“Fitoor” has an interesting premise, but it’s the execution that leaves much to be desired – particularly in terms of reactions and behaviours of characters. Written by Zanjabeel Asim and directed by Siraj Ul Haq, it stars Faysal Qureshi, Hiba Bukhari, Wahaj Ali and Kiran Haq in lead roles. With Haider and Dilnasheen now married, the two attempts to form a bond with each other despite their conflicting emotions.
In episode 12, Dilnasheen (Hiba Bukhari) arrives at college to take her exams, but is confronted by Hamza’s sister, who makes it clear that as close as they once were, their animosity will now be just as much. Shaken by this, Dilnasheen blanks on her exam and then, later tells Haider (Faysal Qureshi) that she will take her exams the next year. In this regard, Haider is the ideal husband, one who supports Dilnasheen through her dreams and desires, not even blinking when she states her choice. And while Haider may be the ideal husband in this regard, that doesn’t mean Dilnasheen and Haider’s marriage is a bed of roses, rather they continue to live as strangers. It’s frustrating to see that Dilnasheen does not even bother to form a relationship with her husband or even carry out a normal conversation with him. How long can she continue this behavior before he turns away from her? And turning away from her seems to be in the cards as Mehmal (Kiran Haq) arrives to cause trouble.
Struggling in her marriage, neglected by her husband (Tipu Sharif), Mehmal begins to grow jealous as she sees how Haider defends his new, young wife and showers her with gifts. After getting into a tiff with her husband, things get worse when, that night, she finds him with another woman and, in her presence, Mehmal is slapped. She packs her bags and arrives at Haider’s house, stating she will not be going back to her husband. This twist is downright ridiculous, because all Haider has to say here is that he’s already married and Mehmal is welcome to go to any other relative’s home – but there isn’t any reason for Mehmal to stay at Haider’s home. Of course, we know this is being done to place Mehmal directly under Dilnasheen’s nose and to be available to taunt Haider, but there simply isn’t any logic to this move. In fact, it makes good-guy Haider look terrible, keeping his once-love under the same roof as his wife and considering his mother is well-aware of the situation, it only makes the level of deceit (towards Dilnasheen) worse.
Overall, this episode of “Fitoor” is just okay, pushing the story forward towards its boiling point. Of course, we know that Haider and Dilnasheen will be ripped apart by Mehmal and Hamza respectively. But still, the way in which the story is moving towards that point is cliched and predictable. Now with Mehmal’s arrival under Haider and Dilnasheen’s roof, it’s only expected that Hamza will, somehow, end up in close proximity to the couple as well – maybe as a business partner of Haider’s? “Fitoor” continues to be more of a guilty pleasure watch than a real quality show. The performances of Wahaj Ali and Faysal Qureshi are what keep the show going.
