The first episode of “Mor Moharan” was off-putting and while I stayed on-board as a viewer for five to six episodes, falling off the wagon was rather easy. However, given Zahid Ahmed and Sonya Hussyn’s involvement in the show, the pull to resume watching grabbed hold once more. And so, after binge-watching 9 episodes recently, the verdict is that “Mor Moharan” is, in fact, worth watching. Starring Zahid Ahmed, Sonya Hussyn, Samiya Mumtaz, Babar Ali, Mustafa Changazi, Adnan Jaffar and Firdous Jamal, the story has been written by Ali Moeen and directed by Owais Khan.
The concept of “Mor Moharan” is quite innovative and educational, setting it apart from other shows and creating its own identity. One can certainly say there hasn’t been a show like “Mor Moharan” in the last several years. And yet, it’s this “educational” angle that may be the very reason for its low TRPs, as viewership at present is almost entirely based on silly escapism content. “Mor Moharan” focuses on the water scarcity in the dessert, addressing climate change and the struggles those in the Cholistan region face. Alongside the environmental storyline, there’s a building love triangle between Gardezi (Zahid Ahmed), Roohi (Sonya Hussyn) and Sikander (Mustafa Changazi). The Zahid Ahmed and Sonya Hussyn pairing is always magic and this time is no less – Gardezi and Roohi are magic. The icing on the cake is the strength both their characters exude and how they are, in every way, equals…..with Sikander being the thorn in their side.
The show also focuses heavily on Sikander’s family background, which is the greatest flaw of the show. While Samiya Mumtaz is quite likable as Almas and Babar Ali plays the silent Sher Aalam in an intriguing way, every other aspect of this track is grating. It’s clear to viewers now that Almas put up with a toxic marriage and a horrible husband in the form of Feroz (Adnan Jaffar). Any amount of brainwashing should not stop Sikander, a city educated boy, from recognizing how inappropriate Feroz’s presence under his mother’s roof is – and because he does not recognize this, it makes Sikander come across as just as much of a wayward individual as Feroz. This father-son duo are grating as characters and while Adnan Jaffar is a wonderful actor, both his and Mustafa Changazi’s performances are loud, over-the-top and make it difficult to even see these characters as “real” people. They are caricatures. There are also some song and dance numbers which feel oddly out of place and “too choreographed.”
This being said, “Mor Moharan” manages to build a captivating story. At the start of the show, Sonya Hussyn also delivers a healthy amount of hyperactivity with her performance, but as the show progresses, she has become very likable as the strong, confident Roohi. Zahid Ahmed is the highlight of the show as Gardezi, his performance charismatic and scene-stealing. Credit must be given to Samiya Mumtaz and Babar Ali for their performances as well. If you haven’t been watching this show, it’s worth a try, if not for anything else then for the lead pair and the interesting storyline.