As far as love stories go, “Muhabbat Gumshuda Meri” is exactly that, filling a space for Pakistani drama viewers which has been empty for a while. Not only is the heart and soul of “Muhabbat Gumshuda Meri” a love story, it’s also young, fresh and, to be honest, downright relatable. Young love in South Asian society is almost like an extreme sport, a journey which is not supported in most cases. Starring Khushhal Khan and Dananeer Mobeen in lead roles, “Muhabbat Gumshuda Meri” also stars Omair Rana, Ayesha Toor, Farah Sadia, Ali Tahir, Laila Zuberi, Naureen Gulwani, Ali Raza and others in prominent roles. The story has been written by Rahat Jabeen and directed by Shahid Shafaat.
In episode 15, things go from bad to worse for Zobia (Dananeer Mobeen) and Saim (Khushhal Khan). While the two miss their train, they are refused for a Nikkah under their circumstances. Zobia twists her ankle and the two wind up staying as paying guests for a night with a dubious owner (played by Saqib Sameer). This love story is taking many twists and turns and what it’s successfully doing is showing both sides of the story. We empathize with these young lovers, though we don’t entirely agree with their actions. We understand where Saim’s parents are coming from as well. But where lies the problem?
It’s Zobia’s parents who have always been irrational. What’s the point of raising such a confident, happy, protected young girl when she can’t make her own choices? She does not have their love or support. Their love is conditional on her obedience, as shown in this episode by Zobia’s mother. Parents worry for their children, but like a stereotypical “log kya kahenge” mother, she would rather Zobia stay gone than return home, which is simply tragic. Many who watch this show have left comments saying they hope the youth gets the proper message from this show – but what is the proper message?
Zobia’s family could have handled this entire situation differently, but instead chose to force their child into a corner. They have given so much power to Daniyal, who has been handling things terribly. Not only does he treat Roshna (Naureen Gulwani) badly, but he’s also truly obsessed with Zobia……his cousin, not his sister. Why does he have so much power in this family? It’s the fault of the adults for giving him such power. On the flip side, Saim’s parents were initially hard on Saim as well, but with time, they grew to understand him. Omair Rana and Ayesha Toor are two of the show’s best characters as Faiqa and Ibrahim, characters who we understand and can connect to. These parents have their child’s best interests at heart and while they’re angry with him, they also love and support him.
Quite honestly, everyone in “Muhabbat Gumshuda Meri” is doing an excellent job, portraying their characters with sincerity. That is, of course, with the exception of the Daniyal character, who is absolutely beyond understanding or comprehension. Is he supposed to be in love with Zobia? Why is he so hell bent on getting revenge on his wife’s sister? Daniyal adds a heavy “ick” factor to the proceedings, though the actor (Ali Raza) is doing a great job as well. There’s little to criticize about “Muhabbat Gumshuda Meri.” It’s a compelling story that keeps viewers on the edge of their seat. The only question is – what’s the end game here? What is the end message? In a society where love marriage still finds so many detractors, it would be a shame to see a show where young love loses rather than triumphs.