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From the day I have started watching IPKKND, I have always found a striking resemblance between the story of this soap to a Pakistani drama named 'Shehr-e-dil k darwazey'. The title Shehr-e-dil k darwaazey ( I will abbreviate it to SDD henceforth) roughly translates to 'Gateway to the city of hearts' and is based on a novel written by 'Shazia Chaudhary'. As is always the case, the novel is written much better than the actual drama. But that doesnt change the fact that SDD, the drama, was equally as popular with the audience and was considered the most popular show of its time. (the drama was aired two years ago).
Before I explain why I find the stories similar, let me give you a bit of a background of what SDD's story line is about.
SDD is a story about Arsheen Bukhari who is a talented painter and teaches art at a local college. She is the sole earner of her household since the passing of her dad and has two younger sisters whom she loves dearly. Her mother (slightly wierd in my opinion) is always worried that Arsheen, being the sole earner of the household, will become too independent and keeps a lot of checks on her (e.g. what time she comes back from work etc etc). She is also worried about her marriage as there are two more girls in their house who need to be married as well. Arsheen, grand mother also lives with them.
Anyway, the main story is that in Arsheen's college, the professor that she works with falls in love with her. This professor, named Aftab, is already married and has 5 year old daughter. His wife, Nazish, has always believed them to be happily married and Aftab makes sure that this illusion remains intact. He loves his daughter too.. but that doesnt stop him wandering towards Arsheen. Arsheen does not know that Aftab is married with a child and when Aftab proposes to Arsheen, she accepts the proposal. Her one and only innocent mistake.
Rings any bells with IPKKND? ofcourse the storyline is very similar but there are lots of differences too. For example, Nazish, the wife, unlike Anjali of IPKKND, becomes suspicious of her husband's behaviour and finds out that he is thinking of marriage to Arsheen.
So it is actually Nazish who goes to Arsheen and tells her about Aftab's marriage! The reason is simple: She loves her husband a lot and never wants to get ouf of the marriage. She also has a daughter to think about. Arsheen is shocked to know that Aftab is married and immediately calls off the marriage. Aftab finds out that Nazish has told Arsheen about his marriage and tries to blackmail Arsheen to marry him. He even creates fake marriage papers.
In the meanwhile, Nazish finds Arsheen a suitable suitor and Arsheen accepts that proposal, just to get rid of Aftab. But on the day of the engagement, in front of everyone, Aftab comes to the ceremony and shows the fake marriage papers to everyone. Needless to say that the engagement breaks and Arsheen's family gets really upset with her.
When Nazish realizes that Aftab is not backing off, she decides to get her brother involved. Her brother, Mehran, is a respectable police officer with extremely high moral values. Mehran's first reaction to this entire fiasco is that Arsheen has no moral values to eye an already married man. Nazish does tell him that Arsheen did not know that Aftab was already married but Mehran has always believed that such cases always happen because women attract guillable men towards them. These very inflexible moral values will become his downfall.
When nothing seems to be stopping Aftab from blackmailing Arsheen into marrying him, Nazish comes up with this idea that if Arsheen marries her brother, Mehran, then Aftab will not be able to have her. Mehran and his police background will ensure that Aftab never gets what he wants. Mehran ofcourse becomes furious when he hears Nazish's plan as he has always wanted a 'pure wife'! Reluctantly he agrees to marrying Arsheen. Arsheen, by this time, is willing to do anything to get Aftab off her back. Her family is already ashamed of her behaviour and cant get rid off her quicker...!
Anyway, the marriage happens very very discreetly and thats when the real story begins. Mehran, being the true anti-hero is super-mean to Arsheen whom he believes to be not virtuous enough! He leaves her in his village farmhouse with very basic facilities and does not provide for her. He visits her only rarely and when he does it is always to taunt her or bring her down. In the novel, Mehran's character is a lot more merciless than the drama (I think thats because no drama in a prime time slot, could show such horrible domestic absue that Mehran inflicts on Arsheen. The creulty reaches new heights when he decides to marry to a 'virtuous' girl and sends his wedding card to Arsheen. However, on thier wedding night, that so-called virtuous girl tells Mehran that she had an affair with someone before marriage and thinks that her husband should know about her past. Needless to say that Mehran is upset but the irony of the situation is not lost on him.
Lots more happens that is not relevant for this forum.
Finally though, the twists and turns of his life and that of people around him, make him realize how wrong he was. He then wants to redeem himself and asks Arsheen to forgive him. But too much has happened to Arsheen to ever forgive Mehran. Arsheen, at one point, does love him but she says that no amount of love is sufficient to forget all the pain and misery that mehran has inflicted on her and that her 'self respect' does not allow her to go back to Mehran.
I am sure many of you can see the parallels between IPKKND and SDD. The stoylines are very similar and if anyone of you can read Urdu, I would highly recommend reading the novel. If not the novel, then watching the drama would suffice. There are several other parallels too. For eg. Arsheen despite all the hardships starts to paint again and then sells her paintings to become financially independent. I think Khushi will also become financially independent in IPKKND.
But there are differences too. The most stiriking is the difference between Anjali and Nazish's character. Unlike Anjali who never suspects her husband's wandering eye, Nazish is a more realistic wife who can sense that her husband is wandering off.
You all must be wondering why I am writing about the similarity between these two dramas now. The reason is simple. Mehran of SDD is a true anti-hero who can never forgive Arsheen the one betrayal that she never committed. And by the time he realizes the error of his ways, it is too late.
After watching today's episode, it has made me wonder whether a fate similar to Mehran, awaits Arnav.
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