At the very outset let me say that I am sounding a bit maudlin to my own ears as I re-read what I wrote below. But dil se hai. So... go on...
Am in a clearer frame of mind to write today. How do I feel? Given that I have never been a crazy fan of anything or anyone... I would say that I am ok. I am not a young one to feel heartbroken and devastated. I have lived long enough to know that Humsafars ending is not even a blip in the larger scheme of things. And yet... I feel sad but also grateful.
I have been a bit of an intellectual snob who has always turned her nose up at saas-bahu shows. Humsafars took me by surprise. Pleasantly. I was enthralled. And when things went downhill it made me angry but I was hooked cause of Sahir and Arzoo and their gorgeous love story. There have been many other angry young men and spunky brave heroines. But none as flawed and imperfect as Sahir and Arzoo. They had faults and these faults were shown and when they became Humsafars they helped each other to evolve and handle life better. Their very imperfection as individuals caused them to be near perfect for each other as a couple. How dreamy and romantic! How beautiful! So first of all a big Thank You to the team that gave us Humsafars... from the creative team, the production team, the camera unit, light boys, actors known and unknown, the set guys and the costume guys (when I say guys I mean men and women) ... Thank you again.
I met a lot of highly intelligent and talented folks besides other really good fellow writers and VM makers on India Forum. Something that comforted and reassured me... knowing that there are others like me. Others who can enjoy a Malcolm Gladwell and an Aravind Adiga and a passionate love story on TV. So to you lovely folks on IF... you have made watching Humsafars an even more fun and enriching experience for me. Thank You!
I am also feeling terribly cheated... by Sony. I am presuming they are the one who wanted to pull the plug here. The story has not had the chance to be told fully. The creative team has to rush and wrap things up. Therefore the story that could have been told and should have been told will never be told. And I am feeling very sad for the team that worked on Humsafars.
I have worked on TV shows, docudramas and movies and I know how much passion and effort goes in to creating and fashioning every frame. Sometimes it all comes together perfectly and the critics and / or the masses love it. These are rare. Sometimes nothing works and it is a bloody mess and you know it even as you work on it that this is not going to work. And you just can't wait for the project to get over.
But most times it doesn't come together perfectly. It has flaws. Yet it also has magic. As in life the very imperfections it has highlights the perfection the creation carries and tworks. Granted there will be critics... but it reaches the ones it was meant to reach.
Humsafars is like that. It had flaws and there were bloopers and it has driven most of us loyal fans of the show crazy. Yet we came back. We didn't walk away. Why? Cause it had the magic. It had SaaZ. It had one of the most dynamic, handsome, angry, hurt, kind, generous, thoughtful, driven, focused, manipulative, loving, passionate male leads written by a creative team. It had (personally for me the reason I started watching Humsafars) a spunky, brave, young girl with attitude, garelu nuskas and a never-say-die spirit who wanted to prove to the world and her loser dad that daughters are just as good as sons. What is not to like!? Portrayed by a very handsome and extremely talented Harshad Chopra and a charming Shivya Pathania who literally evolved and grew as an actress in front of all of us... almost all of us fell in love with the magic of SaaZ.
It had a supporting cast consisting of Vibha Chibber and Sehban Azim and the actresses who played Dadi, Nausheen (whom we all wanted to shake out of her victimhood), a street smart Zara and a cute as a button Myra. And of course Ashrafi. Over a period of time, we loved them, liked them, disliked them, got mad at them and missed them. Then there were the baddies - Kurti Appa, Anam, Sarfaraz and Farah. Kurti Appa with her travelling mole and dramatic announcements, Anam with her modern' dress sense and Sarfaraz and Farah with their cheapness and cruelty helped keep our catty talons sharp. And then there were Dr Khurrana (the greatest all-time specialist in everything), Joe, Linda, Roshini and the team in Lucknow, Arif, old man servant, VJ, and the newer additions like ACP Rathore, Zeenat and the man who acted as maulvi.,... and ooh Rubina. Did I leave anyone out? The reason I am listing all of them is cause these myriad personalities also became a part of our posts -fun, critical and appreciative.
The cast and crew aside, the show introduced me to Raju Singh whose music mesmerised me. It is my mobile's ringtone. I don't know who wrote the lyrics for the Humsafars song but by God your words are beautiful. Humsafars also introduced me to Parveen Shakir. "Kahin to so raha hoga mera chand' recited in Harshad Chopda's almost gravelly yet soft tone catapulted me in to the world of Shakir's poetry. If not for anything else, Thank you thank you thank so very much for this alone.
Now what happens... once Humsafars goes off air... where do I get my quota of romance and saaz? Unlike movies, Humsafars was there for me for 30 minutes on telly 5 days a week. SaaZ were as much a part of my life as my friends or neighbours. There was and is an entire community on social media that dissects and analyses their every move and gasp. What happens to that!? I guess some of us will keep in touch and others move on.
Personally for me...
I am definitely not investing this much emotional energy in another show if it is on Sony. This time with Humsafars it was like falling in love. And my heart is going to ache on the Monday after next week at 8.30pm IST, when Raju Singh's haunting melody will not herald the only show I was watching on TV.
I am definitely going to track the career of Harshad Chopda. I had no idea that someone called Harshad Chopda existed until I watched Humsafars. Mind was seriously blown away by the talent that was hiding in the small screen. I have had the fabulous opportunity to work with two of the most talented directors of India and I have spotted talent before and have been proven right by time. So I can tell you, Mr Chopda, if you are reading, that you are going to scale greater heights. Your work ethics and talent will stand you in good stead. All the very best.
I am definitely going to look out for Shivya Pathania and her journey in this industry. I really hope she learns and becomes stronger from this experience. She is talented. No doubts about that. I think within a year or so we are going to witness a complete actress who will wow us all... all over again. All the very best to you too Ms Pathania.
Sehban Azim has again been a revelation to me. His persona reflects his positivity and the joy he brought to us viewers as Zaki is incomparable. The scene where he coughs to get Arzoo's attention after the whole spilled coffee scene has been a favourite cause it was so effortlessly done. And the scene where he sits alone and drinks and cries after the SaaZ nikaah... my heart broke for you Zaki. And that brings me to the one thing I would like to communicate to Mr Azim... please don't be inspired by SRK. Just be you.
This is not goodbye cause I will be back to comment and post until this particular forum falls silent... but I just wanted to say thank you before next week plunges all of us in to the blues.
But I also know that everyone bounces back. We don't have a choice and that is life. You will feel depressed and feel like life has dealt you a knock-out punch, but with time it gets better and everyone from the crew to the cast to the fans will get busy again. And that is wonderful. Here's to more creativity and creation.
Love
Jun / Binu
CID
Ishaani
