HUM TV has been producing hit shows with brilliant storylines for quite some time. Adding to the list is the channel’s latest serial ‘Dobara’, a modern take on the liberation of women. Though the serial highlights complicated relationships and societal pressure faced by women in today’s world, it comes across as a breath of fresh air, providing insights into the concept of second marriage for women, as the title says Dobara, meaning ‘a second time’, and that too with a younger man.
Directed by Danish Nawaz and written by Sarwat Nazir, ‘Dobara’ seems a promising TV serial that has great expectations. The story centres around two main characters, Mehrunisa (Hadiqa Kiani) and Mahir (Bilal Abbas) who are poles apart yet find solace in each other’s company.
Mehrunisa is a 40-year-old widow who has recently lost her husband Hidayatullah (Nauman Ejaz). Flashbacks show how she was forcefully married to her 20 year older cousin due to her father’s ailing conditions. She expresses her desire to Hidayatullah to study further and pursuing table tennis but he dismisses her wishes, saying she should take care of the household. He doesn’t even let her drive. Perhaps that’s the reason she feels she is a free bird after his death and hardly mourns him.
Soon she starts going to a nearby park wearing a tracksuit and plays football with the househelp’s children. Since she shows no traits of being a widow, her sister-in-law (Sakina Samo) is taken aback. Sakina is the typical sister-in-law and phuppo who finds ways to taunt everyone, especially Mehrunisa. She even criticises her for wearing not-so-good attire while going to the park but Mehrunisa pays no heed and does whatever she likes. The scene where she lets down her bun and opens her hair is beautifully shot as it portrays that she is letting go her past and moving towards the future.
Enters Mahir who plays a young guy with a broken family where none of his step-parents are ready to accept him. Currently, he lives with his father; his stepmother is always making a fuss about his ways of living. But Mahir knows his way. He makes fun of her and tests her patience to the core.
He has a girlfriend as well called Narmeen (Zoya Nasir) who keeps on forcing him to bring his parents for her proposal but since he has no job or a stable home, he is confused as to what he should do. Finally, after mustering some courage, he talks to his parents who luckily agree to go to Narmeen’s place. What he is unaware of is the chaos that awaits him there, resulting in his break-up.
Since he has no one to turn to, he roams around the park sadly. That’s where he and Mehrunisa cross paths. They get to know each other through their shared interest in tennis. Since Mahir is a tennis coach and Mehrunnisa too wants to revive her tennis passion, it will be interesting to watch how their story unfolds.
Hadiqa Kiani as Mehrunisa plays a mature woman who is both smart and childish yet understands what society might think of her. Though Hadiqa is a novice in acting with ‘Dobara’ being her second project, she impresses the audience with her acting skills, proving that women above 30 can play major roles in TV serials. Bilal Abbas Khan does his role as Mahir with perfection. The way he teases his step-mother is interesting to watch. This is the first time he is doing such a mischievous role.
Zoya Nasir as Narmeen is a treat as she depicts a middle-class modern woman. She looks completely different from her previous TV serial ‘Zebaish’. Sakina Samo perfectly plays the nagging Canada-returned sister-in-law and aunt who keeps complaining. She interferes rather too much in her brother’s life and his relationship with his family. She is always giving free advice to everyone, though no one is listening.
Mehrunisa’s children Minal (Maheen Siddiqui) and Affan (Usama Khan) also play a major role as they struggle in balancing the sorrow of losing their father and their mother’s new and young love interest. Though Minal’s husband Zameer (Nabeel Zuberi) raises some valid questions about society, he is shut up by Minal’s irritating aunt and no one objects.
‘Dobara’ has a strong cast and intelligent direction with a powerful script that keeps the audience glued to the screens. It is a refreshing take on society as a whole and the stereotypes attached to the second marriage of a woman and that too with a younger man. 
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