“Raqs E Bismil” is a show that has won the hearts of viewers with its tale of unattainable love. Starring Imran Ashraf, Sarah Khan, Momin Saqib, Anoushay Abbasi, Mehmood Aslam, Javeria Abbasi, Nida Mumtaz, Furqan Qureshi, Saleem Mairaj, Gul E Rana and others, “Raqs E Bismil” tells a story of love, but also highlights how societal norms can keep lovers apart. The show has been written by Hashim Nadeem and directed by Wajahat Rauf.
Episode 6 picks up where Moosa (Imran Ashraf) has kidnapped Zohra (Sarah Khan) to marry her. Moosa is a character who is currently caught between two worlds – the world of love and the world he has been raised in. His ideals, his values, his morals and his concepts of religion are deeply ingrained in his very being, deeply rooted into his psyche and his mentality. When Zohra makes it clear that by kidnapping her, he has committed a crime against his admissions of love, Moosa is taken aback. His mind automatically went to his concept of “rescuing” Zohra from her background and saving her from her world, giving her respect by giving her his own name. But he is shocked when he realizes this is not love, this is enforcing one’s own beliefs on someone else. Love is to accept the other as they are, accept them openly without hiding – and Zohra makes it clear that she does not wish to marry him, hidden from the world as a dirty secret. Moosa, understanding this, drops her back home. This is a huge step for Moosa, a moment where viewers can see his beliefs changing, his demeanor softening through his love for Zohra – but what will he face back at home?
Zohra is a different kind of character and the way Sarah Khan is playing her is wonderful. She’s drawn to Moosa, though she doesn’t declare to be in love with him. She respects him, but she does not have respect for men considering her own background and where she comes from. She believes love to be an admission to get what one wants – and she so desired for Moosa to be different. By kidnapping her, she tells Moosa that he has insulted his own love for her, attempting to take something by force rather than love. Zohra is an interesting character, one who is strong, confident and unashamed of who she is. And yet, she does wish to belong to a different world, but only if someone wholeheartedly accepts her without being ashamed of her.
Of course, when Moosa arrives home, he’s confronted by the entire family. Having been visited by the police and questioned over Moosa’s involvement, his father is furious. Sakina (Anoushay AbbasI) takes advantage of this moment and demands that Moosa be punished as she once was, especially considering his “crime” was much greater than hers was. Hearing Sakina’s taunts, Moosa’s father strips Moosa of his title inheritance and declares Isa his rightful heir. But Sakina isn’t happy with just this and demands payback, slapping Moosa in front of the family. It’s strange, because Moosa is the “hero” and in this scene, Sakina is this vindictive “villain.” But is she really the villain? While Moosa may be changing, he not only stopped Sakina from marrying her love, but also attempted to murder her. So who is actually the villain here? It’s just an interesting thought if one looks at the scenario logically. Sakina isn’t wrong. Though this has become a point of contention between Isa (Momin Saqib) and Sakina with Isa furious at Sakina for her attitude towards Moosa. It’s wonderful seeing the bond between Isa and Moosa, so it’s not hard to see how this would affect Isa and Sakina’s marriage.
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Overall, episode 6 is a strong one, one that focuses mostly on highlighting concepts of right and wrong – whether that be Moosa’s concepts of love or Sakina’s thoughts on revenge. Imran Ashraf is the star performer this week, giving a stellar performance as Moosa, a man who finds himself caught between his world and his love. Sarah Khan also performs very well, making an impact as Zohra week after week. Saleem Mairaj, though in a small role, shines as always. “Raqs E Bismil” continues to be a strong show with great performances. What will be the outcome of this punishment? Will Moosa rebel and leave his home for Zohra?