There is a realistic beauty in “Kuch Ankahi.” This isn’t a fast-paced show and while audiences have grown accustomed to high-voltage drama, this is a show that allows itself to run at a more natural pace with interactions that we’d see in our real lives. Starring Sajal Aly, Bilal Abbas Khan, Mira Sethi, Mohammed Ahmed, Irsa Ghazal, Vaneeza Ahmed, Babar Ali, Adnan Samad Khan, Sheheryar Munawar, Asma Abbas, Ali Safina, Qudsia Ali and others, the show has been written by Mohammed Ahmed himself and directed by Nadeem Baig.
In episode 12, Samiya (Mira Sethi) is now married to Saif (Ali Safina) and Samiya is now beginning to recognize the nature of the household she has married into. Saif is a mama’s boy, a man who is unable to stand up for himself due to his mother’s dominating nature. This episode does a great job of showing exactly how Saif has been raised – and why he wound up involved with a woman like Shagufta (Uroosa Siddiqui). Shagufta dominates Saif in the same way his mother does, which is part of the attraction for him, the comfort level he feels in such a relationship. While Shagufta initially seemed like a confident working woman, it’s now clear that she is a go-getter and is used to getting what she wants. There’s a moment between Saif and Shagufta where he asks why she likes him and she replies that she loves him because he does whatever she says. Later, her father, played by Ehteshamuddin, has an interesting conversation with Shagufta, exposing her true nature. Shagufta is a manipulator and treats Saif like a puppet. The dynamics between Saif and his mother, Saif and Shagufta and Shagufta and her father are all fascinating and an example of good writing. However, it’s not all positives. The downside of this is that, yet again, the working woman is portrayed in a negative light. While it’s understandable that Shagufta has had to fight hard as a household earner and caregiver to her father, couldn’t her story have played out in a more “human” way? Is it necessary to demonize Shagufta for Saif to appreciate Samiya? And yet, Aaliyah (Sajal Ali) is also a working woman and is shown in a positive light, so there is certainly balance.
Most of the episode does focus on Samiya and Saif’s newly married life. Fortunately, Mira Sethi and Ali Safina share great chemistry and are a pleasure to watch. The moments between Sofia (Vaneeza Ahmed) and Zareena (Asma Abbas) are comical while also being an indicator of what Samiya will have to endure in her married life. It’s a genuine question as to why this entire family allowed Samiya to marry Saif when they all, visibly, do not like or trust Zareena or Saif? Vaneeza Ahmed is delivering a truly natural performance, but we really want to see Sofia’s storyline take off now rather than she playing supporting character to Saif and Samiya. Likewise, Salman (Bilal Abbas Khan) and Aaliyah’s love story deserves much more attention than what it’s being given. Bilal Abbas Khan is so endearing as Salman and it’s a travesty to waste him like this. The moment when Salman demands a commitment from Aaliyah is both comical and incredibly sweet, only because Aaliyah is not mentally or emotionally in the same place as Salman. And yet, isn’t this a realistic depiction of romance? Salman is already all in while Aaliyah has never truly thought of him on that level. It would’ve been nice to have seen Salman’s feelings develop though, because at this point, it seems as though they came out of the blue.
An honest criticism of “Kuch Ankahi” is that Nadeem Baig does not know how to balance storylines on an even level. This was a criticism of “Sinf E Aahan” as well, two stories receiving more time than the others. Such is the case here as well. Unless “Kuch Ankahi” is planning on racking up 30 plus episodes, to have only focused on one storyline for twelve episodes out of (potentially) 24 episodes in all feels like a let-down. The cast is doing a wonderful job and the episodes are well-written as well. The pacing with story arcs is the only complaint. Here’s hoping Aaliyah and Salman, along with Sofia and Tanvi, and even Tania, all receive the attention they deserve soon.