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YouTuber Rahim Pardesi to make his acting debut in ‘Inspector Bulla’

By
Vanessa Alam
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After gaining years of fame for his characters on his YouTube channel, Rahim Pardesi, best known as his character “Nasreen”, is stepping into the world of acting, debuting in his very own web-series ‘Inspector Bulla’.

A project that was meant to be released earlier but, like many others, was delayed due to the pandemic,  the action/adventure comedy web-series has been a work-in-progress since 2019.  

The plot

Rahim pardesi Inspector Bulla

‘Inspector Bulla’ will be a full entertainment package loaded with action, comedy, drama, and also give the audience some deep messages on life. Playing the lead role of Bulla in the series, Rahim revealed that this is a story of a modern-day Robin Hood policeman with a twist, who recently transferred from the village to the city. He is faced with tough choices, between right and wrong. Bulla is a tough modern-day hero who also has an extremely fun side to himself as well. Speaking to Galaxy Lollywood, Rahim revealed that the said web-series is very different from any previous project he has ever done.

“It is very different to any previous project I have done or that anyone has done especially as a YouTuber and digital content creator in Pakistan. I hope to change the game and really raise the bar when it comes to content and entertainment. This is an extremely exciting project for me and my audience. I have a brilliant young team that consists of fresh graduates working on this project with me who really understand my vision and execute it perfectly.” 

We also had a short one-on-one with the YouTube star where he revealed some details about his character and how he got the idea of creating his very own web series.

One-On-One with Rahim Pardesi

Rahim has always had a passion for acting, visible from his fun characters like Nasreen portrayed on his YouTube channel. He expressed how he discovered his passion at the age of 3 and that’s when we knew he wanted to take acting up as a career as well.

“Ever since I can remember, acting has always been rushing through my veins and blood like adrenaline. From mimicking film scenes in front of a mirror at the age of 3 to acting out scenes for family and friends at gatherings, acting has always been a strong passion and I’m now at a point where I’d like to take it to the next level.”

Inspector Bulla Rahim Pardesi

He has chosen to start his acting career through this web-series because this is something he has created himself and has been working on for years. He also added that he wants to give his audience content and an experience that will leave them wanting more after each episode, waiting eagerly for the next one.

“ I had a vision which I had created with a lot of passion and love and I want the audience to be hooked to each part of the story so you are left guessing, at the edge of your seats, waiting for the next episode. I believe this will really help in the audience seeing this story for what it is, see the effort gone into it, and really appreciate the hard work gone into it, perfecting each scene and really aiming (and probably also achieving) towards high quality of content for the audience to consume.”

Talking a bit about his character in the series, he said, “ Bulla is the main character and the centre of the story. He is someone that does as he pleases and his actions then influence the whole story and create the narrative. Bulla is mischievous but also faces some serious moments in his life. I hope the audience really loves the character.”

Being superbly popular and having 2 million+ followers on YouTube, Rahim Pardesi’s debut in the world of acting already seems promises considering his immense skill of delving into another character effortlessly. The slight glimpse into the series and the release of the first song ‘Bulla‘ has gotten his fans excited and waiting eagerly for his new character. Stay tuned to Galaxy Lollywood for more updates.

Hum TV’s ‘Chupke Chupke’ promises fun-filled respite this Ramzan

By
Hammad Akbar
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Last year, it was announced that Ayeza Khan and Osman Khalid Butt will be sharing the screen once again after being coupled for the first time in 2013, in HUM TV’s Ramzan play. Titled ‘Chupke Chupke’, it was being written by Saima Akram Chaudhry, who also wrote the popular drama ‘Suno Chanda‘, and directed by Danish Nawaz. Unfortunately, due to the country-wide lockdown back in March 2019, the team couldn’t continue the shoot leaving the audience dismayed, who was looking forward to it.

Now, a year later, fans of both actors can rejoice as the drama is set to premiere on HUM TV from the first of Ramzan. The channel released its teasers recently and here’s what they revealed.

The plot

Ayeza Khan and Osman Khalid Butt on the sets ob Chupke Chupke

In the first teaser, upon being asked what kind of girl would be his ideal, Osman replies that she should be a bookworm, passionate about literature, sophisticated, and graceful. Meanwhile, in the background, Ayeza Khan’s character was being introduced, who was entirely the opposite of Osman’s ideal woman. His mom quips that she’ll have to bring a girl like that from NASA’s library. Arsalan Naseer of the CBA (Comics by Arsalan) fame, who’s making his debut with the drama, says to Osman that maybe it’s not in their destiny to get married. The second teaser focused more on Arsalan’s character, who seems to be struggling with his love life as well.

First impressions

Osman Khalid Butt’s last appearance on screen was in ‘Ehd-e-Wafa‘ while Ayzea Khan’s last appearance was in ‘Meharposh‘. While Osman has shown the audience his comedic side many times, this might be one of the very few appearances of Ayeza Khan in a cheerful and lively avatar, which makes the drama even more interesting. And although this is Arsalan’s first drama, judging from the teasers, he already has a firm grip on his character.

Ayeza Khan in Chupke Chupke
Ayeza Khan shows a glimpse of her peppy character in Chupke Chupke

The playwright, Saima, earlier revealed in an interview that the drama is about a man with two wives who do not get along. But unlike other stories with two wives, this one has been dealt with in a comedic manner. She further added that she has tried to keep it different from ‘Suno Chanda‘ but her writing and style of comedy are still there and hopes the audience enjoys this narrative as well.

BTS of Chupke Chupke Ramzan Play HUM TV

Meera Sethi, Asma Abbas, Hira Soomro, Muhammad Qavi Khan, Tarah Mahmood, Sidra Nizazi, Farhan Ally Agha, Ali Safina, and Aimen Saleem round out the cast of ‘Chupke Chupke‘. With such a power-packed and fun cast, this play promises to provide some much-needed respite from the monotonous dramas that different channels air throughout the year. 

7 underrated Lollywood Punjabi songs you must listen to

By
Saad Riaz
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Sometimes, driving is just an excuse to just unwind, relax and listen to some good ol’ music. But the tragedy of a good song is that it’s played so much that at some point it is done to death. Most of the times, our go-to song would be an old school EP song, or maybe even some cool new pop single. We usually completely ignore Lollywood and its beautiful hidden gems altogether. We’ve curated a playlist of seven Punjabi love songs that we believe deserve an ear. The last one in the list is a hidden gem.

Chan Chariya — Bin Roye (2015)

Rekha Bhardwaj and Momin Durrani lent their voices to this modern Punjabi track. Their melodious voices paired with the soulful lyrics and composition of the song will be a treat for your ears. In fact, this song will stay on your “long-drive” playlist for the longest time. Composer Shani Arshad is great at bringing new styles of music like EDM to the mainstream.

Ve Tu Naire Naire — Majajan (2006)

A song by the folk-legend Late Tufail Niazi, Syed Noor has used this tune so well that we just can’t stop humming it for the entire day once played. The song truly leaves an impact on you and you must listen to it.

Dil Diyan Lagiyan Jane Na — Bao Jee (1968)

Such songs grow on you over time and is definitely one of our top pick from this films relatively less famous song ‘Dil Diyan Lagiyan‘. What a pleasant and happy song to just listen to on any possible day. We hop someone comes up with a good cover for today’s generation.

Par Channah De – Zinda Bhag (2013)

Before ‘Paar Channah‘ was famously featured in Coke Studio Season 9, Arif Lohar & Saleema Javed sung the oringinal for the movie ‘Zinda Bhaag‘ in 2013. Not to compare art, but the original can be considered better in many ways. The earthy folk voice quality of Arif and Saleema is something we truly missed in Coke Studio’s version. The latter seemed to have missed the folk and Punjabi kick to the song.

Bunde Chandi De — Chan Mahi (1956)

From the good ol’ black and white Pakistani cinema days comes one of our all time favourite songs ‘Bunde Chandi De‘. Based on a folk tune this Late Rashid Attre, and sung by the legendary Zubaida Khannum in beautiful voice, the song has swing to it. Definitely one of the most underrated Punjabi songs of Lollywood.

Badlaan — Baaji (2019)

Sung by Zeb Bangash and Saad Sultan, this track is a rendition of the yesteryear singer Afshan’s super-hit oldie. Listening to this song will make you feel like you’re diving through the clouds. Composed by Zeb Bangash and Shahzad Ali, and written by Shakeel Sohail, this song hasn’t received due appreciation at all. 

Taki Ja Dholna — Nooran (2000)

When Saad Sultan recreated ‘Laaiyan Laaiyan‘ from the late 80’s movie ‘Choorian‘, it took the internet by storm. The song became the new cool tune and we appreciated it, right? And we wanted more songs just as sweet as that one. Here’s a gift for ‘Laaiyan Laaiyan‘ fans. ‘Taki Ja Dholna‘ is just another exemplar of lost treasures. It’s melodious, soft and romantic. Sung by Naseebo Laal and oh what a powerful voice she has, this gem of a song is embellished by Naseebo’s supreme vibratos.  

Teasers of HUM TV’s rom-com ‘Tanaa Banaa’ offer fresh romance and a playful story

By
Hammad Akbar
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The popularity of Ramzan shows has increased over the past few years. One of the reasons why they resonate so well with the audience is because they provide respite from the hard-hitting and run-of-the-mill dramas channels air throughout the year. Of all the channels airing Ramzan special shows, HUM TV has always lead the race. 

Between ‘Chaudhween Ka Chaand‘ and ‘Suno Chanda‘, the public is always looking forward to seeing the channel’s latest offerings. And this year, it seems like the audience is in for a treat, yet again, as HUM TV is back with not just one but two rom-com Ramzan special shows, one of them being Daniyal Zafar’s debut in acting alongside Alizeh Shah, named ‘Tanaa Banaa‘ and the channel released its official teasers last night.  

Starring Daniyal and Alizeh in lead roles, the drama has already started creating hype. Here’s all you need to know about it.

The plot

The teasers revealed what promises to be an adorable love story between the two leads as Daniyal Zafar plays a hardcore believer in astrology while Alizeh is playing the role of a pragmatic person. He wants to marry her but she insists on completing her education first. Apparently, they sign some sort of a deal where Daniyal would have to wait for some time before marrying Alizeh. Daniyal had earlier disclosed in an interview that the story revolves around the different dynamics between the characters and it deals with romance, comedy, and pain. 

First impressions

Fresh faces and pairings in dramas are always appreciated by the audience, regardless of how the drama fairs. And it seems like the cast will be well-received by the audience considering they could not stop sharing BTS photos and videos that went viral a few months ago. Keeping that in mind, it looks like the cast was having a ball shooting for the drama and the teasers show sizzling chemistry between the two leads.

Produced by MD Productions, directed by Saif e Hassan and written by Hassaan Imam, ‘Tanaa Banaa‘ is pegged as a lighthearted drama, just like Hum TV’s usual Ramazan special affairs, and also stars Javeria Abbasi, Aamir Qureshi, and Komal Rizvi. has an ensemble cast including Javeria Abbasi, Aamir Qureshi, Hassan Noman Qureshi, Ismat Zaidi, Komal Rizvi, and Tania Amna Hussain. The channel hasn’t announced a release date but it will probably start from the first of Ramzan. 

Shaista Lodhi to make a comeback in era-based play ‘Pardes’

By
Vanessa Alam
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After a three-year hiatus from the television screen, popular morning show host Shaista Lodhi is returning to the small screen to act in an upcoming serial ‘Pardes’.

Speaking to Galaxy Lollywood, Shaista revealed that she was approached by Humayun Saeed to do the project and signed on because of the prestigious names attached to the project and her admiration for Marina Khan’s work ethic and skills. The serial also stars Sarmad Khoosat and working with him and learning from his acting skills has motivated Shaista to take up more acting projects. We will also see Bushra Ansari, Gohar Rasheed, Dur-e-Fishan Saleem, Sharmeen Ali, and Affan Waheed playing their part in this drama.

We have also learned that to play her role in ‘Pardes’, Shaista has made changes in her fast-paced life and has slowed down to focus on her character, and has also revamped her style. 

The story

Shaista Lodhi in era-based play Pardes

The story of the serial ‘Pardes’ is one that the audience will be able to connect with. The era-based drama is about a man living abroad to earn a living for his family which is back home in Pakistan. According to Lodhi’s spokesperson, the show is about how the man misses out on a lot of bonding and happiness with his family.

Shaista Lodhi will be playing the role of a wife, Zubaida, who also resides in Pakistan with his family. Zubaida is shown as a newly married woman who then transitions through the course of life into a young mother and then an older woman and that transition and what all she goes through in these different phases in her life is what makes the drama more relatable to the Pakistani audience. 

She said that women from desi families sacrifice and bear everything for their families, their home, and the people they hold closest to them. A typical desi woman’s life is filled with compromises but they always find a way to adjust to their situation. The drama shows her character as one such woman who makes all the sacrifices for her family and the attire of her character helps her elevate her role to its true essence. We will be seeing her in the role of a stereotypical housewife who, with time, develops dark circles because of her overworked life as a homemaker but is still a strong woman.

The serial is directed by Marina Khan and produced by Humayun Saeed and Nadeem Baig under Six Sigma Plus production and is expected to release after Eid.

“Every channel is working on controversy,” says Yasir Hussain

By
Vanessa Alam
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Yasir Hussain is not new to making the news for all sorts of controversial and unfortunate comments, be it his comments in talk shows or his episodes on his Instagram stories. He somehow always finds himself in hot water for almost every opinion he shares publicly. In an interview with BBC Urdu, Yasir Hussain clarified why he’s always part of controversy whether willingly or unwillingly. 

The interviewer asked Yasir about his appearance on recent talk shows after which a lot of what he said on those shows spread like wildfire on social media. Yasir informed that he was on a couple of shows which were almost similar in the recent past. Talking specially about ‘The Couple Show’ hosted by Hina Altaf and Agha Ali, he said the show had a segment in which he had to either answer a controversial question or drink condiments and sauces. 

“There was this one show where I was told to drink eggs, garlic and ginger paste, and soya sauce if I don’t answer a question; which actor is good or bad, which director should stop directing, which actress gossips the most, etc.”

Yasir Hussain on The Couple Show

“My question is that the one asking the question is right, the channel producing the show is right, the pages promoting them are right, am I the only one who’s wrong? The one who is answering their controversial questions?” He also added, “They want me to drink the condiments and get an ulcer in my stomach but I shouldn’t answer their questions”

Yasir also added that no matter who he names in those answers, it will always be a controversy. “I wanted to name myself in every answer but the hosts said that’s playing it safe and that I cannot name anyone in this room or myself. If you tell me to eat this or answer, I will definitely answer”

Clarifying a recent controversy picked up from the named talk show, Yasir said that he named Azfar Rehman when he was asked which actor can’t act because Azfar and he are friends. “Azfar is a better friend to me than many others. He has always given me the best advice. In fact, he was the one who taught me financial savings. Maybe I took his name because I knew he wouldn’t mind it. He too named me once as an overrated actor in an interview, and he was right. I am overrated since I only acted in three dramas”

Yasir and Azfar

Avoiding addressing the controversy with Nausheen Shah, Yasir then added how he doesn’t understand why audiences are still talking about him. “People should stop talking about Yasir Hussain. You have a button, unfollow me. I put one story, I get thousands of views instantly. Why are you watching it?” he asked, insisting that people enjoy his Instagram videos due to the content he posts. It’s now a platform that is huge and powerful, he said.

Yasir then called out the entertainment industry on its hypocrisy and said that everyone agrees with what he does and says, but none of them talk about it publicly. “I often get calls from actors after every controversy telling me that I am right, but they do not do the same thing on social media because they are afraid that they will be abused, I am not afraid.”

Whether it’s proposing marriage to his wife in a packed house, criticising Turkey’s most popular drama, Ertugrul, or taunting fellow actors on social media, actor Yasir Hussain is not afraid of at least all of these things. “Why can’t I express my opinion, just because I’m an actor?” says Yasir Hussain. “I just have to live in a fake shell, everyone has to think that the actors are the same as they are on TV?”

Towards the end of the interview, Yasir expressed his disappointment in the hate he receives when he expresses his love for his wife Iqra publicly. “We’re doing nothing wrong. People should see what I’m doing and learn from it, learn that you should love and respect your wife, in private as well as in public”

Yasir Hussain is looking forward to his upcoming films ‘Pichhe To Dekho’, ‘Chaudhry’ and the telefilm ‘Guru Cheela’ as his roles are different in all these films and awaits the publics positive response to them.

Iffat Omar called out for her privilege by Twitteratis

By
Vanessa Alam
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Pakistan is currently experiencing the third wave of the novel Coronavirus where we are now suffering from a new strain of the virus that has evolved symptoms and is transmitted at an even higher rate, but luckily, the vaccine is now available to the public. It is a slow process, where different centres are formed for the public (age 60 and above for now) to register themselves, join a queue, and get vaccinated with two jabs. Iffat Omar, however, jumped the process and received her jabs at the comfort of her home and Twitteratis are not happy.

On March 29, videos and pictures of the actress/host circulated the internet where she is seen with her family in a house, receiving her COVID-19 vaccination, thanks to her relative Federal Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema.

After news broke, the videos and images took the internet by storm, and Omar was criticised for her “privilege”, while some asked the government to take notice of this.

Soon afterwards, Iffat Omar took her Twitter account and released a statement where she said that what she received was a trial vaccine sent by the University of Health Sciences but people are not convinced by this statement, especially since the tweet was deleted minutes after it was posted.

Some Twitteratis were quick to notice the tweet and took a screenshot just moments before it went missing.

However, Pakistani Twitterati called her out on the claim, pointing out that CanSino was a single-dose vaccine and does not require a booster shot.

Iffat Omar has also been called out for her hypocrisy since she has spoken against an inefficient legal system and government earlier but has now allegedly broken the law herself.

It doesn’t end here though. Iffat then tweeted again, asking everyone to take it easy. That too received a whole lot of bashing from the Twitterati.

People are also pointing out that jumping the queue and getting the vaccination out of turn leads to the ones who are more vulnerable to the virus not receiving the vaccination.

Why are our celebrities, elite and influential people ready to use their power for all the wrong reasons? With great power comes great responsibility. When there are numerous deaths and still numerous health-workers and older people waiting to get vaccinated, why are ineligible people getting their vaccines, that too at their homes, rather than at the centres set by the government? What makes them more worthy of this treatment than everyone else? These are just some of the unanswered questions by the public and we are still waiting for clarification by the accused. Stay tuned for more updates on the subject.

“Don’t be judgmental all the time”, Minal Khan urges followers

By
Vanessa Alam
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Social media is of great importance in today’s world to be up-to-date with the latest gossip and news and also for celebrities to keep their fans updated on their lives. When putting your life out there on public platforms for the world to see, you put yourself in an extremely vulnerable position where you are subject to all sorts of judgment and criticism, as well as trolling and bullying. Minal Khan recently appeared on a talk show and urged her followers to stop being judgmental and negative all the time. 

Having about 6.7 million followers on Instagram put the ‘Hasad’ actress on social media trials numerous times as a swam of negative comments hover over her posts and stories. Minal was a guest on ‘Time Out With Ahsan Khan’ where she shed light on the importance of social media but also highlighted what she feels are its drawbacks. A few minutes into the interview, Ahsan asked Minal about the “craze” of social media, how seriously one should take it and what role it plays in life to which Minal expressed how it is important to know peoples’ point of view and what they expect of you as a public figure.

“ I think the importance of social media is important. Peoples’ point of view is important. We need to know what people expect of us.” She also added that those expectations shouldn’t form the basis of how we live our lives. “We have our own lives as well. I think some people need to learn how not to be judgmental all the time and to not add fire every time. It’s not important to highlight everything that you think is wrong. You can also choose to ignore it because you don’t know how that affects the other person.”

Speaking more about the subject, she added, “ There’s so much pressure in life where we are always asked about the pictures we post and the filters we use. Now there’s added pressure of how we should take our pictures and how our pictures are compared to other celebrities’.” Ahsan Khan then added that it is a lot of pressure to always try to stay “politically correct” as we always have to think. Minal’s co-guest, Saboor Aly, also added that she was subject to social media bashing over minor mistakes she had made. 

The host then pointed out how some negative comments and trolling really affects some people and how usually “dil pe lagti hain” to which Minal expressed that she does not take such negativity to heart. “I don’t take everything to heart. Some, yes. And at times no matter how hard you try to forget those comments, people don’t let you move past them.”

Going back to when Minal’s sister Aiman was a guest on the same show and made comments on some celebrities’ weight, Minal clarified how it was all out of love and concern, especially when it came to Saboor Aly. She said Aiman would always ask her to eat well to stay healthy. She highlighted how different bloggers and influencers chose to highlight just that bit out of Aiman’s interview just for likes and followers. 

Minal shared, “I think these bloggers and influencers, have this habit of picking out clips from certain shows and framing them in a way that they appear to be ‘bad’ just for the sake of likes and shares, and for me, this is the gist of social media. Only negativity finds its way online, drawing a curtain over anything positive.”

Minal concluded that people need to use their platforms in the best ways possible, to spread positivity and hope.

12 must-watch Pakistani dramas of all time

By
Maya Abad
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What is the one thing Pakistanis love apart from Cricket? It’s Pakistani dramas. Whether it be Ashar’s love for Khirad or Manahil’s obsession with Salahudeen, we Pakistani’s live for the drama. It’s not only about the entertainment though. Pakistan has created some remarkable dramas that would be remembered for years. Drama’s like Udaari, Chup Raho, and Akhri Station blew the audience’s minds because of how they portrayed very serious issues of harassment, pedophilia, and abusive relationships.

Pakistani dramas have a significant role in upping the Lollywood game. We have been creating exceptionally well-written dramas since the ’90s and the audience is well-aware of the efforts put in the making of those dramas. In this article, we’re going to discuss 12 of the all-time favorite dramas of Pakistanis that you must watch. So, let’s begin. 

1) Khuda Ki Basti (1969)

Old is gold! So let’s start with one of the oldest TV dramas created in Pakistan. The drama revolved around some of the basic social issues of the time; social status, struggles of a working/divorced woman who is forced to marry a rich businessman, a daughter who falls for a man who refuses to marry her, and a son who is careless but has to become responsible after the death of his father. This adaptation of a book was retelecasted during the time of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto since it was one of his favorite dramas.  

2) Parchaiyan (1976)

Parchaiyan was the very first coloured drama introduced in Pakistan. This was also an adaptation of the book ‘Portrait of a Lady’ by Henry James. However, Haseena Moin added her magic to the script and made it more relevant to the Pakistani audience. This drama can also be considered as the trend setter of the drama’s made now-a-days consisting of a love triangle. The drama, to this day, is famous for it’s dialogues and beautiful execution. 

3) Tanhaiyaan (1986)

This is one of the classics from the past which is, to this day, very relevant because of how it supported feminism and women empowerment. The drama was one of the first drama’s to show working women in roles that were considered to belong to men only at that time. Due to it’s undeniable popularity, the TV show was aired multiple times over the years. Tanhaiyaan also casted some of the biggest names in industry now; Marina Khan, Shehnaz Sheikh, Asif Raza Mir, Behroz Sabzwari and Badar Khalil. 

4) Dhoop Kinarey (1987)

Another one of the greatest examples of equality and feminism written by two of the exceptionally great writers Haseena Moin and Sahira Kazmi, starring Marina Khan and Rahat Kazmi. Dhoop Kinarey is still considered one of the best dramas in the history of Pakistani dramas. The story consists of doctors who work together in a hospital and are more than family for one another. Marina Khan and Rahat Kazmi became TV’s most favorite couple after this drama came out. 

5) Ainak Wala Jin (1993)

Every kid from the ’90s has at least heard about this drama, if not watched it.’Ainak Wala Jin’ is considered one of the classics of Pakistani dramas. It was a fictional comedy-drama that was not only wholesome but had some of the most likeable characters. To this day, Hamoon Jadugar, Zakoota Jin, and Bill Batori are names you hear because of the impact they left on everyone’s heart. 

6) Alpha Bravo Charlie (1998)

A drama about dedication and purpose. Directed by the renowned Shoaib Mansoor, ‘Alpha, Bravo, Charlie’ is a very wholesome drama that teaches you meaningful life lessons. It’s about the transformation of a boy into a man. The beautifully written and directed drama set a new rating for TRP’s in Pakistan.   

7) Azhar Ki Ayege Barat (2009)

Jumping towards the new century, one of the most popular comedy/family drama’s of Pakistan was the Baraat series. ‘Azhar ki Ayega Baraat’ was the very first of the entire series. This drama is about love, family, and friends. It evokes all your emotions with light, harmless comedy that makes your day better. The drama starred different actors over the course of years but one of the consistent and most loved actors that took part in the series was Bushra Ansari. She rocked the whole series with her Punjabi skills and jolly character.  

8) Noorpur Ki Rani (2009)

The story of this drama is very different from what you usually see. It is about a poor woman who lands in a rich palace and is raised and educated into becoming a successful, powerful woman. Starring the gorgeous Sanam Baloch as the orphan and Mahnoor Baloch as the mother who raised her, this drama was a huge hit when it came out and definitely, a must-watch.

9) Zindagi Gulzar Hai (2012)   

Another wonderful example of strong women and their education is relevant to our society in today’s world. ‘Zindagi Gulzar Hai’ is one of the most popular dramas from 2012 to this very day. The drama is also one of the very few series that made it to Netflix Pakistan and is thoroughly enjoyed by the audience to date. It is about the struggles of a young girl who educates herself to make her and the life of her mother easier. Not having a strong father figure motivates her and leads her into believing that men are no good until she meets the one guy who understands her and doesn’t disrespect her like her father. The drama stars Sanam Saeed and the heartthrob, Fawad Khan.

10) Shehr-e-zaat (2012)

Shehr-e-Zaat is based on a novel by Umera Ahmad with a story that is one of a kind. It revolves around a rich woman whose belief in God is shaken because of her experiences and the fact that she has everything her heart desires. However, once she faces real life, her pride and self obsession seems to fade away when she falls for a man who doesn’t love her back. The drama beautifully fades into the lead realising her worth and becoming a better person. The lead was played by the very well talented Mahira Khan and the drama was also awarded as the best drama at the Hum Awards. 

11) Udaari (2016)

Three words for this drama: bold, well-acted and well-scripted. ‘Udaari’ is one of the first dramas of Pakistan that highlighted the issue of pedophilia and rape. The drama portrays the harsh realities of the life of a young woman who’s divorced and raising a daughter on her own. The story builds up after the young daughter is harassed by her step-father, played exceptionally well by Ahsan Khan. The story however, does have a happy ending and is totally worth the watch.

12) Yakeen Ka Safar (2017)

Yakeen Ka Safar

Yet another drama about harassment and injustice, ‘Yakeen Ka Safar’, starring Sajal Aly and Ahad Raza Mir, is about a young woman whose mother dies because of the injustice of her father. She then struggles to get justice for the wrongdoing. The drama gained huge fame as being an honest and original Pakistani drama and also changed the paradigm of our dramas.

Pakistani dramas have created fans all over the world thanks to the realistic and relatable stories, and most of the above mentioned dramas, though being premiered years ago, are still watched and enjoyed by their fans. With the rise of the internet and Youtube, as well as other OTT platforms, access to these and other Pakistani dramas is much easier and that’s where our you can binge watch all this rock solid entertainment.

‘Shehnai’ kicks off with solid performances and a great script

By
Ozair Majeed
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When the promos of ‘Shehnai’ initially went on air, it felt like a whiff of fresh air as we got to see a new on-screen pairing of Affan Waheed and Ramsha Khan, being one of the major reasons for luring viewers. With soapy melodramatic material prevailing on our screens, a romantic – comedy theme provides a much-needed break from the typical. Having Raidan Shah as the writer and Ahmed Bhatti of Ghisi Piti Mohabbat and Kaisa Hai Naseeban as the director, the drama features Affan and Ramsha as well as stars like Samina Ahmed, Javed Sheikh, Behroze Sabazwari, Salma Zaffar, Zainab Qayoom(ZQ), and many others. ‘Shehnai’ has taken off with a double episode on ARY Digital, but does it meet our expectations? Let’s analyse.

Episode 1

As the episode started, we were introduced to Qasr-e-Naz, a household headed by Absar (Javed Sheikh). Like all parents, Absar wants his daughter Bakht (Ramsha Khan) to get married into a good family and to a “good boy” which according to him was his friend’s son Meerab (Affan Waheed). However, there are complications. Bakht is in love with Hunain and Meerab is committed to Samreen. Bakht has a track record of rejecting proposals but she isn’t sure to repeat the same as Meerab was once a friend.

The other prominent members of the family such as the bhabi Maleeha (Zainab Qayyum), the nands Tooba and Munni (Salma Zafar and Javeria Abbasi), and damaad Kafeel (Saleem Mairaj) are busy complaining and speculating that Bakht will surely repeat history. The entire house is preparing and waiting for Meerab’s family to arrive for dinner, but guess what? Meerab leaves the venue at the last minute to save Samreen who calls him and threatens to kill herself. 

Episode 2

The episode begins with havoc because dulha bhaga gaya (the groom ran away). Meerab’s parents are embarrassed and Bakht is one happy girl. Amidst this tense situation, Maleeha adds fuel to the fire as she convinces Tooba to seek Bakht’s proposal for her son. Samreen, who is all set to get engaged, gives Meerab a final ultimatum to sort things out between them, or else she will choose to commit suicide but won’t marry anyone else. Meerab finally reaches Bakht’s house and they get engaged after which Bakht plans to run away. In a secret meet-up on the rooftop, Bakht clearly refuses to marry Meerab, and of course, he is jubilant to know that. The episode concludes as they both decide to fool their families by calling off their engagement in the future through mutual understanding. 

What to expect

‘Shehnai’ is a well-crafted product that has all the right ingredients to entertain. It’s got the right pace along with solid performances backed with a great script; the USPs  required to keep the viewers hooked. Ramsha Khan is effortless as the free-spirited girl and comes across as a more mature performer with every project she’s part of. The chemistry between the lead actors is yet to be explored. The rest of the cast fit their characters very well and provide great humor and laughter at regular intervals. 

The drama does have some bits that left us wanting more. The entire sequence of ‘Dulha Bhag Gaya’ somehow defied logic and seemed dragged with every character giving illogical reasons. Also, I wonder what was the brief given to Salma Zafar as she was over-expressive in many of her scenes. That being said, it’s a great start to an exciting and colourful journey filled with romance, comedy, and emotions. It would be interesting to see how ‘Shehnai’ maintains the pace in the upcoming episodes.  

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