Mr. Khan’s Review on Ishq Hai – Episode XXIII to XXIV (2021)

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Ishq Hai – Episode 23 to 24 (2021). The new TV series is directed by Aabis Raza and written by Rehana Aftab. Ishq Hai is an ARY Digital 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 Aabis Raza
• Written by Rehana Aftab
• DOP by Waqas Ali
• OST composed by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
• Editing by Zeeshan Ali Jokhio
• Produced by Fahad Mustafa & Dr. Ali Kazmi

+ Note

Ishq Hai is a tale of two lovers, a Shakespearean tragedy set in South Asia where the conflict between tradition and individual freedom comes into play. An age long question within our Pakistani culture; should the tradition of arranged marriage be questioned? How important is the right to choose your own life partner? The drama has a star studded cast of young and veteran actors and is an exclusive ARY Digital Production.

 + Main Cast

1. Minal Khan as Isra
2. Danish Taimoor as Shahzaib
3. Hammad Farooqi as Hammad
4. Babar Ali as Isra’s father
5. Hammad Shoaib as Haris
6. Saba Faisal as Nafisa
7. Mahi Baloch as Sameera
8. Sajjad Paul as Raza
9. Mahenur Haider as Nimra

+ Plot

Isra and Shahzaib are the young lovers in conflict with their respective families. Their parents have already found a spouse for them. Arranged marriage has been a family tradition but against all odds, Isra and Shahzaib want to fight for their love. Will their pure love be able to conquer all?   

+ High Points

i – No high points today, folks! Episode 23 and 24 were the very worst of Ishq Hai!

+ Low Points

i – Episode 23 and 24 were essentially inconsequential to the overall narrative of the show. There was no character building or progression of the plot, just characters reacting to one another’s banter or threats.

ii – Alright, why has Isra gained a spine all of a sudden? Where was the moment where her breaking point was reached? One could say that it was the mother falling ill but she hasn’t been in the best of health ever since her husband died. Isra’s sudden shift in character is once again a prime example of how poor the writing of the show is. Things happen without reasoning. No build up or progression of Isra’s frustrations, just that the script demanded her this week to stand up on her own.

iii – Nimra still continues to be the worst character ever written in the history of Pakistan Television. Her whole personality is defined by her rage and jealousy towards Isra. She stares out of the window every now and then, contemplating why she is not with Shahzaib instead. Now she is engaging in physical cat fights with Isra. Nimra has no personality of her own other than that she is crazy about Shahzaib. What an utter embarrassment this show is for the women of Pakistan!

iv – But the second worst character of the show has to be Azekah Daniel as Naina. The biggest issue with the writing of the show is how every character in the show has absolutely no subtlety to them. And Naina is the prime example of such flat characterization. In every episode, she is ALWAYS whining and complaining how she is not the center of attention in the family. Her dialogues seem so far removed from reality that it’s difficult to even hate her as the minor antagonist of the show. Apparently every single character in the show is needy and desperate for attention!

v – Apart from Nimra and Naina, we have another needy and desperate character of the show; Hammad Shoaib as Haris who now stalks Isra and harasses her in a parked car! Sigh, what is up with these people? Do they not have their normal lives to be busy with?

+ Overall

The female representation in Ishq Hai is abhorrent and an embarrassment to the legacy of Pakistan television. It is a mockery of our culture, our values and our moral integrity.

 Rate: ZERO out of 5 stars