Category: TV series

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay Episode 1 (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.

+ 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 is also an adaptation of a novel by Umera Ahmed where the childhood and personal aspirations 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 – The premiere Episode was fun and understandable throughout its runtime. The plot was well established and the characters were clearly presented to the viewers. Umera Ahmed’s writing and Farooq Rind’s direction works well together in creating this fictional world of remorse, betrayal and in quest for true love.

ii – Most dramas on television are successful mainly due to its loveable cast of characters and Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay is no exception. The clash of personalities between Mehreen and Mashal could prove to be the crux of the show. Even supporting characters of the grandmother and the drug addict father presented a colorful and diverse range of people found in the world of Umera Ahmed.

iii – The strongest asset of Umera Ahmed’s writing has been her dialogue. With vast amounts of experience, Umera is very observant and can easily mimic real spoken dialogue and subtle gestures for her characters. In her world, personality dictates words and not the other way around.

iv – Although we didn’t get to see much of Mahira Khan in this episode, its great to see her back on our television screens. The veteran actors such as Shamim Hilali also perform brilliantly as characters who deeply influence the lives of our main cast. It will be interesting to see how to story of Mehreen/ Mashal and Aswad play out.

v – The OST of the show is melodic, heartbreaking and fits perfectly with the show’s theme. Yashal Shahid’s gorgeous voice accompanied by traditional instruments work exceptionally in bringing the emotional depth of the plot without overstaying its welcome. 

+ Low Points

i –  Although I do praise Umera Ahmed’s writing above, I also feel that she could prove to be a lot more diverse than reworking the same tired formula of a “love triangle”. At this point, this theme on Pak television equals beating a dead horse. But since this was just the first episode, I have high hopes that the drama will lead towards something more original and exciting to watch.

ii – While the camerawork is great in most instances, the Art Direction and Set Design is unimpressive. The show seems lit up as if it were a Food product commercial and lacks any experimentation with shadows to create a visually compelling picture. The overabundance of highlights does not help the show nor does it complement the dark storyline of it.

iii  – Even though the adult main cast was not much onscreen for the first episode, Mahira Khan and Kubra Khan seem a bit too stereotypical representations of a nerdy, low self esteem girl and the narcissistic overconfident girl. Mehreen nervously puts on her glasses while Mashal stares at her love Asward’s picture on her laptop with a sense of possessiveness. Their characterizations are really a bit too much on the nose.

Again, too early to tell but I hope the later episodes bring a lot more depth to their characters (and given Umera Ahmed’s track record, I’m sure that will prove to be true).

iv  – Can there ever be a Pakistani TV drama where they don’t have a sassy Housemaid? It seems like such a cliche now.

+ Overall

The premiere episode of Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay promises a rich world of characters and the paths they will choose for their future. The episode does suffer from typical Pak drama cliches but nonetheless entertaining. 

Rate: out of 5 stars

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Laapata – Episode I & II (2021)

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Laapata Episode 1 & 2 (2021). The new TV series is written and directed by Khizer Idrees. Laapata is a Momina Duraid Production and currently airs on HUM TV.

+ 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 want to fulfill all of their aspirations 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 – I am a firm believer that the opening scene for a TV show or a Film should encompass the vibe of the content the viewers are going to watch. And Laapata does exactly that. The opening scene was goofy, comedic but also depicted the aspirations (or delusions) of Shams flawlessly. 

ii – The chemistry between Shams (Ali Rehman Khan) and Falak (Sarah Khan) is great. Both actors know how to play off each other which in turn creates fun banter between the two love birds. As far as casting goes, these two were spot on.

iii – The gambling scenes in the first two episodes are visual art at its finest. The colors, the low key lighting emphasizing on tension and devious atmosphere, the music also plays off great in these scenes without any dialogue. While gambling, one could instantly tell what each character is pondering without even any spoken dialogue. Great stuff.

iv – Speaking of visuals, Laapata is also very well shot with lots of creative camera movement accompanying the scenes. Since Khizer Idrees started off as a cinematographer first, it is not at all surprising that his shows will incorporate a lot of his experience behind the camera.

v – Most of the supporting cast also play their parts well. Actors such as Gohar Rasheed, Amna Malik, Rabia Noreen, Munazzah Arif and Khalifa Sajeer Uddin work brilliantly as our protagonist’s close acquaintances who want to guide their child/ sibling on the right path of success.

+ Low Points

i –  First of all, this really needs to be addressed; why does Ali Rehman Khan’s face have touches of “browness” to it? Its definitely subtle but after watching the first two episodes, the only reason could be is a cultural one where “Browness = lower class”. Such casual racism unfortunately plagues our TV screens and Film Industry. First it’s the drama Parizaad and now this? The power of Media has such influence on the masses to combat bigotry and racism but dramas like these only throw fuel to the fire. 

    In Laapta                                                 In other shows.

ii – When it comes to the main plot and narrative, Laapata is nothing out of the ordinary. Due to its themes involving comedy and melodrama, the show plays it safe and uncreative (which is a disappointment since the cast of the show is great). While Hum TV currently has shows like Parizaad which proudly makes itself distinctive from the rest of the shows out there, Laapata is yet another Love Triangle/ Comedy of Errors mixed with melodrama that we all have become accustomed to. The main plot of the show is nothing flawed of sorts but it is also nothing creative.

iii  – Ayeza Khan as Geeti is a tad bit annoying as the famous Tik Tok star. Now granted, she might perhaps be an ideal representation of a Tik Tok influencer but I wish she was not one of the main cast members of the show. Let us hope that with each passing episode, her character’s facade melts a bit and we get to see some depth in her character.

iv  – The humor of the show, while nothing offensive, is also not really hilarious and most of the comedic scenes are with Geeti the Tik Tok star. This probably was not a good idea since she pretty much has no comedic timing. Most jokes are connected to her overexaggerated gestures and not the best comedic dialogue so unfortunately, Comedy is not Laapta’s strong suit. It also should be mentioned that the show tries to make subjects like “runaway marriages” a short term joke. Personally, I love dark humor if done right but here, not much thought was given to this set piece by Khizer Idrees. He may be a competent director/ cinematographer but the writing is lacking in originality and dialogues that could’ve been written much tighter for better results.

v  – Now this is something really odd. In Episode Two, one of the supporting cast (in the midst of a conversation) gets off his chair, turns on the radio which is playing the Soundtrack of another Hum TV’s drama Raqeeb Se (sung by Hadiqa Kiani). Admittedly, the soundtrack is great but why was this necessary to shoehorned in the middle of a scene??

+ Overall

Laapata has a solid cast with gorgeous visuals but the writing lacks in creativity which could’ve distinguished it from the rest of the shows on Pak TV.

 Rate: 2.5 out of 5 stars

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Ishq Hai – Episode XIII & XIV (2021)

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Ishq Hai – Episode 13 & 14 (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 production crew on set does a good job in displaying emotions through soft lighting and shadows. While the Art Direction is nothing creative, it’s competent and well presented (unlike the rest of the show).

+ Low Points

i – This show is utterly meaningless. Nothing in the show makes sense, there is no rhyme or reason, characters act a certain way because the script wants them to, the core conflict of the show is illogical and baseless. Isra, just tell your mother that you were drugged and forcefully married by Shahzaib. Could you do that?

Even after 14 Episodes in, this show has not found its basis to exist. I have never seen a Pakistani drama so devoid of reasoning. This show is the epitome of how not to write a show.

ii – Apparently every secondary character is an evil mastermind. Now Raza’s fiance has decided to share her dastardly scheme of getting rid of Isra with her Mother in Law. A long term, years of emotional black mail mind you. First Hammad’s wife and now her?  Do you people have nothing better to do with your lives?

iii – Good writing in storytelling is considered when the characters react according to the scenario presented to them. In Ishq Hai, each and every character has a single note personality. Throughout the 14 Episodes, Hammad Shoaib as Haris always proclaims that he wants to marry Isra… regardless of everything that has happened up till that point! Take a hint lad, move on! Its abhorrent writing of the show gives no space for its characters to develop. Every character is stuck from where they started from. And that unfortunately is not engaging storytelling.

iv – Just a quick reminder, Mahenur Haider as Nimra is still the worst actress on the show and to be honest, it’s not entirely her fault. The script gives her nothing to do other than having a Grrr pouty face throughout each scene. In episode 14, she literally does nothing other than stare at the wedding card of her sister and say “It should’ve been me!”.  Whenever Nimra’s on screen, it’s incredibly cringeworthy.

v – With that being said, each and every one of the characters in Ishq Hai are unlikable to the highest level. Even Isra has decided to act like a lunatic. As a viewer, who am I supposed to root for?

vi – The show fills in a quarter of its runtime with prolonged “despair” scenes where the show goes in slow motion (with terrible frame rate!) and we get to admire the Visage of our actor while Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s Soundtrack is blasting over our ears in desperation to make its audience feel sympathy. 

vii – In Episode 13, Saba Faisal’s microphone went ballistic with lack of Audio level control as her shouting scenes were not adjusted neither on set nor in post production. It’s another example of the creators of the show just not caring about the quality of their product.

+ Overall

With each passing episode, Ishq Hai hits a new low. It’s a prime example of Trash TV that should never be consumed by mainstream audiences.

 Rate: 0.5 out of 5 stars

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 2 (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 – Parizaad starts off with a strong second episode that is engaging and emphasizes heavily on its core storyline. What I truly like about the writing is that in the midst of this big “misunderstanding” involving Parizaad, the side characters are not written as complete idiots and show some signs of personal judgement. Knowing Parizaad their whole lives, not all believe that he is guilty of invading the girl’s private space. It’s a touch of realism that is sadly missing from many dramas on Pak TV due to lazy writing.

ii – Since the whole episode was centered around this particular “misunderstanding”, every character has a chance to resonate in some ways with the audience and create a unique personality of their own. Be that Parizaad’s sister who wants to believe the best in people or his brothers whose primary focus is maintaining their family’s respect in the neighborhood. By writing with such vast layers of characterizations, it gives the audience a much better perspective on the current situation. Hashim Nadeem as the writer has created a fantastic start to the show.

iii – The local “lafanga” Shoukat (played by Raza Ali Abdi) has an interesting character moment in the episode that genuinely surprised me in a brilliant way. It shows that the protagonists of Parizaad are more multi-dimensional than one could imagine.

iv – As in the previous episode, the production work was nothing short of being exceptional. The low key lighting at night, the camera following the mob through the narrow streets of the neighborhood, it’s great to see such innovative and fluid camerawork on Pak television!

v – Episode 2 also pertains to a clever twist to the tale of Parizaad. Without revealing much, certain hints were presented in the first episode of a character which paid off masterfully during the last few scenes of the episode. Already looking forward to the next episode!

+ Low Points

i – Although the first two episodes of Parizaad have been noteworthy, there is notable absence of “Story B” in the show. Most TV dramas create Story A (the main plotline of the show) and Story B (the minor storyline of the show) so that if the first one (for some reason) bores them, they could certainly stick around for Story B of the show. So in that respect, Parizaad is very linear in its approach.

With the coming episodes, it’s perhaps certain that more new characters will be introduced and will create a labyrinth of moral judgement for Parizaad but for now, the drama has been very linear. If some viewers don’t find this main plotline interesting, they’ll most likely jump off the bandwagon before the plot really gets going!

ii – The show seems to be too focused on telling Parizaad’s tale (which of course there’s nothing wrong, that is the name of the show) but neglects exploring the characters around him. As I praised Episode 2 for shedding some light onto the supporting cast, the show can really benefit from focusing on them a bit more in the upcoming episodes. Some of the side characters seem genuinely interesting and are worth an exploration.

iii – There were some instances where Episode 2 could take you out of its reality; namely Parizaad sleeping with a nightlight shining bright on his face (how can anyone sleep like that?), also the lack of reaction from the crowd when a dramatic slap occurs. I suppose this could be served as a minor complaint but nonetheless, lack of small details does disturb the sense of immersion in the fictional world of the show.

+ Overall

A good follow up to the premiere episode, Parizaad looks promising and can prove very engaging once the plot really kicks into high gear.

 Rate: 3.5 out of 5 stars

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 1 (2021). The new TV series is directed by Shehzad Kashmiri and written by Hashim Nadeem. Parizaad is a Momina Duraid Production and airs on HUM TV.

+ 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 the 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 – Parizaad is an interesting protagonist for the show. He’s shy, romantic at heart and selfless amongst others. Ahmed Ali Akbar gives a great performance through not just with his dialogues but physical mannerism; the way he slouches while walking or keeps his head low to avoid eye contact. It shows that the actor has diven deep down into the psyche of the character and his performance is a pleasure to watch on screen.

ii – The backdrop and surroundings play a crucial role in presenting the world of Parizaad to the viewers and I believe that the production team does a fantastic job with it. The slums, the broken walls, the ‘Awara’ youngsters playing Daboo at the street corner, it’s nice to see a Pak TV drama which takes place in the streets of Pakistan rather than lavish palaces of the less than 1% of Pakistanis. 

iii – For its first episode, the pacing of the show flows well; the character and his surroundings are well established and ends on a good cliffhanger. It’s a promising start to a new TV series that will surely bring more viewers in.

iv – Laudable camerawork and set design by the Production crew. By this point, Momina Duraid Productions always deliver on the technical aspects of its product and Parizaad is no different.

+ Low Points

i – The biggest and most obvious critique has to be the Makeup on Ahmed Ali Akbar. He has been given a “brown face” which is questionable at best. I’m not sure where the show will go with this but if the idea is to critique how ‘brown skin’ is not up to the beauty standards of Pakistani culture then I’m all for it. But it does seem a tad dower to question why a relatively natural brown skinned actor was not chosen for the main role. Perhaps like the film Gandhi in 1982, Ahmed Ali Akbar’s performance will also overcome its appearance but I’m willing to see where the show takes this and then have my word on it.

ii – The Original Soundtrack seems at odds with the tone of the first episode. Perhaps with the music, HUM TV was trying to go with a ‘Anurag Kashyap’ vibe to it but unfortunately, doesn’t work too well with its overall presentation. The editing and pacing takes its time and is not at all insync with the music’s urgency.

+ Overall

With a compelling protagonist, Parizaad looks and feels different from other current Pak TV shows. Definitely worth a watch!

 Rate: 3.0 out of 5 stars

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Ishq Hai – Episode XI & XII (2021)

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Ishq Hai – Episode 11 & 12 (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 – In Episode 12, Shahzaib has a slight bit of character development where he talks about his late father and how lenient he was towards him. Such upbringing perhaps made him feel over the years that whatever Shahzaib wants, he gets. This perhaps explains a lot about his actions but in no way, should this ever justify how a sympathetic protagonist should act (but I’ll get to that soon enough later in the review)!

ii – There are some scenes which use light to great effect to visually produce melancholia and despair on screen . The subtleties in this show are far and between but the production team should be commended for their efforts.

+ Low Points

i – Episode 11 and 12 were pretty much a dud. Nothing of significance happened during this 1 hour plus episodes. They were not even really utilized for vital character development, just repetitive melodrama between the main cast and gratuitous slow motion to prolong each episode to its television length runtime.

ii – The acting in these two episodes were mediocre at best. The veteran cast still can get away with cringe worthy dialogue but the young cast (unfortunately) cannot. And Mahenur Haider as Nimra is by far the weakest in her performance. But the fault does not solely lie on the actors as the director should find ways to hide or compensate for his actor’s shortcomings. Editing can be a perfect tool to hide weak perfromances but is sparingly used to its full effect of making the product a bit tighter. 

iii – Twelve episodes in and the Original Soundtrack by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has already run its course. It’s nonsensical that after every single dramatic dialogue, the OST starts blaring into our ears! Ishq Hai is desperate to make the audience feel emotional for its characters and overbearing music is definitely not the right approach to do so.

iv – So once again, Isra called her mother later in Episode 12 to explain the situation but instead of just saying “It’s not my fault cause I was drugged and forcefully married by a psychopath!”, she just blurts out if her mother could imagine her child committing such a heinous act. Yet again prolonging a situation which could be solved by a single line of dialogue. Utter nonsense this show is. 

v – Speaking of psychopaths, now the show is desperate to make “psycho” Shahzaib a lovable guy who only kidnapped Isra out of true love. I’m pretty sure this character is past the stage of garning any sympathy from the viewers now. 

vi – Ishq Hai has some of the worst Sound Effects I’ve ever heard. The fight scene in the show had some of the phony punch/ blow to the body sounds ever used in a TV show. Awful!

+ Overall

Bad writing, minimal character development, awful performances, Ishq Hai has nothing substantial to offer. 

 Rate: 1.0 out of 5 stars

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Loki (2021)

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on American Television miniseries, Loki (2021). The mini-series is created by Michael Waldron and directed by Kate Herron. The show stars Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Owen Wilson and Sophia Di Martino. The show is a continuation of the saga from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is a Disney Plus Original series.

+ Crew

  • Directed by Kate Herron
  • Cinematography by Autumn Durald Arkapaw
  • Music by Natalie Holt
  • Edited by Paul Zucker, Calum Ross and Emma McCleave
  • Created by Michael Waldron
  • Production by Marvel Studios
  • Distributed by Disney Platform Distribution 

+ Note

The concept of Loki TV series was first introduced as a core part of the Phase Four MCU content. Since the success of Loki as a character in The Avengers (2012) and other MCU films, it was clear that Tom Hiddleston might reprise his iconic role and will be explored much more as a stand alone character. The series explores the concept of branching timelines which were first introduced in Avengers: Endgame (2019) where upon “disruption of the pre-planned events”, the past does not change but rather a whole new timeline is introduced. After the disruption of the main timeline by Loki in Avengers: Endgame (2019), the series plays as a redemption arc for the character as he follows through different versions of his own self due to the possibility of different timeline “variants’ “.

After WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki is the third in the Marvel/ Disney Plus series which brought worldwide praise from critics, especially for Tom Hiddleston’s effortless performance as the famous Norse Mythology trickster. 

+ Main Cast

  1. Tom Hiddleston as Loki
  2. Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Ravonna Renslayer
  3. Wunmi Mosaku as Hunter B-15
  4. Eugene Cordero as Casey
  5. Tara Strong voices Miss Minutes
  6. Owen Wilson as Mobius M. Mobius

+ Plot

After Loki’s (Tom Hiddleston) devious escape with the Tesseract in Avengers: Endgame (2019), he ends up getting arrested by an organization called  Time Variance Authority (TVA). Their sole mission to avoid disruption of the timeline and capture ‘Variants’ who were responsible for the timeline split from the main continuity. At the TVA, Loki meets agent Mobius (Owen Wilson) who believes that Loki could be used for a mission that has been plaguing the TVA for a long duration of time now; to capture a renegade Variant who is hiding in the different timelines of the Marvel Universe.

As the story progresses, Loki and Mobius soon realize that something does not seem right about the TVA and combine strengths in order to search for the truth.

+ High Points

i – After watching the last episode, I can sincerely concur that Loki is the best Marvel/ Disney Plus show to date. Tom Hiddleston is once again fantastic as the charming yet devious Loki and the rest of the cast contributes wonderfully to the convoluted story of Timelines in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While such thematic elements can get tricky at times, Marvel has done a brilliant job in maintaining a balanced view and moved the story along each of the six episodes. 

ii – Speaking of great performances, Tom Hiddleston and Owen Wilson work seamlessly as a buddy cop movie duo where the banter is fun and never gets overbearing like in some of the lesser MCU films. At this point, I feel Tom Hiddleston can play Loki with his eyes shut whereas Owen Wilson is a welcome addition to the MCU family with his dry dialogue delivery and wry humor. 

iii – Another vital character that is introduced in Loki is Sophia Di Martino as Sylvie. I cannot talk much about her character as it would prove to be a major spoiler for the show but suffice to say, she is very charismatic whenever she is alongside Loki onscreen. 

iv – I think what should be most widely applauded about Loki is the writing. Michael Waldron and team have done a really special job in bringing a whole new concept of TVA into the MCU without disrupting anything around the already established storylines from the previous Three phases of the MCU. The episodes move at a brisk pace, provide vital details along the way and most importantly, have a keen eye on character progression for each individual throughout the series. With such a convoluted plot involving timelines, the writing team has done a stupendous job throughout the 6 episodes. Well done!

v – Some of the cinematography by Autumn Durald Arkapaw is truly inventive and much more creative than the previous two Marvel/ Disney Plus series. The frame travels alongside our main cast, explores the TVA’s corridors in the earlier episodes but pulls back in the later episodes, revealing odd and ominous landscapes (a galore of Marvel easter eggs!).

vi – The Music by Natalie Holt is haunting and memorable. The preference of introument’s lower bass range proves ideal for the series as it meticulously mixes vintage Sci-Fi elements with slow melancholy. 

vii – The Costume Designs, Special Effects and Set Design are all praiseworthy. What could truly be admired about Disney Plus is that they have undeniable trust in their Marvel content and are willing to financially back it up all the way. When they don’t, you can see the mediocre CGI in films like Black Panther (2018).

viii – Where both the previous Marvel/ Disney Plus shows (WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) staggered for me were the final episode. It was a barrage of unnecessary epic battles with virtually no real organic progression towards it. Thankfully Loki avoids all that and concludes the story according to the previous events leading up to it. A new character is revealed in the last episode which systematically changes much of the Phase Four and could prove to be a worthy foe for the next generation of the Avengers. I cannot reveal much but the actor who plays the role is just simply outstanding in this. Whenever he was on screen, he clearly hijacked it and the mesmerizing performance was just an icing on the Loki cake.

+ Low Points

i – With all that is great and praiseworthy about Loki, there are problems that could’ve been ironed out during the writing process, mainly the over reliance of exposition. During the first two episodes, there were just way too many scenes with 10 minute long explanations about what the TVA is, how it works and what it accomplishes. To soften the blow, the 1920s style animated character ‘Miss Minutes’ was introduced and while that does work to a certain extent, the exposition still continues on in the next few episodes which slightly bogs down the pacing of the show. A tighter, more fluid progression of scenes were needed and while it is never detrimental, it would have surely been improved upon.

SPOILER ALERT!: (From here on out, there will be spoilers for the show. If you still haven’t seen the show and would like to see it, you can skip directly to Overall section):

ii – The romance between the two Loki variants was not organically earned by the show. Although it’s an interesting concept, the romance did feel a bit rushed and perhaps, some might feel it to be unnecessary to the overarching story. 

iii –  The show looks really dark… and I don’t mean the tone. It is literally low on brightness at times. Whether it was to compensate on the greenscreen/ CGI backgrounds is anyone’s guess but a bit of vibrance would have made the moving images more appealing to look at.

+ Overall

Loki is a blast from start to finish! It respects and understands its cast of characters brilliantly while does not shy away from pushing the complex boundaries of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Rate : 4.25 out of 5 stars

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Ishq Hai – Episode IX & X (2021)

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Ishq Hai – Episode 9 & 10 (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 storyline moves at a brisk pace. If you’re into heavy melodrama, there’s never a dull moment in any of the episodes. 

+ Low Points

(Warning! Spoilers ahead! If you would like to avoid them, please skip to the Overall section):

i – Episode 9 was at least 10 to 15 minutes of slow motion with absolutely no real content. Do we really need half of the episode’s runtime with ridiculous slow motion despair scenes that are overtly prolonged and make no contribution to the storyline?

ii – One of the most baffling tropes of soap operas is the lack of a single sentence explanation that would solve most misunderstandings. In Episode 9, when Isra returns back home, her father rejects her because Isra dishonored herself. All she had to say in return was: “No, I was kidnapped and forcefully married to this lunatic besides me!”. But of course, she kept quiet as emotional raag music blasted over their heads so this debacle of a show keeps going for another 20 odd episodes.

    iii – Now the two episodes try to justify ‘psycho’ Shahzaib’s kidnapping and forceful marriage by making it seem he was just impulsive with “Love”. Is he supposed to be the antagonist of the show? Only then does this justification make any sense. Shameful writing.  

    iv – Speaking of glorifying terrible character decisions, Isra’s brother decides to shoot his sister and Shahzaib in cold blood. We live in a country where honor killings are rampant in villages. I could not help but shake my head in disbelief as to how this show is now exploiting real life tragedies. If you want to make a mediocre melodrama, please go right ahead but stop exploiting real life tragedies into your storyline if you cannot respectfully explore them!

    v – The acting throughout episodes 9 and 10 were below average. Especially Danish Taimoor as Shahzaib who cannot emote properly even if his life depended on it. Either the cast lacks the talent or proper direction from Aabis Raza as each episode runs on “auto-pilot” with single note emotions on display. It’s also disheartening to see a brilliant actress like Saba Faisal who is just there to recite a few lines and collect her paycheck. 

    + Overall

    At first, Ishq Hai was just laughably bad but now, it’s just painful to continue watching! 

     Rate: 0.5 out of 5 stars

    TV series

    Mr. Khan’s Review on Maat (2011)

    Mr. Khan's Reviews

    A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Maat (2011). The 25 Episode limited TV series is directed by Amna Nawaz Khan and is produced by Momina Duraid. Maat was broadcasted on HUM TV Pakistan.

    + Crew

    • Directed by Amna Nawaz Khan
    • Written by Umera Ahmad
    • DOP by Shehzad Kashmiri
    • Edited by Husnain
    • OST Theme composed by Farrukh Abid and Shoaib Farrukh
    • Produced by Momina Duraid

    + Note

    Maat (adapted from the book of the same name) is written by the prolific Pakistani Urdu writer Umera Ahmad who is well renowned in the Pakistani Literature as well as Drama Industry as one of the most talented writers in Pakistan. The show is an exploration of themes such as moral defeat and victory in the eyes of our society. How far should one be selfish or selfless in order to survive in this world? Umera’s key strength in her writing has always been indulging in close family affairs and how differences in lifestyles can destroy the loved ones around you.

    After its original broadcast on HUM TV, Maat instantly gained its popularity amongst its fanbase and was aired once again in 2013. This also led to the show being dubbed in Pashto for Hum Pashto 1 and drew numerous fans outside the country’s borders (such as India, Iran and Turkey). At the Lux Style Awards, Maat bagged Best Television Actress for Saba Qamar, Best Director, Best Writer and Best Television Serial awards.

     + Main Cast

    1. Aamina Sheikh as Aiman
    2. Saba Qamar as Saman
    3. Adnan Siddiqui as Faisal
    4. Noor Hassan Rizvi as Hadeed
    5. Shamim Hilaly as Faisal’s mother
    6. Rabia Noreen as Afia
    7. Asad Malik as Aazar
    8. Samina Ahmad as servant
    9. Maheen Rizvi as Shaila
    10. Sadia Ghaffar as Munazzah

    + Plot

    Two sisters; Aiman (Aamina Sheikh) and Saman (Saba Qamar) have vastly different visions of a perfect life. Aiman dreams of a modest, honest life whereas Saman dreams of a luxurious life with no consequences. Ideals clash when Faisal (Adnan Siddiqui)  proposes to marry his long time love Saman but her perfect Husband might not have a clear face so long as he can fulfill every material need that she desires in Life.

    + High Points

    i – This is by now no secret that I am a massive fan of Umera Ahmed and her writing. She is undoubtedly miles ahead from many other drama writers in the Pakistani TV Industry. And Maat is no exception. Every episode is written with intricate precision and attention. With depth and understanding, each character feels a real and integral part of the story. Throughout its 25 Episodes, the show never felt staggered or prolonged (which is a rarity in modern Pak Television!). Each episode had a purpose to exist and that is perhaps one of the biggest compliments I could possibly give to a episodic soap opera. 

    ii – Even though Maat is (yet again) a story of love triangle on the surface level, the plot goes much deeper than that. The show is an exploration of selfness vs selfishness (similar to Umera Ahmed’s previous work Daam (2010) but interestingly enough, the role of Aamina Sheikh reversed). It’s obvious that the sympathies lie solely on Aiman but she herself is not flawless in her woes. She fails to understand where the limits lie when it comes to personal sacrifice. Saman (on the other hand) fails to understand why the world doesn’t revolve according to her needs. She has no issues in manipulating people in order to get her way. The concept of ‘philanthropy’ is all alien to her. 

    What I really admire about the storyline is all characters (whether good or bad) have flaws within them. The victim nor the oppressor can remain blameless throughout the show. It’s a balanced style of Umera’s writing which I truly applaud about her work. But with that being said, I think a lot of credit also should go to Amna Nawaz Khan’s superb direction. Her meticulous direction of her cast of characters and the scenes that they were part of really brought a lot of life into the show.

    iii – The performances are great all around but it’s mostly the main cast of Aamina Sheikh, Saba Qamar and Adnan Siddiqui that shine throughout the show. The audience naturally tunes in for them to take the center stage and they never fail to deliver. But surprisingly, as the show progressed, Saba Qamar quickly captured the limelight of the show and most of the later episodes were solely through her perspective. And that I felt was very refreshing to view the events from the “Antagonist’s” point of view.

    iv – The supporting cast of Shamim Hilaly, Rabia Noreen and others also contributed a lot to the show’s strength in its performances. Apart from the servant actors sounding a bit stiff, the main supporting cast was excellent throughout its 25 episodes. The scenes between Shamim and Rabia were also great to watch as their onscreen chemistry really had me believe that they are in fact sisters long after the cameras have stopped recording for the day.

    v – The setting, locations and backdrop was all brilliantly realized for the show. The living condition differences between lower social classes and upper social classes were very apparent and added much needed depth and diversity to the moving images of the show.

    vi – Apart from the brilliant OST by Muhammad Ali, most of the music was fantastic throughout the show. The integration of flute with melancholic piano really brought a sense of pain and regret onto the small screen. The music never felt overbearing but only ended up enhancing your viewing experience.

    vii –  The conclusion to the show was outstanding and fit right in the tone and narrative of the show. Most TV dramas fall into the trap of a great setup but a terrible payback at the end but the writer of Maat knew in which direction she was taking the show and how this particular story would end. The conclusion of any show always makes or breaks it but fortunately, Maat had a very satisfying conclusion to the show.

     + Low Points

    i – The production was serviceable to say the least. Shehzad Kashmiri’s camerawork was subpar and lacked any sort of creativity in its visuals. Shows like Raqeeb Se (2021) are a prime example how inventive framing and camerawork can really contribute to the overall aesthetic of the show.

    (Warning! Spoilers Ahead! If you would like to avoid it, please skip to the Overall section):

    ii – One major problem that left me perplexed was the shift of perspective from Aiman to Saman. Why? Why could not both have been the audience’s window into the world of Maat? Since the two sisters have polar opposite understanding of the world, this unique dual perspective would have worked seamlessly into the narrative but for some reason, Umera’s script solely focused on Saman’s view mostly throughout the show. A bit more balanced screentime between the two sisters would worked better for the show.

    iii – Although Saba Qamar’s performance was great, she had a certain tick in her performance that whenever she said something in a condescending tone, she shook her head on the side at the end of each sentence. I’m not sure if it was supposed to be a tick that Saba invented for her character or if it was the director’s suggestion but became a bit distracting as episodes went on. 

    iv – There were times when the audience might lose their empathy towards Aiman because she is gratuitously more generous than anyone ever should be. It’s hard to sympathize but only pity someone’s lack of intelligence if it’s already written on the wall that caving into Saman’s stubbornness and Faisal’s self-destructive desires will lead to nothing good in life. Perhaps it can be noted as a flaw of Aiman but these were the times when I momentarily lost sympathy for Aiman for being so naive and clueless.

    v – The “elderly” make up in the last two episodes was laughable. It looked ridiculous considering the white hair but perfect “wrinkless” skin. A random guy called Aiman ‘old lady’ just took me completely out of the scene. Stage plays have better makeup than this!

    vi – The last few episodes have a bit too many inner monologues from Aiman. I think that dragged the episodes a bit and could’ve been avoided. The visuals were enough for the audience to understand what was happening without the show spelling it out for them.

    + Overall

    Maat is such an entertaining watch. The characters are interesting and the plot progression is excellent throughout its 25 episodes. One of the best shows to come out of the last decade.

     Rate: 4.0 out of 5 stars

    TV series

    Mr. Khan’s Review on Ishq Hai – Episode VII & VIII (2021)

    Mr. Khan's Reviews

    A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Ishq Hai – Episode 7 & 8 (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 – When it comes to Wedding scenes, most Pakistani TV dramas do such a lackluster job in making it convincing for the audience. Ishq Hai is one of the very few dramas which make the wedding scenes really satisfying to watch as they go all out with the set design and extras.

    ii – With all the bad writing and subpar performances, at least the production team does a decent job with the Camerawork, Costumes, Make Up and Set Design. At least they should be commended for their efforts behind the camera.

    + Low Points

    (Warning! Spoilers ahead! If you would like to avoid them, please skip to the Overall section):

    i – Oh boy, this show has already fallen off the rails! Shahzaib has officially turned into a complete psychopath who abducts women who don’t want to be with him and force marriage upon them. Is this the guy we’re supposed to be rooting for? There is absolutely nothing sympathetic about him left anymore. I sincerely hope Ishq Hai doesn’t portray him as the guy we should get behind. How can anyone in their right mind condone such actions?

    ii – Danish Taimoor as Shahzaib just doesn’t work. The actor does not possess the acting chops required to play the role of an obsessed lover. His “suicide” scene was complete cringe. Even though Minal Khan as Isra is still convincing in her performances, Danish (unfortunately) cannot keep up with the rest of the cast. The only emotion he can display is rage and that’s all he has shown throughout the show up till now.

    iii – Sameera (the sister in law) has such a ridiculous motivation to be evil in the show. It’s quite comical to be honest. Her whole life now revolves around Isra; “Is she texting her Hero??”. Running behind her everytime just so she could give the Evil zinger and feel proud of herself afterwards. Her whole motivation to be mean to Isra is that she is hogging all the attention towards her. It’s understandable if she’s not on good terms with her but Sameera’s dialogues are just beyond absurd.

    iv – EVERYONE KEEPS SHOUTING AT EACH OTHER IN THIS SHOW!! And watching two episodes back to back, it’s really tiresome. There are absolutely no quiet scenes for the viewers so they could at least have a breather in between dramatic scenes. But no, every second needs to be the main cast threatening each other. Cause that’s how normal people talk apparently.

    v – Yet another scene where Nimra crying alone, starring at a distance. This is literally all she is good for in the show.

    + Overall

    Eight episodes in and Ishq Hai has already jumped the shark! I don’t understand who the show wants the audience to root for anymore. Terrible writing!

     Rate: 0.75 out of 5 stars