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Will the real hero of Mann Mayal please stand up?

Will the real hero of Mann Mayal please stand up?

You can sit down, Hamza Ali Abbasi — it isn't you. It's your character's butler.
29 Jun, 2016

In desperate times... a new hero often emerges from the ashes of a drama gone wrong.

And this is what is happening with TV drama Mann Mayal.

If anyone was under the impression that Salahuddin (played by Hamza Ali Abbasi) is the hero of Mann Mayal, they are wrong. The last four episodes have seen the rise of a new man, one who can live and love to the fullest. Salahuddin has been relegated to the role of an ineffectual witness, one who sits and listens as the women of Mann Mayal, 'bad girl' Jeena and the bholiest of them all Mannu, slug it out for the crown of Pakistan’s greatest victim.

Also read: Hamza Ali Abbasi's TV comeback in Mann Mayal reveals why he's a bankable star

So who is this mystery man? None other than Salahuddin's faithful butler/chauffeur/office manager/psychologist/love guru Jameel.

In 23 episodes, Salahuddin has not been able to make a solid commitment to anything, be it his work schedule or one of the two women that hover obsessively around him. His purported true love for Mannu lasted as long as Jeena could wheedle a ring out of him and the ring on Jeena’s finger is about as permanent as the froth on his early morning coffee.

Jameel, on the other hand, has a strong bond with his Mannu Baji and is always there to save her from her latest idiotic decision.

While Mannu may be Jameel’s Baji, Jeena surely isn’t.

In a brave attempt to challenge the rigid rules of a zalim samaj the makers of Mann Mayal present to us what I have titled: ”Jameel's epic story of unrequited love for Jeena”.

A very wise man called Ed Sheeran once said that people fall in love in mysterious ways. I agree. All it took for Jameel to fall in love was rubbing Silvadene into Jeena’s completely unburned hand.

With the kind of manly daring Salahuddin has yet to muster, Jameel stakes his claim: putting aside his wife and two children and boldly declaring that he will love Jeena “jee bhar kay” even if she is marrying his boss.

This is just another absurd twist to a story which now looks like a car that ran out of petrol but is being pushed forcibly along the road by its desperate occupants trying to get to some out-of-reach destination.

Salahuddin's household help Jameel has shown the kind of manly daring his boss can't muster. He stakes his claim to Salahuddin's new love Jeena when he bravely rubs Silvadene into Jeena’s completely unburned hand.

It is now abundantly clear that the director did not take the time visualize this story from beginning to end so what might even be legitimate plot turns seem like ad hoc additions to cash in on this drama's popularity.

Meanwhile the cynical are wearily guessing that this just a game Jameel is playing to get an extra episode — oops I mean to catch the villainous Jeena. This is not the first or the last time a bad drama has gained popularity or been stretched beyond its limits (who remembers Shukk?), there is a deep underlying pathology to this whole situation.

However, Jameel does seem to be a hit with Mann Mayal's loyal audience.

And why not? With a main character as ineffectual as Salahuddin, someone with a backbone had to step up. Now we're just waiting for this compelling character to get his own spinoff.

Comments

A Jun 29, 2016 01:53pm
That's what my Mrs thinks. Good few words to read though.
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Khan Jun 29, 2016 02:23pm
What a pathetic turn of events !
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Petrolhead Jun 29, 2016 02:39pm
Felt quite frustrated by the last episode of Mann Mayal on 27 June 15. This new twist seems like a ploy to prolong the story. There might be more to this than meets the eye but it felt very unnatural and annoying.
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Swaliha Jun 29, 2016 04:59pm
Well! One thing is confirmed. This drama is portraying two kinds of girls in our culture.. The good,obedient uneducated girls who keep making stupid decisions and acting like a fool. And the other educated but clever, cunning and evil girls. This drama has lost its appeal and is not even worth wasting time. BORING!!!
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Faiz Khilji Jun 29, 2016 05:03pm
Mann Mayal has gone from bad to worse.. The more they prolong the more the drama will go deep under the ground. This girl Mannu doesn't know how to cry either, she needs to get help from no other than the girl from Maryam - some Hocaine!! This Hocaine reminds me of another Hocaine - the one in Udari - the top most drama right now.. And in the previous episode there was just one scene of Bushra Ansari and my Lord, did she excel in it? This is called acting - what they say - doob jana.
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Kashif Jun 29, 2016 06:32pm
This drama is boring. And below par performances.
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FMC - USA Jun 29, 2016 06:47pm
Isn't what we see in most Pakistani dramas that, a very strong start and after few episodes writers forget the past story and directors forget the previous links to their directions ??? Looks like same is the case here as a story is not written from "Start to End" in advance ..... n we end up watching bit's n pieces, a waste of time :( ...
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Syed Waqar Ali Jun 29, 2016 06:57pm
A couple of episodes were inconsistent. How can any body love the two kids as if they are his own. Why Jeena is living in some body's home. The serial started interestingly, subsequent episodes were boring.
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Pakistani Jun 29, 2016 07:47pm
Please somebody tell the producer to wind it up, can't tolerate it any more.
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Sarah Jun 29, 2016 11:24pm
Jameel is quite interesting... When we first saw him, he did dushmani with Salahuddin... jee bhar kay Then he did hamdardi with Iffy's father - jee bhar kay Then he did all the "dirty" work for Salahuddin - jee bhar kay Then his hamdardi went to Manahil baji - jee bhar kay Now it's Jeena's turn to have a "jee bhar kay" dose And of course he's the hero... In fact, he's the superhero. The guy is managing his own house, Salahuddin's house, Mannu's two kids, Salahuddin's office, Jeena's tantrums, his own marriage and kids, and what not... What a joke of a serial it's turning out to be!
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N Jun 29, 2016 11:26pm
@Syed Waqar Ali Can't question that. Don't people adopt? Plus I have friends who remarried with three kids and her new husband has given them more love than their own father could. That's probably the only believable and realistic thing in this drama
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Muhammad Salman Jun 30, 2016 01:56am
Drama with few very high points and uncountable low points... It should end for its own sake...
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Hurma Rizwan Jun 30, 2016 02:10am
Salahuddin is the real hero of story ... he was chosen for this role because of his qualities ...n his acting is the requirment of the drama deal with it ...mannu is his love ever n after
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zarmina ahmed Jun 30, 2016 05:45am
seriously who has time to watch rubbish like this .... cant we make dramas like breaking bad i mean dont we have any other topics that we could make dramas on , why it has to be LOVE all the time
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Mother Jun 30, 2016 06:26am
In contrast to all these negative comments, my husband and I cant wait for the next Mann Mayal episode. Does this say something about the drama or us! We have been married for 31 years ..just FYI.
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Raana shah Jun 30, 2016 08:02am
When the drama started , seemed like a nice plot with good actors . But now it's like dough going everywhere!! Salahuddin's character playing so weak . He's there just to be under pressure from both women ! Munno otherwise a quite girl supposingly but always says mean stuff to Salahuddin ?? Maya is trying hard to look like a battered woman but doesn't work. Ayesha or jeena's character feels like imposing herself into Salahuddin 's life as well as in the drama !! How shameless a woman could be ? She's always crying that she doesn't have parents that's why she wants somebody to love her ??she acts like a 8 year old girl and she's trying to get two men at the same time !! Shame on the writer , producer and the actress whom I thought a classy actress to play such a nasty character ? Lastly, about Jamil , he is an opportunist . Jeena's dying to fall in his lap so he took advantage of that ? Again shame shame shame !! All the expectations we had from this drama went down the drain . Such a waste of time , money and production .
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Ansa Jun 30, 2016 09:31am
Man mail is total disappointment.
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Kalani Jun 30, 2016 06:40pm
O! yes... All true not sure if i should waste more time on this drama. There is nothing happening to move the story since Mikail left he was the only actor in this drama. the best acting Hamza did in the whole drama was when he hold Maya's hand and smiles ...thats it. For Maya please maaf ker dey . only one way of delivering the dialogue Brake lagey mera bhai. keeping half of the eyes closed and dragging the dialogue to the lenght that we forget what she was saying Aab Salahuddin ka kia kasoor if he is confused just imagine having her for whole life or having Jeena the zabardasti ki yateem for the whole life .... I think Salahddin should marry Jameel jo us ko KHUL ker Pyar kerega with biwi and 2 bachey
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Ashok kumar Jun 30, 2016 11:43pm
your answer is close to my heart and this narration representing that beloved will remain beloved even if he/she has kids or not,There is no limitation and standard in love such stereotypes things like divorce are impotent for lovers like Manu and Salahuddin but a cumbersome for those who never fall in love like Jeena and versatile Jamel .Their relationship will get culmination in next episode in-spite of active opposition ,earnestly waiting for next episode .
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Naqad Jul 01, 2016 01:09pm
Poor script , flawed direction and monotonous acting by main characters has ruined this series. The series represents a text book case "how to make money" at the cost of "ruining the mini-series." When the main characters fail to shine, the secondary characters' consistent performance looks pretty impressive!
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Rekhtagar Jul 01, 2016 01:17pm
The drama ran out of gas after 15 episodes! Now adding new twists and turns in script is like adding zero to Zilch!
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saif Jul 02, 2016 03:33am
Saleem meraj is the best
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Aamir Jul 02, 2016 05:14pm
Jeanas role and her forced stay despite bring told to leave is becoming a pain in the neck. I also see Pakistani dramas portraying Pakistani women helpless like Manoo, current breed of girls are smart and know how to manage their life. Story has lot of un explainable twist and turns which is making this dram boring, first few episode were real good but now. In upcoming episode another twist as seen in promo, sallahudin mother being nasty to Manoo and phyarcastic, earlier very lovingand soft. It's just crazy
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Aamir Jul 02, 2016 05:20pm
Seems plot has lost its track, a very nice startup but now the story just drags on. I cannot believe why all channels portray pakistan girls as helpless chickens, crying but crying.
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Critek Jul 05, 2016 04:56pm
@Rekhtagar Very true! The script writer in a recent interview in DAWN promised that the serial will not go beyond 24 episodes! perhaps she changed her mind...because of the bottom line...money...money...money! No morals no ethics! What a shame!
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Syed Jul 06, 2016 09:12am
I know it's easy to give an opinion, but it's meaningless story , where nobody. is a saint. I was a fan of Pakistani dramas, but I'm using the word was now. Sorry guys.
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Syed Jul 06, 2016 09:16am
@Faiz Khilji Aren't u going over the top.
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Syed Jul 06, 2016 09:22am
@Mother Yes it does , u have plenty of time to watch anything.
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