A review on Pakistani classic telefilm, Zara Si Aurat (1992). This telefilm is directed by Sultana Siddiqui and written by Noor ul Huda Shah. Zara Si Aurat was part of the PTV ‘Tele-Theater’ program.
+ Crew
- Directed by Sultana Siddiqui
- Written by Noor ul Huda Shah
+ Note
Zara Si Aurat is a case study of what it means to be a married woman who is torn apart between the wishes of her family and her sense of eternal happiness. Envy and lack of empathy plays an integral role in this melodrama as the protagonist is torn apart between Independence and loyalty to her family.
+ Main Cast
- Bushra Ansari as Qudsia
- Shafi Muhammad as Asad
- Behroze Sabzwari as Ahmed
+ Plot
Qudsia (Bushra Ansari) is trapped in the world of endearment. Her task of a model housewife for her husband Asad (Shafi Muhammad) is destroying her career and worse, her sense of happiness. Enter; Qudsia’s cousin Ahmed (Behroze Sabzwari) who makes a surprise visit to her home. As they both feel compatible with each other’s misery, this leads to anger, envy and despair.
+ High Points
i – ‘Zara Si Aurat’ is undoubtedly a daring piece of small screen cinema. The premise of the Tele Theater starts off as a character study but then swiftly turns into a Shakespearean tragedy. The main protagonists of the telefilm mostly play their roles with conviction and a poignant sense of self-realization.
ii – Bushra Ansari has always been an epitome of revolution in Pakistani television. And ‘Zara Si Aurat’ is one of her finest performances on the small screen.
One of the more memorable dialogue comes early on in the telefilm as Qudsia feels degraded by her husband. She confesses to her friend that she feels like a ‘lesser woman’. A living being without any sense of happiness on the horizon. And hence, comes the title of the Long play.
Qudsia’s character struggles to maintain her identity while being a good wife and a mother. And ultimately, her loyalty leads to her downfall.
iii – Another outstanding performance from the telefilm was from Shafi Muhammad. In all of his previous roles, Shafi has always played the calm, kind hearted man who is empathetic to his fellow man or woman. But not this time. Here, we get to see his sinister side, his pragmatic and contempt for his partner. Shafi Muhammad gives such a unique performance which is a strong departure from all of his previous well renowned roles.
iv – The writer of the telefilm Noor ul Huda Shah did a fantastic job in bringing this story to life. The plot moves at a brisk pace and as the story progresses, the tension becomes more and more intense and with the third act of the telefilm, one is completely engrossed into the narrative of the film.
v – One factor that I always highlight about the Telefilms of the 90s is that they never shy away from powerful endings. And ‘Zara Si Aurat’ is no exception.
+ Low Points
i – Behroze Sabzwari is one of few factors that did not help the telefilm live up to its true potential. This is not a knock against Behroze as an actor but clearly, his performance felt slightly out of place and mildly annoying. So his ‘happy go lucky’ attitude was indeed intentional but a bit of restraint to his performance would have elevated the telefilm towards absolute brilliance. Sadly, his performance did hinder its success.
ii – Of course when it comes to the technical aspects of the telefilm, ‘Zara Si Aurat’ is a victim of its times. The shot composition, the melodramatic music seems bland and ultimately forgettable. The strength of telefilm lies with its premise and brilliant performances from its main cast.
+ Overall
‘Zara Si Aurat’ has a fantastic premise and a memorable ending. One of the best telefilms from the 90s era of Pakistani television.
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