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Hum Tum Kicks Off With Great Promise And Progressive Characters

By
Maisooma Batool
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Hum TV has reunited the writer-director duo of last year’s blockbuster Ramazan drama, Chupke Chupke, to deliver another major Ramazan drama for the channel this year. Titled Hum Tum, this Danish Nawaz directorial and Saima Akram Chaudhry script is a modern take on the classic trope of “opposites attract”.

Cast And Plot

The story revolves around two neighboring households – Aibaks and Sultans. Maha (Sarah Khan), Neha (Ramsha Khan), and Sasha (Anoosheh Rania Khan) are the three troublemaking but brilliant daughters of Professor Qutub-ud-Din Aibak (Adnan Jaffar) and Ulfat (Arjumand Raheem). The three girls are pampered by their grandfather Safi-uf-Din (Muhammad Ahmed) who is a famous TikToker under the name of ‘Daddu Handsome’.

The other household has the brothers Adam (Ahad Raza Mir) and Sarmad (Junaid Khan) living with their well-educated but jobless father Sultan (Farhan Ali Agha) who is addicted to making petty gambles and Haleema (Munazzah Arif), a sweet-tempered lady with a tendency to forget things easily. Haleema’s widowed mother, Tamanna Begum aka Nano (Uzma Beg), also lives in the house who has a marriage bureau and is infamous for having all the matches made under it ending in divorces. The martial arts loving youngest sister Mili (Aina Asif) completes this household.

Tried And Tested Formula

True to Saima Akram Chaudhry’s style, every character has their own unique quirks. The theme of opposites attract has been woven in the character design quite blatantly. For example, Adam is a neat-freak while Neha has a habit of making a mess wherever she goes. Sarmad is a successful chef who can cook any dish with ease while Maha is extremely conscious about her calorie intake. Sarmad is a mere graduate, while Maha prioritizes education above all. Adam is the almost-adopted son of Professor Qutub-ud-Din to the point of him being adored more than Professor’s own daughters, a fact that makes Neha call Adam the bane of her existence.

The polarizing characteristics of the main characters definitely get the audience intrigued regarding how their respective love stories will initiate.

For now, Adam and Neha are involved in a heated rivalry with the two of them losing no chance to annoy the other. Sarmad has a crush on Maha but she, (and everyone but Adam) remains oblivious to the fact. As per the SAC Formula, these equations are bound to change completely with time and the audience is in for a ride to see how that happens.

Likewise, there is no dearth of hilarious zingers uttered by the characters. Every conversation in every scene has an exchange that tickles the audience’s funny bones. Even the comedy in Hum Tum is not cringey or over the top; it is light and suits the sensibilities of the modern world that this show is based in.

What’s Different?

The strength of Hum Tum so far is in its characters. Saima Akram Chaudhry has steered away from her signature “cousin marriage” template and has given the story of family friends. However, the most refreshing thing in the show is how it does not indulge in the usual TV friendly gender stereotypes and has characters that actually feel like they belong in the year the drama is based in.

Strong Female Characters

The sisters Maha, Neha, and Sasha do not have the knack of doing any household work but them being unable to cook a gol roti is neither played for jokes nor their most prominent characteristic. The three girls are shown to be more focused on their studies, have their own agency that they refuse to compromise on, and are completely comfortable in their own skins, unaffected by how the world perceives them.

Neha drives around on her Daddu’s vespa and thrashes any person, goon or classmate, that dares to try to harm her family all the while being the best student in the Chemistry department. Maha is shown to have had a nikaah that ended in divorce before the rukhsati could happen but there’s almost no mention of that being her defining trait; she’s too busy pursuing her Psychology degree to care for that. Sasha, being an IT student, is shown to be an expert in computers and specially ID hacking.

Moving Away From Stereotypes

On the other hand, the brothers, Adam and Sarmad, are shown to happily do the so-called “feminine” tasks like cooking and cleaning the house without feeling like their masculinity is threatened. Sarmad spends most of his time in the kitchen, Adam is shown fixing the setting of the couch cushions and flower pots as well as tying up his sister’s hair without throwing any fit about his mardangi. Sarmad is also vocal supporter of the Aibak sisters’ independence which Adam jokes is because of his crush on Maha, but Adam too is shown to support Neha’s action of giving an eve teaser a public thrashing despite his initial disapproval of it.

Even the two grandparents have their own independent lives. Daddu Handsome has a thriving Tiktok career while Nano is passionate about her marriage bureau, despite the matches ending in divorces.

The Weaknesses So Far

Despite an individually great cast, Hum Tum seems to lack the ensemble chemistry that made its predecessor dramas so memorable. In some scenes and exchanges, it seems pretty obvious that the actors are ‘acting’ instead of actually ‘being’ the characters. Ahad Raza Mir specially feels a tad bit unnatural when portraying Adam’s exasperation. Sarah and Ramsha too lack the chemistry one would expect from two sisters to have.

There are some promising sparks within the two couples but so far, there has been no cackling fire in their exchanges that would have the audience rooting for their love story.

Additionally, the lack of any proper OST video released by the channel, that often contains future scenes of the drama to build excitement within the viewers about what’s to come, means the audience is completely in the blind about what kind of story or chemistry to expect from these couples. The comedy, while funny, doesn’t have the laugh-out-loud quality to it as well, probably because the characters this time around are written to break stereotypes instead of playing into them.

Verdict So Far

Regardless, with three episodes in, Hum Tum has great potential to become this year’s biggest Ramazan play for it offers something different and progressive that Pakistani television so desperately needs. Being a light-hearted Ramazan play made to relax the audience, there could not be a better opportunity for this show to give much needed social messages in an easily digestible manner. And who knows? Maybe these Hums and Tums might end up giving a couple of love stories that would have the audience swooning over them in the time to come.

Dear Fahad Mustafa: Thank You For Jeeto Pakistan

By
Sajeer Shaikh
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Every Ramazan, Fahad Mustafa graces our television screens with renewed vigor as the beloved Jeeto Pakistan pushes the envelope with the kind of entertainment that is promised for the month itself. What started off as an audience-involving activity (that has seen its fair share of ups, downs, call-outs, and the like) has now been catapulted to becoming a cornerstone of the holy month, packing pockets of camaraderie, exhilaration, anticipation, and much more. For this very reason, one must thank Fahad Mustafa.

Fahad Mustafa – The Host

When one watches any episode of Jeeto Pakistan, one is steered towards asking: how does Fahad Mustafa do it? Without comparing and putting down others, it must be noted that rival game shoes often fail to create the kind of magic only Fahad Mustafa possesses and is capable of conjuring on-screen.

One wonders if the star ever tires, for he is constantly seen on the go – engaging with guests, audience members, and the crew. It is almost as if a superhuman ability possesses the man before he runs onto stage and hosts his heart out.

Jeeto Pakistan League

While guests have been known to frequent the show, the inculcation of some of the biggest names in the industry as captains within the show has been, undoubtedly, a stroke of genius. Not only does one get to experience their favorite celebrity in action, perhaps even getting a chance to play alongside them, but the broader audience gets to witness the chemistry between these different captains and the host.

Whether it’s the playful competitiveness between Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui, or the way Adnan Siddiqui breaks into song and dance ever-so-often, the chaos that breaks loose is a treat to watch.

Other Elements

For the past few seasons, Ahmad Shah and his younger brother, Umar, have been a consistent, thoroughly welcome part of Jeeto Pakistan. The room lights up every time any of the two children are brought to the stage. While Ahmad has grown up in front of the eyes of the audience and remains a favorite, Umar has been stealing hearts left, right, and center, with his unpredictability, and his adorable antics.

The Downside

This is not to say that Jeeto Pakistan has always been perfect. As mentioned before, there have been problematic elements of the show that have been called out on social media. However, it seems that those elements have been passed on to the rival shows, hosts and participants of whom continue to make similar mistakes.

When it comes to Fahad Mustafa, however, there is a noticeable degree of holding back – in a good way. Fat-shaming jokes and quick jibes seem to be a thing of the past now, and one hopes this factor remains persistent.

It must be note though, that even now, the audience has taken offense with the inclusion of a particular captain who has allegations of misconduct levied against them. Whether or not this is addressed is a question to which many seek an answer.

Thanking The Showrunners

All in all, Jeeto Pakistan remains to be a joy-inducing phenomenon that doubles as family time. When one is not busy being enamored by Fahad Mustafa or his many guests, one is yelling answers at the screen, guessing which box contains which tola of gold, or sitting at the edge of their seat, wondering who will win big. For this unifying, gratifying experience packaged in a game show, one must thank the showrunners – yes – but also Fahad Mustafa for carrying the show, giving it his all, and making Jeeto Pakistan the adventure it so often becomes.

Ramazan Plays And Game Shows That You Should Be Excited About

By
Armaan Shehreyaar
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The holy month of Ramazan is already here, and along with the delightful celebrations that are witnessed all over the country, Pakistani television producers make extra efforts to serve special transmissions and programs for both religious and entertainment purposes.

This year for Ramazan too, there’s an exciting line-up of programs featuring popular faces of our entertainment industry.

Chaudhry And Sons

Geo Entertainment’s special Ramazan drama, Chaudhry and Sons, stars Imran Ashraf and Ayeza Khan in lead roles. The project, penned down by the queen of Ramazan dramas herself, Saima Akram Chaudhry, will be ruling the prime time slots this year as well.

The teasers and promos are highly appreciated by the viewers as they promise a light-hearted story highlighting the importance of family values and togetherness. Chaudhry and Sons draws a mild contrast between the two most diverse cultures of South Asia i.e. Punjab and Deccan (Hyderabad). Imran Ashraf plays the rough and tough Billu who belongs to the Chaudhry household where various interesting characters are gaining attention, while Ayeza Khan’s character is the chirpy and lively Parisa who comes from her hometown to stay at the Chaudhry’s place.

Hum Tum

Another Ramazan serial by Saima Akram Chaudhry, Hum Tum stars Ahad Raza Mir and Junaid Khan opposite Ramsha Khan and Sarah Khan in lead roles. This family drama is already gathering a lot of popularity as it marks the return of Ahad Raza Mir after Yeh Dil Mera.The project is directed by Danish Nawaz who has reunited with the writer post the massive success of last year’s ‘Chupke Chupke’.

‘Hum Tum’ is about a neighbourhood filled with interesting, quirky characters who will tickle your funny bones with their larger-than-life, yet relatable dynamics. Ramsha Khan and Sarah Khan play sisters to each other from the Qutbuddin household, who live adjacent to Ahad Raza Mir and Junaid Khan. Interestingly, there is a sweeter bond between Sarah and Junaid’s roles as compared to Ramsha and Ahad’s as they share a competitive, studious chemistry.

Paristan

Aymen Saleem and Arslan Naseer made their acting debuts last year in the Ramazan show, ‘Chupke Chupke’. Considering the love that they gained for their on-screen chemistry, the production is bringing this duo back in another exciting Ramazan serial called Paristan.The show also marks the television debut of famous YouTuber, Taimoor Salahuddin aka Mooroo, opposite Mira Sethi.

The story of Paristan is lighter than the other two major Ramazan serials. The 7 pm play offers a simple family drama with ambitious characters played by Aymen and Arslan respectively.

Nisaa

After the success of their moral-based Ramazan series, ‘Dikhawa’ and ‘Makafat’, Geo TV is set to launch a fresh series this year titled, ‘Nisaa’. The title is an arabic word for women, and so, the series highlights the rights of women, as told in Islam.The concept is already being applauded, and the series is highly anticipated by the masses.

Maamlaat

Another meaningful series by 7th Sky Entertainment, the project will talk about basic human rights in the light of Islamic teachings. Viewers find it commendable of Geo to bring such dramas with short stories, which are truly about right messaging, and do not demand a commitment of a whole month.

Jeeto Pakistan League

Fahad Mustafa’s most loved game show which entertains audiences the whole year will return with its famous league. The league features a bunch of Pakistani superstars who play against each other, and common people play as their team members.

The show manages to gain a lot of viewership, as it serves as good family entertainment after Iftaar.

Khel Ke Jeet

Express Entertainment is bringing an exciting game show, conducted by the nation’s heart throb Sheheryar Munawar. The show is highly anticipated as its content is still a mystery for the audience. However, the concept of the show promises an entertaining game format that will also let viewers take part in it and win prizes.

Out of all these Ramazan plays and shows, which are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments!

Eid-ul-Fitr Film Releases: A Guide To This Thrilling Race

By
Armaan Shehreyaar
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Pakistan’s entertainment industry has some of the most versatile and creative storytellers. After a turbulent hiatus, as the film industry is now facing a revival – with a lot of quality films being produced and many new genres being explored – our filmmakers are constantly bringing their work to the attention of the viewers. attention. Post a two year Covid-19 halt, it seems that Pakistani filmmakers are not ready for another pause, as they are releasing their long delayed pieces one after another on Eid-ul-Fitr.

The Importance Of Promotions

Promotions play an integral part in the success and failure of a film in terms of numbers. Recently, Nabeel Qureshi’s ‘Khel Khel Mein’ and Mohib Mirza’s ‘Ishrat: Made In China’ graced cinema halls across the country with their grand launch. Nabeel Qureshi and Fizza Ali Meerza handled promotions quite well across the country with Sajal Aly and Bilal Abbas Khan’s grand appearances at the promotional events. Mohib Mirza’s Ishrat: Made In China however couldn’t manage to gather the same popularity due to the lack of effective promotions. 

This time around, there are 5 Eid-ul-Fitr releases. Let’s dissect what is and is not working for these thus far:

Dum Mastam

The Amar Khan and Imran Ashraf starrer grabbed the attention of the masses right from its trailer launch, with extraordinary camera work that arrests the viewer with captivating visuals from Old Lahore, and Ehteshamuddin’s direction par excellence.

The script is penned down by the leading lady herself, i.e. Amar Khan. The musical rom-com revolves around the citizens of a small town where Imran Ashraf plays a dancer and Amar Khan plays an aspiring actress. The film highlights the conflicted dynamics of calf-love and career aspirations and how these shape the lives of both leads. 

Press meets, digital promotions, and the launch of music videos – Dum Mastam is ruling the status right now as the film is doing great with a strong and effective social media promotional team. People are really enjoying the romantic ballads and beautiful posters dropping ever-so-often, and hence, the excitement is palpable. We may just get to experience quite a buzz at theatres on Eid-ul-Fitr, if promotions are to be counted upon.

Chakkar

We loved ‘Wrong Number’ and its sequel, didn’t we? Yasir Nawaz, the producer-cum-actor is back with yet another film, but this time, it’s an unconventional murder mystery. Starring Neelam Muneer and Ahsan Khan along with the producer himself, the trailer of the film promises a number of twists and turns and with too much drama and thrill, of course!

Yasir has added the identical twin track to this film as well, where Neelam Muneer plays a double role. The unresolved murder mystery revolves around the mystifying killing of one of the sisters.

The film also has a melodious album with happening dance numbers and romantic songs. 

The stellar team of Chakkar has started promoting the film recently in Karachi’s Lucky One Mall. Viral clips from the promotional event are doing rounds on social media and the the producer duo, Nida-Yasir, is trying their best to grab the attention of the masses. 

Ghabrana Nahin Hai

Saba Qamar’s much anticipated feature film ‘Ghabrana Nahin Hai’ is all set for its release this Eid after a long delay due to Covid-19. Though the initial teaser couldn’t manage to impress the masses, the trailer raised the excitement bars to a whole new level.

The film stars Zahid Ahmed and Syed Jibran opposite Saba Qamar. Where Saba plays a social media influencer turned actress, Zahid and Jibran portray a corrupt police officer, and an insecure fiancé, respectively. The action-comedy film highlights the journey of a fierce, powerful, and determined woman played by Saba Qamar who is seen dealing with the lows and darks of politics and crime.

The Saqib Khan film promises a story of an empowered woman, while not completely being female-centric. The trailer also raises the anticipation for a thrilling action-comedy, filled with unlimited twists and turns that will keep the viewers constantly on the edge of their seat.

Ghabrana Nahi Hai is one film which is still apparently waiting to fully kickstart promotions. While its trailer plays in cinema halls at the beginning of movies, one does wonder when the immersive action, led by the stars, will begin. Some netizens feel that having Saba Qamar in the film is making the producers not promote it in a proper way, due to the lead actress’ popularity among the nation.

Parde Main Rehne Do

Bringing back the craziness of ‘Chalaawa’, ‘Karachi Se Lahore’, and ‘Lahore Se Aagay’, the popular producer couple Wajahat Rauf and Shazia Wajahat have ‘Parde Main Rehne Do’ coming out this year.

A Hania Aamir and Ali Rehman Khan starrer, the film is being highly anticipated ever since the trailer is launched. While many viewers are excited to see their favourite actors together with an effervescent chemistry, the film is also applauded for highlighting the subject of infertility in a desi household. 

However, many people and critics didn’t seem too happy with a particular dance number and a typical action-comedy genre which is not new to the revived film industry of Pakistan. 

Parde Main Rehne Do is considered to be highly anticipated as the makers are constantly promoting the piece across the country with different junkets and promotional events, clips of which are making the rounds. Hania and Ali are also being seen at the forefront of these, and this doubles as a reminder to the audience to eventually go and watch the film on Eid-ul-Fitr.

Tere Baajre Di Raakhi

One of the most anticipated films, TBDR marks the grand return of Lollywood’s established filmmaker, Syed Noor. The film revolves around a Canada-based film student, played by influencer, TikTok star, and now, debut actor, Jannat Mirza.

Pakistanis are going to witness a well written Punjabi movie created by one of the maestros of classic Lollywood. Syed Noor has said that this will be a total family film as well.

Actors such as Abdullah Khan, Saima Noor, Babar Ali, Aqsa Mukhtar, Syed Aly Kirmani, and comedians like Iftikhar Thakur, Saima Saleem, Agha Majid, and Saleem Albela, will also be seen in the film. The film is being seen as an earnest effort towards the revival of Punjabi cinema.

However, the film is not being promoted the way it should be. In fact, many people still don’t know about the film’s release date being Eid-ul-Fitr, while the trailer has also been released. 

Summing Up

It is good to see the film industry gradually taking steps towards making its place in higher ranks in the world, especially after the bad times that it has gone through. However, it is equally important if the promotions are done the right way for all the films. In any case, from all the films releasing this Eid-ul-Fitr, which one are you most excited for?

Sarmad Khoosat’s Kamli Teaser Trailer Packs A Promising Punch

By
Hassan Hassan
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It’s raining film content these days in Lollywood. With Eid ul Fitr, the biggest festival season of Pakistani cinema, just a month away, filmmakers are consistently releasing promotional content of their films lined up for the coveted release slot. Amid the brouhaha, Sarmad Sultan Khoosat’s much awaited Kamli has also dropped its first teaser trailer.

Cast

The film stars Lollywood diva Saba Qamar, alongside acclaimed names that regularly feature in Sarmad’s projects, such as Sania Saeed, Nimra Bucha, Omair Rana, and now, Adeel Afzal, to name a few. The film will also be the launch-pad of newcomer Hamza Khwaja as the main protagonist opposite Saba Qamar.

First Glance

From the look of it, the teaser trailer looks serious and intense, to say the least. The film gives an impression of a story-driven project. There seems to be a lot of symbolism and lyricism infused in the narrative.

While any comment can’t be made about the story as a whole thus far, one can surely say that Saba’s character goes through a lot of transformation.

Sarmad’s Thoughts

Sarmad, in one of his interviews, described the film as being “a tragic love story at heart, a fresh mix of a rustic setting captured in a contemporary, universal sensibility.”

“Unlike other films of the genre,” Sarmad continued in the interview, “‘Kamli’ is not only going to depict the vibrance and humour of rural Punjab, but also its poetic lyricism and love-lore in an international film aesthetic.”

Verdict So Far

The degree to which this claim turns out to be true remains to be seen, but it is certain that the film looks visually appealing, with crisp cinematography that captures the Soon valley in all its lush glory.

The film is important for Sarmad Sultan Khoosat’s cinematic career as his last film, Zindagi Tamasha, has unfortunately been able to see the light of day, due to various constraints. 

Kamli will be released on June 03, 2022 in theaters all over the country, and worldwide.

Celebrities Are More Than Their Marriages And Divorces

By
Sajeer Shaikh
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The passage of time adjusts one’s sensibilities in numerous ways. One such way is the realization that marriage is not the epitome of celebration, nor is divorce the epitome of mourning, especially when it comes to celebrities in the entertainment industry.

Tethering Women To Men

More often than not, we tether the worth of women around us to the men with whom they are associated. Individual celebrities with a massive body of impressive work become somebody’s wife or somebody’s daughter-in-law. While it is true that a human is many things and can exist in a multi-faceted capacity, why, then, must we assess a woman in the entertainment industry according to the success or turbulence of her personal life?

What’s Marriage Got To Do With It?

This train of thought comes after an incessant line of posts mourning the fates of actors such as Sajal Aly and Syra Yousuf. One meme in particular talked about how even the most beautiful celebrities cannot escape the atrocities of life and fate.

One can pose multiple questions here. Do beautiful women solely deserve the kindness of fate? Is escaping a situation that is not serving you, in any way, really a loss that must be mourned to the point where one considers the other party damaged by fate? Is a successful marriage the end-point for all women, and sustaining the longevity of the marriage a task that must be applauded?

Feeling Pain

Pain can and must be felt and grieved, and it is understandable when audiences show semblances of sympathy. However, perhaps, in certain moments, empathy must take the forefront, and while a contextual understanding may be absent, belief in the fact that what happens, happens for the best, is an advisable way to move forward.

It is important to understand, though, that the perceived pain audiences feel and the pain the individual goes through are two different phenomena. Unless communal healing and mourning are called for, space and distance are options for the wise.

Moving On

That being said – we must move on. We cannot sit and mourn the fate of women who have been separated or divorced. Similarly, reducing a woman’s hard work in the industry to just the man she had wed cannot double as a commemoration. Individualistic celebration of merit and talent must be of the utmost importance.

Of course, it cannot be missed that there are women who make their marriages their entire persona. More power to them, one supposes, for making certain decisions, within the circumstances and resources they possess. Perhaps, in those cases, an assessment of how far an individual wishes to relate a major life event to their personality begins to play a part.

To Sum Up

Marriage and divorce are not defining factors of joy and sorrow respectively. That is not to say that the intensity of emotions linked to these life events can be denied – it cannot. Everyone processes these life events in various ways, in varying capacities.

However, to make these milestones the ultimate destination within one’s meritorious journey does not sit right. As a collective, we must focus on the talent, legitimate merit, and work put out by the women in the entertainment industry because, let’s face it, we would never consider marriage to be the end-all-be-all for a man, nor would we consider his divorce to be the final devastating blow.

What are your thoughts on the matter? Let us know in the comments.

The Abhi Teaser Prepares Audiences For A Romantic Spy Thriller

By
Ozair Majeed
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Cinemas in Pakistan have reopened after two years of closure due to the pandemic. The long list of movies that were halted are all set to be screened this year. Filmmakers have started sharing the teasers and trailers of their movies, and the recent addition to the list is ‘Abhi,’ starring Goher Mumtaz and Kubra Khan.

Cast And Crew

The conceptualization of Abhi has been done by Goher Mumtaz. The film is directed by Asad Malik and produced by Ali Chaudhry. The screenplay and dialogues have been written by Shoaib Rabbani. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Usman Peerzada, Saleem Sheikh, Hina Bayat, Mehmood Aslam, Adnan Shah Tipu, with a star cameo by Hareem Farooq.

The Premise

The teaser teleports the audience to an intense world of romance with edge-of-the seat thrilling moments. It introduces us to the two lead actors. Goher plays a musician aiming to make it big, who encounters a life-altering incident that ruffles his world. Kubra comes across as a modern woman who lives her life in a spur-of-the-moment manner.

Breathtaking Visuals

The teaser is packed with gorgeous locations and is shot across the various cities of Pakistan. From snowcapped mountains to lush green meadows and rivers, the locations make for a stunning backdrop. In the mid of the scenic beauty, the embraces, gazes, and the striking display of affection between the protagonists is one of the major high points of the film.

Interesting Aspects

We have seen Kubra’s brilliance in more meatier roles on TV. Abhi will be her first outing as the solo female lead and we can’t wait to watch her on the big screen. Also, we can expect a great music album as the legendary Shoaib Mansoor has composed and written a few songs. He has also given his input for the theme song. It has an interesting mix of singers, like Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Tanya Wells, Aima Baig, Nish Asher and Goher Mumtaz.

Final Word

Abhi gives us a sneak peek at an intriguing spy tale tied together by romance. It has the ingredients to engage and connect with a wider audience. The trailer of the film will be unveiled on Eid.

Have you watched the teaser yet? Let us know what you think about it in the comments.

What Makes Mere HumSafar So Popular?

By
Armaan Shehreyaar
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For most people who watch TV, good actors are one element that works best for the viewership of a project. However, many of them prefer quality of content and good acting over face values of performers. In these times, when social media is the most powerful medium of expression, people can easily figure out what type of content is popular among the masses. Mere HumSafar is one such show.

About The Show

ARY Digital’s ‘Mere HumSafar’ is written by Saira Raza and directed by Qasim Ali Mureed. The show is one of the most popular dramas on-air right now. The family drama offers a whole lot of problematic and questionable scenarios and still manages to rank higher in viewership charts, trending on YouTube, not only in Pakistan, but in India as well, with the number one position, winning hearts across the country. While this superhit saga has nothing meaningful to serve, the drama is doing great in terms of numbers at the same time. Let’s deconstruct the immense popularity of the show and the possible reasons behind its success.

Plot

The basic plotline of Mere HumSafar is nothing but another version of a classic fairytale Cinderella story. Haala, played by Hania Aamir, has been living with her paternal family since her father left her in Pakistan after his divorce with his first wife and went back abroad. Ever since, this poor damsel in distress is being tortured by her vicious aunt and cousins. Years later Hamza, Haala’s first cousin, played by Farhan Saeed, returns to Pakistan after completing his degree – and guess what? He turns out to be a knight in shining armour for the heroine and marries her despite strong opposition from the family.

The storyline is quite predictable, yet keeps the viewer hooked to the typical family drama in each episode. It is rather a situational saga which attracts the masses due to sensationalism and melodrama.

Cast

The Hania Aamir and Farhan Saeed starrer, has an ensemble cast, including Samina Ahmed, Waseem Abbas, Saba Hameed, Aamir Qureshi, Tara Mehmood, and Zoya Nasir, among many others. These performers are indeed some of the most celebrated artists of the country. Certain great performances are one of the strong points of the drama.

Apart from a very powerful support cast, Farhan Saeed is being highly applauded for his portrayal of an “ideal man” on television who respects women and is kind at heart.

Dreamy Love Story

Pakistanis, being emotional people, truly relate to touching stories that overdramatise each emotion and ‘Mere HumSafar’ is one of those. Haala’s helplessness and Hamza’s coincidental appearance whenever she is in any trouble, make our desi viewers’ hearts melt. Hence, they start adoring this couple and the romantic angle attached to them.

Chemistry

Something that is truly lovable about this show is the sizzling chemistry between the lead pair. Apart from being amazing performers, Hania Aamir and Farhan Saeed also have a lovely chemistry on-screen which is loved not only by the audience but the camera too.

Original Sound Track

Sung by the uber talented Amanat Ali and Yashal Shahid, the soundtrack of the show played a pivotal role in the drama’s massive success. The song is not only loved in Pakistan but also across the globe and has almost 10 million views on YouTube.

Conclusion

‘Mere HumSafar’ is a show which has an overall problematic narrative that shows a girl constantly being tortured within her household. Despite this, the show has amassed popularity for the several reasons mentioned above.

Are you watching ‘Mere HumSafar’? Tell us how you like it in the comments below.

The ‘John’ Teaser Features Aashir Wajahat In A Whole New Avatar

By
Ifrah Butt
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The teaser for ‘John,’ starring Aashir Wajahat in the lead role, has dropped and its dark, gritty take on the world of crime is making audiences anticipate the release of the film.

The Production

John has been written by Babar Ali, who also happens to be the director and co-producer of the film. John has been produced by Fiza Khanum under the banner of Vaasil Productions.

The Teaser

‘John‘ stars Aashir Wajahat and actress Romaisa Khan in the lead, alongside seasoned actor Saleem Mairaj playing a pivotal role in the film. The teaser hints at Aashir Wajahat playing the character of a cleaner in the film, who comes in contact with some criminals, only to take up the life of crime and sin.

Although he has appeared in small roles in various films, ‘John‘ is portraying Aashir Wajahat as the main lead in a story of crime and romance. Aashir is playing the role of a hardcore criminal – and he certainly looks the part. Whether or not he does justice to the role will only be determined when the film releases.

The Elephant In The Room

When you have a producer for a mother and a director for a father, you tend to make significant contacts in the industry – so much so that you even get a film to your credit. The same is the case with Aashir Wajahat in his upcoming film ‘John‘. No, we did not say we’re sniffing nepotism here, but is it a whiff of something within the same category?

Wajahat Rauf and Shazia Wajahat’s son, Aashir Wajahat, recently had the teaser of his upcoming film ‘John‘ released and nepotism debate aside, we’ll break down the teaser itself.

The Expectations

Since the audience has seen Aashir Wajahat playing side characters as a child, it would be exciting to see whether he has got it in him to execute this demanding role to perfection, or if he too, happens to be the case of just another star-child brought to the limelight.

For now, with just the teaser at hand, it is hard to fully decipher the entirety of the plot of the film. What we do know is that we will be seeing Aashir Wajahat entering the world of crime, while romancing Romaisa Khan, with Saleem Mairaj playing a vital role as well.

Have you seen the teaser? What do you make of the film so far? Let us know in the comments.

Here’s Why Usman Mukhtar Is No Longer A Part Of Kaala Doriya

By
Sajeer Shaikh
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News regarding the cast of HUM TV’s Kaala Doriya has been making the rounds for quite some time, due to the bewildering switch in cast members. Penned by Saima Akram, the project was set to cast Farhan Saeed and Sana Javed. However, the writer shared a post recently where it was revealed that Usman Mukhtar would be replacing Farhan in the play. Now, it seems that Farhan Saeed has rejoined the project once again.

The History

In September 2021, details around the cast of the project being locked, with Farhan Saeed and Sana Javed as the leads, began making rounds. Saima Akram, who has penned projects such as Suno Chanda, and Ishq Jalebi was to join hands with producer Momina Duraid and director Amin Iqbal in what was to be Farhan and Sana’s first time being paired opposite each other.

However, in a post shared by Saima recently on Instagram, it was cited that Sana Javed would be starring opposite Usman Mukhtar.

Yet Another Update

In another, more recent Instagram post, Saima has shared that Farhan Saeed has joined the cast again, opposite Sana Javed, with Usman Mukhtar no longer being a part of Kaala Doriya.

Allegations Against Sana Javed

This begs the question: what exactly happened? This news comes after a string of allegations levied against the actress who has been accused of misconduct with colleagues and members of the entertainment industry. While the actress is now immersed in a to-and-fro legal battles, as per the social media statements put out by concerned parties, the question then arises: did Usman Mukhtar leave the project due to Sana Javed?

Usman Mukhtar’s response

To sum up: no. Usman Mukhtar spoke to Galaxy Lollywood, highlighting the real reason behind him no longer being attached to the play.

“People assume a lot of things,” states Usman with a slight chuckle. “Actually, my mother has not been well. She was in the ICU. I’ve been dealing with that.”

He further explains how oscillating between two cities for longer shoots, while his mother is unwell seemed rather impossible for him, thereby prompting him to back out of the project.

While audiences do have clarification on the matter now, here’s wishing Usman Mukhtar’s mother a speedy recovery.

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments below.

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