If you like love stories with oodles of grief, pain and loss, then Zindagi Dhoop Tum Ghana Saya might just be the serial you have been waiting for.

Focusing on spousal loss and life with a new partner, Zindagi Dhoop… follows Hira and the tragedies in her life. Despite the ups and downs that she goes through in her childhood, she ends up marrying Mazhar (Fahad Mustafa), a dashing and loving man. However, her mother-in-law despises her from day one while her sister-in-law, Rizwana (Shagufta Ejaz), add fuel to the fire. In a freak accident, Mazhar loses his life on his third wedding anniversary and Rizwana uses her brother’s death as an excuse to get rid of Hira, stooping so low that she spreads the malicious rumour that her father, Akbar (Qavi Khan) is showing interest in Hira.

On the other side is Naveed (Shabbir Jan), a middle-aged widower with a controlling mother, Shamshad (Deeba). Despite yearning for companionship, he opts to stay single as his bahu-phobic mother comes up with mind-numbing excuses for not getting a match for him. Always worried that a daughter-in-law would take her son away from her, her ideal bahu wish list includes that the girl should be below average in looks, must not be educated, should come from a poor family and should be young. All these qualities will make it easier for her to keep a check on her son.But fate has other plans and Hira is married off to Naveed. However, Hira refuses to move on with life and complicates things by constantly pitting and comparing Naveed with Mazhar, adding to the marital discord. On the other hand, Rizwana continues to scheme and plot, never losing an opportunity to put Hira down.

Produced by Abdullah Kadwani and Humayun Saeed and written by Faiza Iftikhar, the play is directed by Atif Hussain. Given that his plays have always hit a chord with the masses, Zindagi Dhoop… does not disappoint either. From the first episode, it has managed to grab attention, all due to the marvelous performances put in by Sanam and Fahad. From shielding her from his mother and sister’s jibes to being her confidant, Fahad as Mazhar gets into his character. However, it’s his smile and easygoing manner that has earned him a huge female following.

Sanam, meanwhile, is a revelation. After Daam and Chemistry, she once again puts in a perfect performance. Not lagging behind is Shabbir Jan as Naveed, and it would be interesting to see how his character develops in the coming episodes. However, it’s Shagufta Ejaz’s Rizwana who demands all the attention. The evil nand, who despite her polished appearance is no better than a loud-mouth tramp. Going by the Facebook page and fan blogs, Zindagi Dhoop… is doing pretty well but somehow many a viewers are angered by the ‘killing’ of Mazhar in the second episode.

Last but not the least is the title song Zindagi Dhoop Tum Ghana Saya. The track is not a new take on the classic ghazal penned by Gulzar and sung by Jagjit Singh, and used in the Bollywood film, Saath Saath. Sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, the soundtrack epitomises the sadness and loss and would be a hit with the lovelorn.

The one good thing about drama is that it’s part reality-part fantasy, but these days all serials tend to be a bit heavy on emotions. Given that on a Saturday night one wants to unwind and relax, Zindagi Dhoop… will not let you do that for sure. Do keep a tissue box handy as this tear-jerker will make you cry as much as possible. Starting from Mazhar’s untimely death to the flashbacks that show him as the perfect husband, Zindagi Dhoop Tum Ghana Saya might leave you feeling a bit on the down side.