“Aulaad” is a story about how parents spend their whole lives raising, providing for and loving their children – but what happens when those same children turn around and decide they no longer want to financially support their parents? In South Asian society, children are seen as a retirement plan, security for the future. And in a family with three sons and two daughters, should parents really have to worry about their financial stability in their old age? According to “Aulaad,” yes, these parents will have to worry as they have raised children with questionable values. Written by Syed Ameer Ali Shah and directed by Aabis Raza, “Aulaad” stars Mohammad Ahmed, Marina Khan, Hassan Niazi, Sunita Marshal, Nabeel Zuberi, Furqan Qureshi and Humaira Bano in prominent roles.
Episode 2 continues with where episode 1 left off. As Khurram (Hassan Niazi) and his father (Mohammad Ahmed) have fought, Khurram is determined that he, the kids and Afreen (Sunita Marshal) will be moving out of the house. While words were exchanged in anger, this elderly man is weighed down by the words spoken by his son as well as the financial burden he will now have to carry on his own. He feels he can carry on with life after talking to a friend who explains that disappointment comes from having high hopes – and one should not keep high hopes from their children. However, he realizes the severity of things when he is given his retirement letter and realizes he will soon be out of work and unable to support his family on his own. With sad eyes, a helpless heart and folded hands, he begs his eldest son for forgiveness, asking Khurram and Afreen to stay. Unfortunately, Khurram is every bit as selfish as viewers would believe as he immediately says he cannot stay and asks the family to prepare for their move.
Mohammad Ahmed, Marina Khan and Sunita Marshal are the star performers in this episode. Mohammad Ahmed in particular has some stellar emotional moments that really bring the viewer to tears, his performance supported by the beautiful OST by Rahim Shah in the background. It’s hard to see his character broken, as he would remind anyone of their own father. Marina Khan also does a great job as a woman torn between her husband and children. Sunita Marshal is one of those characters that one simply has to love, a perfect daughter-in-law who is more torn over the circumstances than her own husband. The cast is honestly doing a great job and the entire team knows just how to tug at the heartstrings with a story like this. With the other sons, played by Furqan Qureshi and Nabeel Zuberi, having highly problematic and manipulative partners, it’s clear that this sweet set of parents are in for a world of heartbreak in their future.
