Comedies

I always fail to understand Karachi’s weather, in early October it was breezy and when we are approaching November it is getting hotter. Or may be when you have to meet deadlines then it is natural to feel the heat.

In between meeting or skipping deadlines or in our grueling daily chores, I believe it is really important to keep calm nerves. Some of us opt for music, some for prayers, some might take a walk and I, like many other find rescue in comedy TV plays. Our local channels should be our first choice however, with the shortage of good comedies I have to opt for across the border channels. 

My favorite TV play is Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma which is shown on SAB TV at 8 pm. This is the only serial I dedicatedly watch, it’s a play which revolves around Gujrati family of Jetha Lal. I must say the play has effortless natural performances by every character. The drama is very simple and story lines are even simpler focusing on daily life of a common man. I was introduced to this serial last year and since then I have not only developed affection for every character but became its ardent fan. If you like comedies then you might as well enjoy it.

However, Indian channels could hardly do justice when they remake our plays. Few days ago I was channel surfing and noticed an Indian drama with some striking similarity. After few seconds I realized that they copied our famous play “Dhoop Kinarey” starring Marina Khan and Rahat Kazmi. Nobody can even come close to the legendary performances of Marina or Rahat Kazmi or even Sajid Hassan. It was a PTV classic. There are so many cultural differences between India and us, what we used to express with class and subtlety they show it bluntly. Sensitivity of expressions and the way the writer of the play Haseena Moin brilliantly wrote all the characters was amazing.

I remember when I first met Marina Khan it was behind the stage of her theater play the name of which I forgot. The second time I met her, in fact, almost shocked her to death, was near Saudi Embassy in Karachi. 

She was in her car and as I saw her I screamed "Marina Marina" but she didn’t hear my voice. Being completely insane I literally followed her with my car and then my driver crossed her car in such a way that we made her stop. I got out in my excitement, knocked at her car window and asked for her autograph. Being a sweetheart she is, she obliged me. 

In my craziness to get her autograph I didn’t even realize that her face was dead pale, her lips were dried up due to the frightful shock which I just gave her. She probably assumed that somebody came to kidnap her. However, the lady who was sitting in back seat of Marina's car started to laugh wildly at my innocently dangerous gesture of appreciation.

I couldn’t help it I really got excited. 

These are moments of joy for one and fear for the other, she must have given alms or charity for getting out alive.

Funny moments….

Sonya. (Day 229)