A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Sang-e-Mah Episode 05 (2022). The new TV series is directed by Saife Hassan and written by Mustafa Afridi. Sang-e-Mah is the spiritual continuation of the saga introduced in the Hum TV drama Sang-e-Mar Mar (2016). Sang-e-Mah is the acting debut of the famous Pakistani pop star Atif Aslam and the drama is a Momina Duraid Production.
+ Crew
- Directed by Saife Hassan
- Written by Mustafa Afridi
- Produced by Momina Duraid Productions
+ Note
The drama Sang-e-Mah serves as a spiritual sequel to the show Sang-e-Mar Mar (2016) with Noman Ejaz, Sania Saeed and many others returning to same cast and crew. The drama deals with life in the Pakhtoon region of Pakistan and explores such hard hitting topics like forced marriages and integral family relationships. According to the director, Sang-e-Mah serves under similar themes as its predecessor, in a three part trilogy, ending it with the next planned show, Sang-e-Siyah.
+ Main Cast
- Atif Aslam as Hilmand Khan
- Nauman Ijaz as Haji Marjaan Khan
- Kubra Khan as Sheherzaad
- Hania Amir as Gul Meena
- Zaviyar Nauman Ijaz as Hikmat Khan
- Sania Saeed as Zarghuna
- Samiya Mumtaz as Zarsanga
- Omair Rana as Mastaan Singh
- Najiba Faiz as Harshaali Kaur
- Hassan Noman as Badam Gul
+ Plot
Sang-e-Mah is a story of a dysfunctional Pakhtoon family in the tribal regions of Pakistan where pride and honour mostly triumphs over empathy and forgiveness. The show deals with issues such as young love and opposing families who are engaged in a tribal battle with one another.
+ High Points
i – While there was not much development in the storyline department, Episode 5 largely dedicated itself to character interactions and character building moments. The journalist Sheherzaad finally makes it into the Khan family’s home/ sanctuary and gets to interact with the elders, understanding but yet also imposing some of her “modern” perceptions onto the traditional Pakhtoon society.
ii – Since Episode 5 was largely devoted to the investigative journalist Sheherzaad (played by Kubra Khan) and it was refreshing as a viewer to look into Pakhtoon land and culture through the eyes of an outsider. As she tries to wrap her head around the concept of ‘Ghaag’, the proud nature of the Pakhtoon closes in on her and her perception of how society functions. By and large, Kubra Khan’s performance seems very natural which can prove to be a vital asset later for the show.
iii – Needless to say, Sang-e-Mar possesses some of the most beautiful outdoor scenery in any show on television and plays a character of its own. In such heavenly landscapes, the Pakhtoon family rivalries spoil the atmosphere, devoted to gaining revenge upon one another. Even when scenes lack engaging characters or dialogues, the gorgeous landscape makes it worthy of continuing on with the episode.
+ Low Points
i – This episode was a bore. There is unfortunately no way around it. With no new plot revelations or climatic moments, the show primarily depended on its characters but sadly, since the character developments are still in their infancy, none of them have proven to be interesting enough to carry an hour long episode. Undoubtedly the journalist Sheherzaad is a great addition and a perfect way to understand the Pakhtoon as an outsider, it still was not enough to compel the viewer to have unbridled attention throughout its runtime.
ii – Sigh… the comedy just does not work. What is this fascination with sunglasses?? Is it such an anomaly for the Pakhtoons that they need to impress others with it? It is beyond ridiculous to even assume that Pakhtoons are completely enticed with such minor, everyday objects.
iii – On that note, the more I listen every week to these utterly stereotypical Pakhtoon accents from the cast, the more I am taken out of this world created by Sang-e-Mar. It is wishful to assume that the main cast could have devoted a bit more time and energy into getting the Pakhtoon dialect right but unfortunately, they just opted for the most generic accent they could get their hands on. And the results are far removed from reality.
+ Overall
Satisfactory development for Kubra Khan’s character but apart from that, the episode was a dull outing for Sang-e-Mah.
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