Category: TV series

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

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 

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Parizaad – Episode V (2021)

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 5 (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

  1. Noman Ejaz
  2. Ahmed Ali Akbar
  3. Syed Muhammad Ahmed
  4. Urwa Hussain
  5. Ushna Shah
  6. Yumna Zaidi
  7. Saboor Ali
  8. Mashal Khan
  9. Tipu Shah
  10. 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 – Its great to see that with each progressing episode, Parizaad is evolving from a shy timid character to someone who is learning how to take responsibility and charge head on into problems to find solutions for. With all the new side stories introduced to the show, its a bit of a relief that the writer still has not forgotten developing Parizaad’s character.

ii – The direction of the show has mostly been great. Shehzad Kashmiri is great at directing his actors through the canvas of the screen and brings a sense of “naturality” to the scene. For example, near the end of Episode 5, Nasaaz is seen doing his own laundry while having a discussion with Parizaad about his marital future. Although this scene could have been just shot with Nasaaz and Parizaad just sitting somewhere together, the act of doing laundry made the scene much more real and authentic for the viewers!

+ Low Points

i – It has been very disappointing that after Episode 3, the show Parizaad took a definite change in narrative direction. The first three episodes were solely focused on Parizaad and his interactions with the outside world. The drama was a character study of our protagonist and how society treats him for being different. But now, Parizaad has become a mere pawn to the overall narrative of the show. There’s the problem of “Bubbly’s” marriage, his brother-in-law being wrongfully accused, it’s as if Parizaad has suddenly become a side character in his own show! Although potential future events indicate that Parizaad will have new experiences, it’s still has been a very sudden change in direction for the show that I am not very fond of. What Parizaad started off as a unique, character study of a show (a bold narrative technique in the Pak TV landscape of today) is now being treated as “just another show” with useless gag scenes and evil motives between In-Laws.

ii – Saboor Ali as Bubbly just doesn’t work. Her performance is never convincing enough to get the viewers onboard with her plight to find her direction in Life. Although Saboor works better in dramatic moments, the comedy scenes just feel tacky with laziness from the writer to bring some levity to the show. And speaking of comedy….

iii – The last two episodes have also brought some forced “comedy” scenes into the show. Even though a bit of light hearted banter is always welcomed, most of the “Bubbly” story is played off as a writing tactic for her to “become a REAL woman” and for Parizaad to find the love of his life. The writer of the show Hashim Nadeem is very poignant when it comes to dramatic moments but comedy does not prove to be his forte. And thus, the quality of the overall show suffers from it.

+ Overall

The sudden shift in narrative for Parizaad has brought some unwarranted changes to the show. Parizaad has become a mere side character in his own show and thus, the quality of the show has deteriorated since its past two episodes. Hopefully, this trend wouldn’t last for long.

 Rate: out of 5 stars 

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay – Episode III (2021)

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay Episode 3 (2021). The new TV series is written by Umera Ahmed and directed by Farooq Rind. Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay is a Momina Duraid Production and currently airs on HUM TV.

(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 Farooq Rind
  • Written by Umer Ahmed
  • Produced by Nina Kashif & Momina Duraid Productions

+ Note

Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay marks 5 years since Mahira Khan appeared in a TV drama and as was the case before, this drama was also originally a novel by Umera Ahmed where the childhood and upbringing play an important part in the main plot of the show. The show deals with dark topics such as drug addiction and its impact on a child’s upbringing. 

The show also focuses once again on a love triangle between three cousins who shared a childhood together; Mehreen, Mashal and Aswad. Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay is essentially a case study of internal flaws and unspoken guilts that makes us human and how we learn to cope up in a less than ideal society.

 + Main Cast

  1. Mahira Khan as Mehreen Mansoor
  2. Kubra Khan as Mashal Tahir
  3. Usman Mukhtar as Aswad Ayub
  4. Omair Rana as Mansoor
  5. Zainab Qayyum as Shagufta
  6. Haroon Shahid
  7. Laila Wasti
  8. Huma Nawab as Saliha
  9. Kaif Ghaznavi
  10. Shamim Hilali as Aswad’s Grandmother
  11. Khalid Malik

+ Plot

Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay is a story of three cousins; Mehreen, Mashal and Aswad. Their lives have coincided with each other since childhood. While Mashal and Aswad grew up in a stable, loving household, Mehreen had to live through the mistakes of her father for being a drug addict and financially unstable. As they grow older, it is obvious that they all share an unbroken bond between each other that will only culminate with certain unforeseeable events.

+ High Points

i – Mehreen can potentially be a character of interest as she suffers from childhood traumas and a wallflower in a society where the modest are never appreciated. The themes are all placed accordingly for the actress to execute it with emotion on screen (but unfortunately fails at it. A point I will get to more later in the review).

ii – I suppose it is also commendable that Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay does not over rely on cheap emotional tactics like music overpowering the scene rather than the actors playing it out through their strong performances.

+ Low Points

i –  (Yawn) this show just lacks any sort of momentum or energy to it. Nothing significant happens during the third Episode. The characters themselves feel lethargic, just lounging on their couches in pretty much every scene. Whatever story progression we saw in the first episode has been missing since.

ii – Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay has the potential for sympathetic characters for the audience to get behind but so far, that has not been the case. The performances of the two lead actresses seem mediocre and overly simplistic to their personalities. Every interesting character should have layers of emotion or depth to them but up till now, the acting seems very flat. Although judging from past shows, Mahira Khan has the potential to be more diverse than this show has you believe.

iii  – The production of the show seems visually off color to the dark, dramatic narrative of it. Every image is overlit without any play of shadows  and in return, the show looks cheap and tacky. 

iv  – Episode 3 has a scene where Shabo the maid accidentally trips and slips tea over a character. This comedic scene fell apart completely on arrival because we, as an audience, never got to see the result! It’s as if Charlie Chaplin slipped over a banana peel but instead of showing the pratfall, only the laughter of the crowd is depicted on screen. Slapstick comedy is all about visuals and timing and the director Farooq Rind seems to be lacking in both.

v  – Three episodes in, and Umera Ahmed’s writing has been surprisingly very disappointing. It all seems like a rethread of regular cliches of Pakistani dramas, namely cousin love triangle, lifeless exposition scenes and (with exception to Mehreen) flat two dimensional characterization. I really hope that the show picks up pace and depth soon as Umera Ahmed as a writer is definitely capable of it.

+ Overall

Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay is unenergetic, filled with long drawn out scenes of dialogues that lead to nowhere. That trend should change soon if the show runners want to keep their viewers tuning in every week.

 Rate: out of 5 stars

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Laapata – Episode V & VI (2021)

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Laapata Episode 5 & 6 (2021). The new TV series is written and directed by Khizer Idrees. Laapata is a Momina Duraid Production and currently airs on HUM TV.

(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 Khizer Idrees
  • Written by Khizer Idrees
  • Produced by Momina Duraid Productions

+ Note

Laapata is a comedy/ drama which focuses on young love who aspire to fulfill all their wishes in Life. The drama also highlights modern obsessions with social media such as Tik Tok and its impact on the Pakistani youth of today. 

The writer/ director of the show, Khizer Idrees is most well renowned in the TV industry for his work as a Cinematographer for films such as Manto (2015) and Verna (2017). 

 + Main Cast

  1. Ali Rehman Khan as Shams
  2. Ayeza Khan as Geeti
  3. Gohar Rasheed as Daniyal
  4. Sarah Khan as Falak

+ Plot

Shams (Ali Rehman Khan) loves Falak (Sarah Khan) and they predict something big for their future. On the other hand, Geeti (Ayeza Khan), the big Tik Tok star, is always looking for a new toy to play with. After being faced to decide upon her secure future, Geeti might have her eyes now set on someone… and that someone could perhaps be Shams? 

+ High Points

i – Episodes 5 and 6 have taken a more serious and logical approach towards the concept of “Laapata” and families who have lost their loved ones in such fashion. While its not an outstanding case study of “lost” family members, at least it has been given some level of seriousness that it deserves.

ii – It’s admirable from the show runners to depict Falak as a Badminton athlete. Most shows on Pak TV either depict their young women as flaunting 24/7 over their partners. Falak (on the other hand) has her own character defining trait outside her relationship. And this is what makes her character stand out from the rest of the shows.

iii – The corruption within the law enforcement section is quite truthfully depicted in the show. The telephone dialogues scene between the two Police Inspectors was very poignantly written and loved the “switcheroo” of the dialogue “ And please consider my promotion” from one Police Officer (in Ep 5) to the next (in Ep 6).

iv  – Seems like Saife Hasan is having a lot of fun playing the dastardly evil Police Inspector. You have to admire when an actor fully embraces a performance and runs wild with it.

+ Low Points

i –  Laapata has no idea what it wants to be. The show started off as a romantic, quirky love story which quite rapidly devolved into a tragic drama. The progression between the two genres is nowhere near seamless as it should have been. The viewers who probably tuned in for the comedic aspects of the show will be put off by the seriousness of the situation.

ii – Ayeza Khan as Geeti still does not fit the tone of the show. Her screwball performance is at complete odds with the storytelling of Laapata. Her character’s quirkiness is off putting and she definitely needs to tone down her performance to make herself more relatable to the viewers.

iii  – An awful lot of blurring in a single shot! How such images get approved for Broadcast quality in Pakistan is beyond my comprehension!

iv  – The two new “love interests” seem very generic and just something for our female leads to do since our main protagonist is “Laapata”. Perhaps it’s okay if our female lead doesn’t have a love interest for a few episodes. 

Spoiler Alert!! If you would like to avoid it, please skip to the Overall section:

v  – Hakim’s change of heart in Episode 5 came out of nowhere. They tried to explain that the corrupt Police Inspector would have hounded their trial till they found him but murdering a police inspector by poisoning him in front of countless number of witnesses is probably an even worse idea! This move made no sense.

+ Overall

The sudden shift in tone will drive away viewers of Laapata. Although the cast is entertaining enough, the show seems confused as to what it wants to be; a rom-com or a serious drama?

 Rate: out of 5 stars

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Ishq Hai – Episode XIX to XXII (2021)

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Ishq Hai – Episode 19 to 22 (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 – The only positive aspect going for this show is the development of the story after each episode. It is brisk and follows through each half an hour competently towards an inevitable conclusion to the Isra and Shahzaib love story.

+ Low Points

i – Its genuinely fascinating how Ishq Hai is incredibly content with its mediocrity. The show’s pacing is all over the place, every scene is needlessly epic and overly melodramatic. There is never any room to breathe for the characters and neither for us, the viewers. It’s a perfect example of how NOT to write a show. Ishq Hai lacks depth in its characters, none of them ever evolved in the last 22 episodes. It’s a sad state of affairs of how such a HORRENDOUS quality of a show gets a prime time slot on Television. The current state of Pakistani TV shows has rapidly declined in quality over the past decade, emulating the nonsense “Saas-Baho”, cousins Love Triangle storyline. And Ishq Hai is definitely a contributing factor to that steady decline.

ii – Episodes 19 to 22 once again focus on the continuing evil plan of Nafisa to rid Isra from the life of Shahzaib. And if that sounds like a plot of a James Bond film from the 60s, you wouldn’t be so far off! The characterizations are so much beyond the realms of reality that they are unironically campy and hilarious. The ensemble cast of the show come off as mere caricatures of their characters rather than fully fledged human beings. I’ve seen more character depth in a saturday morning cartoon than this disaster of a show! Awful, awful writing by Rehana Aftab.

iii – Whenever this show wants to create tension in a scene, they merely have to play the dreaded chorus “Ye Ishq Hai!… Ye Ishq Hai!”. Talk about lazy editing. The whole creative team of Ishq Hai is creatively bankrupt in originality. Apparently they have no faith in their actors or the written dialogue that they have to resort to this dreaded chorus every single time.

iv – In Episode 19, the cat fight between Nimra and Isra was pretty hilarious. Nimra continues to be one of the worst written characters that I’ve ever witnessed on Pakistani Television. Apart from jealousy, she lacks any sort of emotion a normal human being has. She has no life of her own other than obsessing over Shahzaib throughout the show. Her family members have no sense of self respect as they keep getting convinced by Nafisa that their daughter will marry Shahzaib in the end (no matter how many times they get humiliated by Shahzaib and Isra). The script and motivations of the characters never made any sense right from the start so why put in any effort now?

v – Why does every character in the show come off so needy and desperate for attention? First it was Nimra and now Haris who is (for some reason) so madly obsessed with Isra at this point that he is willing to stalk and threaten her. Does no one in this show have some dignity or self respect? But I suppose he still comes off better than Shahzaib who literally drugged, kidnapped and forcefully married his wife. So… pick your poison I suppose.

+ Overall

Ishq Hai is a massive waste of time, effort and money devoted to making it. It’s an insult to the legacy of Pakistani television and its writers. Avoid it like the plague!

 Rate: out of 5 stars 

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Parizaad – Episode IV (2021)

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 4 (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

  1. Noman Ejaz
  2. Ahmed Ali Akbar
  3. Syed Muhammad Ahmed
  4. Urwa Hussain
  5. Ushna Shah
  6. Yumna Zaidi
  7. Saboor Ali
  8. Mashal Khan
  9. Tipu Shah
  10. 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 – Once again, Ahmed Ali Akbar as Parizaad always delivers a brilliant performance. His mannerisms and dialogue delivery is picture perfect and plays a massive role in making viewers tune in to the show every week.

ii – The show works best when Parizaad and Nasaaz (played by Adeel Afzal) are sharing the screen together. Their banter plays off well with one another, the ying yang of personalities that share a mutual sense of respect. 

+ Low Points

i – Episode 4 has taken a sudden shift from focusing on Parizaad’s evolution as a character to subplots of the show such as Parizaad’s sister and her plight of achieving further education. This episode seemed a bit too concentrated on In-Laws melodrama which was never the main focus of the first three episodes of the show. Having subplots is always good but it should never steal the spotlight from the main plot of the show.

ii – This week, Parizaad introduced a new character to the show; Bubbly (played by Saboor Ali). She plays a “tomboy”, no nonsense character who has taken a shine at Parizaad. Although it’s an interesting concept for a new character, Saboor Ali’s performance seems not on par with what the show requires and comes off as if Saboor Ali is playing a “character” rather than her embracing its persona. Unfortunately a lot of screen time is devoted to Bubbly and her performance is very distracting throughout the episode.

iii – There also are certain “comedy” scenes involving Bubbly and her shenanigans. Although never egregious, they seem completely out of place to the tone the first three episodes set for the show. Parizaad works best as a character study and the comedic elements seem to rather detract from the quality of the show.

iv – The show runners need to find a better way to deal with hiding unnecessary product placement because this looks awful (referring to the still shot below)! The blurring effect around the whole character seems as if this is a dream sequence. Incredibly poor presentation!

+ Overall

Episode 4 suffers from unnecessary “Saas-Bahoo” drama and comedic scenes that seem out of place for the show. Parizaad works best as a character study and should avoid cliches of Pakistani dramas.

 Rate: out of 5 stars 

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay – Episode II (2021)

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay Episode 2 (2021). The new TV series is written by Umera Ahmed and directed by Farooq Rind. Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay is a Momina Duraid Production and currently airs on HUM TV.

(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 Farooq Rind
  • Written by Umer Ahmed
  • Produced by Nina Kashif & Momina Duraid Productions

+ Note

Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay marks 5 years since Mahira Khan appeared in a TV drama and as was the case before, this drama was also originally a novel by Umera Ahmed where the childhood and upbringing play an important part in the main plot of the show. The show deals with dark topics such as drug addiction and its impact on a child’s upbringing. 

The show also focuses once again on a love triangle between three cousins who shared a childhood together; Mehreen, Mashal and Aswad. Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay is essentially a case study of internal flaws and unspoken guilts that makes us human and how we learn to cope up in a less than ideal society.

 + Main Cast

  1. Mahira Khan as Mehreen Mansoor
  2. Kubra Khan as Mashal Tahir
  3. Usman Mukhtar as Aswad Ayub
  4. Omair Rana as Mansoor
  5. Zainab Qayyum as Shagufta
  6. Haroon Shahid
  7. Laila Wasti
  8. Huma Nawab as Saliha
  9. Kaif Ghaznavi
  10. Shamim Hilali as Aswad’s Grandmother
  11. Khalid Malik

+ Plot

Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay is a story of three cousins; Mehreen, Mashal and Aswad. Their lives have coincided with each other since childhood. While Mashal and Aswad grew up in a stable, loving household, Mehreen had to live through the mistakes of her father for being a drug addict and financially unstable. As they grow older, it is obvious that they all share an unbroken bond between each other that will only culminate with certain unforeseeable events.

+ High Points

i – Episode 2 does a convincing job in presenting the anguish of Mehreen and her troubled past regarding her father. It is obvious that she is still struggling to come to terms with her upbringing which leads to lack of confidence and trouble believing that she could ever be liked by someone else.

ii – The inclusion of Haroon Shahid is always welcomed as his performance brings a sense of serenity to the show. Perhaps he is always typecast as the “nice guy” but at least he’s good at it.

iii – The theme song by Yashal Shahid is integrated well into the dramatic moments of the show. It never proves to be overbearing and has a sense of blending itself into the scenes without overpowering them.

+ Low Points

i –  Episode 2 was very unimpressive as the show feels like it does not want to evolve beyond the “love triangle” storyline. It is a tad bit disappointing since the writer Umera Ahmed can write better stories than the cliches we see now time and time again on Pak television. Hopefully I’ll be proven wrong in the next few episodes and the show depicts some originality into the storyline.

ii – The roles of Mehreen and Mashal are too stereotypical for their own good. They lack depth in their characterization and the performances end up being very superficial. Mehreen is a nerdy, introvert so she HAS to wear glasses and act awkward while Mashal is self confident but devious so she HAS to act mean and self serving. Perhaps on paper, this all sounds fine but the characterization and the performances lack maturity as they don’t feel like real people but rather cardboard cutouts of their dictated personalities.

iii  – Usman Mukhtar as Aswad Ayub also has not been very impressive up till now. The charisma of a lead actor seems to be missing in his performance and baffles me why the two women would be in love with him. Usman Mukhtar was a miscast for this role as his characterization does not fit to his presence on screen. Someone like Ali Rehman Khan (with natural charisma) would have fit the bill better.

iv  – It is perhaps too early to predict but two episodes in, the show does not seem engaging enough to gather a large viewership in the following weeks. The plot and characters don’t seem original or captivating enough for many to tune in every week. I suppose fans of Mahira Khan would be eager to give this show a chance but up till now, it lacks the “it” factor which separates the show from the rest on television at the moment.

v  – The overall visual presentation of the show seems very farcical with its “TV Advertisement” over-lit scenes. The images do not fit at all to the tone of the storyline.

+ Overall

Episode 2 has sadly been a disappointment. Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay needs to move away from the cliches of a cousin “love triangle” and find its own path. And Umera Ahmed is one of those writers who could potentially make this possible.

 Rate: out of 5 stars

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Laapata – Episode III & IV (2021)

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Laapata Episode 3 & 4 (2021). The new TV series is written and directed by Khizer Idrees. Laapata is a Momina Duraid Production and currently airs on HUM TV.

(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 Khizer Idrees
  • Written by Khizer Idrees
  • Produced by Momina Duraid Productions

+ Note

Laapata is a comedy/ drama which focuses on young love who aspire to fulfill all their wishes in Life. The drama also highlights modern obsessions with social media such as Tik Tok and its impact on the Pakistani youth of today. 

The writer/ director of the show, Khizer Idrees is most well renowned in the TV industry for his work as a Cinematographer for films such as Manto (2015) and Verna (2017). 

 + Main Cast

  1. Ali Rehman Khan as Shams
  2. Ayeza Khan as Geeti
  3. Gohar Rasheed as Daniyal
  4. Sarah Khan as Falak

+ Plot

Shams (Ali Rehman Khan) loves Falak (Sarah Khan) and they predict something big for their future. On the other hand, Geeti (Ayeza Khan), the big Tik Tok star, is always looking for a new toy to play with. After being faced to decide upon her secure future, Geeti might have her eyes now set on someone… and that someone could perhaps be Shams? 

+ High Points

i – Episodes 3 and 4 were an entertaining watch. The structure of the narrative was on point, there was a good sense of pacing between the dramatic scenes and the quieter/ lighter moments of the show. Most of the characters are likeable to watch on screen. Even flawed characters like Shams (Ali Rehman Khan) have loads of charisma whenever he is in front of the camera. If you liked the first two episodes, you can’t go wrong with this week.

ii – Ali Rehman Khan and Sarah Khan are a natural pairing together. The banter, romantic moments between the two seem very genuine and credit should go to the writing of the show by Khizer Idrees. Even though the writing in the first two episodes was clunky, episodes 3 and 4 are a much needed improvement in balancing romance and drama. There are still some issues regarding the “comedy” aspect of the show but we’ll get to that in the Low Points section.

iii – The dramatic gambling scenes are such a treat to watch. They are not only visually impressive but its a perfect blend of slow motion mixed with tense music and atmosphere. The production crew has done an outstanding job in creating such dark visual undertones.

iv – The Police Inspector character (played by Saife Hasan) is an interesting adversary to the show. Cocky, brutal and unforgiving, he’s naturally someone who you would love to hate and root for him to get his comeuppins at the end.

v – In Episode 3, the montage sequence between Shams gamlbing, Geeti putting her makeup on and Falak practicing her Batminton skills was by far the highlight of the show. Such scenes are essential to storytelling because they explain the current situation to the audience purely through visuals. The emotions of each of the characters (at that moment in time) is depicted with such clarity that you don’t need dialogues or exposition for the audience to understand what is currently happening in the show.

+ Low Points

i –  I think the biggest drawback of Laapata has to be Geeti (played by Ayeza Khan). Her over the top performance and “comedy” does not fit the show. In one scene, she is acting like a deranged psychopath, talking to herself in the mirror and in the next, she is being “cute” and flirty with Shams. Either she has a split personality disorder or she can’t control her mood swings. Depicting such mental disorders is nothing wrong per se but it does not fit the lighthearted drama vibe of the show. Her character needs to be much more grounded and less erratic in order to play a vital role in the show. Whenever she is acting like a psychopath in front of a mirror, immediately followed by a “comedic” romantic scene, subconsciously you know that one thing does not fit the other.

ii – Laapata is trying hard to be the complete package of romance, drama and comedy. And for the most part, it does not work. Some light hearted comedy between the two families is perfectly fine but scenes like the Witch Doctor and the Wedding band are so out of place to the vibe of the show. Laapata is not a screwball comedy and it should not set itself to be one. I hope there’s less of such scenes in the upcoming episodes.

iii  – I realize this is now commonplace in Pak TV shows but there are way too many egregious blurring in pretty much every outdoor scene and its kind of ridiculous at this point. It’s obvious that none of it is paid sponsoring but it visually looks distracting and tacky. Perhaps shoot it such a way that the products don’t overwhelm the background? I think there can be different ways to avoid this.

Awful amount of blurring in a single shot!

+ Overall

Episode 3 and 4 have brought in quite an improvement. Although the show still needs to balance between its comedy and drama scenes, Laapata is definitely worth a watch.

 Rate:  out of 5 stars

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Ishq Hai – Episode XV to XVIII (2021)

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Ishq Hai – Episode 15 to 18 (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 – With these back to back episodes, the story progressed at a brisk pace (even though there were once again way too many dramatic pauses where the character just contemplates with loud music). Certain events happen which will change the upcoming episodes exponentially.

ii – I like this shot. No further comment.

+ Low Points

i – Oh boy! Four back to back episodes of Ishq Hai? Is it my birthday?

But seriously, this was a real pain to sit through. There is only so much dramatic overtones and ridiculous melodrama that I can take in a week. Even though the story has progressed with regular pace throughout the four episodes this week, all the characters are still incredibly unlikable to the core. There is no one the audience could root for. Everyone is unlikable in their own way. Unfortunately this show is at no point of return. This all has to be endured till the end of this series. And I am definitely looking forward to that.

ii – Too many flashbacks of events that happened just in the previous scene! Does the show think our memory equals that of a goldfish? What I really dislike about this show is that it treats its audience like idiots who can’t think or react for themselves. We need to be spoonfed how to feel through repetition of dialogues, scenes and overbearing dramatic music. 

iii – The show is trying its hardest to make Shahzaib sympathetic again for the audience. He is even willing to divorce Isra for it. Sorry but nothing can wash off the actions he took that night when he kidnapped her and forced marriage upon her. There’s no coming back from that. But with these four episodes, I’ve a lot more to say in the spoiler section down under so please, keep reading!

iv – And yes, Nirma is still (by far) the worst character in the show. Frankly, I feel embarrassed for Mahenur Haider to play this role as her emotion is strictly stuck on “rudimentary annoyance”. She does nothing in the show other than whine, sulk and have anger outburst. She is treated like garbage by Shahzaib in the show and it’s just a clear indication that she has no character of her own. Awful, awful writing!

(Spoiler Alert!!! If you would like to avoid it, please skip to the Overall section below:)

v – So apparently, admitting to your mistake (no matter terrible the crime was) is acceptable in the world of Ishq Hai. Isra (in such dramatic fashion) rips up the legal documents of Divorce, indicating that she has forgiven him and wants to be with Shahzaib. What a terrible lesson this show is presenting to its younger viewers. Hey kids! No matter what the crime, if it is labelled under the power of “Love” then it is ultimately justified. It is shameful how shows like these present mutual consent, how a man should treat a woman. What a travesty this show is.

vi – It takes some incredible talent for the show to have so much happening but still remain unoriginal throughout its 18 episodes so far. Ishq Hai pertains to the worst of what TV dramas are known for. There is not a single ounce of originality in its writing, everything seems to be working on auto-pilot. Granted, HUM TV dramas are nowhere near perfect but at least they have decent characterizations and once in a while, you end up getting shows like Parizaad but as a viewer, this show is just insulting to the core.

+ Overall

Ishq Hai is not worth your time. Please spend it instead with your loved ones, read a book, educate yourself. But don’t watch this travesty and waste your precious time on this planet.

 Rate:  out of 5 stars 

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Parizaad – Episode III (2021)

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 3 (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

  1. Noman Ejaz
  2. Ahmed Ali Akbar
  3. Syed Muhammad Ahmed
  4. Urwa Hussain
  5. Ushna Shah
  6. Yumna Zaidi
  7. Saboor Ali
  8. Mashal Khan
  9. Tipu Shah
  10. 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 – Episode 3 starts off perfectly by introducing a whole new character by the name of Nasaaz. He is cynical, brutally honest about Life but yet in some way, a path of salvation for Parizaad. Since the first two episodes, our protagonist is troubled, abused and taken advantage of by the very people who pretend to care for him. Nasaaz on the other hand, sees the untapped potential in Parizaad, someone who understands him and wants to keep pushing Parizaad overcoming his fears from this dreadful society. This is some fascinating characterization by Hashim Nadeem which made the episode all the more entertaining to watch.

ii – The speech that the character Nasaaz gives to Parizaad on ending one’s Life was brilliant. While there was some dark humor in between the lines, Nasaaz understands the value of living. Suicide is a permanant solution to a temporary problem. Bad moments eventually pass, leading to inevitable greener pastures. It is a very mature and thoughtful look into such a serious subject matter. 

iii – The relationship between Parizaad and his sister is truly heartbreaking. It is obvious that the sister perhaps sees Parizaad as her child and unfortunately, would not be there to protect him from the evils of society anymore. But with the introduction of Nasaaz, Parizaad will undoubtedly learn how to fend off for himself. I’m particularly very fond of how the writer displays the interchangeable roles of the guardians for our main protagonist.

iv– In the world of Parizaad, the immoral are rewarded and the pure are outcasted for being different. It’s a true reflection towards the world we live in. The mischievous hidden nature of Ahmed Taha Ghani as Majid is loved all over the neighborhood while the shy, awkwardness of Parizaad is looked down upon. The intercut scene between the two Nikahs/ Marriages was another example of mirroring the holy and the unholy matrimony through the technique of editing.

Dramas work best when the light and the shadow converge into one another, creating an abundance of possibilities in storytelling. Parizaad is essentially a character study which separates it from the rest of the shows on Pak TV right now. I’m truly excited how the story will develop in the next coming episodes.

v – I’m also very fond of how this drama is shot. The light is used in abundance to compliment the moving pictures of despair and hardship of Parizaad. The day scenes bring a sense of wonderment to the show while street lights illuminating the empty dark streets provide an intriguing contrast of agony and longing for a better future.

vi – Later in the episode, a new supporting character is introduced and I’m very pleasantly surprised that he was not reduced to yet another “villain of the week”. Parizaad moves away from the cliches of Pak dramas and it’s admittedly very refreshing to watch!

vii – The episode ends on a very interesting note. Perhaps it is now time for Parizaad to evaluate his life’s goals and ambitions and in the process, emerge with a new personality.

+ Low Points

i – This is certainly just a tiny nitpick but a little less use of melodramatic music would benefit the show even more. The writing might be subtle but it is clever enough to clue in the viewers how to emotionally respond without the aid of long stretches of music.

+ Overall

With brilliant writing, acting and direction, Parizaad is unlike any other show out there. Highly recommended!

 Rate: out of 5 stars