Tag: Ahmed Ali Akbar

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Nadaan – Episode V-VIII (2024)

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Nadaan Episode 5-8 (2024). The new TV series is directed by Mehreen Jabbar and written by Saji Gul. Nadaan is a story of an honest police officer, trapped in a world of corruption and deception. Can he defy all odds and stand up for justice? Nadaan is a Moomal Productions and HUM TV Production.

+ Crew

  • Directed by Mehreen Jabbar
  • Written by Saji Gul
  • Produced by Sultana Siddiqui 
  • Production by Moomal Productions

+ Note

‘Nadaan’ plot tackles the complexity of a police officer in search of justice from a corrupt system driven by outerior forces of religion, money and power. The plot displays how naivety can lead citizens into believing myths of miracle cure as opposed to medicine and doctors.

 + Main Cast

  1. Ahmed Ali Akbar       as Officer Haider
  2. Ramsha Khan           as Dr. Tabeer
  3. Hammad Shoaib
  4. Ahmed Ali Akbar
  5. Kashif Hussain
  6. Ahmed Randhawa
  7. Ali Gul Mallah

+ Plot

In search of justice, a police officer Haider ends up entrenched in the world of corruption, drug addiction and societal follies. Along the way, he is befriended by a young Dr. Tabeer who is willing to join him in the battle to protect the vulnerable and expose the wrongdoers.

+ High Points

i –  Episode 5 started off with a bang! The plot takes a major turn and all hell breaks loose. Now the lives of Dr. Tabeer and the medical staff are in severe danger as the radical mob tries to overthrow and burn down the hospital itself. But could Officer Haider save the day? Episode 5 was truly intense and the most engaging episode of the entire series.

Major SPOILERS ahead. If you would like to avoid it, please skip to Overall section:

ii – As I have previously mentioned before Kashif Hussain’s performance as the devious second in command is truly remarkable. He is perfectly casted and lives up to his role quite magnificently. His performance entails various sets of emotions; from his disturbing devotion to his Peer to utter insanity at the end, Kashif Hussain proves his wide range of acting masterclass throughout the series.

iii – I also found the plot redirection of Peer’s wife taking over the empire quite an interesting take with such great opportunity for further plot development. From the meek, obedient wife to powerhouse overlord; her sudden character development had great potential to bring something new and unpredictable to the show.

iv – The romance between Officer Haider and Dr. Tabeer is much better handled in the last four episodes as the dangerous circumstances naturally bring them closer to each other. This, I believe, is a much more convincing way of creating chemistry between the two protagonists as in comparison to some forced conversations and dialogues in the earlier episodes.

v – I love this shot (pictured below). The bars of prison visually divide the two protagonists but as they talk through their past trauma, it threatens to break the walls that divide them and bring them closer together.

vi – The last shot and the wrapping up of the plot from past to present is well executed and nicely brings the story to a close. 

+ Low Points

i – I was not a fan of the last episode. The overall conclusion felt abrupt and rushed as too many plot threads were quickly resolved because the story needed to end at this point. It also felt very unrealistic how quickly the wife of the late Peer was convinced of the innocence of Dr. Tabeer and quick turnaround of the mob against Tayeeb. The series could have used an extra episode to wrap things up in a proper and natural way.

ii – Also I felt there were way too many instances where Dr. Tabeer was arrested and then set free but then once again arrested. This whole plotline felt a bit convoluted and repetitive. 

iii – The plot twist with the wife of the late Peer, taking over the empire was a completely wasted opportunity. It was such an interesting move by the writer but was way too quickly resolved. The sudden loss of her husband could have had some severe consequences and made her into the new villain of the show. And perhaps she did not even need to turn “good” by the end. The corruption of power could have left her in a state of agony. Nonetheless, it was disappointing that the show did not follow through with this plotline.

+ Overall

Nadaan was a short but exciting TV series with some good performances and an engaging plotline but due to its not following through its plot into bold new directions, I cannot claim it to be one of Mehreen Jabbar’s best works to date.

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Nadaan – Episode I-IV (2024)

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Nadaan Episode 1-4 (2024). The new TV series is directed by Mehreen Jabbar and written by Saji Gul. Nadaan is a story of an honest police officer, trapped in a world of corruption and deception. Can he defy all odds and stand up for justice? Nadaan is a Moomal Productions and HUM TV Production.

+ Crew

  • Directed by Mehreen Jabbar
  • Written by Saji Gul
  • Produced by Sultana Siddiqui 
  • Production by Moomal Productions

+ Note

‘Nadaan’ plot tackles the complexity of a police officer in search of justice from a corrupt system driven by outerior forces of religion, money and power. The plot displays how naivety can lead citizens into believing myths of miracle cure as opposed to medicine and doctors.

 + Main Cast

  1. Ahmed Ali Akbar       as Officer Haider
  2. Ramsha Khan           as Dr. Tabeer
  3. Hammad Shoaib
  4. Ahmed Ali Akbar
  5. Kashif Hussain
  6. Ahmed Randhawa
  7. Ali Gul Mallah

+ Plot

In search of justice, police officer Haider ends up entrenched in a world of corruption, drug addiction and societal follies. Along the way, he is befriended by a young Dr. Tabeer who is willing to join him in the battle to protect the vulnerable and expose the wrongdoers.

+ High Points

i –  Mehreen Jabbar is always known for her unique storytelling and fantastic backdrops of the underbelly of Pakistani society. And ‘Nadaan’ is thankfully no different. Director Jabbar always brings the ‘realism’ to the table; not just the grittiness and despair but also human interaction, the kindness that a good samaritan displays in need of help. And thus, her shows feel so much more authentic and ‘lived in’ as compared to many tv shows distracted with displaying only wealth and power as a background for a melodramatic storyline. In short, Mehreen Jabar’s shows are always a breath of fresh air for Pakistani television.

ii – The casting of the show is one of the main reasons for its success. Ahmed Ali Akbar as the guilt ridden police officer along with Ramsha Khan as the kind hearted doctor is a good dynamic for some interesting chemistry. Kashif Hussain as the devious antagonist along with other supporting cast makes each scene of the show lively and there’s hardly a dull moment.

iii – The central plot of the show is by far, the best aspect of the show. Writer Saji Gul does not shy away from the dangers of ‘personality worship’ as many locals tend to follow their ‘pirs’ for miracle cures rather than qualified doctors. The misuse of religion, the dangers of drug addiction and abuse of power play pivotal roles in bringing this show to light. Although it is heavily dramatized, the plot itself feels realistic and believable. 

iv – As mentioned above, the locations, set design and costumes all blend well into the gritty atmosphere the show is trying to create. 

v – Love the fact that the show starts off with a flashback of a ‘crossroads’ moment in the life of our protagonist and then it cuts back to the beginning of the story. This keeps the viewers engaged into the storyline and ultimately root for the redemption of our protagonist.

vi – The main theme of the show is melodic and fits perfectly to the show’s atmosphere. The soundtrack itself is well orchestrated and enhances the emotion of each and every scene of the show. 

+ Low Points

i – With all the right moves to have yet another classic Mehreen Jabbar show, it doesn’t hit its mark as well as it should have. The plot seems to be mostly predictable and by the numbers. One can almost anticipate each scene that will drive the narrative forward. The predictable romance between the police officer and the doctor seems out of place and plays no role in adding any depth to the narrative. ‘Nadaan’ is not a bad show by any stretch of imagination and it’s miles better than most shows we currently watch on our television but for some reason, Mehreen Jabbar chose to play safe with this show (even if the plot is quite an interesting one). The twist and turns of the show are entirely predictable and never left me at the edge of my sofa.  

ii – Even with a predictable show, perhaps the performances of the actors can make the show worth watching, right? Well, it is worth a watch but the actors are not at their “A” game. For one reason or another, the performances feel at times, lifeless and formulaic. And it is utterly surprising that even Ahmed Ali Akbar falls into this trap. The only performance that left me wanting for more was Kashif Hussain as his character is by far, the most fascinating of all.

iii – In the first episode , there were some audio issues with the microphone of Ramsha Khan. Perhaps the microphone was not attached properly but nonetheless was very noticeable and distracting throughout.

iv – I also felt that the romance of the show was way too quickly developed between the police officer and the doctor. They hardly shared a single emotional scene together and for some reason, that was enough. Frankly, I would have preferred without any romance angle as it adds nothing to the main plot of the show. 

+ Overall

Four episodes in, ‘Nadaan’ is still an interesting watch but not to the levels of what one would expect from the talent of Mehreen Jabar. 

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 28 (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 – If Episode 27 was the powerhouse tipping point for the character of Parizaad then this week was perhaps the “calm before the storm”. There is nothing much to be analysed for episode 28 as the show went back to the arc of Parizaad in search of himself through the depths of vast, gorgeous landscapes of Pakistan. After a long time, Parizaad is once again without power, responsibilities, professional rivals but in return, has his sense of freedom back. Deep into the outskirts of Punjab, Parizaad is once again a nobody and that suits him just fine. And truth be told, it works out quite well for the show.

ii – Even though the episode had no real dramatic twists or nerve wrecking storytelling, it was exactly what it needed to be. Case in Point; the local village school teacher that Parizaad ends up befriending along the way. Impressed by the old man’s sense of nobility, Parizaad decides to give something back to the society (apart from making an endless number of donations). By dedicating himself to educate the youth, this might seem as charitable work but it is in fact some self therapy for our protagonist. In the past 10-15 episodes, Parizaad has gained and lost so much in the process that perhaps, it was time for him to leave this all behind once and for all and start anew. 

iii – The only dramatic scene in the episode was perhaps the most essential of them all; the confrontation with Annie post-eye sight surgery. And suffice to say, the creative team handled the scene with perfection. From the oblivious reaction of Annie to the gut wretching paralysis of Parizaad, it was indeed the right outcome. Was this the last time these two would ever meet? Only the series finale next week can answer that…

+ Low Points

i – In critique, one could argue that the more “quiet” second to last episode might have derailed the moment the previous few episodes captured, all leading to the inevitable conclusion to the odyssey of Parizaad. And… there is some truth to it. Perhaps episode 28 could have concluded in a more impactful manner but it did feel a bit lackluster in the end. There was no real cliffhanger to reel the viewers back into the series finale next week. It just ends without any flair or a sense of excitement. Just sorrow and pity for our main protagonist.

ii – Personally, I was not a fan of the 5 to 10 minute clip show at the end. It really felt like the show runners wanted to prolong the episode into a whole hour long for no apparent plot reason. This time could have been utilized for some more character building or even motivated Parizaad to return back home. But instead, the episode ended on a whimper which is such a shame.

+ Overall

A decent episode, a brilliant confrontation scene but a lackluster conclusion into the final episode next week.

Rate: out of 5 stars

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 27 (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 27 served purely as a follow up to the cliffhanger from the previous one. And that in itself was an exciting prospect! This episode really tested the morality of Parizaad and what he could be capable of. He was tempted by fate, stood on the fork road of Good and Evil. Ever since Parizaad inherited Behroze Karim’s wealth and power, it all led up to this moment and suffice to say, the show handled it brilliantly. The episode was intense and full of emotion with great performances all around. And this serves perfectly as the bridge to the last two episodes of the series.

ii – This is probably universally agreed upon by now but Ahmed Ali Akbar was once again just brilliant in this episode. We got to see three completely different ranges of emotions/ characterization from Parizaad; the Vengeful, the Remorse and ultimately, the Acceptance. The impeccable writing by Hashim Nadeem allowed Parizaad to complete an entire character arc within an hour’s worth of screentime. And with the game changing cliffhanger at the end of the episode, I am keenly interested where the last two episodes will conclude the tale of Parizaad.

iii – Yumna Zaidi as Annie also gave a standout performance this week. Her very emotional farewell (?) to her mentor Parizaad was incredibly heartfelt and created a sense of realisation for the viewers just how essential Parizaad was to her.

iv – Episode 27 conclusion has brought in a lot of interesting questions to the forefront. Does Parizaad feel that he has failed himself? When his sense of sacrifice was questioned, Parizaad fell right into the hands of human temptation. After sacrificing time and time again in his life, perhaps he could not take it anymore and wanted at least one snippet of happiness to slip away from his fingers. But ultimately, Parizaad not only lost the love of his life but also ended up losing respect for himself in the process. Where this will all lead up remains to be seen.

+ Low Points

i – Although the “self-reflection” scene was impactful, it once again made the technical error where the reflection of Parizaad is facing the camera (aka the audience) instead of looking directly at himself in front of the mirror. Not a massive fault but still takes you out of the scene a bit.

ii – The scene with Majid felt quite unnecessary in this episode and also somewhat ended up disrupting the flow of the narrative. I’m not sure if the show will continue this storyline in the last two episodes of the series or if it will play an important part but as for now, it could’ve been avoided. 

+ Overall

What an intensive, thrilling episode this turned out to be! The show has certainly now intrigued its audience for the last two episodes of its series finale.

Rate: out of 5 stars 

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 26 (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 – This week produced yet another great episode. The pacing was great, we also got a new revelation which could significantly change the dynamics of the last few episodes of the show. The episode also contained some great dramatic scenes, particularly in the later part of the hour. Although the conclusion of the series still remains to be seen, the show has done a fantastic job in potentially bringing the events and relationships to a satisfying conclusion.

ii – It is admirable that whenever Parizaad needs to make an important, moral decision, he always goes back to his old friend Nasaaz. Someone who gave him courage in the past, who made him believe in himself. So it is obvious that with the decision of sacrificing the love of his life, Parizaad would once again fall back to his old friend yet again. But perhaps this time, he has gone to the well once too often and might have ended up interpreting the advice in the worst possible way. Absolutely brilliant writing by Hashim Nadeem! 

iii – The moment of solitude for Parizaad was undoubtedly the highlight of the episode. This sans dialogue moment packed in a lot of emotion and heartbreak that the show Parizaad is so excellent at displaying. The urge to grasp and hold onto his “happiness” is burning inside him. Why does he always get the short end of the stick? Why do people who display kindness and empathy also end up last? No, for Parizaad, this time is his. He will seize his moment…. By any means necessary!

iv – And this led up to the shocking turn of events at the conclusion of the episode. Will Parizaad really go through it? Will he finally succumb to the dark side? One of the finest cliffhangers this show has ever produced!

+ Low Points

i – Since his introduction, I was questioning why the character of Sharjeel has been introduced so late into the show and now, we all know why. He plays a foil, a roadblock to Parizaad’s path to eternal happiness. And that unfortunately seems a bit too convenient for the plot of the show. Could they have not introduced him a bit earlier (or even mentioned him at some point) because this is not the most skilled way of creating obstacles for our protagonist. Just like real life, characters and events should evolve naturally from the plot of the show and not just for the sake of convenience for our character to react because the script wants it to be that way. I do not mind Sharjeel’s introduction into the show nor his hidden love for Annie but this all could have been much better presented.

+ Overall

Episode 26 proved to be a catalyst that could potentially lead up to something to a shocking finish!

Rate: out of 5 stars 

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 25 (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 25 develops Parizaad’s further decent into the dirty, underworld tactics of maintaining power. And that is a great way of depicting how much our main protagonist has changed since the transition of ‘rags to riches’ storyline. Even though we all know and love Parizaad for his kind heartedness and empathic point of view of his world, one must also never push such a character to his extreme. You might be surprised as to what you would end up discovering. But…

ii – …. at the same time, the writer’s decision to not let Parizaad completely descend into the abyss of evil was a wise one. While this was never in true doubt, murdering his adversary’s innocent son in cold blood might have too massive of a character development in one, stand alone incident. While his tactics can be cruel, he is still the Parizaad that we all can relate and sympathize with.

iii – The relationship between Parizaad and Guru is also a heartfelt one. Guru has had a harsh, unforgiving life who adjusted himself to the evil nature of our society. Every scene that they share together, it is apparent that Guru sees a bit of himself in Parizaad before he has enveloped into the madness of revenge and solitude.

+ Low Points

i – The very late introduction of the cousin character of Annie seems so forced and out of place with the current storyline. His performance seems to belong to some other light hearted Hum TV drama, not the gritiness real life of Parizaad. Up till now, I have no idea what major purpose he serves to the plot but as of now, his existence seems unnecessary to the inevitable conclusion of the show.

ii – Speaking of harsh reality, the “fight scene” at the rooftop with Parizaad’s adversary seemed so phony and ridiculous. When your show is excellent at staying grounded and real, you don’t need such scenes to elevate the absurdity of the situation. If the dialogues, characterizations and performances are based on reality, so should the fight scenes.

+ Overall

Once again, a good episode although the plot now does feel somewhat directionless in the grand storyline of the show. Where is this all heading to?

Rating: out of 5 stars

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 24 (2021). The new TV series is directed by Shehzad Kashmiri and written by Hashim Nadeem. Parizaad is a Momina Duraid Production.

(Note: If you’ve already read the review of the previous episode, you can skip directly ahead to the High points section).

+ Crew

  • Directed by Shehzad Kashmiri
  • Written by Hashim Nadeem
  • Produced by Momina Duraid Productions

+ Note

Parizaad is based on a novel by Hashim Nadeem and is a case study of a protagonist who cannot seem to find his place in a world where illicit behaviour and exploitation is rewarded over truth and kindness. The show explores the lower middle class societal problems of Pakistan and how a wallflower like Parizaad is never appreciated by our society. 

The director of the show Shehzad Kashmiri is a well respected cinematographer who then moved towards directing TV shows. He also directed a feature length film Bin Roye in 2015 which earned him a nomination for Best Film Director at 15th Lux Style Awards.

 + Main Cast

  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 – Now this was a great episode! It was fast paced, intense and finally, we got to see a slightly vicious side of Parizaad. Due to recent events, he has now learned the rules of the game and he is in no mood to back down. We also get to see the consequences of living the life of a man in a position of power. A person always in everyone’s radar also means that you end up inevitably making enemies along the way.

The episode was brilliantly paced, never missing a beat and something tells us that the life of Parizaad has taken a new turn and nothing will ever be the same for him again.

ii – Since assasination was attempted and his bodyguard came under the line of fire, how far is Parizaad willing to go to get his revenge against his adversaries? As he stood in his enemy’s office and stared down at the picture of his teenage son, was this a mere threat or is Parizaad capable of targeting innocent civilians in the process? That question could make or break the Parizaad that we know and love. It is a step that can never be reversed once taken. Perhaps Behroze Karim was right, elevating to a position of power is not the hard part but rather maintaining that position.

One can never be certain but it looks like we will have our answer in the next coming weeks. And I love the fact that the show knows exactly how to ask the vital moral questions from its main protagonist that could easily make or break him in the eyes of his audience.

iii – Such minor details but I love that the show managed to display (in passing) how Annie works her way in life through the help of Phone apps which sort out different colors or braille newspapers that she reads to keep up with the times. It was not a necessity to display these minor details but they definitely add up the overall experience of world building for Parizaad.

iv – A touching display of affection between Parizaad and his bodyguard who ended up taking the bullet meant for his employer. As he stood next to his bodyguard’s bed and clasped his hand in support, it is a constant reminder what humble beginnings Parizaad comes from and how much has he accomplished. Perhaps in a similar fashion, Parizaad earlier also took the “bullet” for Behroze Karim when he refused to give out any incriminating information against his employer. Such is the life of a commoner who is in pursuit of material happiness in Life. History repeats itself in more ways than one.

+ Low Points

i – The late introduction of the cousin (?) character of Annie was a bit unnecessary. What role he will play in the show remains to be seen but one feels that the show already has too many supporting characters that contribute to the main plot of the show.

+ Overall

A solid episode. One with a fast paced story and intense character development. Can’t wait for next week.

Rate: out of 5 stars

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 23 (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 – I have to admit, initially I was a bit wary of yet another love interest for Parizaad to obsess over but since the last few episodes, the relationship between him and Annie has developed into something a lot more concrete and substantial for the character growth of Parizaad. A perfect metaphor for our society’s “beauty standards” where the partner (literally) sees beyond the dark skin of our protagonist.

ii – The return of Nasaaz was great and can prove to be an asset to the final, inevitable destination of Parizaad. Nasaaz was the person who (arguably) saved Parizaad from taking his own life, gave him unbridled courage to move forward to fight against this unjust world. Now perhaps Parizaad can return the favor? Something tells me things will end up on a tragic note.

iii – There is some fun back and forth dialogue between Parizaad and Lubna which hints at the fact that they are still college kids at heart. The writer Hashim Nadeem has a great sense of writing and a clear distinction when he is writing dialogue between friends or lovers. Clearly Parizaad and Lubna share a platonic bond between them that indulges deep within the depths of Art and poetry.

+ Low Points

i – Unfortunately, Episode 23 brought nothing substantial to the story and neither did it shed any new light to the character development of Parizaad. Lately, there have been way too many “Parizaad; such a kind soul that he finances your dreams” scenes. In the grand scheme of things, the scene with the song auditioning was pointless and served only as a pathway for Parizaad to be reunited with Nasaaz. Serviceable but not a great episode.

ii – This unfortunately needs to be addressed; While maintaining a business empire, where in the world does Parizaad get the time to meet characters and visit events that have really nothing to do with his work? Wealth always comes at a price but the show depicts a ludicrous, carefree version of an euterpenur’s lifestyle where he manages to commit to his work and visit all his friends and family around Pakistan. This (I’m afraid) is far from reality.

iii – Since the last few weeks, the episodes of Parizaad have not had much substance to add to the journey of our protagonist. The events seem unnaturally prolonged and the show should be wrapping up with its conclusion by now. Not a major criticism but prolonging the life of a show with no real storytelling can prove to be a major deficit for Parizaad.

+ Overall

Even though the show still maintains its quality writing and performances, this week’s episode proved to be inconsequential when it comes to the show’s plot and character development.

Rate: out of 5 stars 

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 22 (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 22 was brilliantly paced and well structured throughout its hour runtime. The emotions were not so hamfisted as the previous episode and one got a sense of the emotional connection Parizaad has with Annie. As usual, Ahmed Ali Akbar’s performance is impeccable. From his poverty stricken days to the multi millionaire transformation, Parizaad’s body language has changed radically. No longer his shoulders fall, the hesitation in his voice is absent and is not his defining character trait. The six years in prison and the adoption of Behroze’s wealth has brought a new perspective in his life.

ii – This week’s episode had some great dialogue! From the scene with the absent minded bodyguard to the confrontation with Naheed, episode 22 had some outstanding writing to it. For the most part, the writer Hashim Nadeem has been excellent and an unsung hero of the show.

iii – As mentioned, the confrontation of Parizaad with his first love Naheed was the true highlight of the episode. As a reviewer, I could truly appreciate how Parizaad did not just merely refuse advances of Naheed but instead, confessed his inner thoughts onto her. In a typical Parizaad fashion, he painstakingly explained his past love for her and perhaps still, the feelings have not completely left him. Under the facade of wealth, power and success, there still hides the Parizaad that we’ve all grown to love and appreciate. But even if Naheed’s remorse was genuine, would he have still refused her due to her marital status? Perhaps but the doubt will always remain somewhere deep down in his psyche.

+ Low Points

i – These are perhaps just minor nitpicks but the confrontation between Parizaad and Naheed went on a tad bit too long. Just a slight reduction of dialogues from Parizaad’s side would have benefited the pacing of the scene. Also some inventive camera work would have made the scene much more visually interesting instead of the typical shot/ reaction shot composition.

+ Overall

Episode 22 serves as an essential building block as Parizaad steadily reaches its grand finale.

Rate: out of 5 stars