A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Ishq Hai – Episode 33 to 36 (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
- Minal Khan as Isra
- Danish Taimoor as Shahzaib
- Hammad Farooqi as Hammad
- Babar Ali as Isra’s father
- Hammad Shoaib as Haris
- Saba Faisal as Nafisa
- Mahi Baloch as Sameera
- Sajjad Paul as Raza
- 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?
MAJOR SPOILER ALERT!!! (There will be spoilers throughout this review so If you would like to avoid it, please skip to the Overall section):
+ High Points
i – The only scene that the show got right was the confrontation between Shahzaib and his mother. For viewers who have been clambering for this scene, they will not be disappointed. Yes, it was cheesy and over the top but for a show like Ishq Hai, it was a fitting conclusion to the Mother/ Son relationship. The rest of the content in this week’s episodes was pure nonsensical and we will get to that in the points below.
+ Low Points
i – The end is nigh! And honestly, it couldn’t get sooner enough. This week’s episodes are wrapping up the conflicts in utter most generic and over the top fashion as you would expect from a quality show like this. Isra is conveniently in position to overhear that this all has been a ruse against her and her true love, Shahzaib. It almost feels like the writer painted herself in a corner so just went along with “Let’s just make Isra overhear the evil mastermind plan and get this over with”. There was nothing clever about the reveal, just utter nonsensical writing which is a clear indication that the show runners have no creative bone in their bodies.
The show then devolves further as they now have the chance to mock people on their deathbeds with horrendous scenes like Haris forcing his sister to record him on his deathbed, revealing the plan to separate Isra from Shahzaib. And then Whatsapping the video to Shahzaib on his wedding night with Nimra as he plays the video for the ENTIRE people in the wedding hall? What in God’s name is that for a revelation scene?? (Sigh) But seriously, what quality writing can we expect anymore from this show?
ii – So apparently, it is now revealed that Sameera is the one who has been pulling the strings all along! Not only has she been manipulating Isra but also Shahzaib’s mother and her own sister? What is even going on in this show? What was the point of all this? Why can we hear her “thoughts” on screen all of a sudden? Why does she suddenly want to screw over her sister for family fortune? This revelation makes absolutely no sense and is insulting to viewers who had been diligently watching the show this entire time. Plot twists only work if they have been set up beforehand and not sporadically squirted out at the last second. Its not that twist was a major game changer but just the opposite in fact. This was completely unnecessary that the evil mastermind turned out to be the person who the audience didn’t even get to know much in any of the previous 30 plus episodes! It’s amazing how Ishq Hai fails even simple basic rules of screenwriting!
iii – According to the show, if you turn to evil deeds and bring misfortune onto others, your parents will have to pay with their life for it. Why you may ask? Well, better that you ask the creative team of Ishq Hai since both Nimra and Haris have lost their parents in an accident to the convenience of the plot. Why was this necessary for the story to work? I wish I knew because it never made them humble or even change their perception towards life or their own actions. After a scene or two, they continued on planning misunderstandings between Shahzaib and Isra.
iv – The whole hospital scene involving Haris on his death bed was a travesty to viewers who have actually lost their loved one. I wish this show had any integrity to respect those instances in everyone’s lives and not make a mockery out of them.
v – On the other hand, it’s admittedly hilarious how Nimra’s wedding always gets crashed by someone. Talk about lazy writing and storytelling.
+ Overall
Since Episode 1, this show has been plagued with utter nonsensical writing. Ishq Hai has to be one of the worst shows ever broadcasted on Pakistani Television!
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