Watching a light-hearted show after so long really gave me relief after a recent bout of incredibly distressing dramas. ‘Bandhan’s’ first episode was reminiscent of ‘Suno Chanda’ for me, but not in a negative light at all. It was merely the premise of a good laugh that I remembered watching ‘Suno Chanda’ that took me to this riotous first episode.
*spoiler alert*
Zahid Ahmed returns on-screen in a much easier stint as the cute, respectful Fahad, who lives next door to Bisma played by the talented Yumna Zaidi.
Bisma is the fiesty, unapologetic character who bolts every time the word ‘marriage’ pops up; she has no intention of getting married, much to the dismay of her ardent mother who is the pure manifestation of the typical amma character we’re so used to seeing in dramas – where their only goal is to get their daughters married off. Bisma keeps rejecting rishtas because she refuses to change who she is – something I truly admire. She is her own woman, and insists on keeping her job even if she does get married.
Fahad has a very high reputation within the mohalla, as opposed to Bisma simply because she doesn’t conform to the usual trope of regressive women who live in parda and don’t work for a living.
Bisma’s mother keeps using Salma khaala’s very ‘log kya kahenge’ words that get the best of Bisma’s mother. She constantly pressurizes her to get Bisma, who she thinks is both unkempt and unpleasant to get married off quickly before its too late. The mothers take the lead in this chucklesome first episode, where their oblivious husbands just sit back and stay away from all the drama (much like how it was in ‘Suno Chanda’).
Bisma’s mother and Fahad’s mother are polar opposites; while Bisma’s mother is always in tears and incredibly sensitive.
Bisma’s mother goes to visit Fahad’s gossipmonger, dramatic HILARIOUS mother, Salma khaala (Farah Shah), to talk about Bisma and how she keeps rejecting rishtas – she’s confiding in Salma. Bisma’s mother keeps using Salma khaala’s very ‘log kya kahenge’ words that get the best of Bisma’s mother. She constantly pressurizes her to get Bisma, who she thinks is both unkempt and unpleasant to get married off quickly before its too late.
Farah Shah does a fantastic job in the episode as the theatrical mother who can’t stop complimenting herself or her family – think of herself as channelling a softer Shahana mode from ‘Suno Chanda.’
The best scene of the drama comes when they do go over for tea, and as Fahad offers tea, they reject him and walk off. This was such a ‘Suno Chanda’ moment and I loved it; an overwhelming burst of nostalgia fluttered inside me. “Allah meri biwi ko akal deh de,” is just one of the endless montage of slapstick dialogues you’ll get to hear watching it.
It’s very high spirited, perky drama and is a far cry from what we’ve been recently watching; emotionally draining shows on telly.
Bisma hilariously persuades her parents to go with a rishta to Salma khaala’s house just so she can reject them. Salma’s husband is just as funny as he takes nothing seriously and the same goes for Fahad who insists on making tea for them to come over. The best scene of the drama comes when they do go over for tea, and as Fahad offers tea, they reject him and walk off. This was such a ‘Suno Chanda’ moment and I loved it; an overwhelming burst of nostalgia fluttered inside me.
“Allah meri biwi ko akal deh de,” is just one of the endless montage of slapstick dialogues you’ll get to hear watching it.
‘Bandhan’ is just as crazy as ‘Suno Chanda,’ and while it’s only the first episode, my gut instinct tells me that this show will be the canapé for when Ramazan rolls in with ‘Suno Chanda’ season two. With both Fawad and Bisma as unfiltered as ever, I see Arsal and Jia as they playfully fight and tease each other; I really hope this drama takes flight and maintains the laughter riot it gave me throughout the first episode.
