Zindagi Gulzar Hai was a Pakistani drama, directed by Sultana Siddiqui and produced by Momina Duraid of Moomal Productions, which was broadcast on Hum TV. Based on the novel of the same name by Umera Ahmad, it was first telecast from 30 November 2012 to May 2013 in Pakistan. The story revolves around two people, opposite in thoughts and financial status, and has a strong female protagonist, contributing to its popularity amongst women. Zindagi Gulzar Hai also aired in various other countries including eleven Arab countries under the title Asrar Al Hub, several European countries, India and Iran. It premiered on the MBC Group in January 2014 in eleven Arab countries, Hum TV on March 2014 in Europe, and Zindagi on 23 June 2014. It has aired 6 times in Iran. The decent story and unique creative concept of the show was initially loved by the audiences. It was viewed widely across the Indian subcontinent and majorly in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. It is often considered one of the bestPakistani dramas.
Plot summary
The story revolves around the lives of two families which are poles apart. Kashaf Murtaza and Zaroon Junaid protagonists belong to these families. Kashaf comes from a lower-middle-class family background and lives with her mother Rafia and her two sisters, Sidra and Shehnila. Rafia had been abandoned by her husband, Murtaza, because she did not give birth to a son. Her father married another woman, who did eventually give birth to his son Hamad. The family has to face hardships as a result of all this Kashaf develops insecurity and concerns about gender inequality, class difference and distrust in men. Rafia works as the principal of a government school, and gives tuitions to children along with her daughters, in the evening to make ends meet. Kashaf, her eldest daughter, gets a scholarship to a prestigious university, where she meets Zaroon, who comes from a rich family. Due to her mistrust for men and views about class difference she does not mix with other students. She and Zaroon don't get along with each other especially due to Zaroon's flirting nature and jealousy of her out-performing him, a topper until then. However, Zaroon tries to patch up with her but his attempts are repeatedly rebuffed. One day she over hears Zaroon saying that he was only trying to be friendly as a challenge and to trap Kashaf and tarnish her image, Kashaf starts hating him outright. Osama;Zaroon's friend meanwhile is shown to admire Kashaf's qualities and even defends her, telling Zaroon that he was the one at fault. Zaroon's rich family consists of his father, Junaid who is cool and mature person, an independent working mother, Ghazala Junaid and sister Sara, who has the same views about life as her mother has. Zaroon's circle of close friends consists of Asmara and Osama. He remains unaware of the fact that Asmara is in love with him. Their families get them engaged but due to irreconcilable differences in life style they break off the engagement. At the same time marriage of his sister fails. Zaroon develops some notions about his ideal wife and he thinks and says that Kashaf has all those qualities. In the meantime Shehnila gets admission to an engineering college, and Sidra is married in a good family to a doctor and settles in the USA. Both Zaroon and Kashaf appear for CSS exams, and get admitted to the Pakistan's Central Superior Services. Her becoming an officer in DMG brings a change in the thinking and behavior of her father and extended family. Zaroon and Kashaf meet in line of duty and he tries to make amends and attempts to befriend with her only to be repeatedly turned down. Kashaf believes him to be the same flirtatious and arrogant person as before. Osama proposes to Kashaf, but she rejects it. Shehnila gets a marriage proposal from rich family and Rafia wants her elder daughter Kashaf to be married first. Sidra comes from USA to help her mother find a suitable match for Kashaf. At the same time Zaroon talks to Sir Abrar, who is a close family friend and was a professor in university. He is a mentor to Kashaf and she respects and listens to him. Zaroon confesses to him that he wants to marry Kashaf and asks him to talk to Kashaf on his behalf. After initially rejecting his proposal, the two agree to meet at Abrar's house, where Zaroon prevents Kashaf from getting scalded by hot tea. She accepts his proposal and they get engaged and married. After the wedding, Zaroon also establishes good rapport with Kashaf's family. Zaroon and Kashaf eventually start getting to know each other. Later Zaroon and Kashaf have a fight as he comes to know about Osama's proposal. They reconcile when they find that Kashaf is pregnant. In due course, Kashaf discovers that Zaroon is secretly in touch with Asmara. Thinking that Zaroon is having a romantic affair with Asmara, she leaves his house and returns to her mother's home. She starts missing Zaroon and dreams that Zaroon has divorced her. Zaroon also misses Kashaf but does not contact her. Kashaf realizes that she is really in love with Zaroon and yearns to go back to him. She calls up Zaroon in the middle of the night to tell him that they are expecting twin daughters. Zaroon flies the same night to meet her and they reconcile. As their love triumphs, their mutual love and respect grows. Kashaf learns lessons from life. Few months later Kashaf gives birth to twin girls, and their family and life blossoms like a garden. Hence, the name "Zindagi Gulzar Hai" which translates to life is a garden.
Cast
Sanam Saeed as Kashaf Murtaza/Kashaf Zaroon Junaid
The Zindagi Gulzar Hai title song is sung by Ali Zafar and Hadiqa Kiani, composed by Shani Arshad with lyrics by Naseer Turabi. Background music: Parts of the background music were taken from Hollywood films such as "The Adjustment Bureau", "Jarhead", and "Wall-E".
Release
Broadcast
Zindagi Gulzar Hai was originally broadcast on Hum TV in December 2012. In 2015 the series was dubbed into Arabic and was broadcast by the MBC in the Middle East, under the name Asrar Al Hob. The series was broadcast to 11 Arab Countries. The show immediately gained popularity and after airing its first few episodes, became the most popular drama on the channel. Before this some Pakistani dramas were broadcast in the Middle East. In 2014 the series was also broadcast in Iran and Turkey.
Netflix launched Pakistani dramas and Zindagi Gulzar Hai was added to Netflix on December 15, 2015. Currently it holds 4 star rating.
Reception
Television Rating Points (TRPs)
Zindagi Gulzar Hai started off very well than averaging 6.4 TRPs but after the climax episode i.e. EP. 7, ratings increased dramatically averaging and topping the charts every week. Then after the marriage of the protagonists, ratings started to further increase and now Zindagi Gulzar Hai averages 6+ TRPs with 6.6 TRPs as maximum until now. But from 3 May 2013 Zindagi Gulzar Hai achieved 8.7 trp as declared by Hum TV. Many say that it will make a new record when its last episode will air. And it did by reaching a point till 9.5. It is the second highest-rated Pakistani television series. This drama got 9 awards at the 2nd Hum Awards, 3 awards at the 4th Pakistan Media Awards and 2 awards at the 13th Lux Style Awards. The role of Sanam Saeed was appreciated by critics. As for Fawad Khan it was the third blockbuster drama for him after Dastaan and Humsafar.
