“Dil E Momin” is a show that has a lot of different shades to it so far – is it a stalker drama? Is it another “Mujhe Khuda Pe Yakeen Hai”? Will it follow the lines of “Dunk” with a false allegation? It’s not yet clear and still, the show is captivating due to its cast and presentation. Written by Jahanzeb Qamar and directed by Shehrzade Sheikh, “Dil E Momin” has been produced by Abdullah Kadwani & Asad Qureshi. The show stars Faysal Quraishi, Madiha Imam, Momal Sheikh, Saba Faisal, Javed Sheikh, Gohar Rasheed, Shabbir Jan, Tara Mahmood, Haaris Waheed, Annie Zaidi, Tariq Jameel and Mubassara Khanum in prominent roles.
In episode 8, turmoil continues as Fari (Momal Sheikh) and Momin’s (Faysal Qureshi) relationship hangs in the lurch. The most uniquely written character in the show is Fari. She is a girl who has been raised to be a good wife and has all the makings of the generic “good girl heroine. And yet, there are some very interesting, realistic traits to this character that set her apart from the usual “masloom” woman who loses her love. This is a woman who would, generally, be expected to be a doormat – but she isn’t. Fari is a victim of Jameel’s (Shabbir Jan) illogical hatred as he arranges her marriage to someone else, a man who isn’t worthy of her, despite knowing that she is in love with Momin. Jameel can’t let go of his hatred towards Momin’s family, because they rejected his nephew for their daughter’s proposal. And while his feelings feel extreme, there are people like this in society who hold grudges. Still, Fari does her best to make her dreams of marrying Momin come true, including speaking up against her father and incurring his wrath, asking Momin to run away with her, telling off her inappropriate fiancé and taunting both Momin and her own mother for what they are doing to her. Fari loves Momin, but she also wants more from him than for him to simply rely on God to make it happen.
And still, Momin’s faith in God is what makes him so lovable. He is a true depiction of a “good Muslim” so far, portraying religion in a positive light. He’s a calm, peace-loving, respectful young man who believes his prayers will come true. He listens to his local Maulana Sahab and follows his advice, wanting to win his lady love, but also refusing to harm the futures of his sisters by taking any rash steps. He is strong enough to stand up to Jameel several times, not only attempting to win him over through respect, but also telling him that forcing a marriage on his daughter is against their religion’s teachings. Of course, he is speaking to a wall and Jameel does not budge. Meanwhile, Maya (Madiha Imam) continues to hope for Momin to miss her and feel her absence. Momin doesn’t, but is convinced to visit Maya after being told about her family situation. Hearing about her parents’ divorce, Momin visits her at home – but quickly realizes he has made a mistake indulging Maya again.
Honestly, the episodes do not move quickly, very dialogue heavy and sluggish in pace. And yet, it’s the characterizations that make this show enjoyable. Faysal Qureshi’s portrayal of Momin is lovable, particularly due to the effort he has put into changing his appearance and molding himself to fit into the role. Momin is the heart and soul of the show. Madiha Imam also stands out as Maya, a confident girl who wants what she wants. Her family background is intelligent writing, giving a solid reason for her behavior. She is a woman who has not had a present male figure in her life and so, her attraction to Momin is a clear case of infatuation due to the love she never received from her father. Momin is another man who is “hard to get” and Maya is not used to things coming easily to her – making Momin both a challenge and an obsession. Overall, “Dil E Momin” is a show that is still slowly building up, but has created a very interesting premise for itself and is enjoyable to watch.
