Yumna Zaidi, over the years, has built a reputation for herself in a way where a project featuring her becomes a must-watch. This has happened because of class acts in projects like Darr Si Jati Hai Sila, Pyar Ke Sadqay, Dil Na Umeed Tau Nahi, Raaz-e-Ulfat, and many more. Her recent outing, Bakhtawar showcases the journey of a headstrong girl who breaks shackles and aims to create a better tomorrow for herself.
Bakhtawar: Cast, Crew, And Story
For readers who are unversed about Bakhtawar, here’s a quick intro. The drama serial is written by Nadia Akhtar, directed by Shahid Shafaat, and produced by Momina Duraid. Apart from Yumna, the cast includes, Zaviyar Naumaan Ijaz, Saqib Sameer, Mizna Waqas, Noreen Gulwani, Shamoon Abbasi, Sunil Shankar, Huma Nawab, Adnan Shah Tipu, and others.
The plot opens with a flashback where young Bakhtawar (Yumna Zaidi) is indulged in a sweet conversation with her elder sister, Naseem. The situation takes a horrible turn when her father Razzaq (Noor-ul-Hassan) forces Naseem for a Nikkah. Razzaq is a drug addict, alcoholic, and gambler who crosses all limits. Bakhtawar’s mother Shareefa (Huma Nawab) tries her best to save Naseem but fails.
The narrative leaps over six years. Razzaq is missing, and there’s no clue about Naseem’s whereabouts either. Bakhtawar is now in college but the situation around her hasn’t changed much. They struggle badly to make ends meet. Bakhtawar gives tuition and pays for her college fee. Shareefa is worried about the medication of her bedridden son, Guddu. Adding more to the horror is her brother Hameed (Adnan Shah Tipu) who compensates for their household expenses but with a purpose. Hameed eyes Bakhtawar to marry his mentally disabled son, Rizwan.
Amongst all the tense moments, there’s also a wedding sequence of Bakhtawar’s friend Naeema. The latter’s brother, Ahad falls in love with Bakhtawar in a love-at-first-sight moment. In another series of unfortunate events, Guddu passes away. Hameed takes advantage of the situation and forces Bakhtawar to marry Rizwan. The episode concludes with the reluctant Bakhtawar packing her bags and leaving for Karachi.
Narrative And Performances
Episode one started in a high-speed mode. The director served the narrative piping hot, that, at times became irksome. It felt like there was a tight deadline to finish shooting the scenes. Or maybe it was the writer? Guddu was just shown twice and killed off. There wasn’t any sign of the mentally disabled Rizwan? Resultantly, viewers couldn’t relate to Bakhtawar’s misery. The fast proceedings aren’t an objection, but unfortunately, the narrative struggled to make the intended impact. The editing was sloppy, making the scenes look disjointed. Also, the romantic sequence between Ahad and Bakhtawar was half-baked.
Bakhtawar is undoubtedly Yumna’s show all the way. She continues her top form and looks convincing in a premise that requires her to let free of her inhibitions to do justice to an intricate role. Her act as Bakhtawar is highly controlled and effective. Huma Nawab is dependable as the sobbing mother. Adnan Shah Tipu is first rate. Noor-ul-Hassan is convincing. The rest of the cast members are yet to make an appearance.
Bakhtawar: Verdict So Far
Bakhtawar didn’t take a gigantic start as expected, especially after the hype created with the exciting promos. The first episode was half-baked but thankfully the performances were the saving grace. Having said that, there’s a lot more to witness in Bakhtawar’s journey in the upcoming episodes.
