Btw, Mama jaani keeps calling Haniya a tomboy, but from the very begining, she's had a very nice feminine wardrobe, right down to her silver bracelets and colorful gorgeous shawls - a bit more attention to attention to her styling as a tomboy?
Also worthy of attention today was again the cinematography. The scenes in Central Park (?) with close ups of Ibaad and Haniya with the diffused fall colours in the background - beyond wow! Similarly the interiors shots were all so well done: Haniya in the kitchen with her grandmother, Ibaad at dinner at Haniya's place, Haniya making up with Adeel - all beautifuly captured. Shahzad Kashmiri you're truly a magician.
Just a slight greviance, and I'm not sure if its misplaced or not since I'm watching the serial on youtube, I do wish MD Productions would give credit to the musicians who's music is played in the background. Again, since I get edited videos, I'm not sure if its happening already, but so far I haven't seen any credits ... could someone please pay attention to that .
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 4:19 am
Rehmat Says:
Week after week i am finding Adeel more like Ibaad whether in terms of dialogue delivery or expressions but Sarwat is really a disappointment for me till now... i liked the phone conversation scene most, it seemed so real and natural, scene between ibaad and adeel was super cool...ahsan khan have done tremendous job...
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 5:36 am
rafia Says:
well i am sorry to say this drama buff and SZ but plz get a life
adeel has not changed a bit from the pathetic and idiotic acting of the last three episodes
this is one of the worst serials i have ever seen
the whole proposal scene,arghhhh
i hate mehreen for ruining this novel
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 6:45 am
Ash Says:
This episode could have been such an amazing one only if Haniya was being played by someone else! . Sirwat Gillani is such a turn off and the most boring person to watch on screen.
On the other hand we have Adeel Hussain who is totally owning the role of Ibaad, its so sad to see Haniya is not up to par and their chemistry is ZERO! The romantic scenes are just not convincing enough, even though Adeel Hussain is doing a fine job.
I just really wish Haniya was being played by someone else perhaps someone who can share some onscreen chemistry with Adeel Hussain.
Anyways getting to the episode, they had their "fight", made up and even proposed to each other. AH was great in his dialogue deliveries, acting, and really did look like quite a charmer in the romantic scenes, while Haniya stood there like a statue. At the tree scene in Central Park I wish wishing AH pushed her off the tree! =P.
Not much of Yamina/Adam in this episode but things are not going too well for them and Adam is being really unreasonable with his selfish demands, always looking to start arguments with Yamina.
The cinematography is just amazing. The colors are breathtaking and each shot is done so well, one of the main reasons I keep watching. I am kind of tempted to go buy the camera, as MJ told us which one was used in the last review. Love it!
I just hope that in the coming episodes we get to see some sort of chemistry between the two leads, and SG picks up her game because for now, she is a NO NO!
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 6:49 am
Ash Says:
@ Rafia - you need a life for being so rude! As you can see everyone else liked Adeel as well. so you shouldn't pick names and say such rude things! Thats so not nice.
Thx!
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 6:56 am
farah sadiq Says:
I like this play alot. sarwat & adeel are doing a good job. i like their scenes together. good job by the entire team.
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 7:28 am
maliha Says:
Adeel is very disapointing as his role of Ibad they should have casted someone i mean the way he acts is doing injustice to the novel and his character in the novel.
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 8:45 am
sadia1. Says:
This episode didnt work for me at all. How come you guys ignore the way Ibaad left Haniya alone at the tube station just because she refuses to go to his house !! He picked her up from her house, after movies asked her to take a long walk without telling her where he's taking her and then again when she refuses to enter into his flat, he becomes all cranky and throws her at the tube station alone. Haniya becomes extremely apologetic the next day just because she refused enter into his house alone.
What msg are the giving??? girls go to the boys apartment alone on the first day, you will get lucky if you are raped and then if you refuse to go to his apartment then please feel very very apologetic about it because hes the man/hero and shouldn't have suspected him. Disappointed with mehreen jabbar, momina duraid and farhat ishtiaq.
Plus zero chemistry between the leads. Sarwat is bearable but Adeel is awful.
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 9:01 am
IamImran Says:
Where was the slap scene between Yamina and Adam? Thought that was supposed to be in this episode....poor editing i guess.
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 9:02 am
Drama Buff Says:
To be fair, I think Adeel Hussain was much better in yesterday's episode. At least you could feel some intensity in his scenes with Haniya. Also, he managed to convey his emotions quite well, which was sorely missing in last week's episode. I have always liked Sarwat's acting for some reason and honestly, I can't think of anyone who could have pulled off Haniya as well.
@ SZ
I rather thought Sanam Saeed, unfortunately, had the same injured expression throughout the episode....:(
Overall, I think we are a bit too used to Sanam Saeed being people like Shazia and Fizza, just like we are used to Adeel Hussain being Faisal. Hence, it is hard to digest them as quiet, relatively subdued individuals.
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 9:44 am
Tinni Says:
I would have loved if the courtship was extended a bit more, a bit slower, Ibad is still to grow on me as a character...this episode focussed on Ibad and Haniya totally but something was missing somewhere...Ibad is still failing to make my heart go dhak dhak :P :P
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Drama Buff Says:
Check this out:
http://www.facebook.com/FarhatIshtiaqWriter/posts/317102968356848
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 1:33 pm
omair Says:
well mata e jaan has become one heated controversy now a days.here is my take on it.
i think the most unfair thing that has happened to mata e jaan was "Humsafar". call me whatever you want to but in my opinion the only thing that suffered negatively due to Humsafar is mat e jaan.
history is full of such examples when a uper hit casts such a large shadow it almost becomes impossible to come out of it." mughal e Azam" did it to "K asif". "Zoroba the greek" did it to anthony queen. even in literature " gone with the wind was only work published of Margrett mitchell, wuthering hieghts is only surviving book of ennie bronte.
come to a bit more local terms. hasina moin was never able to replicate dhoop kinaare, and i can go on and on but the point is , Humsafar has cast such a large shade on every work of farhat ishtiaq times are going to be a bit tough for her, "success ahs negative shades too"
Coming to mata e jaan, Mehreen is my favourite director i see her work i adore her work and i admire her work, But i think here she as director was a crucial decision. remember mehreen takes her inspiration on realism. her work is comparable sometimes to the holly wood greats who thrive on realistic depictions. Faraht and mehreen " a bit of a mismatch" . farhat lives in the world of fantasies her characters are shady and could be best described as modern day versions of deputy nazir ahmed and allama rahid ul khairi. I am not downgrading farhat, again she is one of the best writers in this generation and has nothing to prove but its just that some times the "Best writer and Best director can not pull it off as a team.because they are headed indifferent directions.
the other thing that has been discussed is adeel. again this is unfair to adeel but naturally every one looks at him in the light of fawad, and the problem is the ibaad uzair of novel was more like fawad. i can see mehreen's point too in casting adeel. this drama is a separate entity and should be treated differently and individually rather than visual extension of the novel (mehreen! you are right but we live in an unfair world)
the scenes that we see now have already been played in the novel but the problem is in the novel they come at a different junction
when we have already established the characters of uzair farooq and ibaad's mother and thier grief . here it is yet to come . so the romance in drama will be in a different shade.
i guess this drama when it unfolds will be as entrancing as many of mehreen's works. and let me make one prediction . once javed shiekh and sarwat come together as haniya and uzair farooq it is going to be one of the most memorable on screen chemistries ever. Drama Buff be ready to ammend your list soon
P.S : at least give this play 10 episodes before dismissing it
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
zka Says:
Actually I quite enjoyed the episode. In fact, it was over before I knew it! We are getting to know more of Ibad finally. And yes, I am liking him. I have not read the novel, so I am picturing him as an extremely well brought up young man, who has decided that he has met the girl he wants to marry and so he goes about it in his way to win her over. He makes sure she is available, checks her background and then prepares to propose to her. I did not like the idea of him taking Haniya to his apartment, call me conservative. The only explanation I can think of is that he is naive (too "siddha" as they say in Urdu). Basically he is a one woman man who will adore his wife and she will be happy with him for the rest of her life. I loved it when Ahsan Khan tries to find out who he is talking to but Ibad just takes the phone to the other room, as he still does not want to tell his friend anything. He is keeping things back from his best friend for a change. I have got to love Farhat's heroes, they are so polite and thoughtful. Ibad opens the door at the cinema for Haniya and his "may I" remind me of old world politeness (also one of Ashar's famous lines in Hamsafar). As for Haniya, I think she is doing a great job. I think she is fitting in her role perfectly. I don't understand why romance always has to be compared to a meteor falling or boom or whatever, why can't we just accept that love comes in many forms. So I agree with you SZ, no melodramas for a change, let everything come naturally. So I am guessing that the true romance will start once they are married. Looking forward to next week.
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 2:07 pm
zka Says:
I think there is more to Maat e Jaan than meets the eye and I expect it is going to surprise us all. I am loving it, it is a breath of fresh air. Give it time and put Humsafar in cold storage for a while (ha, ha if that is even possible). Think about it, we would be bored if the hero and heroine of one author were all the same.
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 2:24 pm
zka Says:
I think there is more to Maat e Jaan than meets the eye. I have a feeling that it is going to surprise us all. Let us all TRY to put Humsafar away for a while (ha ha, if that is even possible) and enjoy Maat e Jaan. I have a feeling it will touch all of us, but in a different way, now this is my feeling (you may all disagree with me).
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 2:35 pm
SZ Says:
@Omair: Interesting, even though you ask others to watch with an open mind, you yourself have already made up your mind that with MeJ, or even her later work, Farhat Ishtiaq will never reach the mark set by Humsafar - a bit early I would say to make such career predictions!
You see MJ and Farhat as a "mismatch", well I disagree. In MeJ, I see Mehreen blending her brand of realism beautifully with Farhat Ishtiaq's brand of fantastical story-telling. Even as we see scenes given a "real" treatment, they are diffused with a beautiful romantic backdrop.Even though the play is set in the very gritty city of NY, we dont see the homeless, the panhandlers, the sounds of police cars and ambulances, rather we see the city bathed in a beautiful golden glow, and thats what I see as Mehreen's nod to the romance, the ambience of Farhat's story. I probably (actually i'm sure I do) sound like a broken record, but Shahzad Kashmiri and MJ are absolutely fantabulous here.
As for your point about giving the serial at least 10 eps, wow! who has that kind of time! Most of us are watching on google tvs or you-tubing it, and multi-tasking while doing that. If a drama does not grip you within the first ep, or at the most two, most are out. There's a big world out there and many better things to watch and do!
@DB: Yaar, Sanam Saeed IS injured as Yamina, what other expression can she don ? :) Waisey I loved the interpolation of the two sisters' stories.. even as Haniya and Ibaad were cozying up, Yamina and Adam were falling out - Brilliant stuff from MJ and lthumbs up to the editor!
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 8:27 pm
Omair Ahmed Says:
@SZ well i am sorry you wrote that because you totally misunderstood me(looks like i really can't make a point clearly, now i am seriously thinking of never writng again)
my point was not that farhat will never surpass her work . all i am saying is that her work will always be referred to Humsafar.my opinion was about theviewers being unfair to her. you are right she is a fabulous writer and i hope and pray that paksitani televison sees many more of her brilliant works.
again! MJ and Farhat are not mismatch(i screwed the word) a better description would be they are contrast and contrast looks appealing to some one but looks odd to others. again i was strictly talking about audience.
MJ is one of the great directors we have ever had i don't have any doubts
And about giving it ten episodes you are very right and i think this has become a major downfall of our drama. we never give the writer and director the time to take a grip on us.
P.S again sorry i totally messed up
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 9:11 pm
Tinni Says:
@DB, I have read what Farhat had to say about the cast, well she is free to give her opinion but it does not mean necessarily I have to agree. Maybe it is not the actor but the script is at fault. Yes today I loved briefly when he drops Haniya to the sub-way asking her to go home by herself...I would love more of such instances showing he is human otherwise he is too good to be true! Anyway, maybe the actor and the character will grow on me and yes I agree we should not call the cast names...foul language is not good anyways...
Posted on March 24th, 2012 at 10:52 pm
Jazz Says:
Omair you don't have to aplogiz e for your opinions. It's a discussion, we don't have to agree with each other all the time, because where is the fun in that?
That being said..I'm totally loving MEJ. Of course I'm nt coo ting the hours/day minutes as I did with humsafar..but that was its own type of magic..
I confess..I was imagining Fawad as Ibad in many scenes and I think it would have been way better..mind u..I'm not obsessed with him at all.
He acting is magnetic (although even he couldn't save KPKP) and between the cinematography, the beauty of the scenes, he would have been awesome..actually even Ahsan or Imran abass or gasp maybe even Mikail would have been a better than Adeel.he is really falling flat for me in this and Mira piya..where is the Daam wala Adeel Hussain?
And I still think Sarwat is doing a perfect Haniya aside from her English...She fits the role great..I think Adeel is the statue..
aur..bichari Sanam ko kya kahein? Can someone give her some voice deflection or how to intonnate classes..
Posted on March 25th, 2012 at 12:53 am
Tinni Says:
@ Jazz, you are right, Humsafar had many faults in the script but Fawad managed to pull it through but somehow here I cannot say the same thing for Ibaad, there is something wrong somewhere, the script, his characterisation and his acting .Yes I liked it when he was upset and dropped Haniya to the subway station...but I felt he could have gone a bit slow on his declaration of love for her...anybe another scene because later Haniya tells him, he is so stuborn etc...that part did not come out, he was upset but only too briefly
Posted on March 25th, 2012 at 9:01 am
SK Says:
Why am I not feeling the love between them? Something is definitely missing. I feel like it went way too fast, and I still don't see any good chemistry. They seem so wooden, I'm sorry but I'm not enjoying the romantic parts. Remember episode 5 and 6 of Humsafar the way Asher just looks at Khirad, all in his eyes! That is how you know he's falling in love. Imnot even liking the dialogue delivery, very monotone with not much intensity. When Ibad is confessing his love, that could have been much better. It didn't do anything for me. Still hoping and waiting, because loving the camerawork. Such beautiful fall scenes have been portrayed!
Posted on March 25th, 2012 at 5:15 pm
Sh Says:
I'm not a drama buff but i do take the time to watch these once a week ones as they are often written very well and do not waste your time. I've lived in the US for twenty years so even tho i was born in pakistan i've lived in US all my life but still identofy myself as a pakistani. I havent read tje novel but the reason why im giving my background info is because i had some problems with the way this drama is written. First, haniya is brought out to be the girl who is "pakistani american" with eastern values. (Whatever the hell that means.) so im assuming she's the type of girl who's not fully americanized (liberal, dress sleazy etc) and still identifies with the pakistani culture. What really irked me is that she got mad at ibad because he was bringin her up to his apartment and she's not that kind of girl. Didn't she just have dinner and a movie with a guy she barely knows? Her grandmother has no objections to a guy picking her up for a date or outing? Really? Even the liberal aunties out here dont even do that for their DAUGHTERS especially not necessarily their sons. And if they let their kids do tht then they most likely let them date around. But what pissed me off was when haniya all of a sudden acted like a holy woman when she got mad at ibad. Yes i understand it looked bad and yws i get that ibad's character is naive ( really tho? I find tht hard to believe, just like i found asher in humsafar when he has no feelings for his hot best friend who's a girl.) i just dont get why haniya is contradicting her own values. If she wants to say that speech she shouldnt have went out with him in the first place. And i cant say she's innocent as she clearly took "going up to ibad's apt" as a danger sign. If ur innocent or naive u'd never know about that. I know life in america is not all black and white..but at least make the story believable.
Another thing i dont like is how rich these ppl are. I love how a lot of dramas portray only the rich life in america or even pakistan but ita not all hunky dory when ur here..especially as an immigrant . It just reminds me of a lot of other tv shows where all the students go to ivy league with no worry in their life and jo portrayal of them actually working hard for it or any struggle. Just because ur born richdoesnt mean u'll always go to an ivy leaque lol. Thats what i appreciated from unera ahmed's work is that even tho herstories are depressing n have unrealistic endings, at least she jowed the poor life or even middle class struggle.
Anyways..i very much enjoyed humsaar but this storyline is not relatable. I know they had to make some rhings perfect but a lot of things end up being too contradicting and sends the wrong message to the viewers.
Posted on March 28th, 2012 at 3:48 am
Alishba Says:
I don't understand when people say please dont criticize our actors and actresses. Well if you're in the media, you have to hear it. This is universal. I understand there's no need to use profound language but if we're saying an actor isnt doing justice to his role, don't take it personal.
Haniyas giddiness and excitement is natural and she's doing a good job! Her rxn was completely legit, guys are Pervs so she was just protecting herself.
Aabi, for a paki guy you're pretty liberal, since you're so obedient and such a mommas boy did you forget to mention to your parents you're proposing to a girl?
And I dont understand how parents settle kids marriage at a young age and he doesn't even have the slightest idea.....unrealistic if you ask me
Posted on March 29th, 2012 at 8:09 am
Alishba Says:
Bloggers: can we please get some more reflection from your piece of work as well. I understand the point of the post is to get the conversation going but it be nice to not only tear the drama apart but to reflect on what you had to say.
So we reflect on the symbolism...and get a chance to look at it from a different angle. I'm sure you guys are chosen to be bloggers for a reason :)
Please don't take it personal
Posted on March 29th, 2012 at 8:29 am
Drama Buff Says:
Thank you so much Alishba for your detailed comment. Yes, we do try to contain ourselves because we don't want to "say" everything in the review. However, if an episode gives us something to reflect on (you can check our reviews of KPKP and Humsafar), then we do try to make sense of it. Thanks again and keep commenting
Posted on March 29th, 2012 at 10:47 am
SZ Says:
@Alishaba: Thanks for your comments. We do try to cover the various aspects in our reviews and if you're a regular visitor then I'm sure you must have noted that every review has a different mood, a different tone, depending on that particular episode/serial (compare Dure Shehwar reviews with those of Mataa-e Jaan or those of Sanjha and you'll see the difference) . And, we definitely do not write with purpose of tearing episodes apart (unless the episode under review is beyond bad) - that would be churlish and ultimately unproductive. Again, if you've read our reviews you will see that in practice we are pretty even-handed. That said, we will keep your suggestions in mind as we write future reviews.
There is nothing, however, stopping any of our readers from commenting on various aspects of a particular episode that struck their fancy or intrigued them . It would be great, for instance, if you could set the ball rolling with your comments about the symbolism in either this episode or the next one. Looking forward to hearing your take on future reviews :)
Posted on March 29th, 2012 at 8:02 pm
Mehreen Says:
Quite a discussion! I wish I could participate more regularly but my shoot just started and so did the heat wave in Karachi so am going a little nuts. Again, value all comments..agree with some, disagree with some and have much to say about a lot but hopefully when i get a breather, will try and answer some of the points raised.
Thanks for writing the reviews and participating.
MJ
Posted on April 3rd, 2012 at 7:38 am