The first episode of Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay aired with great expectations. The teasers and trailers looked good and it promised to bring to screens a story that highlights childhood complexes and its consequences. Most significant however was the ensemble cast. This is when fans were excited to see a trio of great actors. Kubra Khan, Usman Mukhtar and the queen Mahira Khan returning to Television after six years. Writer Umera Ahmed’s novel of the same name was another reason that added to our anticipation.
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So, what’s the story
Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay is about delving into relationships, love, hate and compromises, besides throwing light and giving a deep insight into family politics. Episode 1 starts off with the lead protagonist Aswad Ayub (Usman Mukhtar). He transports the viewers to his childhood, where he shares a good bond with his cousins Mashal (Kubra Khan) and especially Mehreen Mansoor (Mahira Khan). He is so fond of Mehreen that at one point his mother Saliha (Huma Nawab) and grandmother hint at fixing their marriage. Aswad lives in Kuwait and visits Pakistan once a year.
Mehreen is the daughter of Rabia (Laila Wasti) and Mansoor (Omair Rana). She was once the blue-eyed girl of the family until her father was exposed as a drug addict and lost his job due to corruption charges. The attitude from her maternal side suddenly changes and they force Rabia to take divorce from Mansoor. They aren’t even ready to take responsibility of her granddaughter. Adding more to the horror was Mansoor’s death due to an overdose of drugs. Rabia remarries and leaves Mehreen at her Nani and Mamu’s house.
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In a wink of an eye, Mehreen’s life changes for the worst. She was best friends with her cousin Mashal but now all that she gets is hatred. She faces the consequences of her father’s bad deeds. She is treated like a servant’ she gets so embarrassed in life that she refuses to meet her mother and step-siblings. On the contrary, Mashal leaves no stone unturned to create problems for Mehreen. The biased attitude between the two is clear. One uses her own car to attend university while the other travels by public transport. One enjoys all the luxuries of life by doing nothing, the other earns via selling online paintings. Saliha and Aswad are the only ones who have a soft corner for Mehreen.
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The Impeccable Direction
First things first, Farooq Rind takes his time to establish the plot. He needs to be applauded totally for having pulled off such a magnificent script with such utmost ease. Full marks to him for having chosen such a vibrant cast who make the viewers believe that all the onscreen characters that they portray are totally relatable. He makes way for each actor to get into the skin of their respective character. Farooq and his sharp directorial vision do exactly just that with ‘Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay’. In addition to that, the exceptional script (Umera Ahmed) serves as a topping in the already delicious dessert.
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The Towering Performances
As far as the acting is concerned, Mahira Khan as ‘Mehreen’ captures the nuances of her character spot-on. She’s simply outstanding. The earnestness and sincerity she invests in her performance are for all to see. Additionally, the de-glam look and the attire make it so believable. Usman Mukhtar has definitely taken a giant leap from his previous performances and delivers a crisp act here. Kubra Khan attempts a shady character for the first time and succeeds immensely. She sneaks her way through the role and draws hatred the way a magnet collects iron filings. The child stars enact their roles with confidence. Omair Rana and Laila Wasti were excellent.
Final Word
Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay is a well-crafted product that meets expectations. The USP of the play are its tremendous performances, deft direction, power-packed writing, and of course the melodious OST. It would be interesting to see how the narrative unfolds in the upcoming episodes.
Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay airs every Sunday at 8 pm on Hum TV.
Watch the first episode here:
