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Does Salahuddin really love Manu? TV drama Mann Mayal struggles to answer the question

Does Salahuddin really love Manu? TV drama Mann Mayal struggles to answer the question

Hamza Ali Abbasi's star power is pulling the serial along but some plot holes can't be overlooked
03 Mar, 2016

Six episodes down and Mann Mayal is still riding high in the ratings. This is a classic love story where differences in class and wealth become barriers between the main characters.

The lovely Manahil or Mannu (Maya Ali) is a willful but essentially naïve girl who lives in provincial Hyderabad with her large joint family. Mannu has fallen in love with Salahuddin (Hamza Ali Abbasi), her best friend Bea’s (Aiman Khan) older brother.

Mannu inevitably falls in love with Salahuddin after he starts tutoring her
Mannu inevitably falls in love with Salahuddin after he starts tutoring her

The two families share a strong bond of friendship and Mannu’s father asks Salahuddin to tutor Mannu; the student and teacher duo soon realize they are in love. Where Mannu is brave and willing to fight for her choice, Salahuddin is cowed by his lack of wealth and position in society and cannot muster the courage to ask for her hand.

Deeply disappointed, Mannu accepts the first rishta that comes along in the shape of Meekal (Gohar Rasheed) a man who is superficially pleasant but has little to recommend him except his family’s wealthy background.

Mannu does her best to goad Salahuddin into some reaction but he is resigned to what he sees as his fate and even goes to the extent of persuading the slightly suspicious Meekal into accepting Mannu as a suitable bride. The latest episode begins with Mannu’s marriage to Meekal, whose true nature turns out to be strangely unstable and impulsive. While Mannu does her best to adjust to her new life in the fast pace and bright lights of Karachi, it seems it will never be enough for Meekal.

The happy family -- Meekal, his mother and Mannu on their wedding day
The happy family -- Meekal, his mother and Mannu on their wedding day

What works so far:

Mann Mayal boasts a strong cast. Hamza Ali Abbasi provides a lot of the star power, his screen presence alone seems to be enough to ensure this serial’s high ratings despite what looks like a lack of chemistry with his leading lady.

The surprise packages of the show are Maya Ali and Gohar Rasheed, who despite being antagonists seem to have captured all the energy in the room between them. Maya Ali has given a simply outstanding performance as Mannu. Her expressions, her nuanced dialogue delivery and willingness to work hard on every detail of her character are making her the lynchpin of this serial. This is a sea change for Ali, whose lisping tones and lengthy crying scenes distracted from what was otherwise a very popular portrayal in Dayar e Dil.

Maya Ali and Gohar Rasheed have flourished as actors and it's evident in Mann Mayal
Maya Ali and Gohar Rasheed have flourished as actors and it's evident in Mann Mayal

Gohar Rasheed has also come back from a lot of generic portrayals in various serials to fulfill the promise he showed in Digest Writer and Goya. Rasheed suddenly has that star quality back, playing the slightly disturbed Meekal with refined understatement. Too often villainy is calibrated on our screens by a loud brashness, which renders it cartoonish and reduces its impact. Rasheed allows Meekal’s uncaring amorality a hint of reasonableness which makes it all the more menacing.

Aiman Khan as Mannu’s best friend and Salahuddin’s younger sister also manages to makes a strong impression, and shows a lot of talent and promise as an actress.

Mann Mayal is produced by Sana Shah Nawaz, who's related to Sameena Humayoon Saeed, a well-known producer in the fraternity behind many successful serials. In her first outing, Sana has worked hard to give this drama high-quality production values. The lighting, sets and the general styling of this story are one of this serials biggest strengths.


Problem: While Mannu is definitely in love with Salahuddin and willing to sacrifice all and everything in his pursuit; Salahuddin, seems a trifle too laid back.


Director Haseeb Hassan is fresh off of Dayar e Dil, his super hit collaboration with Farhat Ishtiaq. With his usual attention to detail and atmosphere, the director has given Mann Mayal a softer, more intimate look than the multi-layered, multi-character sagas he usually handles with such ease. The writer of Mann Mayal is Samira Fazal who has many commercial and artistic hits to her credit and is well known for her witty dialogues and nuanced scripts.

Both writer and director have concentrated on the lead couple and their interaction without the usual distracting side tracks.

Haseeb Hassan and his director of production Zaib Rao have given us a beautiful, if sanitized, vision of Mannu and Salahuddin’s world and the fairytale-like quality is further enhanced by the popular original sound track sung by Qurat al Ain Baloch of Humsafar fame.

What doesn't work:

Despite the soaring music Hum TV uses to invoke a Pavlovian response out of its audience, much of the dramatic tension required to connect emotionally with the plot is lacking.

While Mannu is definitely in love with Salahuddin and willing to sacrifice all and everything in his pursuit; Salahuddin, seems a trifle too laid back. In some of the series' deeply romantic scenes which are supposed to portray the intensity of the hero and heroine’s feelings for each other, I was afraid Maya Ali would fall off her chair emoting so well and Hamza wouldn’t pick her up.

This emotional ambivalence on Salahuddin’s part might have been acceptable if the dialogues he spoke would back him up, but they don’t. So while Mannu makes her declarations of devotion passionately and in detail, Salahuddin answers with the reserve of a kindly, if irritated, older brother — a far cry from the desperate, thwarted lover he's meant to be. This is a departure from Abbasi’s fabulous, barely controlled, simmering intensity in episode 1. Salahuddin’s feelings for Mannu lack definition and seem hazy at best.

While Mannu makes her declarations of devotion passionately and in detail, Salahuddin answers with the reserve of a kindly, if irritated, older brother
While Mannu makes her declarations of devotion passionately and in detail, Salahuddin answers with the reserve of a kindly, if irritated, older brother

At times the plot and its plausibility are also off. In the most recent episode, Mannu is quietly complaining to her mother that she cannot live like this, that she needs to come back home immediately but let a few scenes pass and she is the perfect, malleable mashriki girl making beds in an oddly passive manner and willing to turn herself inside out to win the audiences' sympathy...Oh, I mean, to adjust to her new life as Meekal’s wife. Meekal, for his part, lives a strange life sleeping all day and partying all night.


We're confused: Meekal seemed interested in Mannu and quite happy to see her clad in a dupata when visiting her home, yet the twenty four hours after their nikkah he acts as if he was forced to marry her and has no interest in this “paindoo” from Hyderabad.


In fact, Karachi seems to be party city because Meekal’s parents seem to be constantly attending exclusive parties too, which then begs the question: why on earth did they choose middle-class Mannu? Even more confusing for the viewer is that Meekal seemed interested in Mannu and quite happy to see her clad in a dupata when visiting her home, yet the twenty four hours after their nikkah he acts as if he was forced to marry her and has no interest in this “paindoo” from Hyderabad.

Confused much?

Many pivotal plot points seem inflated and contrived. There is little rhyme or reason for Mannu’s rush to get married to Meekal, whom her parents have already rejected as not educated enough and too modern for their traditional, conservative family.

Similarly the “zalim samaj” in this story seems to be a little exaggerated as Mannu’s father is willing to allow Salahuddin to marry her if only he had the guts to ask. That Salahuddin might feel too inadequate to ask is an understandable human weakness but the sight of him persuading Meekal to marry her as if she were bottle of soda he didn’t want was distasteful to say the least. It contradicted any ‘epic love story vibe' the makers were trying to push.

Meanwhile Salahuddin goes off to Karachi to work for his manipulating friend played with an even more glaring lack of interest by Vasey Chaudhry, who uses his default comedy setting to play what is in no way a funny character. Suffice to say Karachi is a bad, wild place where the two main protagonists are innocent, provincial babes in the woods.

Salahuddin too leaves for Karachi to get ahead in his professional life
Salahuddin too leaves for Karachi to get ahead in his professional life

For some strange reason, both Mannu and Salahuddin left all their common sense and the right to be treated with basic human courtesy in Hyderabad.

This story feels very Khalil ur Rehman Qammar-lite. Indeed, the famous author does seem to have some connection to this serial.

In a previous interview , producer Sana Shahnawaz had said that Khalil ur Rehman Qammar was a family friend and had looked over the story line with approval, even initially penning the lyrics to the OST, which were perhaps changed later as the official credits now list the co-singer Shuja Hyder as the composer and writer. Another coincidence: Khalil Ur Rehman Qammar had mentioned he was planning a serial with the title “Tera Ghum aur Hum“ which was also the original working title for Mann Mayal.

In closing

So far, none of the inconsistencies in the portrayals or the plot line have managed to deflate this serial’s momentum at all. Samira Fazal is well known for introducing an unexpected plot twist midway through her serials and she may well surprise us yet.

Another plus point in the serial's favour is the much-awaited entry of Jeena, played by the beautiful Aisha Khan, who may add a layer of intrigue and depth to what is so far a fairly simple story.

Anyway, for to the cynical Mann Mayal may seem a tad derivative and a little too familiar but If the audience is uninterested in looking for something fresh or authentic why should the drama makers innovate at all?

Comments

FY. Mar 03, 2016 07:09pm
I haven't seen all the six episodes, probably four of them. I couldn't figure out Bea's character too - nothing had happened to her, she wasn't doing anything except maybe giving expository remarks to Salahuddin - Who knows, maybe she too is married by now :/
Recommend
Abdulla Hussain Mar 03, 2016 08:50pm
Too many things unfolded too soon, the drama is good but lacking the intensity of a good directed drama. The hero & his heroine don't look compatible with each other. Let see how it comes out later. Meekal -Gohar Rasheed is also not blending well.
Recommend
fayza Mar 03, 2016 09:40pm
I agree with the writer of the article....good review
Recommend
Amna Mar 03, 2016 09:58pm
Mann mayal is a over- hyped, melodramatic drama. There is too many loopholes in the screenplay. Hamza looks bored. But still people are watching bcoz of Hamza star power.
Recommend
sania Mar 03, 2016 10:40pm
i think drama’s rating decreased because of cricket matches. & drama is getting popularity cause of Hamza’s star power & acting & Hamza & Maya’s awesome chemistry. Hamza & Maya favorite couple of this year. i must say what a chemistry. Hamza is awesome in emotional as well as other scenes
Recommend
Suresh Mar 04, 2016 03:54am
One of the finest drama on the lines of Kankar, Pyare Afzal, Man Jali both in content and presentation. Maya Ali and Hamza are extremely good. One who acts as the Father of Maya Ali has shown what a Father is. Icing on the cake is the Title song Tere Naal Kyon laiyan Ankhiyoon. sung by Quratlain and Shuja Haider. So well sung
Recommend
Rizwan Mar 04, 2016 07:49am
One of the best drama serial at the moment.
Recommend
tajamul Mar 04, 2016 10:31am
There is a lot to confuse the viewer in this drama. Mikaal's sudden metamorphosis from a decent gentleman to an evil husband. Manu's father advising Salahuddin to persuade her daughter to marry Mikaal. Why would he do that? And the most unexplainable part, Salahuddin's reluctance to ask for Manu's hand. What stops him when everyone is ready? Bea has performed well. I like her. I have been following this drama because of the extraordinary Pyare Afzal by Hamza. However, I am myself a bit disappointed by the story till now. Let's see how it goes further.
Recommend
hamza Mar 04, 2016 12:14pm
It is very much simple and Traditional , posturing the real mental approach of middle class families which is the beauty of Pakistani society , that no one goes against the norms , if one tries he/she get him/her self in a real trouble , and specially pointing out the parents conservative thinking that how their sect/class/ caste sick thinking hazards their children .
Recommend
just another guy Mar 04, 2016 01:12pm
I just watched one and couldn't get time for rest but it was so refreshing and looked like a classic other than usual dramas airing non stop. Mostly about social ills related to sex and perversion.
Recommend
Shaz Mar 04, 2016 04:10pm
Watching it only bkz of Maya's acting........falling in love with mannu :-P
Recommend
Ayesha ehsaan Mar 06, 2016 05:03am
0- chemistry between leads Hamza n Maya, n the fact they r selling it as a love story, didn't go well with audiance If this was not a love story chemistry between lead would not matter but here it is spoiling the whole thing Also story is not that great. Too many inconsistencies
Recommend