“Yunhi” continues to go from strength to strength with its writing and powerful depiction of culture versus religion. How many aspects of our day to day practices in Pakistan are simply born out of religion, practices we credit to religion? While “Yunhi” got off to a rough start at the beginning, it has consistently proved itself to be a well-written, well-directed, beautifully performed show over the last several weeks. Starring Maya Ali, Bilal Ashraf, Behroze Sabzwari, Deepak Perwani, Uzma Beg, Tazeen Hussain, Tahira Imam, Manzoor Qureshi, Maha Hassan and others, “Yunhi” has been written by Samira Fazal and directed by Ehtashamuddin.
In episode 19, Suraiyya (Maha Hassan) is caught red-handed by first Kim (Maya Ali) and then Daniyal (Khaqan Shahnawaz) in her attempt to run away with Awais. Unfortunately, while she changed her mind at the last minute, there is no easy to way explain away her circumstances with a burqa on and her packed bag complete with ID and documents in hand. And so, Suraiyya does what she can to self-preserve…..places the blame on Kim. At this point, everyone in this house is looking for a scapegoat to blame their household problems on. Why are the women of this house unhappy? Why is Suraiyya ready to revolt? Why is Husna suddenly uninterested in Daniyal? It’s all because of Kim, of course! Kim’s Americanized upbringing has spoiled the entire atmosphere of the household – or at least that’s what everyone would like to believe, because the real reason is more unsettling.
Fortunately, Basharat (Behroze Sabzwari) can see Kim for who she is and can see her point of view. Basharat himself is a man who has always been under his father’s thumb and so, in return, he put Razia (Tahira Imam) under his own. But has Basharat ever been able to enforce his own thoughts upon his own family? He has never been awarded the opportunity to be progressive, because he was always expected to follow the status quo – until Kim’s arrival. It’s beautiful to see how Basharat is not only changing mentally, but is also acknowledging the effect that Kim’s presence is having in a positive way. This is positive change and with Basharat now on board, along with Dawood, how long before the household changes? Behroze Sabzwari is endearing and lovable in this role.
And of course, now, we come to Dawood (Bilal Ashraf) himself. The moment between Dawood and Kim is the highlight of the entire episode. After his family has flung all sorts of accusations at his wife, Dawood calmly sits with Kim and eases her discomfort with one simply line – “I trust you.” Dawood and Kim may have different thought processes, but Dawood holds Kim in high esteem and believes in her – and with that support, Kim can hold her head high within this environment. Dawood has proved himself to be a great husband in the ways that matter. The respect with which he has treated Kim as his wife sets a great example not only for husbands, but also highlights the teachings of Islam and how men are expected to treat their partners with dignity. In return, Kim ensures that Dawood knows the whole truth, wanting to be worthy of the respect and trust he has in her. This relationship forged under illogical conditions is growing to be a genuinely beautiful marriage to be admired.
Maya Ali and Bilal Ashraf are strong performers in this episode. Both have embraced their roles in a way that we no longer see Maya or Bilal, rather they are Kim and Dawood. If the show continues on this path and assuming there are only four to six episodes remaining, these characters will live on in our memories for a long time. “Yunhi” is easily in the top three best shows on television right now, along with “Kuch Ankahi” and “Jhoom.”