Drama serial ‘Neeyat’ — when Mahira proved her mettle

Author: By Muhammad Ali

Set in New York, carrying an aura of winters, having all its characters clad in warm, woollen clothes, walking briskly through the western streets while holding cups of coffee in their hands, ‘Neeyat’ was a classy drama serial aired in the year 2011 on ARY.

It was a soft play depicting the lives of young Pakistanis living abroad, trying to make the right decisions for their lives in the absence of their parents. Adding to its beauty was Waqar Ali’s soulful composition sung by Sajjad Ali

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Mehreen Jabbar and written by Larry Pontius, ‘Neeyat’ was the story of two lovers, Mahira Khan and Humayun Saeed who wished to live together, but owing to Humayun Saeed’s Pakistani nationality, the execution encountered hurdles. To solve the problem, Deepti Gupta, an American citizen is called who has to appear before people as Saeed’s wife. Unfortunately, the plan backfires and Deepti Gupta starts getting romantically involved with Saeed, celebrating his successes, performing his chores, hanging out with him, making Mahira Khan’s character feel more and more alienated. On the other hand is Ahsan Khan, a photographer in love with Mahira who acts abnormally for gaining the sympathies of his beloved, eventually sent for treatment by a psychiatrist, played by Tania Kazi.

‘Neeyat’ had Farah Bala, Arooj Majid and Omar Rahim as supporting actors.

The serial could not gain much popularity because in it, Saeed was a banker, Ahsan Khan a photographer and Mahira a Pakistani student studying abroad and publishing her books. There was no such thing as dominating husbands, evil mothers-in-law and weeping wives. Due to the absence of all these pathetic conflicts, the habit of which has been inculcated in the minds of Pakistani audience, ‘Neeyat’ failed to please people.

It was a soft play depicting the lives of young Pakistanis living abroad, trying to make the right decisions for their lives in the absence of their parents. Adding to its beauty was Waqar Ali’s soulful composition sung by Sajjad Ali. The plaintive feel acquired from the song was in coherence with the sadness prevailing throughout the story of not being able to fix things, and the intentions turning out to be misinterpreted. Indeed, Mahira proved her mettle with this one, propelling into admiration and applaud.

The writer can be reached at m.ali_aquarius85@gmail.com

Published in Daily Times, December 20^th2017.