Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani classic telefilm, Pehli Chori (1999). This low budget telefilm is directed by Khursheed-ul-Hassan and written by Banoo Qudsia. Pehli Chori was aired on PTV in 1999.

+ Crew

Directed by Khursheed-ul-Hassan
Written by Banoo Qudsia
Cinematography by Aslam Sheikh
Editing by M. Hamza Max
Production by Rahim Khan and Naveed Ahmad

+ Note

Pehli Chori is a showcase of future Pakistani television talents, Sania Saeed and Nauman Ijaz. The telefilm is primarily visualized as a long stage play, tackling issues like poverty and abuse of higher power.

+ Main Cast

Noman Ijaz as Ali
Sania Saeed as Bushra
Firdous Jamal as Doctor Daud Kazmi
Roohi Khan as Kishwar
Khyam Sarhadi as Baba Roray Maar
Tariq Mustafa as Azhar

+ Plot

Bushra and Ali are a middle aged married couple who are financially struggling to maintain their status quo. As their young son falls fatally ill, the parents are struggling to pay for his medical treatment by any means necessary.

+ High Points

i – If you are a fan of Nauman Ijaz or Sania Saeed, its great to see them as young and upcoming talents of Pakistani television. Even with budgetary and creative constraints, the chemistry between the two actors is fairly evident and noteworthy. Their performances might be a bit rough around the edges but one can see how these veteran actors have grown throughout the decades to improve upon their craft as legends in the business.

ii – Even though the production standards are incredibly outdated, the thematic elements of the telefilm have not. The issues of unemployment and abuse of power are still as prevalent as they were 25 years ago. Inadvertently, it also portrays issues that are severely lacking from the Pakistani television of today. No ‘Saas/ Bahu’ melodramas but rather, addressing societal issues head on.

iii – Pehli Chori has a good heart but the execution of the script, production and some of the performances cannot be ignored. But all that said, I do have to admit, the telefilm had the courage to give it an appropriate bleak ending. This is undoubtedly a bold move that I cannot ever imagine happening in the television of our present day.

+ Low Points

i – Clocking in at an hour’s length, Pehli Chori is a hard watch for sure. Tonal inconsistencies, terrible production work, some fairly oddball performances from the supporting cast makes Pehli Chori a difficult time to sit through. And it’s a shame because even back then, it was fairly obvious that Sania Saeed and Nauman Ijaz work so well together onscreen. Their pairing makes the telefilm almost worth a watch.

ii – It is by no means an exaggeration when I say that Pehli Chori has terrible production (even for its time!). The camerawork seems completely amateurish as there are multiple scenes with overexposed backgrounds, the music is at times overlapping on spoken dialogues, scenes purposefully shot in a single take in order to save time and budget, odd music choices that misrepresent the tone of the scene and I could just go on. Technically, this telefilm should have never been allowed to air on national television with this quality of production.

Whenever I watch a classic Pakistani drama, I always try to keep in mind the budgetary/ skill limitations of the production as well as the censorship but unfortunately, Pehli Chori was fairly outdated even back then.

iii – On one hand, Bushra accuses her husband Ali of infidelity and it is always played for laughs for some reason. But as Bushra confronts her employer regarding the cash she needs for her son’s treatment, the topic of infidelity is now all of a sudden supposed to be taken with utmost seriousness. You cannot have your cake and eat it too, one needs to establish a tone for their show in the first 5 minutes and follow through with it.

iv – Firdous Jamal as Doctor Daud Kazmi was arguably the most absurd performance I have seen in all of my classic reviews. While the other actors’ performances imitated reality, Firdous Jamal went for a more “Shakespearean” route for some reason. The inner monologues, the random emphasizes on certain phrases, the absurd dialogue delivery which felt so out of place for the telefilm; I can just imagine the director was nervous enough not to fill in Jamal sahib that this is a telefilm replicating reality and not a punjabi stage play.

+ Overall

Pehli Chori has a lot of heart behind its shoestring budget and terrible production quality but ultimately, it is a tough gig to sit through. Only recommended for diehard Nauman Ijaz/ Sania Saeed fans who would like to witness the genesis of their onscreen chemistry together.

Rate: out of 5 stars

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Sar-e-Rah (2023)

April 17, 2023 Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Sar-e-Rah (2023). The six episode TV mini-series is directed by Ahmed Bhatti and written by Adeel Razzaq & Abdullah Seja. Sar-e-Rah is a collection of short visual stories, perceived through the eyes of a female Taxi Driver, Rania (played by Saba Qamar). Known for its tackling of challenging subject matters, Sar-e-Rah was aired on ARY Digital in early 2023.

+ Crew

Directed by Ahmed Bhatti
Written by Adeel Razzaq & Abdullah Seja
Cinematography by Luqman Khan
Editing by Arsalan Waheed
Music by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Mohsin Allah Dittah and Naveed Nashad
Production by ARY Digital

+ Note

Sar-e-Rah is a six episode mini-series which is solely focused on the tribulations that a woman (and minorities) have to face in a Pakistani society. Whether it is being harassed at work, being a single parent, having a viral video taken out of context or having a different sexual orientation; Sar-e-Rah highlights all those topics through short television episodes through the eyes of a female cab driver, Rania.

+ Main Cast

Saba Qamar as Rania
Sunita Marshall as Dr. Muzna
Saboor Ali as Rameen
Muneeb Butt as Sarang
Hareem Farooq as Maryam
Mirza Zain Baig as Shozaib
Mikaal Zulfiqar as Amir

+ Plot

After tragedy strikes the family, Rania has no choice but to continue the family business on behalf of her ailing father i.e. working as a cab driver. While on the road, she encounters four brave individuals who share their life experiences with her.

+ High Points

i – In terms of its conception, Sar-e-Rah is brilliant, well throughout the mini series. By dividing each story into its separate episode, Sar-e-Rah gives a wonderful insight into the lives of individuals who suffer from taking a path which revolts against the misogynist norms of our society. Where Sar-e-Rah truly excels for me is the simple storytelling. Each episode ends with an introduction to a new character and the next episode then elaborates and builds up this individual’s backstory through a lengthy flashback. Not only is this a great concept for storytelling but also quite an engaging one as this strategy makes certain that the audience will most likely tune in for the next episode. Granted, this technique would get old fast in a longer TV series but for a six episode mini-series, works perfectly fine.

ii – Saba Qamar’s character is a perfect vessel for the audience to peep into the lives of the four individuals that she meets along her journey of self-emancipation. The questioning of her character to her clients are impeccably written as they ask the same question that the audience of the show might have in regards to their life stories. Her character Rania is a smart, confident woman who is open to learning from other life experiences around her.

iii – Not all episodes are a homerun but the ones that do shine are the most effective ones. Case in point, Dr. Munza and her struggle to adopt a child. The episode brilliantly exposes the hypocrisy from the society between a husband and wife. The couple cannot conceive a child so naturally it is the woman at fault. Dr. Munza is perplexed and heartbroken as her husband is comfortable with shoving the blame on her when he, in fact, is the one that cannot conceive a child. Along the way, Dr. Munza comes across an abandoned baby in her clinic and promises to protect and adopt the child at all costs. And as one would expect, her husband and mother in law disown her completely and she has no choice but to become a single mother.

Sunita Marshall is perfect casting for the role as she has the ability to play a tortured yet brave woman who can stand up against her so-called authority figures.

iv – Perhaps the most difficult topic to tackle for the show was (unsurprisingly) Episode 4; the boy who was different from others. Just for attempting to bring the topic of homosexuality and transsexual on Pak TV screens is enough to set the internet on fire. Whether you are for individual rights or not, these people exist in our society and are part of our daily lives. And it is important that they are represented as part of us on national television.

While personally not a fan of the network, ARY Digital should be praised for its “controversial” Karachi beach chat between the father and son. I can imagine how much pressure and anticipation for backlash the network prepared for before releasing this episode. All because the father told his son that he will love him no matter what sexual orientation he chooses in the future.

v – The original soundtrack of the show is splendid. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s magnificent voice captures the struggle and intensity of the characters. The music accompanying each scene provides an additional touch to its emotional drama and never overstays its welcome.

+ Low Points

i – Sar-e-Rah had a great concept but faltered mostly in its execution. The illustrious cast of characters have great, individual personalities with serious, real life issues but the supporting cast of “villains” are depicted as cartoonishly evil with unrealistic dialogue and personalities. The show never went to the next level because the writing of the show never allowed it. There is no doubt that Sar-e-Rah is a show with a bold premise but if the problems are real, the world that it is set in also needs to feel realistic. The show is too busy depicting ‘Good vs Evil’ when in fact, the world is mostly consisting of gray areas.

ii – With all the good that Sar-e-Rah brought onto our television screens, not every episode worked to its strength (namely Episode 3 and 5). The Tik-Tok star episode really had genuine emotions behind its storytelling but the performances and cookie-cutter antagonists just ended up making the episode mediocre at best.

Episode 5 with Maryam (the career oriented woman) felt like it missed its mark by a long shot. Unlike the other protagonists in the show, Maryam felt very unlikable with her mannerisms as she felt that the society “owed” her success in her career rather than her talent earning that success. Her male colleagues are cartoonish scumbags but Maryam’s overconfidence also made her so unsympathetic that as a viewer, I couldn’t care less who wins the pitch with the client in the end. They were all fairly unlikable.

iii – The last episode was massively disappointing as each of the stories were forced into a “wholesome” conclusion from the show. Either all the antagonists were embarrassed or they suddenly gained a new perception in life which narratively made no sense. Sar-e-Rah started off with a bang and ended in a whimper.

+ Overall

Sar-e-Rah is a show with bold writing and a strong cast of characters but ultimately fails to capture the realism of the world that it sets itself in.

Rate: out of 5 stars

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Meri Shehzadi – Episode XXIII (2022)

March 1, 2023March 1, 2023 Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Meri Shehzadi Episode 23 (2022). The new TV series is directed by Qasim Ali Mureed and written by Zanjbeel Asim Shah. Meri Shehzadi is a story of a girl with a tragic past but is destined to become Royalty. Can she handle the responsibilities that come with it? Meri Shehzadi is an MD Productions and HUM TV Production.

+ Crew

Directed by Qasim Ali Mureed
Written by Zanjbeel Asim Shah
Produced by Momina Duraid
Production by MD Productions

+ Note

The story of Meri Shehzadi is inspired by the real life story of the late Princess Diana from the United Kingdom. The show explores the expectations that corrupts the innocent and discourages empathy towards the common man.

+ Main Cast

Urwa Hocane as Dania
Ali Rehman as Shehroz
Sabeen Farooq as Bisma
Muazzam Ali Khan
Sonia Mishal
Najiba Faiz
Atiqa Odho
Shabbir Jan
Nauman Maqsood
Qavi Khan as Dania’s Nana
Shamim Hilaly as Dania’s Nani

+ Plot

Raised by her loving Grandparents, Dania is born in a royal family who is destined for greatness in life. After meeting her future husband and entering the political monarchy of Pakistan, Dania must face the trials and tribulations that come along with the life of royalty.

+ High Points

i – The story progressed to a minimal degree (and I am being extremely generous here).

+ Low Points

i – Episode 23 was just ridiculous. Meri Shehzadi has now entered the “trashy” section of Pakistani television (or as I would like to call it, Geo TV programs). Slaps galore! It has now become a staple that whenever a husband physically abuses his wife, the wife returns the favor. Our main protagonist is being constantly drugged and her pseudo doctor boyfriend also can’t figure this mystery out. Scheming maids, evil Mother in Laws and more!

Last week, I was being overly optimistic for the show’s future but this episode proved me wrong. This might be the lowest point of this show’s lifespan.

ii – The show runners clearly have no idea how drugs work since Urwa Hocane’s performance is unnecessarily exaggerated. All of a sudden, her entire character has changed as she is snapping at people who supported her left and right, smashing kebab plates (off screen) and whatnot. One could understand if such behavior came in phases but not as a constant entity. Comical writing accompanied by outlandish performance. Terrible!

iii – Look at this screenshot from the episode. The video on the phone apparently leaped out of its screen and overlapped the spoon. Is this the standard of Hum TV productions now??

iv – This show has currently no sense of direction. The character growth that we thought we witnessed has evaporated into thin air so the script can make room for some nonsense, trashy back and forth between the characters.This has to be one of the worst episodes that this show has put out. And we, as an audience, deserve better quality writing from Hum TV productions.

+ Overall

Unapologetic, trashy television that should have no place on national television.

Rate: out of 5 stars

Feature Length Films

Mr. Khan’s Review on Joyland (2022)

February 20, 2023February 20, 2023 Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani feature length film, Joyland (2022). The controversial feature length debut is written and directed by Saim Sadiq. The film stars Ali Junejo, Rasti Farooq, Alina Khan, Sarwat Gilani, and Salmaan Peerzada. The film centers around the Rana family as the head of the family yearns for the birth of another boy from his son, Haider. Joyland is distributed by Film Constellation.

+ Crew

Directed by Saim Sadiq
Written by Saim Sadiq and Maggie Briggs
Cinematography by Joe Saade
Edited by Saim Sadiq and Jasmin Tenucci
Music by Abdullah Siddiqui
Produced by Apoorva Guru Charan, Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, Sabiha Sumar and Lauren Mann

+ Note

Due to its thematic elements of a married man falling in love with a transgender woman, the film Joyland has received massive criticism from religious groups within Pakistan (believing it was against “Pakistani and Islamic values”). But on the other end of the spectrum, the film has met with critical success and has been screened in film festivals around the world. Even with immense pressure from the religious groups, the film was eventually released in some parts of Pakistan (while heavily edited due to its content). Joyland was screened at the Cannes Film Festival and was short listed for Academy Awards for ‘Best Foreign Film’ but did not make the final five at the end.

+ Main Cast

Ali Junejo as Haider
Rasti Farooq as Mumtaz
Alina Khan as Biba
Sarwat Gilani as Nucchi
Salmaan Peerzada as Rana Amanullah
Sohail Sameer as Saleem
Sania Saeed as Fayyaz

+ Plot

In the inner depths of Lahore, lives the Rana family where the father (Salmaan Peerzada) wants his son Haider (Ali Junejo) to provide him a grandson. But with his marriage falling apart, Haider meets a transgender dancer Biba (Alina Khan) and against all odds, falls in love.

+ High Points

i – With all the hype and controversies surrounding the film, Joyland is indeed one of the best Independent films Pakistan has ever produced. The film explores the underbelly of our society as it casts a light onto individuals who apparently “do not exist” or are not worthy of being Pakistani. Joyland is a quintessential character exploration drama where our protagonist Haider is being forced to abide with the patriarchy of his father and his forefathers; he must produce a son in order to keep his family lineage going. But Haider, on the other hand, is a gentle soul who lacks the courage to stand up to his father and break the patriarchal shackles once and for all. He is afraid as we all are in our society. Afraid to stand up for one’s self. Afraid to speak out against a blatant lie. Afraid to be just ourselves. With its subject matter, Joyland undoubtedly divides its audience to the core but it also accomplished work of art by being an essential introspective of our Pakistani society.

ii – The film has a talented cast of actors. The chemistry between the onscreen married couple; Haider and Mumtaz (played excellently by Rasti Farooq) brings a sense of dread and remorse to its viewers. Haider is incapable of giving her the love and attention that she deserves. Like many Pakistanis, he is forced to live the life that fate dictates him.

Whenever the actors share a scene together, Rasti and Ali bring out the best in each other. They laugh, make fun of each other but at the same time, cannot convey the claustrophobic sense of dread that is killing them from the inside. And that, in its own way, is poetic to the landscape of cinema.

iii – The chemistry between Bibi and Haider on the other hand is vastly different. Here, Haider finally has the chance to break away from the ever watchful eye of his father and become an individual that he did not even dared in his wildest dreams. But ever the pessimist, Haider’s joke of the mosquito and chicken falling in love and eventually dying of each other’s diseases set up the tone to the life Haider is accustomed to. He knows pursuing Biba is off limits and won’t end well for either of them.

Alina Khan as Biba is abrasive but honest in her performance. To implement one’s real life experiences of being a Transgender in a conservative society like Pakistan is never an easy task but Alina gives a fantastic performance as the dream girl for Haider. The woman who can force out the hidden rebellion out of him. Joyland thrives the most when both such contrasting chemistries play on screen and make the viewers understand just a little better where Haider comes from.

iv – The film is shot in an aspect ratio of 4:3 (which is more of an “equal box screen size”) and it plays an essential role for the film. The aspect ratio gives the cinematographer Joe Saade ample chance to create claustrophobic images which heightens the sense of unease and angst. Our characters at times want to break through the limited space of the frame, leap out of the screen and run towards a better, carefree future. Throughout the film, we get to witness numerous close ups of individual character heads as they feel trapped inside the images, yearning to escape. The director Saim Sadiq made an excellent decision with the aspect ratio which certainly paid off for the film.

v – There are some mesmerizing imagery in the film which bring a sense of fever dream at times. The scene where Biba and Haider share a drink in a room lit by the neon lights from the exterior was executed with perfection. Moving pictures are always visual narratives first and Saim Sadiq has a keen eye in presenting that without relying too much on spoken dialogues. The tone and the atmosphere that the film creates speaks volumes about our characters and what dystopian atmosphere they are forced to grow up in.

vi – But all is not doom and gloom. The actual “Joyland” scene of the film is the only time where we saw our characters (just for a brief period of time) forget their troubles, their hardships, their pessimistic futures disappear just so they can enjoy this one moment in time together. On the surface level, this scene might seem inconsequential but it was essential to the overall narrative of the film.

+ Low Points

Major SPOILERS ahead. If you would like to avoid it, please skip to Overall section:

i – Joyland unfortunately suffers from a shift of narrative half way through the film which did not work. The first half of the film focuses on Haider, his struggles with the expectations from the family, his forbidden romance with Biba and coming to terms with his sexuality. The second half focuses on Mumtaz, her need of attention from her husband, the unexpected pregnancy and the eventual suicide. I am not entirely sure why the narrative of the film was constructed in such a way as it would leave many viewers perplexed as to who the main character of the film is. The first half is about the forbidden love of Haider and the second half is the consequences on his wife because of it? Would she have committed suicide regardless of Haider’s affair? On one hand, the film wants us to root for Haider to embrace his sexuality but later on, the character of Biba and the love affair is completely ignored as the film decides to focus on Mumtaz who inadvertently becomes the main character of the film.

It’s great that the film shows the consequences of the decisions that our protagonist makes onto the supporting characters but by completely shifting the focus of our main character creates such a divide and leaves the viewers with a lingering thought of what they were supposed to take out from all this?

ii – The whole father’s love affair with the neighbor felt unnecessary and a distraction to the film’s main narrative. Yes, it showed that even hardliners of the family also do not like the patriarchal system that they have been brought up in but the whole scene felt like an afterthought to the main premise of the film.

+ Overall

Abrasive, cruel and an honest case study of our society, Joyland is a film that dawns a new light onto Pakistani cinema. An essential watch.

Rate: out of 5 stars

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Meri Shehzadi – Episode XXII (2022)

February 19, 2023 Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Meri Shehzadi Episode 22 (2022). The new TV series is directed by Qasim Ali Mureed and written by Zanjbeel Asim Shah. Meri Shehzadi is a story of a girl with a tragic past but is destined to become Royalty. Can she handle the responsibilities that come with it? Meri Shehzadi is an MD Productions and HUM TV Production.

+ Crew

Directed by Qasim Ali Mureed
Written by Zanjbeel Asim Shah
Produced by Momina Duraid
Production by MD Productions

+ Note

+ Main Cast

Urwa Hocane as Dania
Ali Rehman as Shehroz
Sabeen Farooq as Bisma
Muazzam Ali Khan
Sonia Mishal
Najiba Faiz
Atiqa Odho
Shabbir Jan
Nauman Maqsood
Qavi Khan as Dania’s Nana
Shamim Hilaly as Dania’s Nani

+ Plot

+ High Points

i – Episode 22 starts off with Shahana Bajhi a.k.a Dania’s Mother in Law as she wants to retaliate and take everything away from Dania. With each passing meal, Dania is being secretly drugged to deteriorate her health and present her as a mother who is incapable of taking care of her children. With each scene, we can see Dania growing irritable and incapacitated. On the other hand, the Mother in Law is also trying to manipulate her other daughter in law, Cam. Brought up in her “western culture”, Cam has a hard time adjusting to the requirements presented by her Mother in Law. Episode 22 was good because it presented storyprogression from both ends and each character played its role with significance to the overall plot of the show.

ii – It’s fairly interesting that even though Cam craves for her husband’s approval, she is still unwilling to sacrifice her character in the process. She likes to wear western clothing, hug her male friends and dance into the night. Even with immense pressure from Shahana Baji, she is unwilling to conform to the “norms” of a Pakistani housewife. It is also intriguing to notice that the show does not really take sides but rather, let the viewers decide who is right in this situation; the overbearing mother in law or the stubborn daughter in law?

+ Low Points

i – The “party” scene was so utterly ridiculous. For some reason, the footage was sped up to make the scene “chaotic”, the camera was entirely focused on hors d’oeuvres and not the guests mingling with one another. The scene felt flat for what the show was trying to accomplish.

ii – Dr. Hasan has been a very disappointing character for me. Even though he has mellowed out since the last few episodes, his romance with Dania feels non-existent at this point. Aren’t we supposed to root for them to be together? And speaking of ignored characters, Shehroz has become non-existent at this point which is such a shame.

iii – Drugged or not, I cannot imagine that a character like Dania would throw the kebabs plate onto the wall because they were “too spicy”. From what we have been accustomed to, it is not in Dania’s character.

+ Overall

With devious plans and the clash of polar opposite characters, Episode 22 was an entertaining one.

Rate: out of 5 stars

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Meri Shehzadi – Episode XXI (2022)

February 12, 2023February 12, 2023 Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Meri Shehzadi Episode 21 (2022). The new TV series is directed by Qasim Ali Mureed and written by Zanjbeel Asim Shah. Meri Shehzadi is a story of a girl with a tragic past but is destined to become Royalty. Can she handle the responsibilities that come with it? Meri Shehzadi is an MD Productions and HUM TV Production.

+ Crew

Directed by Qasim Ali Mureed
Written by Zanjbeel Asim Shah
Produced by Momina Duraid
Production by MD Productions

+ Note

+ Main Cast

Urwa Hocane as Dania
Ali Rehman as Shehroz
Sabeen Farooq as Bisma
Muazzam Ali Khan
Sonia Mishal
Najiba Faiz
Atiqa Odho
Shabbir Jan
Nauman Maqsood
Qavi Khan as Dania’s Nana
Shamim Hilaly as Dania’s Nani

+ Plot

+ High Points

i – Unlike the previous episode, this week had better plot development. Dr. Hasan is now trying to convince Dania to reconsider a second marriage with him in order to maintain her public image. The mother in law of course wants to destroy everything around Dania and take her place once again as the head of the table. Meri Shehzadi suffers from plot structure and bad writing but the events of each scene are communicated with clarity to the viewers which makes it easy to follow and revisit each and every week for the next plot development.

+ Low Points

i – Meri Shehzadi has just drizzled down to mediocrity. All characters have just become cartoonish caricatures of themselves, plot development from previous episodes are ignored or incomplete, the individual personas of the main cast do not matter anymore as the plot has finally gone into auto pilot. Events need to happen not because they had been carefully developed throughout the show but rather to the requirement of the script. Case in point; Dania’s marriage to Dr. Hasan. In the last episode, the doctor indirectly insulted Dania and let out his frustration towards his mother for not agreeing to his previous love interest. And now, he just wants to “save” Dania. Not only is this plot point so far removed from the real Princess Diana’s affair with the Pakistani doctor but it also makes no sense to the plot of this show. If Dania ends up marrying the doctor, would that not make the rumors true that she did indeed have an affair with him behind her husband’s back?

ii – The chemistry and romance between Dania and Dr. Hasan is surprisingly one of the weaker parts of the show. And the fault not only lies in the performances but the script itself. The written dialogues try so hard to sound deep and meaningful but end up being cliche and uninteresting. The scenes shared between the two could have made or break the show but unfortunately for Meri Shehzadi, the romance feels forced and unmotivated.

iii – There were a couple of times in episode 21 where I openly groaned while watching the show. The writing has drastically become incredibly lame and the scenes like the mother in law using the chess board to hammer down the game of politics. Yes, politics is like a game of chess. Thank you for that visual reminder! And later on, the doctor and the grandpa also find some time to play a game of chess. Just a word of advice from the viewer; Symbolism only works if it’s subtle. Otherwise, it just comes off as contrived.

iv – It’s a pity that Shehroz has been almost entirely removed from the plot. He was always one of the few interesting characters of the show and Dr. Hasan unfortunately does not possess the complexity that Shehroz had.

+ Overall

The chemistry and romance between Dania and Dr. Hasan is surprisingly one of the weaker parts of the show.

Rate: out of 5 stars

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Meri Shehzadi – Episode XX (2022)

February 5, 2023 Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Meri Shehzadi Episode 20 (2022). The new TV series is directed by Qasim Ali Mureed and written by Zanjbeel Asim Shah. Meri Shehzadi is a story of a girl with a tragic past but is destined to become Royalty. Can she handle the responsibilities that come with it? Meri Shehzadi is an MD Productions and HUM TV Production.

+ Crew

Directed by Qasim Ali Mureed
Written by Zanjbeel Asim Shah
Produced by Momina Duraid
Production by MD Productions

+ Note

+ Main Cast

Urwa Hocane as Dania
Ali Rehman as Shehroz
Sabeen Farooq as Bisma
Muazzam Ali Khan
Sonia Mishal
Najiba Faiz
Atiqa Odho
Shabbir Jan
Nauman Maqsood
Qavi Khan as Dania’s Nana
Shamim Hilaly as Dania’s Nani

+ Plot

+ High Points

i – Even though the confrontation scene between Dania and her mother in law was abysmal, at least we (as the viewers) got to see character development from our protagonist. From the meek, impressionable girl to the strong, independent woman; Dania has grown massively as a character in these past 15 to 20 episodes. It is a reward that the viewer feels when they chose to stick by the show since its premiere episode and it has finally somewhat paid off.

+ Low Points

i – Episode 20 was lame and inconsequential at best. Nothing of note ever took place in this hour’s time. Dr. Hasan’s mother is forcing him to create a romance with Dania but to no avail. The confrontation between the Mother in law and our protagonist was as cliche as you could have imagined and the narrative felt nothing more than padding for the next coming weeks of the show. Entirely skippable of an episode.

ii – You know when the show has run out of its creative juices when you see a slap and a blocking of the slap routine. The Saas/ Bahoo storyline has come to a dead end by now. The confrontation between Dania and her mother in law is beyond its expiry date and apart from being treated with line after line of pure repetition and nonsensical dialogue, Dania has finally taken her kids away and I hope that is the end of that storyline.

iii – It is still astonishing to me that the real life married couple of Farhan Saeed and Urwa Hocane can be so devoid of onscreen chemistry. None of the scenes that they share feel exciting and engaging in any shape or form. The scenes feel rushed and a practice recitation of dialogues so they can end the day’s shoot as quickly as possible. And on top of it all, Dr. Hasan is now arguably turning into an unlikeable character.

iv – It is obvious that Dr.Hasan makes intrusive remarks towards Dania in the episode just to push her further away but I am not really sure why. If Hasan is not interested in Dania then these actions could make sense but if it is just for spite since his mother refused the last girl he brought home then that is just ludicrous. In episode 20, Dr. Hasan just comes off bitter and unapproachable to the viewers and I am sure that is not what the show wants us to feel about him.

+ Overall

An inconsequential episode, riddled with cliche scenes and dialogues, Meri Shehzadi can do much better than this.

Rate: out of 5 stars

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Meri Shehzadi – Episode XVIII & XIX (2022)

January 29, 2023 Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Meri Shehzadi Episode 18 and 19 (2022). The new TV series is directed by Qasim Ali Mureed and written by Zanjbeel Asim Shah. Meri Shehzadi is a story of a girl with a tragic past but is destined to become Royalty. Can she handle the responsibilities that come with it? Meri Shehzadi is an MD Productions and HUM TV Production.

+ Crew

Directed by Qasim Ali Mureed
Written by Zanjbeel Asim Shah
Produced by Momina Duraid
Production by MD Productions

+ Note

+ Main Cast

Urwa Hocane as Dania
Ali Rehman as Shehroz
Sabeen Farooq as Bisma
Muazzam Ali Khan
Sonia Mishal
Najiba Faiz
Atiqa Odho
Shabbir Jan
Nauman Maqsood
Qavi Khan as Dania’s Nana
Shamim Hilaly as Dania’s Nani

+ Plot

+ High Points

i – Episode 18 starts a new phase in Dania’s life. Her political career looks uncertain, her family life is in shambles, the only thing she has going for her is her grandfather who is currently in the hospital. Enter; Dr. Hasan. Inspired by the real life lover of Princess Dania, Dr. Hasan is played by the real life husband of Urwa Hocane, Farhan Saeed. And immediately, one could see why this was such an ideal casting. Farhan’s performance possesses a certain arrogance with a hint of empathy to create a character for Dania whom she could eventually fall in love with. A total 180 if in comparison to her husband. Initially, Dr. Hasan comes off harsh and unsympathetic but as you get to know him, he eventually warms up and reveals his inner thoughts and emotions. All in all, Farhan Saeed as Dr. Hasan is perfect casting the show.

ii – With everything imploding around Dania (her marriage, her career), it’s nice to see some good fortune bestowed upon her. The romance with her husband was doomed right from the start. Since then, Dania has faced countless hardships with no silver linings in between so Dr. Hasan is undoubtedly a sigh of relief for the show.

+ Low Points

i – Even though casting Farhan Saeed as Dania’s eventual lover was a no brainer, one would have expected a much better chemistry from the real life married duo. Urwa Hocane’s one note dialogue delivery seems like a bad mix with Farhan’s calculated performance.

ii – So this move left me somewhat perplexed. After the grandfather’s heart attack scene, Qavi Khan as the ‘Nana’ just retired from the role and was handed over to a new actor who physically looks nothing alike! The subtitle underneath claims no real reason behind it so why was this decision made? Did Qavi Khan have other commitments or was he physically not well? Such decisions break the immersion of the viewers and unless there is a vital reason behind it, these actor swaps should be avoided.

iii – We are two-thirds way into the life of the show and Meri Shehzadi has been a poor (loose) adaptation of the life of Princess Diana. Urwa Hocane has been very disappointing with her performance in the lead role, the plot has strictly focused on uninspired family drama that has been depicted countless times on every Pak TV show and the show hardly gives you any reason to re-visit it each and every week. I would wish the show to end on a high note, develop the romance between Dania and Dr. Hasan, make the audience root for them to be together. With such an interesting narrative platform, Meri Shehzadi should have been a much better show than it is.

+ Overall

A silver lining in the form of Dr. Hasan but Meri Shehzadi continues to walk on familiar territories and never challenge itself with originality.

Rate: out of 5 stars

Feature Length Films

Mr. Khan’s Review on The Legend of Maula Jatt (2022)

January 19, 2023January 19, 2023 Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani feature length film, The Legend of Maula Jatt (2022). The feature length epic is written and directed by Bilal Lashari. The film is an adaptation of a 1979 Punjabi cult classic ‘Maula Jatt’ starring the legendary Sultan Rahi. The film stars Fawad Khan as the protagonist with Hamza Ali Abbasi, Humaima Malik, Faris Shafi and Mahira Khan. The Legend of Maula Jatt is produced by Encyclomedia, Lashari Films and is distributed by AAA Motion Pictures, Geo Films and Mandiwala Entertainment.

+ Crew

Directed by Bilal Lashari
Written by Nasir Adeeb and Bilal Lashari
Cinematography by Bilal Lashari
Edited by Bilal Lashari
Music by Sarmad Ghafoor
Produced by Ammara Hikmat and Asad Jamil Khan
Production by Encyclomedia and Lashari Films

+ Note

The development of a new adaptation of the Punjabi cult classic started around 2013 by the director Bilal Lashari and later on, Ammara Hikmat and Asad Jamil Khan came onboard as producers for the film. In an effort to make the film grasped firmly into the roots of the original, Nasir Adeeb (the screenwriter of the original) was hired to co-write the script. With a hefty budget of PKR 45 crore, the adaptation was initially supposed to be released around 2018/19 but due to various copyright lawsuits and the pandemic, was pushed further back. The film was finally released on 13th October 2022 and quickly became the highest grossing Pakistani film of all time.

+ Main Cast

Fawad Khan as Maula Jatt
Rehan Fareed Hiraj as Young Maula
Hamza Ali Abbasi as Noori Natt
Mahira Khan as Mukhoo Jattni
Humaima Malik as Daaro Nattni
Gohar Rasheed as Maakha Natt
Faris Shafi as Mooda
Shafqat Cheema as Jeeva Natt
Saima Baloch as Rajjo
Nayyer Ejaz as Jagoo Natt
Ali Azmat as Gogi

+ Plot

Born out of a tragic past, Maula Jatt grows up to take revenge against the Noori Natt clan and fights for the justice of his people.

+ High Points

i – So I just would like to get this out of the way, The Legend of Maula Jatt exceeded my expectations. Not only did Bilal Lashari create an engaging, three hour long Punjabi epic with fast paced action and breathtaking visuals but it also did not forget its humble roots of our low budget Punjabi cinema. From the interesting cast of characters to the final epic battle between Maula Jatt and Noori Natt, the film will undoubtedly keep you entertained throughout its runtime. Bilal Lashari and his crew have done a marvelous job in bringing Maula Jatt to mainstream pop culture without desecrating its source material. The film rapidly became the highest grossing Pakistani film of all time and with its continuous legal troubles behind the scenes, it was well worth the wait.

ii – Bilal Lashari is undoubtedly the genius behind the film. With just his second directorial film, Lashari is also credited as the writer, cinematographer and editor of the film. This is truly a herculean effort from the filmmaker who was hellbent on bringing Maula Jatt to the big screen once again and should rightfully be applauded for all his hard work. Since it was a singular vision in a lot of aspects, it is difficult for me to distinguish each individual aspect apart. The masterful cinematography truly complimented the emotional turmoil of the character, accompanied by numerous match cut edits, making the transition brilliant from one scene to the next. The Legend of Maula Jatt could truly be Bilal Lashari’s magnum opus.

iii – The best decision that Bilal Lashrai ever made was that he recruited Nasir Adeeb to co-write the script with him. Adeeb served as the screenwriter of the original Maula Jatt (1979) and dialogues have been written with uttermost perfection for each and every character. Never did any set of dialogue felt out of place or unnecessary to the story but in fact, some comedic ones also left me chuckling under my breath. Apart from Lashari, Nasir Adeeb has had a major role to play in the success of this film.

iv – As far as the performances go, I have no complaints. The theatrical, exaggerated performance of each actor complimented the essence of the source material with its core. It is one of the few instances where the film required exaggerated expressions and played quite well in creating a unique world of love, murder and vengeance. Fawad Khan, Maria Khan, Gohar Rasheed; everyone played their roles brilliantly. But all in all, it was Hamza Ali Abbasi’s Noori Natt who stole the show for me. His tragic past, deranged concept of justice and unfiltered violence made him such a unique figure in the history of Pakistani cinema.

v – Some audience members might have been turned off by the gratuitous violence in the film but it is an essential part of the saga. Bilal Lashrai smarty utilized such horrific imagery in order to heighten the atmosphere of the film. Maula Jatt grows up in a world of injustice and he is not afraid to use his Ghandasa in order to fight for his people. Frankly, I would have been very disappointed if they didn’t abrasively use violence in the film.

vi – Thankfully, the film is devoid of any song and dance numbers… except for this one instance.The ‘Chann Pichay’ was a wonderful melody that was strategically placed right in the middle of the film. It was as some might say “The calm before the storm”.

vii – The music by Sarmad Ghafoor and sound mixing did a stupendous job in bringing Maula Jatt to life. From the galloping of the horses to the verbal defiance of Maula Jatt, each scene was made engaging through its wonderful music composition and brilliant sound mixing.

viii – Now this is how you pay an homage to the source material! None of the famous dialogues of Noori Natt or Maula Jatt were misused or felt out of place in order to nudge the viewers into loving the film. All the callbacks of scenes, dialogues and violence were appropriately used to pay homage but at the end, have an identity of its own.

+ Low Points

i – The three hour runtime was never an issue for me but lack of quieter scenes unfortunately were. By the end of the film, the gratuitous violent imagery did become tad overbearing and one would imagine a couple of more character building scenes here and there might have helped the film in the long run. Such as…

ii – Mahira Khan as Mukhoo Jattni. Her character sadly feels shortchanged as she never developed beyond the characteristic that she loves Maula more than anything. Great but what is Mukhoo herself as a person? A few more scenes could have been utilized in developing her character, her back story, what role does she play in the story apart from being our main protagonist’s love interest.

iii – This is of course, a nitpick from my side but Fawad Khan is too handsome to play the role of Maula Jatt. His performance in the role was great but visually, his movie star looks hindered my attention towards believing in him as the vengeful protagonist. Before the original 1979 film, Sultan Rahi was never perceived as a star. He always played the role of an extra in numerous films, mainly because he looked like any other person you would meet on the street. Similarly, Maula Jatt represents the common man, anyone of us can take the mantle of him. Fawad Khan’s visual appearance never went beyond ‘a movie star playing a character on screen’.

+ Overall

Brilliant storytelling, great performances and direction, The Legend of Maula Jatt might just be one of the best Pakistani films ever made.

Rate: out of 5 stars

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Meri Shehzadi – Episode XVII (2022)

January 15, 2023January 15, 2023 Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Meri Shehzadi Episode 17 (2022). The new TV series is directed by Qasim Ali Mureed and written by Zanjbeel Asim Shah. Meri Shehzadi is a story of a girl with a tragic past but is destined to become Royalty. Can she handle the responsibilities that come with it? Meri Shehzadi is an MD Productions and HUM TV Production.

+ Crew

Directed by Qasim Ali Mureed
Written by Zanjbeel Asim Shah
Produced by Momina Duraid
Production by MD Productions

+ Note

+ Main Cast

Urwa Hocane as Dania
Ali Rehman as Shehroz
Sabeen Farooq as Bisma
Muazzam Ali Khan
Sonia Mishal
Najiba Faiz
Atiqa Odho
Shabbir Jan
Nauman Maqsood
Qavi Khan as Dania’s Nana
Shamim Hilaly as Dania’s Nani

+ Plot

+ High Points

i – Even with all its flaws, Meri Shehzadi always has at least one scene per episode which combines all the best elements of the show. And for episode 17, it was the confrontation between Shehroz and his mother in the garden. The tension and frustration on Shehroz’s face was quite evident as he contemplated the future scenario where he will have to officially announce his relationship with Cam to the general public. What follows is the talk that his mother gives him through her life long experience working as a politician. “Allow your loved one to die and you will finally be free of having anyone close to you again”. This is the sort of mentality I could expect from her character and plays a perfect role in morphing and corrupting Shehroz’s way of thinking.

ii – Unlike Dania, Cam’s character has always been on point. Bringing up the son on her own, she is desperate for Shehroz’s love and attention, and wants him all for herself. Dania will always be a major threat to her because to the general public, Dania will always be Shehroz’s one and only wife. Cam’s treatment by the family as an imposter is taking a toll on her mind and Cam finally want to break the shackles and achieve the goal of finally being Shehroz’s one and only love.

+ Low Points

i – Its very disappointing to see Meri Shehzadi doubledown on the narrative path towards a more “family melodrama” approach and less focused towards the “political aspect” of the plot. We now get to see Dania and Cam constantly fight one another for the affection of Shehroz and quite frankly, it’s very demeaning to the women of the show. By this point, Dania should be moving on with her life and focusing on her political career instead. Shehroz has made it very clear that he will never love her the way he does Cam so it all makes Dania seem desperate for attention. Wasn’t the real life Princess Diana also stuck in a loveless marriage? But she made something of her career as a philanthropist and a public figure instead. And so should Dania.

ii – Oh, the dialogue! “Please do not go to the event because I fear if you see Dania there, you will instantly fall in love with her!”. This is clearly how people do not talk in real life.

iii – Dania has been very poorly presented in the show. She pretends to be strong but cannot stand to leave her husband’s side. It has been proven time and time again that Shehroz’s approval is all that she needs to make her feel special and I feel it is a total disservice to how the show wants to portray Dania to the viewers. She should be smart enough to let go of this loveless marriage and pursue helping those in need.

+ Overall

Decent but tad disappointing that the show continues to focus on the family melodrama and Dania refuses to mature as a character.

Rate: out of 5 stars