Credit for reviews goes to ...
http://www.dramapakistani.net/category/htv/zgh/page/3/ EPISODE 8
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xwubtr_zindagi-gulzar-hai-episode-8-promo-hum-tv-drama-18-january-2013_shortfilms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cELXRvmpSp4[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cELXRvmpSp4[/YOUTUBE]
Posted by Maria...http://www.dramapakistani.net/category/htv/zgh/page/2/
Last week in the scene where Usama and Zaroon talk about Kashaf, my brother rolled his eyes at me while watching ZGH with me and said aloud "Man this guy is such a drama queen!" I love watching ZGH with my youngest brother because his side remarks about Zaroon's idiosyncrasies are quiet amusing. When the episode today was over, my brother was like "baas Api, Kashaf can totally take on Zaroon and crush his ego and pride in under 10 seconds...kehday aik dafa is larkay ko "Zaroon bahii" and larka is going to go under deep change...!" It seems like Umera lumped up the spectrum of our society's male attributes and awarded them to Zaroon. Zaroon has the attention of every other girl on him yet he wants to blatantly woe a girl who is not one bit impressed by him and he will leave no stone unturned to prove that he can flirt with any girl (even if it is to humiliate and dump her in front of everyone). Although it's not all right for his sister to roam late at night, in his mind just because he is a male, it's perfectly all right for him to do so and he can! He is bag of contradictions even to himself. I think Zaroon should be a reflection point for all men in our society and I really hope that in future episodes especially when Zaroon and Kashaf elope, he learns that not every thing in the world revolves around one man's thinking or their wishes and not every women is "stupid selfish or hypocrite," as most guys perceive (maybe because they run after the wrong women?) Fawad Khan I have absolutely no doubt that you are one brilliant actor and you make even a better drama queen then, well, our baby doll Asmara...
Tum kehti ho, meray khaat mujh ko
Wapis kar do, wapis kar do...
The fiery energy of a real life concert and our favorite actor singing... I just felt time had stopped and I was transported back in time listing to JJ's brilliant songs. Beautiful scene inside and out! I was not one bit disappointed. I am so jealous of you Indus students...grrr. I wanted to make a few points regarding to concert scene that the song chosen "Tum Kehti Ho..." must have had some significance behind it. I am sure it is to foreshadow something to come in the future. I remember in the OST, Kashaf is holding some letters (and I am not going to share any spoilers from the novel) but I am wondering if there is a relationship to the song being put in this specific context. What do you guys think?
My Reflection moment:
Today Kashaf's hesitation in taking a ride from a guy and her insecurity about how if someone sees her coming home like this in their neighborhood, what would be the consequences of that?
This issue is not far from my heart. A few months ago, a few of my old university friends met over for dinner. It was around 9:00 pm and I was worried about getting home as it had just snowed and I didn't have a ride back home. My friend S had her car and she could drive me back home but my friend D offered as well because his home was closer to mine and S would have to take a whole other route late at night. I was not uncomforted with the idea of taking a ride with D because we had known each other for so long and I would be safe, however I clearly told him that I know his intensions are right but knowing that even in North America my whole family lives in the same neighborhood and if someone sees us coming home late at night, they wont understand that we are just friends and all the years of trust that my parents have built with me could be shattered in one minute. My parents don't ever question where I am coming from but I know there are certain limits and I am not allowed to cross especially coming home in a car with a boy they have never met or are not well aware of. I would rather prefer that S could drop me back. I guess many people can question Kashaf's mentality here, why did she then stay at a concert, why didn't she arrange for a ride earlier? Doesn't she go to school with boys as well, un kay sath bhi to behthithi haina?
My answer would be that maybe this is what Umera is trying to highlight that our society is so unforgiving and is inflexible to new ideas or nature of things. A girl can be as virtuous and pious but her reputation can be tarnished in seconds and she can be humiliated all around. Kashaf's mother knows what her daughter is like, she wouldn't cross her limits but Kashaf out of fear still lies to her mother and tells her that she came with a boy and a girl, otherwise her mother will never trust her again. It's a sad reality of our culture and I think it was highlighted brilliantly in this scene.
ZGH a piece of art????
"Art is derived from experience and how we think about the world and produce meaning from our observations. Therefore art is very subjective to each one of our experience and perception of the world. A good piece of art will induce conversation and a good or better a heated debate!"
Any visual art medium to a certain extent is a perception of experiences that the screenwriter, the director and the DOP are trying to communicate to their audience. Of course not every scene, every character can be relatable and that comes back to the definition of art itself that it requires the perception from the audience's experiences relating to the visual medium and the artists ability to convey their perception of the world and how well they have painted or stitched together a story to induce conversations. Question is, does ZGH falls under piece of art or is just commercial entertainment? I personally feel that the story is meant to be written to induce debate, however its visual execution is lacking due to tight editing of the story board and narrative. It will take time to become a piece of art as more of it reveals itself and fully engages its audience. Some visual mediums are made for pure entertainment and others for pure purpose of discussion. Very few of them can find a purposeful balance between the two. ZGH is getting their, but its not their fully! However since last week, I have thrown away my critics hat and sitting at an audience's chair has given me a more relaxed point of view into the artists mind. ZGH does manages to induce some critical thinking and makes us, the audience, question our beliefs, our social norms that we breath in everyday yet never question as much. The relationships between parents and children, the sibling chemistry, the highlight of deeply embedded social perceptions of how women and men behave and should behave etc are really well presented and solidly brought on screen. Most of all I really have to admire how much insight and discussion you all bring and this heightens the experience of understanding ZGH even more! I am sure if I can relate to it in many aspects, many others could as well. No piece of art is perfect and no art is perfected without criticism. From now on I will always remember to highlight what I think could have been better presented to me as an audience so I could understand the meaning and also highlight some critical thinking points that we perceive.
EPISODE 9http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xx1hg2_zindagi-gulzar-hai-episode-9-full-hd-hum-tv-drama-25-january-2013_shortfilmshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fYNurhB68A[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fYNurhB68A[/YOUTUBE]
Posted by Maria...http://www.dramapakistani.net/category/htv/zgh/page/2/
The highlight of today's episode had to be the much awaited library scene. In reality to be quiet honest I don't know how things work in Pakistan but if a guy ever harasses a girl in a work place or place of academic institution, he is met with warnings and even faces expulsion. But cat fights between girls and phadas between boys were popular in high school and I have yet to come across something similar in university. It is still surprising for me to see that even though Kashaf stood her ground, many other students just watched a spectacle and sat their like cricket match kay tamashahi. No one stood up and helped Kashaf but at least she got her wish. Kashaf nay Zaroon ko khari khari sunai. So did the library scene live upto its mark?
Yes it did. It broke Zaroon's arrogance in believing that he can spin every girl around his fingers and it also washed away his much stringent opinions about middle class girls. Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed owned the scene. The unnerving look on Kashaf's face as she finally takes the courage to rip apart Zaroon with her shrill words and the tears falling down her face as she walks out of the door were very real and heartfelt. And FK, well he looked perfectly knocked out by shock and surprise like a little child that has his favorite lollipop taken right from his mouth while he was happily sucking on it. The scene lived upto its mark both in terms of execution and direction. However, someone please mute the volume on the thriller background music!
Of course not to compare the novel to the series, since the story is treated very differently and is now based on a different theme, however there were some beautiful lines that I still enjoyed from the novel especially the library scene, which I really wanted to share:
"agar main mamooli hoon to phir mera naam kyon laytay hoo, zikar bhi kyon kartay hoo. is college main buhat si mere jaisi larkiyaan hain. Tum har aik ko to mamooli nahi kahatay aur agar mujhay hi mamooli kahtay ho to us ka matlab hai main mamooli nahin hoon. Mujhay koi afsoos nahi kay main ghareeb hon. Yeh sharam ki baat nahi hai hai kay app kay pass taleem hasil karnay kay liye roopay paisay na hoon. App kay paas acha khanay, acha peenay kay liye na hoo, sharam ki baat yeh hai kay app badkirdar hoon, app logoon ko taqleef poochanchatayn hoon, app ko kisi ki izzat karna naa aata hoo, qabil-e-sharam cheezain yeh hain. Tum nay kaha tha koi larki na qabl-e-taskheer nahi hooti, tumhara wasta in jaisi larkiyoon say parhata rahata hai. "
and
"haan yeh waqiya taskheer ki jaa sakti hai, magar meri jaisi larkiyaan tum nay kabhi dekhi hi nahi hain. Main kashaf murtaza na qabil-e-takheer hoon. Tumharay jaisay loog atay jatay rahtayn hain. Mere jaisay loog hamesha rahatay hain."
The rest of the episode:
There was almost a Bilquees Kaur moment in today's episode where after the whole dhool patai on pending wedding of mumtaz, , it merely passed like nothing happened. Similarly hum logoon ko to zaroon ki family nay toh Sara ki wedding ki shopping Dubai aur London tak karadi laykin akhir main kanjoos ho gay aur Nikkah ki bidh tak nahi poochi tsk tsk tsk. But all in all app sab ko bhi Sara ki shadi ki Mubarak hoo. Sara and Sidra are truly one of my favorite characters in the entire show because they are both presented as loveable and real. Sara is upfront like a real sister is to her brother and she is more transparent then all women in Zaroon's life. She exactly knows her brother is acting like a total hypocrite and instead of sugar coating the fact, she tells him straight to his face that well, "you want to have your cake and eat it too". Similarly we then have the calm and alluring Sidra who compassionately listens to her family's woes and becomes a human dairy for Kashaf to spill all her emotions and feelings into. This label of "lovable characters" cannot be said for other supporting characters to our protagonists, take for example Osama, where on the earth does he fits into the picture as a sidekick friend? Anyone watching the last few episodes can clearly tell that Osama the way he thinks definitely does not belong with Zaroon. And Asmara...I have no words to describe her character. Kiya fazool larki hai. If Kashaf can clearly see through Zaroon's hypocrisy and arrogance, what exactly does Asmara see in Zaroon? He is controlling and dominating and if I were in Asmara's place, I clearly would steer clear of such an arrogant snob. Plus "Zaroon tum is ko aik thapar laga daytay.." was highly uncalled for.
Someone slap some optimism in Kashaf:
I find Kashaf to be not pessimistic or negative but extremely unthankful person. We understand her attitude and thinking is due to her family's circumstances and their halaat but while she is accusing Zaroon of having certain stereotypes about middle class, doesn't she also discriminates and views everyone in her university from the same stereotypical lens? All rich people are fads, spoiled and don't have a heart or don't care? And what exactly
doesn't Kashaf has in life? Her sisters are also earning and helping, her mother is still alive and no matter what they have a house, her own family to live with. Not to mention she is also supposedly getting the best education in the world. Struggle to get somewhere is a part of daily life even for those of us who live in west. Has anyone ever taken her to an orphanage or even a cancer hospital ward where children are dying from leukemia? As much as I sympathize with Kashaf, I simply refuse to believe that one can have such short for sight about life, especially when the people surrounding you are very encouraging and patient. I have known Kashaf's in my life as well but once in a while they do smile and break out of their stupor. Maybe Sidra should give her golden stars for the days she smiles :D
EPISODE 10
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xx723g_zindagi-gulzar-hai-episode-10-hum-tv-drama-full_shortfilms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai8mIyJfiXM[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai8mIyJfiXM[/YOUTUBE]
Posted by Sadaf ..http://www.dramapakistani.net/category/htv/zgh/page/2/
aroon and Asmara got engaged and now my head hurts ... Watching Zaroon deliberate on this made me think of a prisoner being sentenced for a crime he did not commit. Later in the episode he has the...ahem... cough ...cough... startling revelation that all the looks and hotness in the world cannot make up for the total lack of compatibility between him and Asmara. Now this is where my head begins to hurt... Why are Zaroon's 'liberal elite' parents pushing him into a relationship he so clearly wants to avoid? We are supposed to think Zaroon is in to hot girls and has to learn about the value of character... Well Zaroon has done nothing but put Asmara down since coming to college, I have not seen him give Asmara any kind of pass or margin of error due to her looks. If anything, he has constantly argued with her and put her down publicly on more than one occasion...so much for girls with looks being able to get away with stuff.
Sanam Saeed did a standout job this episode, and I am warming more and more to Kashaf's character. I liked the way she did not complain about Zaroon and decided that living well was the best revenge. Kashaf is quite right, a person's real adornment is their education and character rather than a piece of jewelry in a box. Towards the end we are shown a disappointed Zaroon coming home with third position and Kashaf pleased with having put him in his place by working hard and coming first. The news of Zaroon's and Asmara's engagement rocks the female population of this supposed post graduate level college and every girl is disappointed Zaroon did not choose her... Really? Are all these supposedly intelligent young ladies really that air brained, is this High School? Remember we are now supposed to be at the end of an MBA course not matriculation. Not that we can understand the time scale easily in this serial, it is a constant test for the viewer to work out the periods between events.
I have to side with Sara, Zaroon's sister, in all her disagreements with her husband. This was not a totally arranged marriage and Farhan knew exactly who he was marrying from day one. To suddenly expect her to change after marriage was bound to lead to conflict and disappointment. Zaroon is learning from his sister and Mother's stubborn attitude and we can see he does not want to be the next Farhan. The sad part is that these attitudes are all too common. There are women, even in the blessed middle class, who see marriage as a game of one- upmanship, where not an inch is to be given without taking a mile back and all affection is measured by gifts and the amount of facilities provided. However the attitude of Men; who choose looks over character at every turn and expect obedient wives rather than life partners is hardly better.
Kashaf's family is of course carrying on the" poor but saintly" theme and never a cross word is spoken between sisters. I personally want Sidra for my sister, that said, their constant pleasantness is making me feel quite inadequate .I was however glad to hear that Sidra is not quite the intellectual that Kashaf and Shaneela are but is still trying hard to achieve something in life. Thank God, there are some lesser mortals in this family. Rafia's little speech about halal ka rizq and was well worth hearing. It is easy to be impressed by wealth and glamour but these things are like traps waiting to spring if not acquired through our own hard work and honest means. I simply loved Kashaf as she determines to achieve success though her own efforts and on her own terms. If I have criticized this drama about certain characterizations, I can certainly thank Umera Ahmed for both Kashaf and Rafia 'characters. Both are strong, independent women who refuse to let anything or anyone compromise their dignity.
Edited by Neerjaa - 10 years ago
Cricket
Current Affairs
