By Maliha Rehman
Kabli Pulao’s first episode is testament to the storyteller that is Kashif Nisar.
The drama, which has only just started airing on Green Entertainment, promises to be quite exceptional, if the first episode is anything to go by. There is a seamless flow to the sequence of events, a very real beauty to the characters and the scenes and dialogues are sometimes flippant, sometimes meaningful and so engaging that you don’t want to miss out on a single nuance.
It is rare in the Pakistani TV-scape, that a drama doesn’t succumb to a few drags here and there. If you’re watching via YouTube, you tend to fast forward plenty of prolonged scenes. You can usually predict some of the plot twists and skipping out on a few episodes doesn’t leave you guessing at the story. Fortunately, Kabli Pulao doesn’t seem to be your usual storyline right off the cookie-cutter.
Mohammad Ehteshamuddin is Haji Mushtaq, a 50-something longstanding bachelor, who has devoted himself to religious tableegh. It is on one such religious trip to a far-flung area that he encounters the brother of a young widow, Barbeena, who is intent on getting his sister married. It is customary in his tribe for the groom to pay money to his bride’s family and with this money, Barbeena’s brother hopes to get his other brother the medical treatment that will enable him to walk again, having gotten injured by a landmine. Haji Mushtaq, on finding out about the family’s plight, pays Barbeena’s brother money with the intention that the young girl will no longer feel obligated to marry in order to help her family.
Meanwhile, back in his home in Lahore, Haji Mushtaq’s young niece’s engagement is about to take place and she calls him up, insisting that she will only go through with the ceremony if he returns home. Haji Mushtaq prepares to set off for home when Barbeena’s brother comes to him, telling him that she is insisting that he marry her and take her with him. Evidently, Barbeena’s deceased husband’s brother is about to arrive and the family fears that he will forcefully marry her. Haji Mushtaq deliberates and argues and ultimately, ends up marrying Barbeena.
They set off home – she, shrouded in a black burqah without her new husband having yet seen her face; he, perplexed, unable to communicate with her clearly because of their language barrier. They enter Haji Mushtaq’s home where guests are gathered and the engagement is just about to take place. Haji Mushtaq immediately gets surrounded by family. Barbeena, trailing behind in her burqah, gets mistaken by the family to be a thief. As they gather around her, hitting at her, Haji Mushtaq rushes to her rescue. This is when she lifts up her veil and he sees her for the first time.
This is also where the first episode ends. And what a way to end an episode. It makes you tap your feet in impatience, wanting to see more.
From the melodious title track sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan preceding the drama to the balanced, intelligent performances to the script written by Zafar Miraj and the well-knit scenes, Kabli Pulao is the sort of treat that one rarely gets to see on TV. Ehteshamuddin acts well and one has high hopes pinned on Sabeena Farooq, who plays Barbeena – this may just be the young actress’ chance to prove her mettle in a very different role and shed the shadow of the famous malicious vamp she just played in the Goliathan Tere Bin.
More than anything else, though, the artistry and fine eye for storytelling of Kashif Nisar shines through in Kabli Pulao. What a beautiful start to the drama. What a fine, fine director.
What do you think?