The highly anticipated Main Manto Nahi Hoon starring Sajal Aly and Humayun Saeed finally aired its first episode. Was it a bit underwhelming or did it match the hype? Here’s what unfolded on our screens Friday night.
Main Manto Nahi Hoon: Starring Sajal Aly and Humayun SaeedSafe to say one episode does not an entire drama make, but it does set the mood and audience expectations that define what follows. Main Manto Nahi Hoon evoked a vintage vibe, cinematic frames, a glimpse of Lahore in all its vintage glory and a careful blending of AI-powered frames with overhead drone captures that kept the screen interesting and possibly made up for a mish-mash of dialogues that hit and missed the mark throughout the first episode.
The look and feel of LahoreThe cinematic frames that rested on ordinary, everyday sights in Lahore added to the storytelling – a treat for Lahoriites and for Television viewers to get a larger-than-life feel. Director Nadeem Baig has managed to zoom out and capture the essence of the city, from the Badshahi mosque to the narrow alley ways of the Anarkali bazaar and the final traffic scene with Manto essayed by Humayun Saeed marking a poetic entry, kabootar and all.
The conversation between Bin Yameen and Siraj aka Babar Ali and Asif Raza Mir’s characters set against the backdrop of the Anarkali bazaar, in constant motion, walking as they conversed, was an engaging move by the director again, one that invited both intrigue and instant engagement from the viewer.
The constant references to Suraiya in conversation built up the curiosity factor as we were now waiting to catch a glimpse of Suraiya – and Saima Noor matched up to her reputation – calm, sedate, yet stern and resolute, just the image Siraj had conjured up in our mind.
While we’re still processing the episode, the screenplay lingered between slow-paced and a few forced dialogues, to a subtle fine tuning of the details; the vintage feel, the camera angles and the performances, that reached out to audiences, sing the day, unspoken yet deeply powerful.
Sajal’s character, just when we thought we’d “seen it before”, sprung a mid-episode surprise as it turned on its head in the principal’s office, giving an entirely new feel to the drama.
But it is the first episode folks, so hold on to your thoughts (and reviews), as more from the makers unpacks very soon.
Scenes that marked their territoryHumayun Saeed’s entry and the principal’s office scene served goals. The conversation between the brothers and Mian Sahab was quite sinister as well. Azaan Sami Khan appeared if for a brief moment, enough to remind viewers there’s more to come. But what stood out grely, in CAPS, was Musaddiq Malek as Nurez – an impactful presence that stays with you long after the scene is done.
Atmosphere in the detailsThe drama carried an old-world feel. Especially the child looking through the door at his father Nurez, and later prpinouncing that he can eat all by himself.
The final scene injected a symbolic tone (although the kabootar seemed more alive than dying), but was this life-sing message from the dove a cry for hope and for peace in a narrative filled with blood, familial tragedy, strife and tears? Did it block the bullet, or prevent it from hitting Manto? Perhaps Manto will be that person who seals the rift?
Sajal Aly did what she does best; made us believe Mehmal was just another girl dreaming of a college degree, till she wasn’t!
The interaction in the principal’s office revealed a totally different side to Mehmal’s personality, more quirky and cheeky with a hint of daring. Usman Peerzada and Saima Noor’s characters amped up the scene as well. Also, the scene was placed towards the end of the episode when we just expected the drama to tail off into more of the same tragedy-ridden air. But this scene seemed to nudge us awake and flip the feel of the story, prepping for Manto’s entry just when we had nearly given up hope of seeing him in the first episode.
And when we thought we he to wait it out another episode, Humayun Saeed as Manto finally appeared. The look and feel of the character evoked just the right mix of old school charm with an air of “not from this world yet surviving” feel.
Performances from Asif Raza as Siraj, Saima Noor as Suraiya, Mussadiq Malek as Nurez and Usman Peerzada as the principal caught the viewers’ gaze – characters to watch out for in future episodes!
The dialogues might he served up a hey dose of signature KRQ. While the specific one uttered by Suraiya to Siraj: “Dua aur qabooliyat kay beechh mein aap kharay hain,” marked a poignant moment, many others were high on the KRQ stamp, force-feeding unnecessarily philosophical thoughts that missed the mark entirely. E.g. “Cheezain mehengi insaan sasta” scored high on the latter.
Additionally, the mazaar scene was another “seen-before” moment. It is obvious that our dramas aren’t planning to shake off the desire to show the main character visiting a mazaar and praying to the Almighty any time soon.
Why is the drama titled “Main Manto Nahi Hoon” is a question many are asking. But why reveal everything in one episode, respond the makers.
In summary, the story Main Manto Nahi Hoon has just begun. Performances seem promising, the story holds potential, so let’s wait and watch more tonight to see how the saga of the Amritsari family unrels.
Credits: The cast includes Humayun Saeed, Sajal Aly, Azan Sami Khan, Sanam Saeed, Asif Raza Mir, Saba Hamid, Saba Faisal, Saima Noor, Babar Ali, Usman Peerzada, Musadiq Malik, and others. The drama is written by Khalil ur Rehman Qamar, directed by Nadeem Baig, and produced under the Six Sigma Plus and Next Level Entertainment banners. It airs on ARY Digital on Friday and Saturday evening.
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