Shehzori – The Beauty

So I finished watching another Pakistani Classic “Shehzori”, another wonderful work by Haseena Moin, one of her quite early works, that was aired on PTV in early 70s. Although, thirty years ago from now, I still think that was more of a modern era in Pakistani thought as compared to present. Where so many extremes and conflict exist and independent thought is lost, creativity is stale and what you watch on tv is pretty much down right garbage.

I don’t think today people today will be willing to like a character such as this heroine acclaimed “Shehzori”. A girl who has a will of a her own and that much of a mountain, who knows how to fight for herself, not because she is trained to do it, rather, because that is what she is. What a beauty…!

I haven’t seen a stronger, agressive and lovable female heroine in any of her other plays, that too in possibly the worst of circumstances. If you have a thing for strong girls, ‘Tara’ gets you in the very first scene, where she starts roaring at the house maid for leaving her husband’s house at dismissal of her inlaws. She isn’t shy in blaming women’s losses on their own weaknesses.  She doesn’t blame it on circumstances as you hear people do even today as they talk of how some girl is bound and helpless because of this or that and feel sorry for them. I am amazed how well she made that point back in the 70’s that until a woman gains a sense of self and manages to take reins, nothing can really save her. One catches it in the very first scene that she herself will be presented with the same challenge and prepares himself to see how she handles it.

And handle she does, not chained by expectations of society. She had probably never been a part of it and that serves her well. There is this old saying “Where there is a will, there is a way” (a pill that one should take everyday when one is inclined to hide behind difficulties ).  As we see her ploughing through the mess, we also see hope building up, help coming in one form or the other as we see her going only guided by principle and her sense of self.

The play is not devoid of peculiar comedy that Haseena’s plays always carry. Its remarkable how she mixes such strong themes of female emancipation with her usual wit and satire. The dailogues specially those of Tara are blunt as apposed to sharp in more of her recent works. It is fitting to the plot and particular scenario shown in this play, as there are some situations requiring utter bluntness as compared to some complicated ones requiring sharpness. But it also in my mind reflects author’s youth and the free spirit she carries at the heart of her creations.

It was a treat to watch after a long time. After having known Elizabeth of P&P and Scarlett of GWTW, I was long after discovery of a strong heroine in Urdu Drama. One that is a force to reckon with.  Inspite of the common thread that runs in their heads and the common roaring blood that inspires their actions, its remarkable how much variety they have.