“Dulhan” captured the interest of viewers not only with its star cast, but also due to its unique storyline and action-packed episodes, a show which consisted of many grey characters. Starring Sami Khan, Sumbal Iqbal, Faizan Khawaja and Mashal Khan in lead roles, “Dulhan” has been written by Adeel Razzaq and directed by Adeel Siddiqui. This week, we see this wayward “love” quadrangle between Shahmeer, Amal, Mekaal and Annie come to its conclusion.
The finale begins with Shahmeer’s (Faizan Khawaja) declared dead, leaving his parents (Shehryar Zaidi and Annie Zaidi) and sister Annie (Mashal Khan) grieving, causing his father to have a heart-attack. The family is left in tatters with Shahmeer dead and Mekaal (Sami Khan) in jail. What’s really beautiful, despite all this grief, is how the adults in this family, including Mekaal’s mother Kusum (Shaheen Khan), react towards this entire situation. They are aware of their own faults and flaws in their upbringing and how they’ve failed all of their children. There isn’t any pointing of fingers, there isn’t any blame thrown back and forth. All three adults are loving and supportive towards each other and apologetic for their own wrong-doings. This is a moment where these actors, Shehryar Zaidi, Annie Zaidi and Shaheen Khan all deserve credit for playing their characters in a realistic, endearing way.
With Shahmeer dead, Mekaal’s case is grave and as the family seeks to get him off on self-defense, this requires Amal’s (Sumbal Iqbal) pardon. Amal has returned back home and is still angry with Mekaal. While viewers have been almost rooting for Mekaal and Amal to get together, Amal brings viewers back to reality when she finally puts the bleak truth out while speaking to Falak Naaz. While Falak Naaz argues that Mekaal has protected her at every turn, Amal counters by saying he was only able to protect her because she herself managed to escape from Shahmeer on that first night. If she hadn’t escaped, Amal would have been in an even worse state than what she found herself in. As much as we want to forgive Mekaal and can see his regret, Amal has ever right to not forgive him, to allow him to suffer for his crimes. And that’s exactly what she does. While Kusum visits Amal and asks her to sign the papers, Amal refuses and so Mekaal is let off for self-defense in the case of Shahmeer, but is sentenced to 3 years for his crimes against Amal.
If there’s one real downside to the finale, it’s the quick wrap-up of Amal’s family and their immediate realization of wrong-doing and immediate repenting. While Amal’s stepmother (Nida Mumtaz) has been seen learning her lesson over the last few episodes, it’s the behavior of Amal’s sister and brother that’s illogical. These scenes stand out – but not in a good way.
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The ending of “Dulhan” is poignant, beautiful and heartfelt as it intertwines tragedy and hope. Mekaal is in jail, serving his time without complaint. He writes letters to Amal, telling her it’s difficult for him, but he keeps himself going by writing to her and hoping for her forgiveness. He waits for her. And yet, he doesn’t expect her forgiveness, encouraging her to make her own decisions and live her life freely as she wishes to live it without feeling tied down to him. In Amal’s reply, she states that while she cannot forgive him, she waits as well. She waits for the moment when she will be able to forgive him, because she wants to and despite everything, she cannot see herself as belonging to anyone else. Both characters are waiting for their freedom to live their lives – ultimately together, though they have many hurdles still in their way. Sami Khan has become a master of the emotional and as Mekaal, he reduces the viewer to tears once again. Mekaal started off as an unredeemable character, but over the course of the show, he has become one who has truly repented – and serves his time without protest. He is genuinely sorry, which is what makes the audience root for him. And still, Amal is our lead, the true victim, and has endured a lot. Her journey is “Dulhan” and her journey from a helpless girl to a self-sufficient, strong woman has been wonderful to see. Overall, “Dulhan” has been a great ride full of thrills and intensity and will be a show that will be missed, leaving a void in our Monday nights.
