Episode 4 of Mai Manto Nahi Hoon and the teaser of Episode 5 reveals exactly what we had feared with a Khail-ur-Rehman Qamar drama. Misogynistic remarks have started to creep in and comments by teachers towards their female students, which are not okay at all under any circumstances, seem to be heading towards the norm. 

 

The effect is cringe at best because how much can a beautifully crafted drama with superstar characters do, if the dialogues are packed with off-putting misogyny. 

 

 

We get inklings of where the drama could be headed, with the standard comments of "our girls don’t attend university" and the pressure to get married to a guy selected by the parents but it comes to the forefront in episode 4 with Mehmal (Sajal Aly) saying that Mr. Manto (Humayun Saeed) looked like he likely had a "moti biwi". Sexist remarks aside, we also see a very strange relationship developing between - you won’t guess this if you haven’t seen it - Ms. Maria (Sanam Saeed) and Mehmal. Ms. Maria invites her students to her party, blurring professional lines, but then also calls Mehmal on the phone to make sure that she’s coming to the party, so people would know that the great don’s daughter is there. Maria also gets Manto to call Mehmal and pressurise her to come, despite, of course, her not being allowed to go out at night. 

 

 

In the teaser for episode 5, we see Manto telling Mehmal that she looks beautiful when she comes to the party, which is so cringey, you want to set the set on fire. Why? Such high hopes from this beautifully shot drama, the A-listers that are part of the cast, especially Sanam Saeed who chooses her scripts so carefully, and here we have the hero professor hitting on the student. You can actually hear Qamar bellowing, "So what? What's the big deal?” 

 

 

The big deal is that we are once again, through one of the most impactful mediums of change, telling society that girls sent to universities are looking for - and falling into - trouble; the age-old story with the same incredibly problematic messaging. I hope I’m wrong but I don't think I am. 

 

The episodes air on ARY Digital on Friday and Saturday at 8pm and are uploaded on YouTube on the same night.