Mere Humsafar (TV series)

Mere Humsafar (transl. My Companion or Life Partner) is a Pakistani drama television series produced by Humayun Saeed and Shehzad Naseeb under the banner Six Sigma Plus. Directed by Qasim Ali Mureed and written by Saira Raza, it aired from 30 December 2021 to 29 September 2022 on ARY Digital. It stars Farhan Saeed and Hania Aamir as leads along with Saba Hameed, Waseem Abbas, Samina Ahmad, Zoya Nasir and Omer Shahzad in supporting roles.[1]

Mere Humsafar
GenreDrama
Written byQasim Ali
Saira Raza
Directed byQasim Ali
StarringHania Aamir
Farhan Saeed
Theme music composerNaveed Nashad
Opening themeYashal Shahid
Amanat Ali
Zaheer Abbas
Country of originPakistan
Original languageUrdu
No. of episodes40
Production
ProducersHumayun Saeed
Shehzad Naseeb
Production companySix Sigma Plus
Release
Original networkARY Digital
Original release30 December 2021 (2021-12-30) –
29 September 2022 (2022-09-29)

Mere Humsafar revolves around a girl, Hala, who is left by her father at her paternal house where she is mistreated, especially by her Tai Jan (paternal aunt). Later, her cousin Hamza, returns from abroad, marries her and gives her the respect she always needed. The series met with positive reviews from the audience and is highly rated. It has gained popularity in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and UAE.[2][3][4]

At the 22nd Lux Style Awards, the series received seven nominations, including Best TV Play and Best Ensemble Play, and won the Best TV Original Soundtrack.[5]

Plot

Hala a British-Pakistani girl is left alone in Pakistan at a young age by her father, Nafees, because his new European wife does not want to raise his daughter from his previous marriage. Loved by her father and then abandoned, Hala is mistreated by her father's elder brother, Raees, his wife, Shahjahan and another brother Jalees's wife, Sofia. She grows up to be an innocent teenager who is always scolded and the slightest ease she had in the family is her grandmother and younger uncle, Jalees. Raees narrates her father false stories about her and never lets her talk to her father. She is in love with her best friend, Shafaq's cousin, Khurram, who takes her on a few dates secretly. Shahjahan discovers this and creates misunderstandings by narrating false narratives to Khurram. Khurram's mother falls severely ill on discovering her son had been deceiving the family and Hala as he was engaged to Shafaq, but Khurram blames Hala instead of seeing his own fault. Raees plans on getting Hala married to his employee Naveed, who is mentally unstable.

Later, Hala's cousin Hamza breaks off her marriage saying how would she live with such a man. After the scene, for a mistake committed by Hamza's younger sister Rumi that leads to Sameen being attacked by goons, Shahjahan, in order to save her daughter, says everything has been done by Hala and throws her out of the house. When later Hamza finds Hala on roads, he brings her home which Raees opposes and keeps a condition to Hala, to live at their home she needs to be a relative of the family and denies her entry as they say her own father has ended the relationship with her. While Hala is left with no choice Hamza does the unthinkable, taking Hala to the mosque and marrying her! The others are upset from the marriage since it was decided at a young age that Hamza will be marrying Sameen when they grow up. Sameen is now heartbroken about Hamza marrying Hala. This is when Shahjahan's (Taijaan's) hatred toward Hala grows even more. Accusing Hala that she brainwashed her son (Hamza) into falling in love.

Hala's life becomes harder living there as no one accepts her as Hamza's wife except their grandmother. While overcoming the hatred and hardships there, Hamza helps her find confidence in herself. They begin to fall for each other. While Khurram saves Sameen's life and both bump into each other multiple times, they grow a friendship with each other. One day Sameen takes Khurram to her house, where he realises that it is Hala's house as he had gone there before and sees her and Hamza together from behind the bushes and vows to take revenge on her. It is soon revealed that Hala is pregnant and will not be able to travel to London. After knowing of Hala's pregnancy, grandmother and Hamza are over the moon and the others are less than happy. Shahjahan, seeing Hala's importance grow because of her unborn child, decides to make Hala miscarry her child. In order to do that, she gives her a pain medicine and Hala, thinking Shahjahan has changed, so she eats the medicine. Afterwards, when the truth is revealed to Hala, she confronts Shahjahan about it with Hamza and Shahjahan denies it showing it as if Hala takes it herself to abort her pregnancy. After this, Hala and Hamza fight a lot and are upset with each other. Now Sameen's parents are thinking of marrying Khurram and Sameen, and for that purpose they call Khurram to their house to finalize the proposal. Shahjahan sees Khurram and recognizes him blurting out about Khurram and Hala's past to which everyone is shocked. She calls Hala and drags her in front of everyone and then Khurram ironically refuses to recognise Hala, and even Hala under pressure lied that she also doesn't know him framing Shahjahan as the liar and mental one. Everyone says that she has gone insane. Hala is deeply traumatized by this and as she always speaks the truth, and she told a lie she cries a lot. Hamza comforts her but still she doesn't get okay.

For few days Khurram and Shahjahan traumatize Hala. Hala decides to tell Hamza about the past, but Shahjahan doesn't let that happen. A day before Khurram's engagement, he recalls his mother's words and decides to give up on revenge. The next day it's Khurram's engagement with Sameen. Shahjahan is disturbed by this and asks Khurram to back off from engagement, but he does not. And he also says Shahjahan that he does not want to take any revenge. On this Shahjahan gets angry and comes up with an evil plan. She manipulates Hala and takes her to Khurram's house and asks her to request him to go away from Sameen's life. While Hala is talking to Khurram, Shahjahan calls Hamza and asks him to come to Khurram's house and asks him to listen their conversation in a sneaky way. Hamza misunderstands the situation and Hala's words. He feels broken. Everyone in the family discovers that Hala knew Khurram much earlier. Meanwhile, Nafees (Hala's father) comes back with his other daughter Maryam. Grandmother dies while narrating Hala's painful experiences in life. The engagement of Sameen and Khurram is broken off after knowing the truth. Nafees and Maryam support Hala and make her regain her self-confidence.

Hamza despite Hala leaving the house comes treats her nicely. One day Khurram goes to Sameen and apologizes for his mistake and Sameen says he should first take forgiveness from Hala, so Khurram came to Hala for apology and Hamza sees them together and feels suspicious. Meanwhile, Rumi also marries her boyfriend secretly as her mother had refused to talk about her marriage with her father. Later Shahjahan came to Hala and told her that Hamza will expel her after taking child from her which upsets her and makes her doubt Hamza. Hala and Hamza have a fight and feel betrayed by each other and do not want to live together and Hamza goes to Khurram's house to tell him about their split. Khurram makes Hamza realize his love for Hala. Meanwhile, Rumi's engagement is being done with someone else and Hala has an appointment simultaneously, so Hamza accompanies Hala to the hospital. Meanwhile, Sameen plans to go to study abroad, and her father Jalees decides to sell his share of house to fund Sameen's education. When Hala discovers Rumi crying on the streets and helps her and Hamza in resolving Rumi's secret marriage issue.

Hamza tries to get back with Hala. Hala falls unconscious on learning that Hamza tried to offer her hand to Khurram and delivers their baby girl. On returning home, Rumi reveals Shahjahan's false blames and Hamza decides to go to Australia with Hala and their daughter for a fresh start. Jalees was unhappy but accepted the decision while Hala wanted to stay in Pakistan. Shahjahan broke down after learning about it and she started to ask forgiveness to both of them, requesting them to stay. Rumi is married to her boyfriend Waqas formally and Khurram says he will wait for Sameen after she comes back from abroad. Hala forgives Shajahan and convinces Hamza to remain in Pakistan to look after their child and the family. Finally, Hala and Hamza confesses their love to each other over a cup of tea.

Cast

Main
  • Farhan Saeed as Hamza Raees Ahmed - Raees and Shah Jahan's elder son; Rifat's grandson; Roomi's elder brother; Hala's husband
  • Hania Amir as Hala HamzaAhmed (née Hala Nafees Ahmed) - Nafees's daughter; Rifat's granddaughter; Maryam's elder half-sister; Hamza's wife
    • Hoorain Lyka Ali as Young Hala Nafees Ahmed

Recurring
  • Samina Ahmad as Riffat Aara Ahmed - Raees, Nafees and Jalees' mother; Shahjahan and Sofia's aunt and mother-in-law; Hamaza, Hala, Maryam,Roomi and Sameen's grandmother (deceased)
  • Saba Hameed as Shahjahan Raees Ahmed - Raees's wife; Rifat's niece and daughter-in-law, Hamza and Roomi's mother.
  • Waseem Abbas as Raees Ahmad - Rifat's eldest son; Shah Jahan's husband; Nafees and Jalees' elder brother; Hamza and Roomi's father
  • Tara Mahmood as Sofia Jalees Ahmed - Jalees' wife; Rifat's niece and daughter-in-law, Sameen's mother;
  • Amir Qureshi as Jalees Ahmed - Riffat's youngest son; Raees and Nafees's younger brother; Sofia's husband; Sameen's father
  • Alyy Khan as Nafees Ahmed - Riffat's second son; Raees younger and Jalees's elder brother; Hala, Maryam,father
  • Zoya Nasir as Sameen Jalees Ahmad - Sofia and Jalees' daughter; Rifat's granddaughter; Khurram's former fiancée
  • Hira Khan as Roomi Waqas (née Roomi Raees Ahmed) - Raees and ShahJahan' younger daughter; Rifat's granddaughter; Hamza's younger sister; Waqas's wife
  • Hira Umer as Maryam Nafees Ahmed - Nafees's daughter; Riffat's granddaughter; Hala's younger half-sister; Musa and Abraham's elder sister
  • Omer Shahzad as Khurram - Shafaq's cousin and former fiancée, Sameen's former fiancée, Hala’s Ex Boyfriend.
  • Syeda Iman Zaid as Shafaq - Hala's best friend; Khurram's cousin and former fiancée
  • Farah Nadeem as Khurram's mother and Shafaq's aunt (deceased)

Production

Development

The project was first announced in August 2021 with the working title of Jhooti.[6][7] Director Qasim Ali Mureed told Dawn Images that it's a family story with a love story in the middle of it. He further added that the story touches upon contemporary issues and it's all quite relatable.[7][8]

Casting

Hania Aamir was approached to portray Hala. While, she first refused the show because she felt Hala was not the kind of role she would accept immediately. She later agreed to do it because of co-actor Farhan Saeed and director Qasim Ali Mureed.[9][10] Farhan Saeed was cast to portray Hamza, although he was not the first choice for the role. Writer Saira Raza revealed that she was apprehensive to cast him because of his portrayal of an immature and mischievous person in Suno Chanda, a complete opposite of Hamza.[11][12]

Release

The first look and the teaser of the series was unveiled on 21 December 2021.[13][14] The first episode aired on 30 December 2021 on ARY Digital and subsequent episodes were released every Thursday.[15]

Soundtrack
"Mere Humsafar"
Single by Naveed Nashad
LanguageUrdu
GenreTheme song
Length14:38
Producer(s)Humayun Saeed
Shehzad Naseeb
External video
video icon Music video on YouTube

The Mere Humsafar title song is sung by Amanat Ali, Yashal Shahid and Zaheer Abbas, composed by Naveed Nashad with lyrics by Qamar Nashad.[16][17]

Track list
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Mere Humsafar" (OST)Amanat Ali, Yashal Shahid, Zaheer Abbas3:34
2."Mere Humsafar" (Female)Yashal Shahid5:52
3."Mere Humsafar" (Male)Amanat Ali, Zaheer Abbas5:52

Reception

Critical reception

The series met with mostly positive reviews. The performances of the star cast received positive response with special praises directed towards Farhan Saeed and Hania Aamir's characters.[3][18] Post the teasers release, Fuchsia Magazine noted, "Despite the conflict with the storyline, Farhan and Hania are absolutely stealing the show. They lighting up the screen with their chemistry."[19]

The Brown Identity stated, "'Mere Humsafar' will always be remembered for Hamza and Hala as a hit pair. But, the real winner of the show is Sameen's character. The show was good enough – but it could have been great."[20] Galaxy Lollywood noted, "The dreamy love story, the chemistry and the soundtrack makes Mere Humsafar so popular."[21] Indian newspaper Navbharat Times termed "Hala and Hamza's chemistry" as the biggest reason for the success of the show.[22] India TV noted, "Hala and Hamza's performance, chemistry and the title track has hooked the Indian audience."[23]

Television ratings

Apart from critical acclaim, Mere Humsafar was one of the most popular dramas of 2022. The series achieved its highest rating of 11.2 in its 38th and 40th episodes.[24]

Episode No. Date TRP Ref.
1 30 December 2021 7.3 [25]
2 6 January 2022 8.1
3 13 January 2022 7.7
4 20 January 2022 7.3
5 27 January 2022 4.5
6 3 February 2022 5.7 [26]
7 10 February 2022 7.0
8 17 February 2022 8.0
9 24 February 2022 9.0
10 3 March 2022 9.8
11 10 March 2022 8.4 [27]
12 17 March 2022 9.2
13 24 March 2022 8.6
14 31 March 2022 6.3
15 8 April 2022 7.45
16 15 April 2022 4.7
17 22 April 2022 4.1
18 29 April 2022 4.1 [28]
19 12 May 2022 6.5
20 19 May 2022 5.6
21 26 May 2022 7.33
22 2 June 2022 6.4
23 9 June 2022 6.7
24 16 June 2022 5.1
25 23 June 2022 5.0 [29]
26 30 June 2022 5.3
27 7 July 2022 5.7
28 14 July 2022 6.6
29 21 July 2022 6.7
30 28 July 2022 7.2
31 4 August 2022 7.0
32 11 August 2022 7.0
33 18 August 2022 6.5 [30]
34
35 25 August 2022 7.0 [24]
36 1 September 2022 6.0
37 8 September 2022 5.3
38 15 September 2022 11.2
39 22 September 2022 8.2
40 29 September 2022 11.2

Controversy

The series was often called out for being similar to the 2011 series Humsafar.[31] It also landed in controversy after its showcased Hindu religion. During the death sequence, the cast was dressed in white, a customary of the Hindus.[32][33]

Accolades
Year Ceremony Category Recipient Result Ref.
2022 22nd Lux Style Awards Best TV Play Mere Humsafar Nominated [34][35]
Best TV Actor Farhan Saeed Nominated
Best TV Actor - Critics' Choice Nominated
Best TV Actress Hania Aamir Nominated
Best TV Actress - Critics' Choice Nominated
Best TV Original Soundtrack Mere Humsafar Won
Best Ensemble Play Nominated

Impact

Mere Humsafar was ranked by the Pakistani media as one of the best and most watched drama of 2022.[36][37] Farhan Saeed and Hania Aamir received positive feedback for their portrayal of Hamza and Hala, and for breaking various stereotype.[38][39] Saeed and Aamir's pair was termed as one of the most loved on-screen couple of 2022.[40][41] The series received high praises and popularity across the globe, mainly in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and UAE.[42][43] It has often trended on Twitter and is one of the most watched Pakistani drama series on YouTube with over a billion views.[44][45]

References
  1. "Mere Humsafar turned from a classic love story to a ted talk on making your parents happy". Images Dawn. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  2. "People are thirsty for mellow love stories: Farhan Saeed on 'Mere Humsfar' success". Express Tribune. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  3. "Mere Humsafar Is Special Because Of The Performances: Farhan Saeed". Something Haute. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  4. "Pakistani drama 'Mere Humsafar' trends in four neighbouring countries!". MMNews.tv. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  5. "Announcing The Winners Of The HUM 22nd LUX Style Awards". Fuchsia Magazine. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  6. Faisal Shafi. "Exclusive - 11 Best Upcoming Pakistani Dramas 2022". Desi Blitz. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  7. Irfan Ul Haq. "Farhan Saeed and Hania Aamir pair up for a 'powerful love story' in upcoming drama serial Jhooti". Dawn Images. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  8. "Hania Aamir and Farhan Saeed set to star in new drama". Cutacut. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  9. "Hania Aamir: Hala was not the kind of role I would accept immediately". Express Tribune. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  10. "Hania Aamir to play an unconventional role in ARY Digital's Mere Humsafar". Cutacut. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  11. "The writer of 'Mere Humsafar' did not want Farhan Saeed to play the character of 'Humza', Saira herself revealed". Hindustan News Hub. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  12. "Netizens are swoon over Farhan Saeed aka Hamza in 'Mere Humsafar'". Daily Times. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  13. "First look of 'Mere Humsafar' featuring Hania and Farhan Saeed revealed". Daily Times. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  14. "Teaser of 'Mere Humsafar' ft. Hania Aamir & Farhan Saeed is out now". Something Haute. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  15. "'Mere Humsafar' Episode 1 Review — Beginning of an interesting family drama". Daily Times. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  16. "WATCH: Mere Humsafar OST - Farhan Saeed and Hania Aamir". ARY Digital - Youtube. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  17. "Indian celebrities are all praise for Mere Humsafar's soundtrack". Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  18. "5 Reasons Why We Absolutely Loved Pakistani Drama Mere Humsafar". The Brown Identity. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  19. "Mere HumSafar- Another Cliche To Lure The Mass Pakistani Audience Or Something More?". Fuchsia Magazine. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  20. "Mere Humsafar Ends Happily With A Nice, Neat Ending – Almost Too Neat". The Brown Identity. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  21. "Exclusive - What Makes The Drama Mere HumSafar So Popular?". Galaxy Lollywood. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  22. "Pakistan serial 'Mere Humsafar' is a love story without saas-bahu dramas, known why it is popular in India". Navbharat Times. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  23. "Mere Humsafar: This Pakistani show is on the trp list due to being different from the drama of saas bahu". India TV. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  24. "Here is the list of 2022's Pakistani dramas with the highest ratings". MMNews.tv. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  25. "Thank you for being the Hamza to my Hala: Hania Aamir and Farhan Saeed bid Mere Humsafar goodbye". Images Dawn. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  26. "This was as ordinary as it gets till you guys made it special: Farhan Saeed thanks fans for Mere Humsafar's success". Images Dawn. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  27. "Pakistani Drama 2022: Here's the top 5 popular and highest rated shows". Business Upturn. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  28. "Check Out The Highest Rated Pakistani Dramas in 2022". Reviewit.pk. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  29. "Here's a list of the Top 10 Pakistani dramas that broke all Records in 2022". DNP India. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  30. "Double episodes double the love as netizens sing praises for Hania Aamir's Hala and Farhan Saeed's Hamza". Images Dawn. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  31. "Netizens are disappointed to see Mere Humsafar repeat scenes from Humsafar". Dawn Images. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  32. "Mere Humsafar: Voice raised against the serial for following the Hindu culture, became a big controversy". India TV. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  33. "Pakistani serial Mere Humsafar is in controversy due to showing Hindu culture during last rites". Amar Ujala. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  34. "Lux Style Awards 2023 nominations out now: Pasoori, Joyland, Mere Humsafar reign supreme". The Express Tribune. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  35. "And the winners are: Yumna Zaidi becomes LSA's most award winning female actor for TV". The Express Tribune. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  36. Farheen Abdullah. "The best of 2022 in Pakistani dramas". Cutacut.com. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  37. Salima Bhutto. "A look back at top ten Pakistani dramas of 2022". MMNews.tv. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  38. "Fans applaud Farhan Saeed for breaking the 'men don't cry' stereotype in Mere Humsafar's latest episode". Dawn Images. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  39. "Hania Aamir's Hala rules over Twitter as netizens fawn over her latest performance in Mere Humsafar". Dawn Images. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  40. Syeda Zehra. "Best of 2022: On screen couples that won our hearts". Something Haute. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  41. "Mere Humsafar stars Farhan Saeed and Hania Aamir landed the trend charts". Daily Times. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  42. "Here what the fans across the border has to say about the series 'Mere Humsafar'". ARY Digital. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  43. "Popularity of ARY Digital's drama serial 'Mere Humsafar' crosses borders". Pro Pakistani. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  44. "Pakistani series 'Mere Humsafar', a drama serial is trending on Twitter". Daily Times. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  45. "Farhan Saeed and Hania Aamir's Mere Humsafar crosses more than a billion views on YouTube". ARY Digital. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
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