Tag: HUM TV

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

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

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

+ Crew

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

+ Note

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

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

 + Main Cast

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

+ Plot

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

+ High Points

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

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

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

+ Low Points

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

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

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

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

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

+ Overall

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

 Rate: out of 5 stars

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

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

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

+ Crew

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

+ Note

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

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

 + Main Cast

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

+ Plot

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

+ High Points

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

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

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

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

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

+ Low Points

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

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

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

Awful amount of blurring in a single shot!

+ Overall

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

 Rate:  out of 5 stars

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 3 (2021). The new TV series is directed by Shehzad Kashmiri and written by Hashim Nadeem. Parizaad is a Momina Duraid Production.

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

+ Crew

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

+ Note

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

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

 + Main Cast

  1. Noman Ejaz
  2. Ahmed Ali Akbar
  3. Syed Muhammad Ahmed
  4. Urwa Hussain
  5. Ushna Shah
  6. Yumna Zaidi
  7. Saboor Ali
  8. Mashal Khan
  9. Tipu Shah
  10. Kiran Tabeer

+ Plot

Born in a world of neglect and hurt, Parizaad is an innocent soul that differs from everyone. He is kind, thoughtful and a gentle soul who due to his nature and appearance, does not fit the societal norms of Pakistani culture. Will the devious modern society engulf Parizaad into its darkness or will he remain a beacon of hope and all that is good in Life?

+ High Points

i – Episode 3 starts off perfectly by introducing a whole new character by the name of Nasaaz. He is cynical, brutally honest about Life but yet in some way, a path of salvation for Parizaad. Since the first two episodes, our protagonist is troubled, abused and taken advantage of by the very people who pretend to care for him. Nasaaz on the other hand, sees the untapped potential in Parizaad, someone who understands him and wants to keep pushing Parizaad overcoming his fears from this dreadful society. This is some fascinating characterization by Hashim Nadeem which made the episode all the more entertaining to watch.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

+ Low Points

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

+ Overall

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

 Rate: out of 5 stars 

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 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 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

Tele-Films

Mr. Khan’s Review on Do Bata Aath (2021)

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani telefilm Comedy, Do Bata Aath (2021). The TV film is directed by Kamran Akbar Khan and is written by Rizwan Hassan. The telefilm stars the comedian Ahmad Ali Butt and Maria Wasti as leads with Ahmed Hassan and Zhalay Sarhadi serving as supporting cast. As the name suggests, the telefilm also includes eight child actors. Do Bata Aath is a Momina Duraid/ HUM TV Production and was aired on the 3rd Day of Eid-ul-Fitr 2021 Special.

+ Crew

  • Directed by Kamran Akbar Khan
  • Written by Rizwan Hassan
  • Cinematography by Abdul Qadoos
  • Editing by Sheeraz Fayaaz
  • Produced by Momina Duraid
  • Production House: MD Production

+ Note

Do Bata Aath serves essentially as a 75 min situational comedy, where the comedic antics are always connected to the vast number of children that the married couple has. The premise can be attributed to a Hollywood comedy classic of the 2000s Cheaper By The Dozen (2003) starring Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt. The telefilm also creates hilarious situations out of handling day to day life in the Faraz Family. Do Bata Aath is presented as the “lighter side of Life” and was a special broadcast on the 3rd day Eid-ul-Fitr 2021.

 + Main Cast

  1. Ahmad Ali Butt as Faraz
  2. Maria Wasti as Aleena
  3. Ahmed Hassan as Faraz’s Boss
  4. Zhalay Sarhadi as Biloo

+ Plot

There’s always fun and trouble brewing in the Faraz Family. While handling eight kids simultaneously with his wife, Faraz (Ahmad Ali Butt) struggles to make ends meet… or even remember the names of his kids or who came before or after. After not being appreciated enough for her efforts, Aleena (Maria Wasti) decides to take an indefinite hiatus off her motherly duties and let Faraz take her place in taking care of the kids instead. Hijinks ensue and now Faraz needs to find a balance between family life and maintaining his sanity in the process.

+ High Points

i – Maria Wasti was probably picture perfect casting as the grizzly, overworked mom of eight children. She not only looked the part but her performance matched well to her character. Probably the least offender from the whole bunch of terrible performances.

 + Low Points

i – Do Bata Aath had ONE joke throughout its entire runtime; “Hey, isn’t it funny that the family consists of EIGHT children?”. And five minutes into the telefilm, this joke got old real fast. For a comedy, there was absolutely nothing funny about this. All the jokes and setups were lazy and uninspired. The writer Rizwan Hassan probably wrote the script in an hour’s time as I refuse to believe any effort was put into this project. It’s nonsensical and unfunny throughout its runtime. You can find more comedy in the evening news than this pile of garbage.

ii – The performances are just way too ridiculous and over the top. Since the dialogue is so abhorrent, the actors are directed to over exaggerate their acting to compensate but ends up making it much worse. I don’t understand what people see in Ahmad Ali Butt but he’s not a good comedian by any stretch of my imagination. When it comes to comedy, Pakistani TV shows/ telefilms just fail miserably at it. Subtlety is not even in the cards, every performance needs to be like they are on an Umer Shareef Theater show. While Theater thrives on exaggerated performances, Television/ Film needs subtlety because the camera is much closer and personal to the actors. Why is this such a difficult idea to comprehend for Pakistani Television Production?

iii – Also the whole family dynamic makes no sense. Unlike Cheaper By The Dozen, all the children are more or less the same age. How is that even possible? Did they adopt kids in between? Were they born in pairs? What possessed them to have so many children if they clearly can’t afford all of them? It also seems obvious that there is no real ‘fatherly love’ to the kids as Faraz half the time doesn’t even remember their names or birthdays. Some context or backstory was needed for this comedy to work but the audience is given no explanation. The idea was there but absolutely nothing was built upon it. The whole telefilm relies on cheap comedy antics from its co-stars.

iv – Of all the performances, Ahmed Hassan as Faraz’s disgruntled boss was the worst. I felt literally embarrassed whenever he was onscreen. I hope he made some good money from this telefilm because this is one performance he can never live down.

v – NOISE. That’s what this telefilm is. And I don’t mean just the kids shouting all the time (although that would’ve been fitting to the premise). NOISE equals Background music here. By having constant Music running in the background of every single scene without a second’s rest, the telefilm made it perfectly clear that they had absolutely no faith in their writing and performances to maintain their audience’s attention span. It’s the “shaking of the keys in front of a cat” syndrome, HUM TV knows its garbage television and they have to try everything to keep viewers from changing channels.

vi – Speaking of Production, the camerawork and editing is just awful and unpleasant to look at. Most scenes just begin with a closeup on the actors without giving any indication to the audience where exactly the scene is supposed to be taking place in.

+ Overall

Do Bata Aath is just another uninspired mess of a telefilm which is neither funny nor creative. Its 75 minutes of my life that I will never get back.  

Rate: 0.75 out of 5 stars

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on Raqeeb Se – LAST EPISODE (2021)

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Raqeeb Se – Episode 23 (2021), the FINAL EPISODE of the series. The new TV series is directed by Kashif Nisar and is a production of Momina Duraid Productions. Raqeeb Se is a HUM TV 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 Kashif Nisar
  • Written by Beegul
  • DOP by Hassam Mairaj
  • Music Composed by Hadiqa Kiani
  • Produced by Momina Duraid Productions

+ Note

Raqeeb Se is the newest HUM TV Production and is once again the collaboration of the award winning Writer/ Director duo of Bee Gul and Kashif Nisar. 

The title of the show is heavily inspired by a poem from the legendary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz when the young poet fell in love with a girl next door in Sialkot. But alas, as luck would have it, she one day unexpectedly left the city, only to be reunited years later when Faiz was already an established poet in the circles of Urdu literature. This encounter inspired Faiz to write a poem “Raqib Se!”. The backstory of this poem plays a crucial role in the premise of the show.

 + Main Cast

  1. Hadiqa Kiani as Sakina
  2. Noman Ijaz as Maqsood
  3. Sania Saeed as Hajra
  4. Faryal Mehmood as Insha
  5. Iqra Aziz as Ameera
  6. Saqib Sameer as Rafiq

+ Plot

Raqeeb Se is a call of Maqsood’s dark past that could potentially destroy his present life. In order to escape her abusive husband, Sakina, along with her daughter Ameera, flees from her village to find shelter at her former lover’s place, Maqsood. Unfortunately Maqsood, who still holds a grudge against Sakina’s past actions, refuses to aid her in her most dire situation. But his wife, Hajra, seems much more sympathetic to the situation and lets Sakina stay at their home till things are figured out for the future.

But can Sakina be trusted to stay out of Maqsood’s life or will they be tempted to rekindle their lost love and in the process, destroy what Maqsood and his wife Hajra have built together?

+ High Points

i – The final episode brilliantly wraps up the loose threads and ends the series on a well deserved high note. Episode 23 was everything good about Raqeeb Se as a TV series and more. The episode never overreaches its goal and settles in a comfortable space where the audience can admire and ultimately reminiscent being on an emotional journey with Maqsood, Sakina, Hajira, Insha and Ameera. Suffice to say, Raqeeb Se’s last episode more than lives up to its hype. 

ii – Since the previous episode was a showcase of Faryal Mehmood’s talent, this episode was definitely a display of Iqra Aziz’s wide range of acting chops. In the last few episodes, the actress has clearly proven that she could play comedic and darker roles with ease. Ameera, as a character, had the most prominent story arc of all. It’s the coming of age story, followed by the harsh realities that she was (at the time) too naive to understand. 

iii – The conclusion of the show (which I will get to more in the next point) was arguably the right outcome and a perfect send off to this tale of tragic love. Have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised by how neatly Beegul wrapped things up with her characters and the conflicts surrounding them. This is of course a clear indication that regardless of the longevity of the show, the writer was well aware of her destination.

iv – MAJOR SPOILER ALERT COMING UP!!! (If you would like to avoid it, please skip to Overall and Final Thoughts section)

The ending was surprisingly dark and I loved it! The conclusion finally brought new goals and ambitions for its cast of characters:

  • Maqsood finally learns how to act like a father to Insha.
  • Circumstances allow Hajira to finally live a life with her husband without the “obligation” that she needed to fulfill for it. 
  • Sakina comes to terms with her past and learns to look forward in life.
  • Insha, on the other hand, needs to understand more about life and goes on a soul searching journey of her own.
  • But the most unfortunate one is Ameera, who had to endure murder of an innocent man right in front of her eyes. As she lays her head down in a bustling night train, she reminicents the innocence and happiness she once possessed. But that Ameera died with Kashif in that very car. She finally understands what her mother had to go through. Whether she wanted to or not, Ameera is now the new ‘Sakina’. As she now becomes cynical and disenfranchised taking care of her father Rafiq Ali, the vicious cycle of pain and suffering continues.

Every character gets a closure to their situations, some ride off into the sunset while others are introduced to the dark elements of Life.

 + Low Points

i – Honestly, there isn’t much I can criticize about this episode. The only part of the episode which felt rushed was the romance between Kashif and Ameera. They never had much interaction before this episode and I guess Kashif started falling for her off screen? If they had built this romance for a couple of episodes and then the tragic ending is brought into the mix, that would’ve been much more impactful in my book. But in any case, the cold blooded murder was still shocking and was proud of the show that it dared to go in such pitch black direction.

+ Overall and Final Thoughts on Raqeeb Se

I am a firm believer that regardless of how an episodic show flows, the conclusion needs to bring everything together and in the process, reward its audience for sticking with them every step of the way. And Raqeeb Se does exactly that. The show had a fantastic cast, the performances were brilliant all across the board, especially Hadiqa Kiani as Sakina. For a debut performance on prime time television, her performance was nothing short of amazing. I hope we get to see more of her in the near future. The writing (although not consistently perfect) was engaging as we got to set foot into the world of Beegul and her tragic characters for a few months. 

But even with such a great plot and interesting set of characters, where the show suffered for me was its pacing. Raqeeb Se could’ve immensely benefited with less number of episodes (around 13-15) as midway through the show, the episodes dragged on with absolutely nothing happening in between them. Also at times, some back stories were unfortunately not well explained or visually depicted on screen which might have left some viewers perplexed where the story stands. And it’s a shame because Raqeeb Se is unique and dared to be different from the rest of what Pakistani television has to offer. The production, set designs, costumes, everything was marvelous. The show was very uniquely lit with shadows playing a major role in its gloomy atmosphere. A lot of credit goes to the director Kashif Nisar and his production team.  

In the end, Raqeeb Se took us on an emotional journey, the audience could empathize with each of the characters and their dilemmas. And most importantly, the show left us with questions and some lingering thoughts of our own. And that is a sign of a great television show. 

 Rate (Last Episode): 4.25 out of 5 stars

Overall Series Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars