While “Kaala Doriya” has been winning hearts within the subcontinent, it has been severely under promoted throughout its run, Hum TV gaining criticism from fans on social media for treating “Kaala Doriya” as a stepchild show. Interestingly, on the night of the finale, Osman Khalid Butt posted an Insta story which thanked the fans for appreciating the show….while also confirming the less-than-priority treatment given by the channel, stating “this experience has reaffirmed my faith that one should never give up on their project, even when they see everyone from the top to the bottom of the hierarchy do so.” Easily Saima Akram Chaudhry’s best written show with relatable characters and true-to-life situations amongst the comedy, “Kaala Doriya” has maintained quality throughout. Starring Osman Khalid Butt, Sana Javed, Zainab Qayyum, Nadia Afgan, Sohail Sameer, Farhan Ali Agha, Khalid Malik, Samina Ahmed, Khaled Anum, Tamkinat Mansoor and others, the story has been written by Saima Akram Chaudhry and directed by Danish Nawaz. Unfortunately, the stepchild treatment is clearly visible with the finale.
Having raved and praised “Kaala Doriya” throughout its run, the finale isn’t as praise-worthy, if only because it feels haphazard and rushed. Out of a 37 minute finale, 11 minutes are dedicated to a recap we absolutely did not need. This leaves us with 26 minutes for a proper, satisfactory conclusion. While there are some sweet moments at the beginning of the episode, particularly the ones with Nida (Adla Khan), Asfi (Osman Khalid Butt) and Mahnoor (Sana Javed), these scenes make up around 10 minutes of the finale with the remaining 16 minutes dedicated entirely to Asif and Mano’s wedding festivities, dances and rassams. Even these sequences are drowned out by loud, generic wedding music, leaving little room for dialogues or meaningful conversation. Adding to the underwhelming presentation, Tanno (Nadia Afgan), Saleeqa (Zainab Qayyum), Bubbly and Nida’s young son are not even present during the wedding sequences, the final family shot feeling incomplete. Was the channel in a rush to make way for the new Ramadan launches? What could be the reason for rushing the finale of such a beautiful show and giving it an unsatisfactory ending?
Of course, there are some positives within this finale which do match up to the rest of the show. First, the message regarding responsibilities towards parents is applause worthy. This discussion is something that has been missing from our screens for decades and is a discussion that is very much necessary in today’s day and age, a time when women are working and supporting their families. When a daughter gets married, why is she the only one expected to leave her family behind? Do daughters not have families? Do daughters not have parents who need to be taken care of? In a country where “son culture” is so prevalent and the idea of women leaving their families behind to join their “real home” after marriage, “Kaala Doriya” hits the nail on the head with Mahnoor’s stance. Mano may sound immature while asking Asfi to move into her house with her parents after marriage, but this is because our minds are trained to think that way. The most beautiful part of Mano and Asfi’s relationship is highlighted through this aspect of the story and that is the fact that they are able to have honest, meaningful discussions about their future, their fears and their choices. Asfi supports Mano and the conversation he has with Tanno, Shuja and Dada Ji is really sweet. The way Saleeqa reacts is also beautiful, wanting Asfi to make his own decisions in the matter. Saleeqa is a beautiful character, sweetly portrayed by Zainab Qayyum, the sort of mother-in-law every girl would want.
Of course, the family dynamics have been the highlight of “Kaala Doriya” with warring families finally coming back together. Sometimes all it takes is a discussion, self-reflection and an apology, something we aren’t necessarily taught to do in South Asian families. “Kaala Doriya” does a great job of not only showing how easy it is for bonds to be broken, but also how easy it is to mend those bonds when egos are put aside. In all honesty, “Kaala Doriya” has been a treat for viewers who wanted something light-hearted yet meaningful outside of Ramadan. Saima Akram Chaudhry deserves a round of applause for solid writing and creating layered characters. Danish Nawaz has done a beautiful job bringing these characters to life on our screens. Osman Khalid Butt and Sana Javed deserve credit for portraying a romance that went further than simple attraction. These are two individuals who grew as people as the story progressed and, once in love, supported one another and highlighted the importance of communication. And, of course, the entire cast deserves praise for their portrayals of these lovable characters in a lovable family. “Kaala Doriya” may not have had a perfect finale, but it is a near-perfect example of comedic storytelling and has cemented its place in the hearts of viewers.
