BBC Asian Network, 9 January 2011
This short playlet, part of a series of three broadcast under the umbrella
title Resolutions, concerned Murz (Adeel Akhtar), a popular and proficient DJ whose personal life was a mess. Despite his
ability to work a crowd with music and chat, he found it difficult to relate to members of the opposite sex, much to the amusement
of his brother Jits (Pushpinde Chani). Shai Hussain's playlet involved issues of masculinity, and how the need to conform
to the stereotype of being able to relate to women, while sustaining that facade of strength and power, proves very difficult
for Murz to sustain.
While performing live on New Year's Eve, Murz becomes so frustrated with himself
that he leaves the party venue for a short while, and meets a girl Suki (Nisha Nayar) outside - someone who suffers like Murz
from a sense of inadequacy. She has been ostracized by her family for a year, and resolves to reconnect with them before New
Year's Eve has ended. Meeting Murz encourages her in that process of reconnection; the two of them seem to hit it off, and
resolve to meet soon for a drink. The experience proves cathartic for Murz, as he understands that he does not have to pretend
in order to find a girlfriend; rather he should remain true to himself.
Shai Hussain has a good ear for rhythmic dialogue, with the use of repetition, alliteration
and assonance giving his segment of Resolution a haunting, almost musical quality. I really enjoyed it. The
director was James Peries.
