Tag: Momina Duraid

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Laapata Episode 7 & 8 (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 – In comparison to other female protagonists on Pak television, Falak is still relatively better written. She is not easily manipulated or oppressed by the men in her life. She has a solo career as a sportswoman and also possesses her own unique character.

ii – The plot flows along nicely with each passing episode. The pacing between the quieter and dramatic moments is commendable. And even though the new romance plotline between Falak and Daniyal serves yet again as just another drama cliche, it has been well introduced and executed. It’s genuinely admirable that the show is gradually developing the romance between the two and giving it the attention that it deserves.

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

iii – The dream sequence perfectly describes the longing and desperation of Shams. The music is never overbearing, it lets just the visuals of the scene describe and the pain and anguish Shams is feeling at the moment. It’ll be interesting to see how he will react when he eventually returns to his past life.

+ Low Points

i –  Laapata is in the middle of crossroads when it comes to genres. The main plotline has taken a dark turn but the show is afraid to fully commit to it and therefore, has inconsequential flashback scenes to provide some levity to the show. And there lies the problem. What is it that Laapata wants from its viewers? Are we supposed to take it seriously or not? The drama and comedy scenes in this show mix as good as oil and water.

ii – Geeti is undoubtedly a horrible person as she now targets the fiance of her closest friend to be her next lover. It’s perplexing to me how the show plays all of this off as “comedy”. Should we be rooting for such an amoral character? Will Geeti learn her lesson not to be a narcissist and annoying by the end of the series? We shall find out.

iii  – The subplot of Falak’s sister proves to be completely unnecessary. Up till now, it has proven to be uninteresting and insignificant to the overall plot of the show.

iv  – The “two years” later episodes have not proven to be as colourful or compelling as the previous ones. Where are the corrupt police officers or the greedy mulla? It was at least fun to watch them on screen. Now it’s just dull, generic characters like Geeti’s new lover or the kind hearted boss of Falak. Nowhere near as interesting.

+ Overall

Laapata has recovered a tad bit from its sudden shift in tone but the drama and comedy aspect of the show still needs to be better balanced in order for the show to have an identity of its own.

 Rate: out of 5 stars

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 6 (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 6 showed quite an improvement from the previous two episodes. The story felt urgent and did not waste time with injecting comedy in subplots of the show. Even though the problems presented are regarding the side characters of the show, the focus was on Parizaad and his intellect in dealing with them. 

ii – The awkward “romance” moment between Bubbly and Parizaad was comical and true to their characters. It never pushed its boundaries nor did it overstayed its welcome. It was just a cute, fun moment between the two characters who have a genuine, mutual liking for one another.

iii – Once again, the scenes between Parizaad and Nasaaz were brilliantly acted and presented on screen. They are two talented actors who know how to chew up the scenery and make their emotions feel real and effective to the show’s storyline.

+ Low Points

i – The “Piano” scene. While I understand the writer had the right intentions in bringing some more characterization into our main protagonist, it unfortunately made no sense. Since when was Parizaad into music? Why was this fact never mentioned (or even hinted at) in the previous episodes? All of a sudden, Parizaad always wanted to buy a Piano. Such aspirations should have been somehow depicted in previous episodes so that it is well established in the eyes of the audience that Parizaad has a passion for Music. This scene just felt out of nowhere and the terrible “angrazi” accent by the shopkeeper did not help the matters further. He even goes on to mention: “One thing I do know is that one day, you will buy a piano of your choice!”. Okay but you just talked to him five seconds ago and you already know his passions in Life? The scene needed some better writing in order for it to work but that was sadly missing.

ii – Even though Episode 6 is an improvement, it is still troublesome why the show diverted its attention from Parizaad to the people surrounding him. The story of Bubbly feels forced into the life of Parizaad and the In-Laws drama with Parizaad’s sister is uninteresting and inconsequential to the overall narrative of the show. Let’s hope that the coming episodes focus more on Parizaad’s journey of self-discovery and less on uninteresting subplots of the show.

+ Overall

Episode 6 did what was required of the show; bring the focus back onto Parizaad and less emphasis on mediocre subplots.

 Rate: out of 5 stars 

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay Episode 4 (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 – What is commendable about Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay is the fact that the team behind the camera does not force emotions out of its audience through overly melodramatic music and excessive use of slow motion/ flashbacks. It tries to achieve all this through the performances of its actors because on some level, the director of the show has faith in their capability to do so.

ii – In these four episodes, Haroon Shahid has been briefly involved in the show’s storyline and hopefully we get to see much more of him since his performance and screen presence seems noticeably better than Usman Mukhtar as the lead actor of the show.

+ Low Points

i –  Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay is an unfortunate retreading of old drama cliches, presented in an unoriginal fashion. Characters play their good/evil parts without much reasoning behind it. Mashal does bad deeds against Mehreen just for the sake of plot progression, characters enter at the wrong place at the wrong time, creating misunderstandings between two characters who the audience would want them to be together (namely Mehreen and Aswad). Although this is not a flaw but a certain lack of originality from the creative team and thus, Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay feels already stale like the majority of the TV shows on Pak television. With Umera Ahmed as the writer, I had some high expectations for the show but unfortunately (so far), I have been proven wrong.

ii – Of all the cliches, Mashal seems to be the least developed main character of the show. Like Mehreen, she wants Aswad and is willing to do whatever it takes to attain him. Her goals are to create falsehood regarding Mehreen and create misunderstandings between her and Aswad. Even going as far as poisoning her pet bird?? I don’t understand what motivated her to do so as this drastic step felt completely out of place with the rest of the plot. And sadly, Kubra Khan’s performance is not convincing enough to play a strong main antagonist of the show.

iii  – “Why is the electricity bill so high!?” asked by one of the characters in Episode 4. 

This line of dialogue was hilarious yet so fittingly ironic for me because since its premiere episode, I have been complaining how the show is unnecessarily overlit, presenting a washed out, over produced look to the images. Just had to laugh at that moment. Seems like the show itself is subconsciously aware of this fact! 

iv  – There is apparently a “Comedy scene” where Shabo (the maid) breaks the fourth wall and addresses the viewers by staring directly into the camera. Breaking the fourth wall is usually done when it is well established right from the beginning that the character has that ability (for example, the character of Deadpool). This just came out of nowhere and felt completely out of place to the format of the show.

v  – The romance feels stale between the duo; Mehreen and Aswad. There seems to be virtually no chemistry between the leads of the show and the scenes that Mahira Khan and Usman Mukhtar share seem awkward and unnatural. This should not be the case since in the show, they are in fact close cousins who have shared their childhoods together. On the other hand, the romance between Mahria and Haroon Shahid seems much more natural and plausible (and this is where the plot is heading I suppose). Usman Mukhtar was a miscast in this show as his performance does not carry the charisma and presence that the role demands.

+ Overall

Four Episodes in and Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay already feels stale with retreading of tired old cliches of Pak TV dramas. With a writer like Umera Ahmed onboard, I would have expected much more original storytelling.

 Rate: out of 5 stars

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 5 (2021). The new TV series is directed by Shehzad Kashmiri and written by Hashim Nadeem. Parizaad is a Momina Duraid Production.

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

+ Crew

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

+ Note

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

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

 + Main Cast

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

+ Plot

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

+ High Points

i – Its great to see that with each progressing episode, Parizaad is evolving from a shy timid character to someone who is learning how to take responsibility and charge head on into problems to find solutions for. With all the new side stories introduced to the show, its a bit of a relief that the writer still has not forgotten developing Parizaad’s character.

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

+ Low Points

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

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

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

+ Overall

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

 Rate: out of 5 stars 

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

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

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

+ Crew

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

+ Note

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

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

 + Main Cast

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

+ Plot

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

+ High Points

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

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

+ Low Points

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

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

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

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

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

+ Overall

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

 Rate: out of 5 stars

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

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

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

+ Crew

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

+ Note

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

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

 + Main Cast

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

+ Plot

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

+ High Points

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

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

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

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

+ Low Points

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

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

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

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

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

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

+ Overall

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

 Rate: out of 5 stars

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 4 (2021). The new TV series is directed by Shehzad Kashmiri and written by Hashim Nadeem. Parizaad is a Momina Duraid Production.

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

+ Crew

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

+ Note

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

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

 + Main Cast

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

+ Plot

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

+ High Points

i – Once again, Ahmed Ali Akbar as Parizaad always delivers a brilliant performance. His mannerisms and dialogue delivery is picture perfect and plays a massive role in making viewers tune in to the show every week.

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

+ Low Points

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

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

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

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

+ Overall

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

 Rate: out of 5 stars 

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

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

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

+ Crew

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

+ Note

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

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

 + Main Cast

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

+ Plot

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

+ High Points

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

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

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

+ Low Points

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

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

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

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

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

+ Overall

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

 Rate: out of 5 stars

TV series

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

Mr. Khan's Reviews

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

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

+ Crew

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

+ Note

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

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

 + Main Cast

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

+ Plot

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

+ High Points

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

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

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

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

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

+ Low Points

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

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

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

Awful amount of blurring in a single shot!

+ Overall

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

 Rate:  out of 5 stars

TV series

Mr. Khan’s Review on 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