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Mor Mahal: A world lit by fire and a palace full of intrigue

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Umair Jaswal as Nawab Nausha Asif Jehan.

Geo TV has been giving us tantalizing glimpses of their Magnum opus,Mor Mahal for a few months now and the first episode has been just as fascinating, showing us a world lit by fire and a palace full of intrigue.

The serial was originally conceptualised by Imran Aslam and written by poet and acclaimed author Sarmad Sehbai (writer of Funkaar Gali and the upcoming Mah e Mir) in 2004. It is directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat (director of Humsafar, Sheher e Zaat and Manto), and produced by Baber Javed for Geo entertainment and PTV Home.

Nawab Nausha Asif Jehan (Umair Jaswal) is introduced to us in the starkest way possible — ordering the execution of a prisoner with the lift of his hand. He radiates power and authority; siting in the shade of a chariot drinking blood red wine as his soldiers obey his command.

The Nawab’s return to Mor Mahal or the Peacock Palace puts the residents on high alert. His three wives and mother — Begum Sarwat Jehan (Hina Bayat) — await his arrival. Begum Sarwat Jehan is hopeful her son would consummate his marriage to his new wife Mehar Bano (Sonia Nazir), a woman forced into marrying him for political gain.

Another wife Soraya Jehan is pregnant, longing for the Nawab’s company and constantly afraid. Of all his wives, Furukhzad (Meesha Shafi) is the happiest and most excited about her husband’s return because she knows she is his favourite.

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According to writer Sarmad Sehbai, the palace is so named because a peacock supposes itself to be beautiful until it sees its feet. Similarly, behind the beautiful façade of wealth, manners and poetry surrounding the palace, lies the darker side: the ruthless use of absolute power.

This story is fantasy set in the reality of a time before the colonisation of the Indian subcontinent by the British and relies on both Turkish and Mughal influences. After the phenomenal popularity of Mere Sultanwhich charted the fortunes of the Ottoman royals, this serial promises to give the public an authentic taste of our own history. Much of how we view our past and the rulers of the pre-colonial era is through the orientalist lens of the British. This lens has distorted the image of many a historical figure as foppish, wastrels and ineffective rulers. Sehbai contends that it is time we break free from this paradigm and rediscovered our past.

Director Sarmad Khoosat is fresh of his triumph as Manto and has handled this serial with his usual creativity and visual flair, but his real strength lies in the way he captivates the audience’s attention. No matter how grand a story or how lavish the set, the audience must be able to connect with the characters and Khoosat is an expert at that.

The episode opens with a violent spectacle, fizzing down to a mother and son meeting and negotiating the typical grind of domestic life. Nawab Nausha may decide life and death outside the palace but within his household he must bow to his mother’s wishes.

This simple act raises the stakes as one wife flees leaving her hapless, trembling servant girl in her place meanwhile another drinks poison in despair at his rejection. These are not distant figures but living, breathing, well-rounded characters that have all the normal hopes and fears except that they might be a little more ambitious than the average housewife.

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PHOTO: PUBLICITY

With costumes designed by Ali Xeeshan and shoots at Lahore fort, this is one of the most expensive television serials made in Pakistan and the result is authentically lavish This serial has a large cast , including the talented Sania Saeed as Akhtari who deals in taveez and black magic, Jana Malik as Farukhzad’s dependable kaneez and several other actors who are yet to make an appearance. Music seems to have become an essential part of every serial these days and Mor Mahal gives us its own special twist with a beautiful song and classical dance by Sohai Ali Abro

Rock singer Umair Jaswal is an unlikely but perfect fit for Nawab Nausha. In his debut role, Jaswal manages to carry off this character with great confidence and his screen presence is striking. At times his Urdu seems slightly forced, but that may be because our ears are no longer used to the flowing cadences and intricacies of the flowery Urdu used at the time. Meesha Shafi is magnificent as her character Furukhzad displays every shade of arrogance, desire and pride strangely mixed with vulnerability. Hina Bayat makes a strong impact as theBadshah Begum, a cold, proud woman, just as ruthless as her son.

The palace is full of servants and the eunachs who run the royal household and each of their characters have been carefully etched to give a faithful depiction of the period.

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[QUOTE="Moonlight, post: 8269223, member: 173185"

Haha. My these friends (@django @Zibago @The Sandman) think I don't live in USA. I have no clue about any English series, music, films, or actors. :p

Sub Pakistani in my life. :p
[/QUOTE]
You are from a faraway galaxy in a far away world known as Green Planet.:p:
 
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Just two songs I like of, "main hosh main tha Phir is pe mar gya kaise" second I can't recall. :D
yeh kaghazi phool jaise chehre
Love this one. Bring something....isn't famous.
saboo ko daur mein lao.... bujhi huwi shama ka duwa hu
People just listen to him because he uses the name of legend NFAK. He breaks my heart everytime he remixes the song of NFAK.
@WAJsal dekho sekho kuch yaar....
listening this one, you will love it.... If you can understand Punjabi...
lool yes it is nice... one of my favorites
That's the real bye. :p :wave: @Gufi
morning :P

Then you should listen to Sanam Marvi her voice is just wow
not into female voice in music, personal choice
 
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listening this one, you will love it.... If you can understand Punjabi...



@WAJsal @Gufi @Moonlight

Hey thanks for sharing this first song. Love it. Perfect lyrics!!

yeh kaghazi phool jaise chehre

Nahi yaad a gya.

"Hume Koi Gham Nahi Tha Gham e Ashqi se pehle"

saboo ko daur mein lao.... bujhi huwi shama ka duwa hu

Not sure if I have listened to this one.


Pretty quick. :D
 
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Not sure if I have listened to this one.
Those are two and both are relaxing and the second one is deep
Pretty quick. :D
this quick enough :P hey I am on vacations I need my sleep will be back to non ending work in a few days

ps read your Hijabi thing n debate... there are some things you should not debate here, people come to bash rather then understand
 
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Those are two and both are relaxing and the second one is de

Listening. Mainy suni hai pehle bhi but it was not in my mind at all. Thanks for sharing.

this quick enough :P hey I am on vacations I need my sleep will be back to non ending work in a few days

And every time on vacations my brain cells don't get activated to sleep. Lol

ps read your Hijabi thing n debate... there are some things you should not debate here, people come to bash rather then understand

I usually don't to unknowns.
 
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And every time on vacations my brain cells don't get activated to sleep. Lol
Well, I had planned a trip to the Northern areas but the routes were blocked... Which is why I told u to check before hand :p I had a whole trip planned out :cray:
I usually don't to unknowns.
:tup: I liked your piece on Shariah law... i even commented on it but u didnt reply :undecided:
 
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