Tag: Hashim Nadeem

Rating (Last Episode):  out of 5 stars

Overall Series Rating:  out of 5 stars

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

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 

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 

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

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

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 

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

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 21 (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 – The revisit to Naheed’s story is excellent and I’m eagerly interested how this will all play out. It is rather true to the character but unfortunate at the same time that wealth does change perceptions of many individuals throughout the world. Naheed’s attraction to Parizaad is far from being coincidental and it is important to note what kind of world Parizaad left behind in order to enter his journey to the path of success.

ii – Although the execution was incredibly half-hearted (more on that later), the mirror scene was a clever way of depicting Parizaad’s insecurities that hinder his way of finding true happiness. Time and time again, he has been betrayed, taken advantage of and left for dead but the uniqueness of Parizaad is that he still persevered and never compromised on his morals.

iii – What was also commendable for Episode 21 was the ‘pocket story’ technique. For the most part, the whole episode focused on the Parizaad/ Annie story and it worked on most levels. The concept of a blind girl falling in love with a man who is not considered “physically attractive” due to his dark skin (a theme from Othello which the show touched upon many episodes ago) is a classic angle of storytelling. If looks are the first aspect that a person falls in love with, Annie had the privilege to fall with Parizaad’s character and poetry instead. 

+ Low Points

i – On some occasions, this episode was a bit of a letdown. The thematic elements that were visited ended up being cliched and on the nose. Yes, we know what an empathic person Parizaad is but do we really need to witness each and every good deed that he does (like the shoe shiner kid scene)? Thankfully we did get to peek into Parizaad’s more insecure side (his lack of self confidence when it comes to being loved) but Parizaad works best when the themes visited are subtle but to the point. 

ii – Although Annie has definitely some interesting characteristics, the way she has been written came off less charming but more on the annoyance side. Her ‘fangirl’ attitude over Parizaad’s poetry makes sense to the current storyline but have to admit, the scenes did slightly go overboard and I ended up feeling annoyed by her constant questioning and calling on odd times of the day rather than feeling sympathetic for her love. And also, just because she is a fan of his poetry, doesn’t necessarily mean that Parizaad will instantly fall head over heels for her. Some character development scenes were desperately required in order to make this romance believable. 

iii – There were a lot of unfortunate technical/ production errors throughout the episode. The lack of atmospheric sound is extremely jarring in exterior locations where we can visually see thousands of citizens on the streets but no sound can be heard. Obviously, the sound editor only enables sound when it is being picked up by the collar microphones of the actors. Secondly, the mirror scene with Parizaad was awkwardly executed since for some odd reason, the reflection of Parizaad was facing the camera rather than himself outside the mirror (check the mirror pic above). Why is reflection breaking the fourth wall and addressing us rather than himself in front of the mirror? Such moments really took me out of the show for some seconds and all these errors could have been easily fixed with just a small amount of effort.

iv – When it comes to priorities, what is up with Parizaad’s advisor/ personal secretary? Midway through the episode, he enters the room and explains to his boss Parizaad how he has made things well with his wife again and only after a few minutes of discussion, does he mention the urgent news that his rivals are ganging up on him and his life might be in danger…. Why is he still employed?

+ Overall

While the episode was truly focused and compact this time around, some writing inconsistencies and technical errors manage to hinder the enjoyment level this episode could have had.

Rate:out of 5 stars

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 20 (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 – When it comes to setting up new characters and their individual storylines, Episode 20 certainly delivered. From the return of Majid (his neighborhood ‘friend’) to the Radio girl who is in love with Parizaad’s poetry, the level of detail in its writing makes it certain that they feel as real and authentic as possible. As Parizaad gets used to his recent success, he indulges heavily into his past life and tries to help those in need. What has also always been consistent with the show’s quality is the level of detailed characteristic that our protagonist has. For example, Parizaad could have had a straightforward reunion with his ex-mechanic boss but by playing along with the accusation of fraud workmanship, he got his friend all fired up only to be pleasantly surprised in return. A minor detail but such level of attention does work well in the long run, making Parizaad’s world more vibrant and colorful in character.

Whether the show will be able to maintain its audience’s attention span still remains to be seen but for now, Parizaad’s plot still seamlessly flows as it has in the past. 

ii – The return of Majid (who was barely explored in the earlier episodes) has managed to create an interesting dynamic to the story. As predicted, his selfish intentions have not changed since he was first introduced and envy is on his mind when it comes to Parizaad’s sudden path of success. The performance of Ahmed Taha Ghani as Majid also elevates this storyline and brings out the tension and jealousy seeped deep beneath his psyche. Will Parizaad’s unconditional act of kindness towards Majid be ultimately his downfall? 

iii – It’s good to see that Episode 20 finally also sheds light towards the ‘business’ side of affairs. The conflict of interest between the two ‘bosses’ and their territories is a common affair that could easily end in warfare between the two factions. Its intriguing to see how this will play out in the coming weeks.

iv – The cliffhanger to Episode 20 is a rather interesting one. Once again, this could be yet another repercussion to Parizaad’s unbridled honesty and faith in humanity. When someone pleads for ‘help’, Parizaad has a hard time refusing. And in this case, it will most certainly end up against him in the end. Its a certain disaster in the making.

+ Low Points

i – While the writing has brought in new scenarios and storylines to the show, ‘Business entrepreneur’ Parizaad is admittedly not as interesting as ‘down on his luck’ Parizaad. Historically, the journey has always been more interesting than the destination and the show runners are doing a good job in maintaining the level of interest as before. But the show needs a story that can shake the very foundations of Parizaad’s venture as an entrepreneur. A reality check that could land him in serious trouble, a reminder that regardless of social class, empathy is considered a weakness in our society. And judging from this week’s episode, this is perhaps the path that the show will end up taking. 

ii – The introduction of the ‘Radio girl’ seems rather unnecessary to the main plot of the show. Her fangirl moments towards Parizaad does not develop much into an essential side plot and can’t see how this could add to the overall experience of the show. Parizaad has already had three/ four women in his life, adding another one does not seem ‘essential’ and feels rather arbitrary to the show.

+ Overall

Parizaad continues to hold steady with its quality writing and promises new conflicts in the upcoming weeks of television.

 Rate: out of 5 stars