Neeli ZInda Hai is surely heading towards an end and the makers are ensuring they conclude the story with aplomb.
The last couple of episodes are solely focusing on Neeli’s former life and we are finally getting a peep into the past of the beautiful blue-eyed ghost. It is also a breath of fresh air, now that there has been a pause on the haunted theme and sub-plot of the drama.
The latest throwback into Neeli and Pervaiz’s story will finally answer all the buzzing questions in our minds.
A love story gone tragic
It is obvious that Pervaiz (Osama Tahir) feels deep affection for Neeli (Urwa Hocane). He goes out of the way to protect her with heartfelt gestures. The young couple appears to be lost in love, genuinely caring for each other and determined to pursue the sweet chapter in their life.
The pair find each other’s existence relaxing. Neeli gets a break from his toxic father, who leaves no chance to beat her along with her mother. Meanwhile, Pervaiz escapes from his mother’s dominating and controlling demeanor during his time with her paramour.
We also witness a younger-looking Nawab who was pure evil since his college days. Being an apparent devil in disguise, he is envious of his Pervaiz and his intentions with his friend are clearly not that sincere.
But even more horrible is Pervaiz’s mother (Shamim Hilaly). A possessive mom of the ’80s, she has kept a tight grip on his elder son, trying her best that he follows life as per her rules. But fate had something else planned for Neeli and Pervaiz.
While Pervaiz’s mother threatens him not to have an affair with Neeli, our heroine’s father beats her mercilessly upon discovering about her meetings with her beau. Next, we see that the duo marries in secret, paying no heed to what wrath they might face next for this daring move.
The real villain in the tale is surely Pervaiz’s mother, who slaps his son when he comes home with his wife and warns Neeli that she shouldn’t even think of coming her way. The scene where she tries to doll her up by inducing terror, inflicting pain, and practically choking her up gave us goosebumps.
The moment where she makes Pervaiz swear that he will make his mother a priority over his wife and will love his mom was disturbing to watch. However, it was a true reflection of how desi mothers can be jealous and autocratic the minute their sons begin to give attention to their wives.
All of this made us feel for Neeli. She has spent her early life witnessing his drunk father beating his mother and her last days will be spent being tortured by her mother-in-law.
The promo of the next episode reveals the bitter schemes of her lethal ‘saas’ plans to hurt her and separate the newly-wed couple.
Osama Tahir And Shamim Hilaly have added power to the story.
While Osama did get some screen presence earlier in the tale, we are in awe of Hilaly’s performance as the malicious mother-in-law. She has grace, poise and looks dignified yet there is a terror in her persona that her character surely demands. There is bossy conduct she has donned to deliver her dialogues that
defined are as lethal and threatening.
Osama Tahir is amazeballs as the young and reckless lover to Neeli. He has a fiery energy in his body language that stands out on the screen. At one moment he is the bold suitor who can cross oceans for her darling and at the other instance, he turns a weakling in the hands of her demanding mother.
The best part of the episode is the charming chemistry between Urwa and Osama that added a little dose of positivity to the story. Their candid moments and loving glances added a little bit of romance to Neeli Zinda Hai, which otherwise had donned a haunted theme and portrayed a dysfunctional family.