The trailer hints at the very real impact of society’s interference in a young couple’s life. Despite his wife being supportive, our hero – Shani – is weighed down by external factors or pressures. He is discouraged from admitting to a weak side, from getting tested for impotency and ultimately, for taking the punch for a problem that mostly women are held responsible for. The pressures are all genuine and relatable for people who might have faced a similar problem. This includes expectations of parents to become grandparents, pressure of being an only child and not able to carry the family bloodline forward, the perpetual expectation of a khushkhabri [good news], threat of a second marriage, random prejudices that will challenge your manhood, constant comparisons with other married couples who have children and the list goes on.
Shani has only one close friend/confidante, who becomes his accomplice in solving the problem discreetly. They resist consulting a doctor and resort to all desi extremes, from following YouTube totkas to visiting quacks promoted through wall chalking on streets. It’s an entertaining roller coaster of incidents that rotate around a seriously unfortunate issue.
It appears that Parde Mein Rehne Do will show how married couples struggle with these conflicts and how it adversely affects an otherwise happy marriage. Hania’s friend in the film also points out a lingering fear that what are the chances that a childless marriage will survive? The trailer barely touches upon the ordeal women have to go through in such circumstances, but maybe the writer/ director only meant it to focus on the male perspective. The complete film will probably offer a more nuanced reflection on the issue.
Unfortunately, in the end, we see society at its very worst, blaming the woman for being unable to bear a child. And that is precisely when Shani will realize that things have hit rock bottom and has to face the music.
Featuring Ali Rehman Khan and Hania Aamir in the lead, Parde Mein Rehne Do does appear promising. Wajahat Rauf has a knack for producing films high on the masala and entertainment quotient; it’s commendable how he’s tucked in a socially sensitive subject here. The subject is also a bold choice for Ali Rehman Khan to take on and Hania Aamir is always a pleasure to watch. Though it is yet to be seen if the film justifies the heavy premise, it does leave one intrigued enough to look forward to it.
That said, the trailer leaves a lot to be desired. It’s not too sharply-cut and seems to giveaway most of the storyline.
Read: Teaser Review: Does Parde Mein Rehne Do starring Ali Rehman Khan and Hania Aamir look impressive?
Written by Mohsin Ali and produced by Wajahat Rauf and Wajahat Ali Abbasi with Shazia Wajahat as the executive producer, the film also stars Javed Sheikh, Munazza Arif, Hasan Raza, Noor ul Hassan, Sadia Faisal, Shafqat Khan, Saife Hasan amongst others. Music directors are Aashir Wajahat and Hassan Ali.
Parde Mein Rehne Do is all set to release on Eid ul Fitr 2022.
Watch the trailer here:
