Its been a while since I reviewed O Rungreza, three weeks to be precise. A lot has happened in the interim and I have plenty to say, but before we get to all that allow me to begin with a standing ovation for Saji Gul. It is an absolute pleasure to watch such fabulously etched characters and the way their stories are knitted together – brilliant writing!
But it’s not just the writing. O Rungreza is a magnificent showcase for director Kashif Nisar’s directorial ability and narrative skills. His control over this story is so complete that at no point does the pace lag nor does it ever feel rushed. Then the actors – Nauman, Irsa, Sajal Bilal, Sana – all are fabulous, doing complete justice to their richly nuanced characters. Each one is perfectly cast and doing so well it is hard to pick one over the other. All have their moments and then shine they do ever so brightly. With aesthetics, editing, camerawork, lighting, sound, everything in perfect sync, O Rungreza is one of those rare serials that are a complete package – dil aur dimagh donon ka hi pait bhar jata hai dekh kar.
In all his years of controlling Mammo – criticizing, abusing, ridiculing, making her feel unworthy and unwanted – not once had Khayyam thought that the tables would ever get turned on him. Never could he have imagined in a million years that one day he would be sitting in front of Mammo, crying his eyes out on account of being rejected. He who had broken Mammo’s heart a million times was today reduced to bawling over his hurt ego. Over the years, Mammo had spoiled him, so eager to please was she, that not once did Khayyam ever had to reconsider his harsh words to her. But that was Mammo.
Sonya Jahan is many things to many people, but she is definitely not a Mammo. First it was Sassi, and now Sonya. Both women unafraid to hold up the mirror to him. And Mr. Romantic Poet did not like what he was being forcibly shown – the face of a hypocrite and a bully with double standards. Sonya walked out on him, probably the first time this man has met his match, an equal woman unafraid to look him in the eye and call him out.
And so Khayyam goes grovelling back. Again another novel experience. But even when thwarted this man does not learn; rather than reflecting and looking inward he chooses to see his problems as others’ faults – in this case his daughter’s. All of a sudden Sassi’s marriage is his most urgent concern. Caring fathers do not be fooled by his about turn, its all about me, myself and I in Khayyam’s case.
For now round one has gone to Sonya. But will the alpha male that is Khayyam allow a woman to lead him by the nose? That he may not have neither choice nor control is a whole other deal and something that Khayyam still cannot see clearly. I am so looking forward to seeing how this man gets what is certain to come his way. And also looking forward to seeing how the equation develops between Sonya and Mammo.
But before all this happened there was Sassi and her showdown with her father. In a series of brilliantly executed scenes first Khayyam got his comeuppance in public, with his daughter’s dance performance, and then the more private screaming match where Khayyam was shocked by what his daughter had to say to him. The little girl who used to idolize her father was nowhere to be found; in her stead was a determined woman who refused to allow a man to treat her the way Khayyam had treated her that night.
Sassi might be Khayyam’s daughter but she is also her mother’s daughter. And she has very carefully picked and chosen what she’s learnt from both her parents. Now onwards Sassi is on her own trip. Where she is going and when does she get there is something yet to be determined, but the first step has definitely been taken. Sassi is a girl on the verge of womanhood, as yet unsure of her power. Looking the havoc she’s already caused, I shudder to think of those who are unfortunate to cross paths with her.
Speaking of new beginnings, Wajih’s entry into an already complicated scenario has certainly stirred the pot. Khayyam’s insecurities have surfaced, Sonya seem less than thrilled to have her past come up like this and Sassi, who has already used Wajih’s name once, is unlikely to stop now. Also,, Tipu’s name has been dropped in the conversation between Khayyam and Mammo and I wonder if he is another child of theirs, as has been hinted in earlier episodes.
And Mammo. I love how she never says much but lets her face and body do the talking for her. Every unflattering word that Sassi said about her hit her like a body blow. Every time Khayyam accuses her of yet another wrongdoing she shrinks within herself that much more. him asking her for her permission to remarry was one of the hardest scenes to watch. It is only in her interactions with Qasim and Kareeman that Mammo seems to come alive, but even then barely.
Qasim’s is another character that is fabulously nuanced. His hopeless longing, his despair, the love that he wears on his sleeve, the puppy dog eyes that follow Sassi everywhere she goes, all are layers that add so much texture to the overall narrative. Where will his desperation and depression lead him? Will he eventually harden up or will he remain a pushover? I am very intrigued by him and cannot wait to see more of this boy’s journey into manhood.
In terms of visual storytelling I love how we see so many of the happenings through the characters’ eyes, through their reactions to all thats happening around them. Sassi smashed the pictures but we saw it from Kareeman’s reactions. Mammo flinched when Sassi argued with her father and used her mother as an illustration of who she was not, and we saw Sassi’s dancing through the eyes of her shocked family. The fire in Qasim’s shop was signalled by a crackling lightbulb- this is all innovative stuff done very well by Kashif Nisar. Similarly in Saji’s writing, the subversion, pinpointing of patriachal hypocrisy and double standards, all are so wellknitted into dialogues that they dont stand out like lectures and sermons. So wish other directors and writers would follow suit.
Yes, I am hooked and how!
What about you all? Are you all enjoying this one as much as I am? Its been a while… looking forward to your take on this serial so far!
Written by SZ~