# Talkhiyaan

Talkhiyaan (transl. Bitterness) is a 2013 Pakistani drama serial written by Bee Gul and directed by Khalid Ahmed. It highlights a stereotypical mentality of men that live by their ancestral pride and deep-rooted notions of a caste system. It depicts the frustrations of a mother, wife and daughter provoked by society. Seema Razi and Raziuddin Ahmad were the producers.
Sanam Saeed, Mehak Khan, Adnan Jaffar, Hina Khawaja Bayat played the lead roles.
It is based on The God of Small Things, a semi-autobiographical novel by Indian author Arundhati Roy, which won the Booker Prize in 1997. The storyline in the series is the same as that of the novel although the names of the characters are changed (Ammu is Bibi, Rahel is Zoya, Estha is Jugnoo etc.) The series was aired on Zindagi under the title Kisi Ki Khatir from 30 June 2015.

## Plot

Zoya visits Silver Wood to reunite with her long-lost fraternal twin, Jugnu. As she arrives, memories of her childhood flood back. Her mother, Bibi, had returned to Silver Wood with her and Jugnu after divorcing her abusive husband, Paul.
Bibi's family, including her strict father Agha Ji, half-blind mother Mama Ji, self-obsessed aunt Appu Ji, and housekeeper Aai, received her coldly. Janu Baba, Bibi's brother, returns from London after divorcing his Christian wife. He intervenes, putting an end to Agha Ji's long-standing physical abuse of Mama Ji. Ashamed and broken, Agha Ji later succumbs to his despair, taking his own life. He takes charge of Mama Ji's pickle and Jam business and Bibi begins to work there to support herself and the children.
Monty, Bibi's cousin, proposes her, and she decides to marry him after considering him for few days. However, she discovers his ulterior motives at the time of Nikkah and cancels the wedding at the spot. Paul arrives, apologizing and revealing his terminal cancer diagnosis. Bibi refuses to let him meet their children.
Janu Baba's self-centeredness and exploitation of workers anger Bibi. Baloo, the son of Silver Wood's worker Kamoo, returns there from city bonds with the twins. Upon learning of his ex-wife Margaret's husband's death, Janu Baba invites her and their daughter Lizzie, sparking jealousy in Jugnu and Zoya.
Tragedy strikes when Jugnu is sexually harassed by a shopkeeper, leaving him traumatized. Bibi finds solace in Baloo, but their affair is discovered by the Appu Ji who locks Bibi in her room. Zoya and Jugnu escape for a boat ride with Lizzie, who tragically drowns. Appu Ji falsely accuses Baloo of death of Lizzie and assault of Bibi, leading to his brutal death due to the torture by police. Considering Bibi responsible for Lizzie's death, Janu Baba orders her to leave Silver Wood, and she sends Jugnu to Paul.
After moving to a cottage, Bibi works as a hotel receptionist, and sends Zoya to Silver Wood for her better upbringing. Bibi's life ends in loneliness and despair due to deteriorated health.
Fourteen years later, on his deathbed, Paul sends Jugnu to Silver Wood where he reunites with Zoya. The siblings sitting together, reflecting on their past.

## Cast

* Sanam Saeed as Bibi (Ammu in Novel)
* Hina Khawaja Bayat as Appu Ji (Baby Kochamma in Novel)
* Shamim Hilaly as Mama Ji (Mammachi in Novel)
* Khalid Ahmed as Agha Ji (Pappachi in Novel)
* Hassan Niazi as Baloo (Velutha in Novel)
* Valerie Khan as Margaret (Margaret Kochamma in Novel)
* Chiara Maria as Lizzie (Sophie Mol in Novel)
* Haider Ali Khan as Jugnoo (Young - Estha)
* Mehr Sagar as Jugnoo (Child - Estha)
* Mehak Khan as Zoya (Young - Rahel)
* Sabeena Jabeen as Zoya (Child - Rahel)
* Adnan Jaffar as Janu Baba (Chacko in Novel)
* Sarmad Mirza as Monty
* Summer Nicks as Paul
* Nargis Rasheed as Aai (Kochu Maria in Novel)

## Production

Talkhiyaan was inspired by Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things. Initially hesitant to adapt the novel, the writer Bee Gul was won over by producers Raziuddin Ahmad and Seema Razi, and director Khalid Ahmad's passion for the story, despite its controversy. According to Gul, Ahmad's offer to produce a telefilm in exchange for writing the series motivated her to write it.

## Broadcast

Talkhiyaan was originally aired on Express Entertainment, premiering on 9 December 2012.

## Soundtrack

The original soundtrack of the series, based on Sahir Ludhianvi's poem "Mujhse Ab Meri Mohabbat Ke Fasane Naa Kaho", performed by Mehwish Hayat and Waqar Ali.

## Reception

In an year-ender article by the Express Tribune, Talkhiyaan was voted by the reviewers as Best Drama Serial, Best Director and Best Writer.

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
| 11 January 2014 | Pakistan Media Awards | Best Drama Serial | Talkhiyaan | Nominated |
| 11 January 2014 | Pakistan Media Awards | Best Drama Actress | Sanam Saeed | Nominated |
| 11 January 2014 | Pakistan Media Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Shamim Hilaly | Nominated |
| 11 January 2014 | Pakistan Media Awards | Best Drama Writer | Bee Gul | Nominated |