Life lessons we can learn from TV drama Noor Jahan

Actress Saba Hameed’s brilliant portrayal of Noor Jahan in ARY Digital’s Noor Jahan is nothing short of a daughter-in-law’s worst nightmare. The drama revolves around the power dynamics within Noor Jahan’s household and how she asserts control over everyone living under her roof.

The constant need for control and dominance leads to a whirlwind of events that shake the foundations of the world Noor Jahan has worked tirelessly to build. The drama offers a few life lessons during its 31-episode run, with no signs of stopping.

The power of a supportive husband

After losing a child due to the mental trauma caused by Noor Jahan and Hunaid (Noor Hassan), Safina (Alina Abbas) fears giving birth to another daughter. Noor Jahan’s obsession with a male heir leads her to manipulate her son and daughter-in-law to turn against one another. It was only when Hunaid stood by his wife during her second pregnancy that Safina feels the strength and courage to stand up against her mother-in-law.

The importance of financial independence

Noor Jahan’s power and control over her entire household is due to her financial independence. She is a wealthy woman who is also responsible for running her entire household. This gives her the power to call the shots and determine what goes on in the lives of her children and their spouses. Noor Bano (Kubra Khan) is the first to revolt against Noor Jahan’s cruelty based on her own financial independence and foreign education.

The more reasonable the head of the family, the better

Even as a strong, independent matriarch, Noor Jahan holds deeply-rooted patriarchal beliefs. The fact that she believes her son’s wives should be doing all the housework and upkeep for their huge mansion without any support makes you question why a strong, upper-crust woman like Noor Jahan thinks this is an appropriate expectation.

Manipulation always leads to tragedy

Noor Jahan’s constant manipulation of her sons and daughters-in-law leads to the family facing some unfortunate losses. Her son Hunaid loses his unborn daughter because of his mother’s manipulation and only realizes he was at fault when it's too late. Shattered and regretful, Hunaid finally supports Safina during her second pregnancy. This gives Safina the strength to carry through and speak against the atrocities inflicted on her by her mother-in -law.

Divorce shouldn’t be seen as the end of the world

Hajra Yamin’s portrayal of the quiet yet effective Sumbul is a prime example of how hard it can be for women to pursue a career in a traditional household that does not believe in the financial independence of women. What’s surprising is the fact that Noor Jahan herself is a financially independent matriarch but doesn’t want her daughters-in-law to work. Noor Jahan's attitude changes when she learns that her middle son Safeer’s (Ali Rehman Khan) second wife Maha (Zoya Nasir) is pregnant with a son.

His first wife, Sumbul, is also affected as her desire to work eventually leads Safeer to divorce her. However, things aren't hopeless for her as she comes out of the situation stronger, and gives a great message to women on how divorce is not the end but could indeed be shaped into the start of something new, if one shows enough strength and resilience.

Verdict

As a whole, Noor Jahan encompasses the relationship of a toxic matriarch with her children and their spouses with grueling accuracy. The plot has been criticized for promoting toxic stereotypes that are often associated with women, however, that may change with the development of Noor Bano’s character in the latest episodes.

The unpredictability of the plot so far has us questioning as to where this may be headed. Will Noor Bano avenge her father's death, or will Noor Jahan strike back as always, we'll have to wait and see.