“Siyani” has been a guilty watch for the past few months, a show that isn’t necessarily well-written and has long since entered the dreaded Har Pal Geo “dragging” phase. And yet, it’s an addiction that keeps pulling the viewer in, if only to see the evil female lead, Kirin, finally face some sort of justice for her terrible actions. “Siyani” stars Anmol Baloch, Usama Khan, Saniya Shamshad, Mohsin Abbas Haider, Tipu Shrareef and others in prominent roles while the story has been written by Sadia Akhtar and directed by Ali Akbar.
“Siyani” is currently at this juncture – Ujala (Saniya Shamshad) is now principal of her school and is on her way to pulling her entire household into a better life. Zohaib is back in Pakistan with his daughter, now divorced and seeking a potential reunion with Ujala, who is also now divorced. This is a love story we can root for. Meanwhile, Kirin (Anmol Baloch) is back in Zarbaab’s (Mohsin Abbas Haider), creating chaos as usual while the family plans Zohaib’s potential second marriage to Ujala.
There’s something that needs to be said about “Siyani” and its representation of parenting. On one hand, we have Nusrat (Beena Chaudhry), who is a genuinely horrible human being who has not only mistreated Ujala her entire life, but has also led a life of manipulation and dishonesty. She has raised and “trained” her own daughter on the same path. If Kiran is manipulative, it’s because of her mother – and yet, can we all agree that her mother, right or wrong, has stood up for Kiran at every point? Kiran may be as wrong as can be, but Nusrat cannot be accused of abandoning her daughter. She has used her voice to defend her, come rain or shine. Do we classify her as a bad mother or is she simply a bad person?
On the flip side, we have Zarbaab and Zohaib’s parents, who are “good people.” There isn’t anything overtly “bad” about them other than the fact that they judge their daughter-in-law for her every action and movement. But can we really call them good parents? These are parents who do not stand up for their children. These are parents who are so “good” that Naveen thought it better to commit suicide over telling them about the trouble she was in. These are parents who have forced Zarbaab to reconcile with a devious, selfish, manipulative woman (who is, unknown to them, also responsible for their daughter’s death) who has been verbally abusing their elder, divorced daughter. Kirin is toxic in every sense of the word and instead of sticking up for their son each time he kicked her out of their home, they convinced him to bring her back. They have not stood up for him, their daughters, Zohaib or even themselves. Are these good parents?
Honestly, it’s the parenting in “Siyani” which really does the mind in. But how else could the story stretch on? Despite all the dragging and star plus style of shooting, it’s really the performances that keep the audience hooked, particularly that of Anmol Baloch as Kirin. At present, “Siyani” is, in fact, in the dreaded dragging phase and while the story seems to be inching closer to a conclusion, Kirin’s re-arrival back into Zarbaab’s household means round four now begins of Kirin’s manipulations. Fortunately, the path for Zohaib and Ujala to reunite seems to be narrowing and we may see a reunion sooner than later – if Ujala cooperates and doesn’t allow her ego to intervene.