A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 1 (2021). The new TV series is directed by Shehzad Kashmiri and written by Hashim Nadeem. Parizaad is a Momina Duraid Production and airs on HUM TV.
+ Crew
- Directed by Shehzad Kashmiri
- Written by Hashim Nadeem
- Produced by Momina Duraid Productions
+ Note
Parizaad is based on a novel by Hashim Nadeem and is a case study of a protagonist who cannot seem to find his place in a world where illicit behaviour and exploitation is rewarded over truth and kindness. The show explores the lower middle class societal problems of Pakistan and how a wallflower like Parizaad is never appreciated by the society.
The director of the show Shehzad Kashmiri is a well respected cinematographer who then moved towards directing TV shows. He also directed a feature length film Bin Roye in 2015 which earned him a nomination for Best Film Director at 15th Lux Style Awards.
+ Main Cast
- Noman Ejaz
- Ahmed Ali Akbar
- Syed Muhammad Ahmed
- Urwa Hussain
- Ushna Shah
- Yumna Zaidi
- Saboor Ali
- Mashal Khan
- Tipu Shah
- Kiran Tabeer
+ Plot
Born in a world of neglect and hurt, Parizaad is an innocent soul that differs from everyone. He is kind, thoughtful and a gentle soul who due to his nature and appearance, does not fit the societal norms of Pakistani culture. Will the devious modern society engulf Parizaad into its darkness or will he remain a beacon of hope and all that is good in Life?
+ High Points
i – Parizaad is an interesting protagonist for the show. He’s shy, romantic at heart and selfless amongst others. Ahmed Ali Akbar gives a great performance through not just with his dialogues but physical mannerism; the way he slouches while walking or keeps his head low to avoid eye contact. It shows that the actor has diven deep down into the psyche of the character and his performance is a pleasure to watch on screen.
ii – The backdrop and surroundings play a crucial role in presenting the world of Parizaad to the viewers and I believe that the production team does a fantastic job with it. The slums, the broken walls, the ‘Awara’ youngsters playing Daboo at the street corner, it’s nice to see a Pak TV drama which takes place in the streets of Pakistan rather than lavish palaces of the less than 1% of Pakistanis.
iii – For its first episode, the pacing of the show flows well; the character and his surroundings are well established and ends on a good cliffhanger. It’s a promising start to a new TV series that will surely bring more viewers in.
iv – Laudable camerawork and set design by the Production crew. By this point, Momina Duraid Productions always deliver on the technical aspects of its product and Parizaad is no different.
+ Low Points
i – The biggest and most obvious critique has to be the Makeup on Ahmed Ali Akbar. He has been given a “brown face” which is questionable at best. I’m not sure where the show will go with this but if the idea is to critique how ‘brown skin’ is not up to the beauty standards of Pakistani culture then I’m all for it. But it does seem a tad dower to question why a relatively natural brown skinned actor was not chosen for the main role. Perhaps like the film Gandhi in 1982, Ahmed Ali Akbar’s performance will also overcome its appearance but I’m willing to see where the show takes this and then have my word on it.
ii – The Original Soundtrack seems at odds with the tone of the first episode. Perhaps with the music, HUM TV was trying to go with a ‘Anurag Kashyap’ vibe to it but unfortunately, doesn’t work too well with its overall presentation. The editing and pacing takes its time and is not at all insync with the music’s urgency.
+ Overall
With a compelling protagonist, Parizaad looks and feels different from other current Pak TV shows. Definitely worth a watch!
Rate: 3.0 out of 5 stars
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