Mera Naam Yousuf Hai

Mera Naam Yousuf Hai (Urdu: میرا نام یوسف ہے‎, "My name is Yousuf"), previously titled as Zulekha Bina Yusuf [1][2] (زلیخا بنا یوسف, "Yousuf without Zulekha"), is a Pakistani television drama serial, which originally aired on the A-Plus Entertainment from 17 March 2015 till 27 October 2015, comprising a total of 20 episodes. Mera Naam Yousuf Hai follows a Forbidden Love Story of Yousuf and Zulaikha.

Mera Naam Yousuf Hai
Title screen of Mera Naam Yousuf Hai
Also known asZulaikha Bina Yousuf
GenreRomantic drama
Written byKhalil-Ur-Rehman Qamar
Directed byMehreen Jabbar
StarringImran Abbas
Maya Ali
Mansha Pasha
Waseem Abbas
Hina Khawaja Bayat
Faizan Shaikh
Theme music composerSultan Athor
Opening theme"Tu Mera Nahi"
by Saad Sultan & Imran Abbas
Composer(s)Saad Sultan
Country of originPakistan
Original language(s)Urdu
No. of episodes20 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)Abid Ul Razaq
Producer(s)Sadia Jabbar
Production location(s)Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
CinematographyQasim Ali Mureed
Editor(s)Farooq Javed
Majid Riaz
Camera setupMulti-Camera
Running time35-40 minutes
Production company(s)Sadia Jabbar Production
Release
Original networkA-Plus Entertainment
Picture format560i (SDTV)
1080p (HDTV)
First shown inPakistan
Original release6 March (2015-03-06) –
17 July 2015 (2015-07-17)
External links
A-Plus Entertainment

Mera Naam Yousuf Hai stars Maya Ali[3] and Imran Abbas Naqvi[4] as the title characters Zulaikha and Yusuf, respectively, as well as Hina Khawaja Bayat, Waseem Abbas, Behroze Sabzwari, Mizna Waqas and Mansha Pasha in recurring roles. Series was produced by Saadia Jabbar, and aired on A-plus entertainment as part of a night programming of 20:00. It was written by Khalil-Ur-Rehman Qamar[4][5] and directed by Mehreen Jabbar.[6][7]

Star India begin its airing on 19 October 2015 on their channel Star Plus-thus becoming the channel's first ever Pakistani drama. The series was aired in India, UAE, USA, Ireland, UK, Austria, Europe, Canada and Latin America. Series received extravagant reception in viewership and ratings.[8][9] From 23 July, the series was also released on Zee5.

Plot

The story revolves around the forbidden love of Yousuf and Zulaikha. Yousuf first saw Zulaikha in a trainand is unable to get her out of his mind. Zulaikha on the other hand, considered it a momentary attraction as she is stuck between her cousin's marriage proposals, masked by the personal interests of her parents. She bumps into Yousuf several times who is evidently in love with her and is expressive about his feelings for her. Later, Noor Muhammad, Zulaikha's Father announces her marriage with Imran Moeez (his nephew) so he himself can marry Imran's Aunt Bushra. Yousuf tries to prove his love to Zulaikha so she can deny marrying Imran. The story takes turn when the police torture Yousuf upon Noor Muhammad's orders, at this point Zulaikha becomes aware that his love for her has always been true. Looking to this Zulaikha eventually falls in love with Yousuf. Afiya Begum, Zulaikha's mother and Hajira, Zulaikha's sister then start to support her to marry Yousuf while Noor Muhammad starts threatening them, he however marries with Bushra successfully. Story shows women power against Noor and shows how the three women team up. Later, a hidden past is revealed to Yousuf and Zulaikha conveying that both are not made for each other and separation is in their destiny, despite this both show reluctance and tend to name their love, the two faced equal tortures. The Story is penned on the challenges, tortures and sacrifices they face for their love, and shows how Afiya protects her daughter's from their father, and survives all his tortures.[5][10][11][12]

Cast
  • Imran Abbas as Yousuf Waji Ahmed
  • Maya Ali as Zulaikha Noor Mohammed
  • Waseem Abbas as Molvi Noor Mohammed/ Sheikh Sahab
  • Mansha Pasha as Madiha
  • Anas Ali Imran as Tony
  • Hina Khawaja Bayat as Aafiya Begum
  • Perveen Akbar as Kausar Parveen
  • Mizna Waqas as Hajira Noor Mohammed
  • Behroze Sabzwari as Waji Ahmed
  • Seema Seher as Yousuf's mother
  • Ali Sheikh as Tajee
  • Taqi Ahmed as Imran Moeez
  • Faizan Shaikh as Wali
  • Farah Nadeem as Bushra

Production

Casting and development

Mera Naam Yousaf Hai was developed by producer Sadia Jabbar of Sadia Jabbar Productions, she hired successful director Mehreen Jabbar to direct the series. The Show is written by famous writer Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar,[4] the show is loosely based on the story of Yusuf and Zulaikha by Jami in his book Haft Awrang with some edits, the screenplay is also written by Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar while Script composing is done by Naman Ali. Approximately with twenty-one episodes, Zulaikha Bina Yousuf was completed in February 2015 and was all set to premier on 12 March 2015 with a prime slot of Thursday 8:00pm.[13] However, in mid-March 2015 promotional team gave the show a new title Mera Naam Yousuf Hai and changed its premier to 6 March 2015. Song composition is done by Sultan Athor while the OST given by Saad Sultan. The show aired weekly episode for 35 - 40 (without commercials) minutes every Friday to 18 July 2015.

Filming

Producer Sadia Jabbar choose, Imran Abbas Naqvi and Maya Ali to play the leading roles of Yousof and Zulaikha, respectively. Imran Abbas[14][15] joined the shoot. Maya Ali was selected to role for the character of Zulaikha. The actors Mansha Pasha, Waseem Abbas, Behroze Sabzwari, Hina Khawaja Bayat and Seema Seher were selected to portray Madiha, Noor Muhammad, Waji Ahmed, Afiya and Hajira, respectively.

The filming of ‘’Mera Naam Yousaf hai’’ began in November 2014 and was completed on 6 March, 2014,[16] under the title Zulaikha Bina Yousuf.[16] With the title of Zulekha Bina Yousuf. It was initially set to release on 12 March 2015 [2] but on 2 March 2015, it was announced that the channel will release it on the 6th of March. [7]

Soundtrack
Mera Naam Yousuf hai
Soundtrack album by
Saad Sultan and Rizwan Anwar
ReleasedFebruary 2015
Recorded2014
GenreTheme song
Length2:21
1:10
LanguageUrdu
ProducerSadia Jabbar
Music Video
Track list
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Tu Mera Nahi"Rizwan Anwar
Imran Abbas
Saad Sultan		2:21
2."Mahiya Duur Gaya"Umair Ahmed5:40
3."Tu Mila Hai"Saad Sultan1:22
4."Aj Se"Rizwan Anwar1:15

Reception

Critical appreciation

Sadaf Siddiqui of Dawn News states that Mera Naam Yousuf Hai is off to a smooth start[17] in her issue she praised Writer's story line stating Writer Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar’s pen aspires to the tragic, the epic, and the unusual, and as his previous drama Pyare Afzal has shown, in some cases it succeeds she also praised Mehreen Jabbar as director stating Director Mehreen Jabbar managed to keep Khalil sahib’s flair for drama under her subtle control. She hasn't let the dialogue overpower the narrative. It helps that the drama's production values are excellent as is the visual story telling with hints at the character's inner lives.[17] She lauded Maya Alli, Imran Abbas Naqvi and Hina Khawaja Bayat's role by saying Maya Ali’s restrained performance as Zulekha proves she's a director’s actor and so far Mehreen Jabbar has guided her well. Imran Abbas, who seems perennially youthful, also, pardon the pun, strikes a chord as the dreamer Yousuf. But if there was an actor who stole the spotlight today, it has to be Hina Khwaja Bayat.[17]

Siddiqui, on her other issue praised the shows plot and melodrama stating "TV drama Mera Naam Yousuf Hai plays the filmi card and wins". She further added that "It isn't merely filmi in the sense that it features over-the-top melodrama; there are also a fair number of larger-than-life events to contend with. These events aren't just plot points pushing the story forward, they're like cogs in a vast machine that represent the characters' interconnected, messy lives."[18] She commented on Khalil-Ur-Rehman Qamar's screenplay stating that "Khalil sahib's script brings into question society’s hypocrisies and double standards, as well as the different roles, expectations and allowances for men and women." She also praised Mehreen Jabbar's directory saying "It is quite commendable that despite all these filmi touches and a tendency to go over the top, Mehreen Jabbar's directorial hand is very much in control."[18] In an issue of Dawn 6 April 2015, Sadaf Siddiqui stated that "Mera Naam Yousuf Hai is a One sided Love story so far" she comments not the plot stating "What does one do when one’s own parents are engaged in a game of one-upmanship, placing one’s freedom and right to choose in jeopardy?".[19] For the current episode arc Sadaf once again praised Qamar's classic storyline stating "Khalilur Rehman Qamar’s writing sparkles with wit and clearly unke kamaan pe bahut se teer hai. The way the story and each of the characters is revealed adds something new to the plot progression and builds on each characters back stories."[19]

On 29 July 2015, Sadaf Siddui's praised the show's screenplay and storyline commenting "Do class concerns trump love? Mera Naam Yousuf Hai asks big questions". In her article she said that "Writer creates chemistry and romantic tension between the leads despite them not sharing much screen time. It is sheer mastery that makes allowance for conservatism and added that he carefully tends to family relationships and friendships."[20] After summing up the entire show and story line, Siddiqui said that "The drama makes important observations about power: in our patriarchal society and its lopsided and unfair ways, people use power to perpetuate their own interests and maintain the status quo." She also praised the series conclusion where she added that "The biggest surprise perhaps was that Khalil sahib allowed the lovers to reunite, however not without a near death experience",[20] the series was one of Qamar's screen play where the protagonist were united and not deceased, this point attracted several viewers to it. It is the only drama to air on the famous Indian channel Star Plus.

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See also

References
  1. "Zulekha Bina Yousuf". Dawn News. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  2. "Zulekha Bina Yusuf Coming Soon on Aplus: OST & Timings". brandsynaro. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  3. Sadaf Siddique (6 April 2015). "Review: Mera Naam Yousuf Hai is a one-sided love story so far". Dawn.com. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  4. Press release (4 March 2015). "Imran Abbas plays title character in Mera Naam Yousuf Hai". Daily Times. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  5. Falak. "Mera Naam Yousuf Hai". Drama Pakistani. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  6. Rashid Nazir Ali (27 November 2014). "Zulekha Bina Yusuf, Mehreen Jabbar confirms the new project". review it. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  7. "A-Plus Drama serial: MERA NAAM YOUSUF HAI". Breaking News. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  8. "Mera Naam Yusuf Hai to hit the screens on Indian Channel". Dawn News. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  9. Rashid Nazir Ali (27 November 2014). "Mera Naam Yusuf Hai to be aired on Star Plus". review it. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  10. "Mera Naam Yusuf Hai".
  11. Sadaf Siddique (7 March 2015). "Mera Naam Yousuf Hai is off to a smooth start". Dawn. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  12. Sadaf Siddique (6 April 2015). "Mera Naam Yousuf hai is a one-sided love story so far". Dawn. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  13. "Zulekha Bina Yusuf Coming Soon on Aplus OST & Timings". brandsynaro. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  14. "Fashion Feature: A Guy Thing". Dawn. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  15. "Interview of Imran Abbas". Fashion Central. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  16. "Mehreen Jabbar all set for Zulekha Bina Yusuf".
  17. Sadaf Siddiqui (7 March 2015). "Mera Naam Yousuf Hai is off to a smooth start". Dawn. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  18. Sadaf Siddiqui (22 June 2015). "TV drama Mera Naam Yousuf Hai plays the filmi card and wins". Dawn.
  19. Sadaf Siddiqui (6 April 2015). "Mera Naam Yousuf Hai is a one sided love story so far". Dawn. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  20. Sadaf Siddiqui (29 July 2015). "Do class concerns trump love? Mera Naam Yousuf Hai asks big questions". Dawn. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
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