A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 11 and 12 (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 – With each passing episode, Parizaad just exuberates with quality writing and fantastic performances all around. Continuing the story of Parizaad in search of how the world works, his unapologetic honesty and constant need of empathy towards people around him makes him such a unique and intriguing character to watch on screen. The show poses an interesting question of whether the society corrupted itself with time or was it always in such a state of disarray and it is in fact our protagonist who has no place in such a vile, dog eat dog world.
ii – Of all the storylines up till now, the life in the Underworld of Karachi stands tall above the rest. The characters are mesmerizing, the writing is impeccable and the storyline strays far beyond what the modern Pakistani drama viewers are used to.
iii – Nauman Ijaz as Behroze Kareem is just perfect casting. For some reason, he has the knack and tenacity of playing a murderous psychopath with a hidden soft side, buried within decades upon decades of ruthless violence and immoral conditioning. After Parizaad asks Behroze about the concept of forgiveness, he bluntly states:
“You can say all that. It’s because you still haven’t tasted the poison of Competition!”
Is it naivety that gets the better of Parizaad or genuine humanity that seems to be lacking in pretty much everyone that he comes across?
iv – Urwa Hussain as Laila as the devious femme fatale played her role to perfection. She is perhaps the sole owner of the key to unlock the cold encased heart of Behroze. Her deceptive looks and manipulative nature brings Parizaad closer towards the insane sense of Rhythm that humanity functions on.
v – I love that this show never shy away from exposing the true nature of humanity. From the rich and powerful to the down on luck, committed to any heinous act for a quick buck, Parizaad is the all observant but never compromises on his sense of morality. How can one not root for such a protagonist?
+ Low Points
i – The secondary story of Parizaad’s sister and her in-laws is the only major blemish on this fine work of Art. Although the sister character is great, her solo subplot is nowhere near as interesting and engaging as the main storyline of the show and is always a bit of a drag whenever the viewers have to go through it. There definitely could be several ways to make it more compelling and tie in better with the overarching plot of the show. But as of now, the less the show focuses on it, the better.
+ Overall
Parizaad is a breath of fresh air. In a sea of tiresome plots and sub par performances, this show dares to be different. And it has earned every praise that comes its way.
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