A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 24 (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 – Now this was a great episode! It was fast paced, intense and finally, we got to see a slightly vicious side of Parizaad. Due to recent events, he has now learned the rules of the game and he is in no mood to back down. We also get to see the consequences of living the life of a man in a position of power. A person always in everyone’s radar also means that you end up inevitably making enemies along the way.
The episode was brilliantly paced, never missing a beat and something tells us that the life of Parizaad has taken a new turn and nothing will ever be the same for him again.
ii – Since assasination was attempted and his bodyguard came under the line of fire, how far is Parizaad willing to go to get his revenge against his adversaries? As he stood in his enemy’s office and stared down at the picture of his teenage son, was this a mere threat or is Parizaad capable of targeting innocent civilians in the process? That question could make or break the Parizaad that we know and love. It is a step that can never be reversed once taken. Perhaps Behroze Karim was right, elevating to a position of power is not the hard part but rather maintaining that position.
One can never be certain but it looks like we will have our answer in the next coming weeks. And I love the fact that the show knows exactly how to ask the vital moral questions from its main protagonist that could easily make or break him in the eyes of his audience.
iii – Such minor details but I love that the show managed to display (in passing) how Annie works her way in life through the help of Phone apps which sort out different colors or braille newspapers that she reads to keep up with the times. It was not a necessity to display these minor details but they definitely add up the overall experience of world building for Parizaad.
iv – A touching display of affection between Parizaad and his bodyguard who ended up taking the bullet meant for his employer. As he stood next to his bodyguard’s bed and clasped his hand in support, it is a constant reminder what humble beginnings Parizaad comes from and how much has he accomplished. Perhaps in a similar fashion, Parizaad earlier also took the “bullet” for Behroze Karim when he refused to give out any incriminating information against his employer. Such is the life of a commoner who is in pursuit of material happiness in Life. History repeats itself in more ways than one.
+ Low Points
i – The late introduction of the cousin (?) character of Annie was a bit unnecessary. What role he will play in the show remains to be seen but one feels that the show already has too many supporting characters that contribute to the main plot of the show.
+ Overall
A solid episode. One with a fast paced story and intense character development. Can’t wait for next week.
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