Written by: Hurmat Majid
Posted on: August 16, 2022 | 
| 中文
Ahsan Khan as Darakzai and Hiba Bukhari as Khajista
Meray Humnasheen is giving viewers the unique experience of watching a believable tale about a woman struggling to become a doctor to help the people of her community. The word believable has been used here because in most stories about Pashtun women, we see only their struggle in trying to find their footing in the tribal setting. That's not the case in this show. Here we see Khajista and the women around her pretty set in their roles in society. They already have a voice. This is more about the struggle of letting their wings spread and having the liberty of becoming useful members of society.
Darakzai and Khajista's scene in Meray Hamnasheen
The story unfolds with Khajista, played by Hiba Bukhari, showing her intention of going to the city and studying to become her area's first female doctor, so that the women of her community could go to a proper medical practitioner rather than hakeems of the area. Enter Darakzai (Ahsan Khan), her cousin and the man her family wants her to marry. Darakzai is not only uncultured, but also has no interest in education and has just managed to pass the 10th grade. As expected, he is opposed to the idea of Khajista going to the city and living alone in pursuit of her medical studies. However, Darakzai's protests are overruled by Lala, played by Syed Jibran, who is Darakzai's brother. Lala also became Khajista's guardian when her father passed away. He not only allows Khajista to go to study in the city, but ensures that she isn't tied to Darakzai in marriage before her education is completed.
Syed Jibran as Lala and Ahsan Khan as Darakzai in Meray Hamnasheen
In the city Khajista meets a group of people who are very dissimilar to those she has left behind at home, including Dr Hadi (Shehzad Sheikh). We see Dr Hadi developing a romantic interest in Khajista, which is troubling for Dr Aima, played by Moomal Khalid, the woman his family plans for him to marry. Dr Hadi's father, Dr Shehryar, played by Farhan Ali Agha, and his mother, played by Salma Hassan, both want him to marry Aima and are against the idea of him marrying a woman who belongs to the backward area of Swat.
Syed Jibran as Lala, Ahsan Khan as Darakzai and Rehan Sheikh as Daji in Meray Hamnasheen
As the story unfolds, we see Darakzai having a bit of a change of heart and wishing to change his ways for the sake of Khajista. We also see Khajista go through a bit of an emotional turmoil as she likes the character traits that Dr Hadi has, but is not drawn to him. On the other hand, she has feelings for Darakzai, while aware of the flaws in his character.
Ahsan Khan as Darakzai, Shahzad Sheikh as Dr. Hadi and Hiba Bukhari as Khajista in Meray Hamnasheen
Overall, the performances in the drama are exceptional. In this serial, as in Pehchan, we are watching Hiba Bukhari come of age as an actor. Shehzad Sheikh has delivered another power packed performance, leaving no doubt in the viewer's mind that he has finally learned how to act.
Shahzad Sheikh as Dr. Hadi and Hiba Bukhari as Dr. Khajista
Ahsan Khan fits the role of Darakzai beautifully, but seems similar to his past few performances. Syed Jibran, Momina Iqbal, Farhan Ali Agha, Salma Hassan and everyone else in the show has also acted brilliantly, which is what makes the experience of watching Meray Humnasheen so enjoyable.
However, there is one reservation that I have and will continue to do so until drama makers figure out what to do about it. It's about giving characters belonging to a certain ethnicity an unnaturally thick accent. Khajista and Darakzai, for example, have such thick Pashtoon accents that it makes them sound like caricatures at times. That's a disservice to the characters they are playing, as sometimes the accent takes away from the dialogue that they're trying to deliver. On the other hand, one person nailing the accent is Syed Jibran, and that's probably got to do with the fact that he has some Pashtoon roots.
Darakzai's scene in Khajista's college
The depiction of Pashtoons is the excessive show and use of firearms, a classic case of stereotyping the community. Especially if you've not set the story in a fictional town but in an actual part of Pakistan. This problem could easily have been fixed if the landscape had been set in a fictional town, as it was in Sang e Mah. Stereotyping an area or an ethnic community gives it a negative image. Areas like Swat have one of the highest literacy rates in Pakistan and is home to a vibrant tourist industry.
That said, the story is engaging, and it will be interesting to see how the relationships develop and the drama reaches a conclusion. Overall, Meray Humnasheen is keeping audiences entertained and captivated at the moment.
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