Guilty Pleasures: Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan starrer series Humsafar is timeless, addictive and gripping

I honestly do not very remember how I came about watching Humsafar. The series was earlier available on Netflix in India and I happen to catch the show when I got access to a friend's account for a brief period. The show, starring Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan, is addictive and gripping. Though the story is a simple tale of a husband and wife who get drifted apart due to some misunderstandings and suspicions and it has been told several times, especially in Indian media, there is something about this drama that holds your attention. It makes you fall in love with it.

I fell in love with Urdu drama because of Humsafar. Humsafar was one of the first Urdu dramas I watched and I was completely floored by its simple storytelling, no over-the-top costumes or makeup, relatable characters and amazing performances. Though we are culturally apart, it still resonates with us as it tells a regular story of a regular household. Yes, not every mother-in-law would want to kick her daughter-in-law out but the issue prevails in our country too and it is pretty common. There are many other common elements in the story too that add to the drama - the usual rich guy and poor girl love story, love triangle, childhood friends, saas-bahu drama and tragedy. 

The story is about cousins Asher and Khirad who are forced to get married because of their families. They eventually fall in love and but their lives fall apart when Asher suspects that Khirad has an affair with her college mate. Despite several attempts, Asher does not listen or believe Khirad. Four years later, Khirad meets Asher, seeking help for their daughter's medical treatment. It is during this period that Asher realises the truth and learns that it was his mother who had plotted the entire conspiracy against them. 

Earlier, Mahira Khan had said in a statement during the release of the series on Zindagi in India that it is 'addictive and a good nasha to have'. And, I cannot agree more. I would keep going back to the drama when it was still available on Netflix and watch it. It was a great way to vent out. Mahira as Khirad, a very innocent woman, is so relatable. She makes you sympathise with her character. The series is well written with a great character arc. Khirad transforms into a tough woman after she becomes a mother but continues to hold onto her innocence. She shows she is strong on the outside while she still carries that childlike person on the inside. That journey is impeccable. 

The series has very few romantic scenes but they are sure to bring a smile to your face. The sweet exchanges between the two and Asher's hopeless romanticism are adorable. The series has great dialogues too and offers some good relationship advice. The performance by Atiqa Odho as the clever and manipulative mother of Asher is unforgettable. No wonder, it changed the history of Pak dramas.  

One of the highlights of Pak dramas is its OSTs. The title track of Humsafar is so beautifully sung by Qurat-ul-Ain Balouch. The soulful song is a rendition of a ghazal, written by Naseer Turabi in 1971. It was originally sung by Abida Parvin and later by Qurat-ul-Ain Balouch, more popularly known as QB. The song is so emotional and profound that you get transported into a trance state. Not many might appreciate the song since it's slow and deep but it is meaningful and so beautiful that your mind wanders off to a completely different zone, especially due to QB's rendition in her raspy voice. The song can be heard in the loop even today as it narrates a sad tale of separation. Many Indian fans too have commented that they listen to the song ever since the show was released in 2014 in India. 

The series, which is available to watch on Dailymotion, is still ingrained in the minds of Indians. As soon as an episode of the show Bade Achhey Lagte Hai 2 was out, they quickly picked and related one of the scenes in it to Humsafar. The scene made waves on social media with many Indian fans claiming it to be copied from the series Humsafar. The series is said to have picked the scene from the Pakistani drama where Asher unties Khirad's hair saying she looks more beautiful when she leaves her hair loose. The iconic romantic scene portrayed the beautiful bond shared by the couple in a very decent manner. Many in the audience have several social media pages for the series, which recently completed 10 years since its first release in Pakistan. The lead actors who got a breakthrough through the series had also taken to social media to talk about the series and how it changed the course of their lives.