Human trafficking, adolescent prostitution, child abuse, child marriages, and the curse of dowry; these horrid realities linger among us in this society no matter how much we try to overlook it. It’s not the first time a drama has talked about such harsh realities of life, but it’s certainly one of the few most pragmatic ones. ‘Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi’ sheds light on the dark and murky world of such social evils. Backed up by Kashf Foundation, the drama features an ensemble cast; that includes Yumna Zaidi, Wahaj Ali, Naveed Shahzad, Yasra Rizvi, Omair Rana, Samiya Mumtaz, Nauman Ejaz, Adnan Shah Tipu, and Noor ul Hassan. It’s written by Amna Mufti and directed by Kashif Nisar.

The Premise

Episode 1 grabs our attention from the commencement and never relents. The director wastes no time in introducing the protagonist Sumbul (Yuma Zaidi) an elite escort accompanied by Sawera (Yasra Rizvi) at a party. The plot unfolds with flashbacks that take us to the back-story of Sumbul known as Allah Rakhi in her childhood. She’s the doting daughter of a potter and gets cursed by her elder sister for being abducted and sold. The proceedings are padded with several intense tracks; Najma (Samiya Mumtaz) is a mother to three daughters; one of whom is suffering from polio. Their father played by (Noor-ul-Hassan) is a misogynist who dislikes her daughters and doesn’t give them the freedom to enjoy their childhood. We also get to see Jamshed being physically abused at school by his teacher; bullied by his classmates and scolded by his mother.

The Directions

Tapping into the dark world, Kashif Nisar makes sure that he stays faithful to the essence by not deviating with unwanted situations. He keeps the pacing tight and incorporates ample emotional baggage that makes us connect. The simmering rage of the protagonists; and the mystery behind each character is illustrated convincingly. Also, Amna Mufti’s dialogues hit us hard at various points.

The Performances

‘Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi’ is embellished with top-notch performances by some polished actors. Naveed Shahzad, who runs the trafficking ring, is intimidating. She is cold-blooded and maintains a cool demeanor wonderfully. Yumna Zaidi yet again delivers a terrific performance. It’s great to see how she understands her part so well. She is tough but she also has a sensitive side, as seen during the flashbacks of her childhood. Samiya Mumtaz does everything with effortlessness, self-assurance, splendor, and decorum and that’s not an easy thing to do by any standard. Yasra Rizvi just like most of her projects slips right into her character. Omair Rana is wonderful. Adnan Shah Tipu is effective.

Verdict

‘Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi’ is a mirror reflection of what the inky world of social evils has come down to. It’s a winning start to an intriguing journey. Viewers will witness the various shades and dimension in the upcoming episodes with equal proportions of agony and hope. If you have a penchant for drama’s backed by harsh realities and brutal truths about society, ‘Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi’ is just right for you.

Watch the first episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7a20Fdd4-4&t=1196s

By Ozair Majeed

A quote that is my bible: “I never lose. I always win or I learn.” Doing something new everyday excites me, keeps me going. “Who am I?” is a question that I like asking myself every now and then, making a deliberate effort that I have a new answer for it every time. Therefore I constantly strive to surprise the industry with facts and truth through meaningful writings.

2 thoughts on “DIL NA UMEED TOH NAHI: HIGHLY CONVINCING”
  1. Haven’t watched it yet but I was very excited about Samiya Mumtaz. After reading this article I am moved but I knew one can expect only the best from the Queen of Performance i.e Samiya Mumtaz.

    1. “Samiya Mumtaz does everything with effortlessness, self-assurance, splendor, and decorum and that’s not an easy thing to do by any standard”
      Nothing but the truth

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