Kafeel Rant, Analysis, And More

I have a lot to say about this drama based on the three episodes I watched and several short clips. I have not watched the whole thing yet so I’ll keep this one short and specific to what I’ve seen so far. Some of the things I write here, I might have written in other posts as well, so bear with me. I’m just one me, I can feel the same thing twice, have the same opinion twice.

Why Did I Not Watch Kafeel From Start?

Youtube has been suggesting Kafeel for a while, like as early as episode 3, IIRC. I drooled immediately, because I’m a huge Sanam Saeed fan since Kashf days. Emmad Irfani is gorgeous AF and has passable acting chops (his dialogue delivery feels off, always) and he looks good as Jamshed aka Jami. But… From the small clip I watched back when the drama began, and the poster showing Sanam and Emmad walking away from each other; I just knew it’s going to be a rondu story. And I was NOT game for it.

A few episodes later, after episode 8, there was another short clip, one which literally said only one thing.

Kafeel Umera Ahmed

I was like… Whaaaat?

Our little blog here and me as a person, we are both thankful to Umera Ahmed in many ways. Reviews of her content has brought a lot of traffic, more on that here. Needless to say, I was tempted to start watching the drama… But… the aforementioned rondu-ness of the story stopped from doing so. Also, at that point, I had not resumed doing regular drama reviews.

I kept watching small bits, mostly Subuk-Daneen cute moments. And the sibling bond. It made me take notice of a few things. Even while watching small clips, some issues just stare at you in the face.

Kankar Déjà vu

I’ve talked about it in another post, I suppose, but it wouldn’t hurt to repeat it. Zeba takes khula from Jami on a “seemingly” small issue, which reminded me of bollywood movie Thappad, but also reminded me of another Umera Ahmed work Kankar. When Kiran wanted to separate from Sikandar, she faced just as much backlash and opposition from everyone. Déjà vu!

Performances

1. Ashir Wajahat is terrifict in this role. Sweet, vulnerable and responsible all at the same time. The girl who plays Daneen, I think, is too made up for her age. Her character is well-written, though.
2. The girls are alright. I do have a problem with occasional burger-kid slur that seeps in, but then, we’re told that Zeba ne achhe schools mein bachhoN ko padhaya hai. Ho sakta hai udhar se accent pakda ho.
3. Emaad is fine, his dialogue delivery always seems a bit off to me, but boy has he looked gorgeous. I can’t forget Javeria’s wedding scene, the way he staggers back when Javeria ignores him and hugs Zeba instead.
4. Main cast is fine, but some side characters like Warda’s mother and Jamal’s mother-in-law Habiba etc were hamming throughout their screentime, a lot. A LOT. Warda’s mother moved her hands too much and and Habiba… What was wrong with her? Why was her voice quivering? Bimar toh nahin thhi woh? Bahot zor is overacting lagi unki.
5. Sanam is… well…. Sanam… The drama literally rests on Sanam’s able shoulder. She looks gorgeous, amazes with her quiet resillience, tiny smiles, her grace…everything a mother dealing with toxic husband must do. In awe of her.

Wardrobe Choices

1. For a family claiming to not know where the next meal is coming from (I heart that line verbatim in one clip), they are awfully well-dressed. Zeba has a job, I know, and so does Subuk. Girls also do their bits but the way they dress is kinda too expensive. I couldn’t help but think, if only they use the money on basic necessities rather than clothes. Before anyone attacks me, that Zeba is trying her best to give the best to her kids, or that mamu and others help them, I don’t buy that logic.
2. Speaking of outfits, Daneen’s styling feels…off to me. Or maybe just doesn’t suit the season. Garmi chal rahi hai, she’s wearing some sweaters etc. Perhaps the shooting was done in winter. I have the same bone to pick with Winter Love. April ke 42-43 degrees celcius mein, Winter Love drama, characters talking of “mausam thanda hai”, wearing jackets. Dekh kar hi paseena aane lagta hai.
3. Sanam’s wardrobe made me envious a little bit. Her salwar suits were so sober and she carried it so well. For some reason, Sanam Saeed looks prettier now. Just wow yaar!!

Enforced Gharibi/Khuddari

1.  The aforementioned “well-dressed” aspect of it. And they claim to be ghareeb.
2. Another thing to notice was their house. They came to the house with kapRoN ka gattha, they didn’t even have bags (thanks to another clip I watched) but the house is sooo big. I have more to say about Pakistani dramas and big houses, mental note to write more about it. So, when Subuk was giving Daneen’s father a tour, I couldn’t help but object. Inna bada ghar, a separate living room and all. Chhote ghar, ghareeb family sometimes even means no rooms at all, just a living room, a kitchen and washroom.
3. Another one of my gripe with this drama is that this family, in general, and Subuk in particular, keep on announcing, “we’re khuddar”, like a genius getting on the hilltop and announcing he’s a genius. If you’re a genius, leave it for people to find out; they will. Inka self-promotion bahot chal raha hai.

The Bond

1. Zeba’s connection with her son is unusually strong. I mean, remember the dholki scene? Zeba tells Subuk: “Subuk, tumhein sikhaya thha na. Tum bajao.” I was like, when? When did she teach Subuk? Why did she teach Subuk and not Javeria and other girls?
2. I felt that the story focused only on six members, a lot, too much: Zeba, her kids, and Daneen. For instance, why is nobody else present at dholki? At least Zeba’s maika side could be there, no? Zeba also had a very good friend. She was also not seen much. I could have missed it because I watched clips, but this really does stand out: 6 main characters and that’s generally what the story focuses on.

Signature Umera Ahmed Dramatics/The Confrontations

Umera Ahmed is known to write characters who never hesitate to speak their minds. This fact was awfully noticeable in this drama. The main conflict in storytelling, generally, is that people don’t say what they want to say. Not in here. Here, sab apne dil ki baat bol dete hain.

1. Zeba talking to Jami’s girlfriend: “Why don’t you leave him,” the girlfriend asks. “Why didn’t you marry him?” Zeba questions back. That whole conversation was so awkward. Itna khule andaaz mein sab baat kar li. Feels very strange to me. Real people don’t do that, especially when four kids (some could be impressionable) are in next room listening to every word of the conversation.
2. Another example is Zeba’s conversation with Subuk in epiosde 33 when she finds out Subuk is planning for her remarriage. “I won’t be a burden on you. I’ve always taken care of myself,” Zeba says. Talk about going from zero to one hundred in a second. Subuk wasn’t talking about that, was he? The scene continues, and then Subuk says: “meri maan mere dil mein rehti hai. woh kahin chali jaye, mere dil mein hi rahegi.” Aise kaun bolta hai bey? Emotional, sure? Tear-jerker? Almost, but still… I don’t know people who talk like that.
3. Another incident is Subuk bringing back groceries to Jamal’s house and suddenly asking: “you like my mother?” Because he read Jamal’s message on Zeba’s phone. Second of all, boundaries. And first of all, seriously, boundaries? Privacy? Amma hai woh teri. Aise kaun baat karta hai?

I could go on and on but I want to save some rant for another post, one I’m hoping to do after binge-watching all 34 episodes.

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Shabana Mukhtar