That Kadoorat had intriguing promos (great job by the editor) and featured Sanam Saeed in the lead role ensured that I, along with many others I’m sure, made it a point to watch this opening chapter. The first installment set up the basic premise, wherein we were introduced to Mahmud, a recent widower, his wife Zainab had passed away in a car crash, and his preteen daughter Mina.
Concerned about his daughter’s well-being, Mahmud enters into a zarooriyat ki khatir marriage of convenience with Atiqa, divorcée with two children, Asad and Alina. Kadoorat opens with Mahmud introducing Mina to Atiqa, Alina and Asad. This episode cataloged Mina’s increasingly rude/angry/violent responses to her new siblings and step-mom. While this bare bones outline might sound like this was an interesting opener,
I was left unimpressed. Even if I overlook the fact that it bore a striking resemblance to Zard Mausam, another Aabis Raza/MD Productions project with the same child star in a somewhat similar character, the fact that the online synopsis left nothing to the viewers’ imagination rendered this first episode pointless. As for the story itself, to begin with, I have yet to come across such an awkward and insensitive way of introducing a grieving preteen to a new set of step-family members.
Given that we are provided no sense of how much time had lapsed between Zainab’s death and Mahmud’s re-marriage, it was difficult not to empathize with Mina’s immediate response. Why the rush? Why the insistence on having Mina accept her zabardasti ki family? Forget about Mina, even I would have rebelled! Later, when her childish belligerence takes on a sinister, almost psychotic turn, Mina’s transformation, from a sweet, loving child to this very disturbed girl with a dark personality, is extremely abrupt and left unexplained.
I wish we had seen some more of Mahmud and his daughter’s life together, before this abrupt entry of a new ready-made family. Mahmud’s new wife Atiqa is depicted as an educated, working woman. Her ex-husband was an aggressive, insecure man who divorced her on the flimsiest of excuses.
Beyond this basic fact, we know nothing of Atiqa’s background or why and how she met Mahmud. The fact that she didn’t even know how Zainab had died till much later was perhaps indicative of how rushed this arrangement had been, and if this was indeed the case, then we should have been provided a reason for this rushed marriage. Even after the marriage, we are given no sense of passage of time even in this episode.
From Atiqa and Mahmud’s conversation it seemed that they had been married for a while, a few months at least, since Mahmud expresses his frustration at his daughter ongoing behavioral issues. In this scenario, where Mahmud and Atiqa are shown as very mature, sensible adults, both genuinely concerned with the welfare of all three children,
why doesn’t either one think of a child psychologist for Mina? What we get instead is that the same father who was initially concerned enough to remarry for his daughter’s sake is now seriously contemplating sending Mina away to boarding school. Arrey bhai sahab, agar yehi karna that tau shaadi karne ki kiya zaroorat thi .. pehle hi bhej dete! Apart from the glaring loopholes in the story, and the loud background music, what I did enjoy was the interaction between the three children; director Aabis Raza does a commendable with the kids’ performances.
I also liked the way the flashbacks were shown in a sepia tone, making them stand apart from the narrative in the present. Angeline Malik looked and acted the part of a concerned mother, whereas her partner, Deepak Perwani, did not. So yes, I was disappointed with the first episode, but will hang in there for at least a couple more weeks to see if the story perks up a bit, particularly after Sanam’s entry. Did any of you watch this one? Looking forward to reading your thoughts!
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