A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 3 (2021). The new TV series is directed by Shehzad Kashmiri and written by Hashim Nadeem. Parizaad is a Momina Duraid Production.
(Note: If you’ve already read the review of the previous episode, you can skip directly ahead to the High points section).
+ 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 our 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 – Episode 3 starts off perfectly by introducing a whole new character by the name of Nasaaz. He is cynical, brutally honest about Life but yet in some way, a path of salvation for Parizaad. Since the first two episodes, our protagonist is troubled, abused and taken advantage of by the very people who pretend to care for him. Nasaaz on the other hand, sees the untapped potential in Parizaad, someone who understands him and wants to keep pushing Parizaad overcoming his fears from this dreadful society. This is some fascinating characterization by Hashim Nadeem which made the episode all the more entertaining to watch.
ii – The speech that the character Nasaaz gives to Parizaad on ending one’s Life was brilliant. While there was some dark humor in between the lines, Nasaaz understands the value of living. Suicide is a permanant solution to a temporary problem. Bad moments eventually pass, leading to inevitable greener pastures. It is a very mature and thoughtful look into such a serious subject matter.
iii – The relationship between Parizaad and his sister is truly heartbreaking. It is obvious that the sister perhaps sees Parizaad as her child and unfortunately, would not be there to protect him from the evils of society anymore. But with the introduction of Nasaaz, Parizaad will undoubtedly learn how to fend off for himself. I’m particularly very fond of how the writer displays the interchangeable roles of the guardians for our main protagonist.
iv– In the world of Parizaad, the immoral are rewarded and the pure are outcasted for being different. It’s a true reflection towards the world we live in. The mischievous hidden nature of Ahmed Taha Ghani as Majid is loved all over the neighborhood while the shy, awkwardness of Parizaad is looked down upon. The intercut scene between the two Nikahs/ Marriages was another example of mirroring the holy and the unholy matrimony through the technique of editing.
Dramas work best when the light and the shadow converge into one another, creating an abundance of possibilities in storytelling. Parizaad is essentially a character study which separates it from the rest of the shows on Pak TV right now. I’m truly excited how the story will develop in the next coming episodes.
v – I’m also very fond of how this drama is shot. The light is used in abundance to compliment the moving pictures of despair and hardship of Parizaad. The day scenes bring a sense of wonderment to the show while street lights illuminating the empty dark streets provide an intriguing contrast of agony and longing for a better future.
vi – Later in the episode, a new supporting character is introduced and I’m very pleasantly surprised that he was not reduced to yet another “villain of the week”. Parizaad moves away from the cliches of Pak dramas and it’s admittedly very refreshing to watch!
vii – The episode ends on a very interesting note. Perhaps it is now time for Parizaad to evaluate his life’s goals and ambitions and in the process, emerge with a new personality.
+ Low Points
i – This is certainly just a tiny nitpick but a little less use of melodramatic music would benefit the show even more. The writing might be subtle but it is clever enough to clue in the viewers how to emotionally respond without the aid of long stretches of music.
+ Overall
With brilliant writing, acting and direction, Parizaad is unlike any other show out there. Highly recommended!
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