Anaa means ego, and the word perfectly sums up the background theme of this Hum TV drama that is a Momina Duraid production and is directed by Shahzad Kashmiri. The cast includes Hania Amir, Shehzad Sheikh, Naimal Khawar, Usman Mukhtar, and Seemi Raheel to name a few.

Hania Amir, in the serial, has not only proven her acting skills once again but has also proven herself to be a singer by doing the OST of the serial. 

The story revolves around Daneen (Hania Amir), who is seen as a happy-go-lucky girl enjoying life to the fullest. Not only is she fearless and witty, but she is also the exact opposite of the ladies in her poised family.

Living with her father and grandfather (Irfan Khoosat) in a mansion, Daneen is seen in love with Areesh (Shahzad Sheikh), who is the grandson of Daneen’s grandfather’s sister, Saadia aapa a.k.a daadi (Seemi Raheel).

The Twisted Family Dynamics

Daadi is a dominating woman, concerned about her family’s wellbeing. Extremely against Daneen’s ways and the way she was brought up, she directly refuses Daneen’s relationship with Areesh.

The reason for the refusal is that long ago, her son Waleed wanted to marry Daneen’s aunt Nazia (Tara Mahmood), but she had refused the proposal. As a result, Waleed committed suicide and Saadia could not forget the heartbreaking incident. Now, she doesn’t want her grandson to marry a girl belonging to the same family.

Saadia is seen finally giving in to Areesh’s wishes due to the ill health of Daneen’s grandfather. On the other hand are Anya (Areeba Shahood) and Altamash (Usman Mukhtar), children of Saadia begum’s distant relatives but brought up by her. Saadia wanted Anya to marry Areesh, and therefore, Altamash now detests Daneen.

Daneen also meets Izza (Naimal Khawar) at a hospital, with whom she becomes fast friends with. Izza turns out to be Daneen’s aunt, Nazia’s daughter, but she hides this truth because of her mother’s banishment from the family.

The location of the production shows us the natural beauty of the northern part of Pakistan with the vast valleys and high mountains. While the location of the serial is alluring, with stunning sets, the storyline is a fast-moving rollercoaster that is tough to stay on track with.

A Reminder of Princess Diaries

A ride full of uncountable emotions and hard-to-keep-track-of relationships, Anaa is a reminder of the famous American teen comedy, Princess Diaries. In the movie, Anne Hathaway is groomed by her grandmother for the throne, the same way Daneen is groomed by hers to be fit for her grandson. Telling her how to dress and walk and talk, it seems like a princess is being trained.

Although Momina Duraid has given us some of the biggest hits of the Pakistani drama industry, this serial might not be among them. While the cast includes some bright stars, the romantic storyline isn’t much different than the ones we’ve seen before.

While the drama seems like a light-hearted serial up until this point, keeping track of who is related to whom in what way in the serial is the toughest part of all. The link shown between the past and the present of the characters seems a bit disconcerting for the audience as well, as it makes it hard to keep track of the story.

If you’re looking for a fun-filled family drama serial, Anaa is the one to watch. It lacks the over-exaggerated drama feel that we usually see in our other serials, and also it is something that will lighten your mood with just a pinch of emotions.