Bartano se khelna tha, Dorion se bola tha, chup si house kyun Mayi Ri,” echoes the essence of the new primetime show, Mayi Ri. Aiming to delve deep into child marriage, the show’s soul resounds with something that is not for everyone, yet something everybody should watch — a dilemma well-known to the Pakistani audience, reminiscent of the drama serial Udaari.
Directed by Meesam Naqvi, Mayi Ri features a family of eight, including two siblings, their wives, kids and a typical mother-in-law. The elder brother, Zaheer (Nauman Ejaz), runs the house, whereas the younger brother, Habib (Saad Zameer Faridi), is his follower. In the case of women, the dynamics are different. Though Samina (Maria Wasti) is the older daughter-in-law, and Aisha (Maya Khan) is the younger one, they share a camaraderie rarely seen in Pakistani dramas. They find solace in one another’s presence as sisters, friends, and passengers drifting in the same boat, each with a different captain.
The story revolves around their kids, Fakhir (Samar Jaffri) and Ainy (Aina Asif), who are busy enjoying the joys of teenage life. Their world centres on carrom games, mathematical equations, adolescent crushes, and cousin rivalries. They deftly juggle their studies, assist their parents with household chores, and ensure they return home punctually — until an unexpected turn of events.
One day, Zaheer makes a decision — to get them married. His reasoning? He senses his limited time and fears missing out on his son’s future joys. So, he contemplates marrying him off now at 16 to a girl a year younger than his son. While the mothers fight fiercely for their children, their efforts eventually wane, and they cede the reins of the duo’s future to their fathers and God — a reflection of the patterns often seen in patriarchal families facing such situations.
