Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay starring an ensemble cast of Mahira Khan, Usman Mukhtar and Kubra Khan kicked off on Sunday night, giving viewers a chance to watch the three talented stars in new avatars. Based on Umera Ahmed’s novel of the same name, the anticipation for the drama was high and the first episode build on it by giving out a glimpse of each character and their personality.
Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay sets the tone right from the beginning for a drama that explores stories of love, hate and complicated relationships in a family. Mahira plays Mehreen Mansoor, a troubled child who is haunted by her past. She lived as the family’s favourite child for long and then her world tumbled when her father (Omair Rana) became a drug addict and was fired from his job for embezzlement. The attitudes of her maternal side of the family changed within an instant; they were unwilling to accept her as a part of their family. Later, her father died from what seems to be an overdose. Her mother (Laila Wasti) remarried and left her in the care of her nani and mamun, who eventually treat her like a servant.
Mehreen was the apple of everyone’s eye, the best friend of her cousin Mashal (Kubra Khan), but in an instant she became the ugly duckling that no one wants to spend time with. It was the elders who planted the seed of hatred in innocent minds. Her nani said she is her father’s daughter and they are not responsible for her, her phopo reprimanded Mashal for calling her a best friend and emphasized that she is only her ‘phopo ki beti‘. All this and more contributed to make Mehreen a dejected and conflicted person. So much so that she even avoids meeting her mother and her step-siblings.
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On the other hand, Mashal became a self-centered brat who only thinks about what she wants and will step over Mehreen any day. Her actions appear questionable and it seems that the two cousins will be at loggerheads throughout the drama. Amidst this clash of egos between the two girls, there is our hero, Aswad Ayub (Usman Mukhtar), who lives abroad and has always favoured Mehreen over Mashal.
As Mehreen and Aswad were so close as children, Mehreen’s nani once even hinted at fixing their marriage. However, now the tables have turned. It appears that Mashal just wants to humiliate Mehreen and thus she has eyes for Aswad, who is returning to Pakistan soon.
The drama has set the foundation of how the flaws and shortcomings of parents haunt their offspring in our society. If as an innocent child, Mehreen once hit Mashal because the girl was calling her father a thief and drug addict, she is labeled as a trouble-maker for life. She is always judged in the shadow of her father’s wrongdoings and called a liar if she retaliates and defends her actions. As the narration in the beginning intelligently points out that sometimes undue comparisons and poisoned thoughts turn an angelic child into a small-minded midget who will never overcome his/her insecurities.
The first episode was quite intriguing; it build upon the strong characters of Mehreen and Mashal, as well as those who are constantly adding fuel to this feud by maintaining a visible difference in the treatment of the two girls. While one drives a car to her university, the other travels by public buses to the same institute. While one is enjoying all luxuries of life, the other is selling her paintings online to earn money for basic necessities. Aswad and her mother (Huma Nawab) are the only two people who have a soft spot for Mehreen. However, it is yet to be seen how Mashal and other family members will poison their minds as well.
The performances in the first episode were all up to par; Mahira and Kubra both established the fierce competition and silent battle between the two cousins from their stares and pauses. Laila Wasti and Omair Rana were exceptionally good at portraying the intense conflict; the acting of child star Tehreem, who plays young Mehreen, was one of the highlights of the episode.
Special mention for the poignant OST of the drama, sung beautifully by Yashal Shahid, and the background theme that adds more soul to the scenes. I am eagerly waiting for HUM TV to release the official OST to hear it on loop.
Produced by Nina Kashif and MD Productions, and directed by Farooq Rind, Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay airs every Sunday at 8 pm on Hum TV.
Watch the first episode here:
