8 reasons why Pakistani dramas are popular across the horizon

February 18, 2021

It is no secret that Pakistani dramas have a widespread viewership, not just in their home country but all over the world where they tune in and follow our stories. When it comes to quality television content to consume in the subcontinent, Pakistani dramas do far better than Indian ones with relatable content and realistic portrayal of life and events. In fact, our dramas are the reason behind the revival of Lollywood as most new actors began their careers from the small screen.

Compared to drama series across the border, Pakistani drama’s are avidly followed for various reasons.

Relatable storyline

Most of our drama serials have a storyline that different audiences can relate to in one way or the other. Be it stories like Zindagi Gulzar Hai showing a simple yet strong woman like Kashaf Murtazawho belonging to a “middle-class” family, or stories revolving around serious social issues like Udaari and Dil Na Umeed To Nahi addressing the deep-rooted problems like patriarchy in villages as well as the urban side of town, even drama’s like Humsafar which tell a typical love-story; our drama’s tap all sorts of audiences with stories that relate to everyone on some level.

OST’s

Every Pakistani drama made has an OST which is solely produced to blend in with the theme of the show. Not only the storyline but the OST also manages to grab attention and gain millions of views. Examples can be seen in the form of Do Bol and Mere Paas Tum ho and how can we forget “Vo humsafar tha!”

Picturesque locations

Pakistani dramas have always been at the top of their game with their visuals. From international locations in Jackson Heights, Bilqees Kaur, and Alif, to showing the beautiful Northern areas of Pakistan in Diyar-e-Dil, Yakeen Ka Safar, and Ye Dil Mera, Pakistani dramas have always given location the due importance it needs and make the audience want to rush to those surreal locations.

Use of the Urdu language

Our dramas always make sure to make use of the Urdu language in the best and correct possible way there is. Known for its simplicity and beauty, Urdu is far easier to understand than Hindi, for example. Because of this reason, Pakistani dramas gain a huge fan following as audiences get to learn and appreciate the language spoken.

Dialogues

Writing a drama is never an easy task and when the dialogues become viral, that is when you know a drama is a sure shot hit. Pakistani dramas have given us many dialogues from time to time that can never be erased from our memories. From Humsafar‘s “Mummy yeh ap kya keh rahi hain?” To Suno Chanda‘s “Nawa katta khul gaya” and Meray Paas Tum Ho‘s controversial “Do takay ki aurat” and many more; the dialogues in our dramas are nothing short of iconic.

A way to connect to home

When people are away from home and settled abroad, and tune in to Pakistani shows, they are immediately transported back through the visuals, the language, and other aspects shown in dramas like the family bond, the family politics, the love of siblings, and parents.

Star power

As an industry, ours is not as huge as compared to international counterparts such as India or the west. The actors we see on the small screen are the ones we now get to see in our movies as well. So in this case, audiences do not have to wait to watch their favorites in just films. A recent example is how Maya Ali and Shehryar Munawar were off our televisions for some time and focused solely on movies. Now, we get to see them in the new drama serial Pehli Si Mohabbat. We can now catch our favourite stars on regular dramas as well.

Do not drag on

Last but not the least, Pakistani shows are made within a few episodes (30+) and do not drag on for years. Taking into account some of the 90’s favourite Star Plus dramas like Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki and Kyunke Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, these dramas just never seemed to end. Generations died and new ones came in, but the dramas would somehow keep dragging to unrealistic points. Hollywood’s ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ is yet another such series that wouldn’t let go. On the contrary, Pakistani dramas keep it short and relevant while keeping the audience engaged. One can easily keep up to date with these dramas.

ARY Digital – a packed primetime schedule full of entertainment

Maisooma Batool

February 17, 2021

Television channels, much like any other corporation that is selling a certain product in the market, have their own individual identity. A channel’s success relies on how well it can create a unique identity for itself and further by how consistently it fulfills the promises to its audience that are attached to its unique identity. Having a uniquely defining identity makes it easier for the audience to connect to the channel and it helps the channel to keep track of its viewership which, naturally, helps them in expanding that viewership.

When it comes to the GECs (General Entertainment Channels) on Pakistani television, there are three major private channels that have the majority of the TV audience divided amongst them – Hum TV, Geo Entertainment, and ARY Digital. While all three channels have their own strengths, a quick look at the programming lineup of the three channels shows that there is one channel that is clearly ahead of its competition when it comes to delivering quality content as well as major star power. And that channel is ARY Digital.

For starters, ARY Digital is home to some of the most beloved and well-known Pakistani programs of the past decade. Starting their day with ‘Good Morning Pakistan’, a daily morning show hosted by Nida Yasir which is packed with entertainment and energy for its viewers, the channel sets the pace for the rest of the day starting from 9 AM. On the non-fiction side, there is Jeeto Pakistan which is inarguably the biggest reality game show of the country which keeps on getting bigger and bigger with each episode. The show’s trademark games and its host Fahad Mustafa’s signature way of lines like, “Main kehta hoon soch lo!” and “Toh bolo haan k naa!” became a part of the common man’s daily life conversations, proving the impact of the show on its target audience. And who hasn’t watched at least an episode of Bulbulay or doesn’t know the show’s popular catchphrases?

Speaking of ARY Digital’s current programming lineup, it is evident how this channel has all of its major primetime slots filled with dramas and programs that have major stars of the industry as a part of them. If other channels divide their prime time slots into the category of dramas with the 8 PM slot where the biggest dramas air, ARY Digital doesn’t try to restrict its programming as such. Currently, ARY Digital’s 7 PM slot is occupied by Nand and DUNK at 8 PM, both dramas with some of the most well-known actors as part of them. ARY Digital’s 9 PM slot currently has a drama that stars Mikaal Zulfiqar in it. Last year, one of the majorly successful Pakistani dramas Dushman-e-Jaan aired on ARY Digital in its 9 PM slot.

Interestingly most, if not all, of the current A-lister actors of the country have worked with ARY Digital at some point in their career. If Yumna Zaidi had her start on ARY Digital, Maya Ali and Sheheryar Munawar are doing their comeback drama on ARY. Humayun Saeed has delivered back-to-back blockbusters for the channel, both as an actor and as a producer, and has long been associated with the channel. Fahad Mustafa’s home production Big Bang Entertainment continues to give the channel some of its biggest hits, while Fahad Mustafa himself successfully hosts the country’s biggest reality game show on the channel.

ARY Digital provides its audience with diverse content all throughout the week. Fridays and Sundays on ARY Digital are locked with Jeeto Pakistan but that doesn’t mean the channel doesn’t try to give its audience something new to look forward to over the weekend. Currently, Saturdays on ARY Digital mean ACL – Ary Celebrity League, a cricket competition between teams made of and captained by some of the favorite celebrities of the country. And now on Sundays, ARY Digital has started its own celebrity talk show as well called Ghabrana Mana Hai hosted by Vasay Chaudhry.

ARY Digital proves itself to be a channel that is truly the home of the country’s superstars. With content that is synonymous with high quality, the audience now knows what to expect when they tune in to the channel. And that is entertainment, entertainment, and more entertainment.

Team ‘Jalan’ to reunite for ‘Lockdown’

Vanessa Alam

February 16, 2021

There’s no doubt in the fact that the team of the hit television drama ‘Jalan’ had fantastic chemistry on-screen, and each actor did remarkable justice to their characters. Despite getting banned by PEMRA over the content of the drama serial, Jalan premiered on ARY Digital and was a huge success. This success is now being taken a step forward as team Jalan reunites and is back with another project set to hit the screens soon.

The cast of Jalan is reuniting for an upcoming telefilm based on the lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic. Directed by Aabis Raza and produced by Fahad Mustafa’s ‘Big Bang Entertainment’, the upcoming telefilm, namely “Lockdown” will feature Minal Khan, Emmad Irfani, Mohammad Ahmed (who is not just acting in the said telefilm but has also written it). Also joining the team will be supermodel Sadaf Kanwal.

While speaking to us, Minaal Khan said, “It’s about Covid and lockdown but it is not depressing. It’s a rom-com, romantic but filled with humour, and executed very well.” Minal Khan also revealed that the telefilm is also about social issues prevalent in our country like honour killing.

With this information, we can tell this will definitely be an interesting watch. ‘Lockdown’ has completed its shooting and is all set to be released on ARY Digital very soon.

9 actors who are shining bright in supporting characters

Hammad Akbar

February 16, 2021

In the olden days, supporting characters existed in a drama just so the story could move forward. They did not have separate character arcs, which is probably why the actors that played the characters never got much attention even though they made their presence felt. Fortunately, the trend of shoving supporting characters in the background has slowly changed.

Now, our drama writers have started writing substantial supporting characters who keep the audience invested in their storylines as much as the main leads do. That is most likely due to the fact that our industry is filled with talented actors who do a great job even if they are in supporting roles. Following is the list of actors who always give their best in supporting roles.

Yasra Rizvi

Even though Yasra Rizvi has appeared as one of the lead characters in many dramas, primarily in the web-series ‘Churails‘, these days she’s co-starring in two dramas: Dunk and Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi. In Dunk, she is playing a grief-stricken wife whose entire world changed after a tragedy strikes her husband while in Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi, she is playing a woman who works at an elite brothel.Both the characters are poles apart from each other, but thanks to the bundle of talent that is Yasra Rizvi, there’s no overlap in any of the characters’ mannerisms and body language. Regardless of the character she is playing, she sinks her teeth into the role so well that it’s hard to separate the actor and the character.

Rabia Butt

Rabia Butt is not the only model-turned-actress working in our industry. However, she is one of the very few ones with a strong screen presence. From playing a Hindu widower in the period drama Aangan to playing the vengeful Sahira in Yeh Dil Mera– it seems like Rabia Butt can handle any character with ease. Currently, she is starring in Pehli Si Mohabbat. The fact that she can hold her ground in front of other veteran actors like Saba Faisal and Shabir Jan says a lot about her acting skills. Her scene where she calls out her neighbors for their hypocrisy in the latest episode was especially powerful. The audience cannot stop showering their love for the character Nargis, played conveniently by Rabia Butt.

Anoushay Abbasi

Anoushay Abbasi has been working in the drama industry since 2012 and she has certainly come a long way since then. She has appeared in a lot of dramas in supporting roles but after watching her performance in Ghalati, it seems like she has taken things up a notch with her realistic performances. Currently, she is starring in two of the most interesting dramas, Prem Gali and Raqs-e-Bismil. Although she appeared briefly in Prem Gali, she still managed to evoke the right emotions in the audience. In Raqs-e-Bismil, her character Sakeena is quite intense and very different from the happy-go-lucky woman in Prem Gali, yet she fits her character like a glove.

Uzma Hassan

Uzma Hassan doesn’t appear a lot on screen because she is very selective when it comes to her projects. She is always looking for challenging roles to do which is precisely why despite appearing in about thirteen dramas since 2013, each of the characters she has played can be easily distinguished from the rest. Currently, she is co-starring in Prem Gali and Pehli Si Mohabbat. Her character “Musarrat” in Prem Gali is overemotional and the audience would have easily found her annoying if it wasn’t for Uzma Hassan’s commanding presence. She was just introduced in the drama Pehli Si Mohabbat and it would be interesting to see what she has to offer.

Osama Tahir

Despite starting his career as a theater actor over 10 years ago, Osama Tahir didn’t enter the drama industry until 2017. He made his debut with Dar Si Jati Hai Sila, where he played the role of a supportive cousin and husband Raheel. The audience did not take long to fall in love with his excellent performance and good looks. Since then, he has appeared in a number of projects including Ruswaai, Belapur Ki Dayan, and Hania – all of which were appreciated by the audience as well as critics. His recent role in Aehsan Talish’s directorial Mushk cemented him as one of the most versatile actors of Pakistan. Playing the role of a man who was jailed by his uncle for years wouldn’t have been easy, yet Osama made it look effortless.

Furqan Qureshi

Furqan Qureshi is another household name who isn’t afraid to pick the most challenging roles. While many actors might hesitate to play the role of an intersex character in a drama, that didn’t stop Furqan from showcasing his brilliant acting in Khuda Mera Bhi Hai. He performed that role with such finesse that after looking at his other projects, sometimes it can be hard to believe that the roles are being performed by the same actor. Currently, he can be seen as the doting son in Aulaad and the elite Malik Shehriyar in Raqs e Bismil. His performances in both dramas are very natural which is why the audience doesn’t have a problem resonating with his characters.

Sunita Marshall

Sunita Marshall has been enthralling the audience with her superb performances since 2008. But it still feels like she is one of the most underrated actors of Pakistan. Her acting in a lot of dramas, including Tair e Lahooti, Mera Saain, and Sitamgar, has been top-notch yet not a lot of people talk about her. Whenever she’s on screen, her performance is so natural that the audience forgets that they are watching a drama. Currently, she can be seen essaying the role of a woman stuck between choosing to satisfy her husband or his parents, in Aulaad. Because of Sunita’s graceful portrayal of the character, she has the full support of the audience and they feel for whatever her character is going through.

Saqib Sumeer

Many people might not even recognise the name Saqib Sumeer considering he hasn’t appeared in a lot of dramas. But that scene is going to change thanks to his electric performance as Rafeeq Ali in Raqeeb Se. The drama has a talented cast comprising of young actors and veterans, yet he steals every scene he’s in, which is saying a lot since he didn’t make an appearance until the 3rd episode of the drama. Of course, the credit also goes to the writer Bee Gul for writing the character in such a way that the audience was already curious to see the character even though he was yet to make an appearance. But if it wasn’t for Saqib’s command of his character, Rafeeq Ali would not have been so enthralling to watch. It might be too early to say this but Rafeeq Ali definitely deserves a spot on the list of most compelling antagonists of all time- all thanks to the actor playing the role.

Saleem Mairaj

It doesn’t happen very often that the audience gets invested in a supporting character’s story as much as the main lead’s story. Especially if the supporting character is the female lead’s father. But that is precisely what happened with Saleem Mairaj’s Sultan in the blockbuster drama, Alif. The character had multiple layers to it and Saleem Mairaj performed it brilliantly. Sultan is one of the many characters Saleem has played throughout his career since the ’90s. But it would be an understatement to say that he has done justice to those characters. Saleem Mairaj, with his spellbinding performances, has proven that you don’t need to be the lead to contribute to the story. For instance, currently, he can be seen in a supporting role in the Imran Ashraf-Sarah Khan starrer Raqs e Bismil as Namurad. The audience holds a soft spot for the character only because of how beautifully Saleem has portrayed him.

Here’s what went down between Nadia Khan, her husband, and his ex-wife

Vanessa Alam

February 15, 2021

One of Pakistan’s most celebrated morning show hosts, Nadia Khan, recently broke the news of her third marriage to the retired Wing Commander Faisal Mumtaz Rao. The event was an intimate one with just close friends and family, and Nadia received an overwhelming response to her wedding on the internet. However, all that glitters isn’t gold. About three days ago, Nadia’s husband’s ex-wife took to Youtube and uploaded a video in which she shed some light on her relationship with Faisal and also pointed out why their marriage broke off.

Lubna Farooq was Faisal’s second wife, who uploaded this video on 8th February after Nadia Khan posted a vlog in which the new couple narrated their love story to fans. She started her vlog with an introduction to herself, telling viewers she’s Faisal’s second wife. But she followed that with a peculiar statement, that on the record, she is his second wife and that “many women have claimed to be his wife but on the record, I am his second and Nadia his third”.

She added that she was swooned at the peak of her career in Bahrain and just like any other woman, she left everything for Faisal who had proposed to her and even introduced her to his mother at his very first chance.

Faisal and Lubna got married on 8^th June 2019 in Pakistan. Lubna also added, “how is it that he falls in love with someone so soon? Because when we were getting married, he was head over heels in love with me”. She added a video of a love note Faisal once wrote to her.

“After a few months, we were sure we wanted a divorce, in September 2020, and in October, he got engaged to Nadia Khan”. Addressing Faisal in the video, she asks, “Aap mohabbat itni jaldi kartay kesay hain? Thora sa gur humein bhi samjha dein”.

She went on to add that she knew Faisal had some issues as he would lock himself in the bathroom, break things in their house. She said that when he would lose his temper, he would “self-torture”, signalling at Faisal having some mental health issues.

They went on Umrah in December and in January they faced a lot of marital issues. Lubna started receiving messages from Faisal’s first wife, Shama, which ended up scaring Lubna. She said that of course Faisal had told her about his first wife and made her look like the bad guy and of course she believed him. But once she received these messages from Shama, she was shocked. Shama sent voice notes to Lubna in which she said that it is in Faisal’s “fitrat” to humiliate a woman. She continued saying that he will then take Lubna to malls but will make sure he gives her at least one such humiliating “dose”.

Lubna then confronted Faisal after which he said she should leave as his ex-wife Shama is doing black magic on them and she won’t let them be together. And then one day, Lubna decided to leave him as he confined her to one house and wouldn’t let her meet anyone, even her family. “I stopped talking to my friends, left all social groups. I was living in isolation and just spoke to Faisal”, Lubna added.

July end, Faisal sent Lubna divorce papers on which some signatures were forged. Apparently, Faisal did the same with his first wife. The divorce was finalised in October and within one month he got engaged to Nadia and then married in December. Lubna questioned Nadia’s video that how can the couple claim they met for 4 months? Lubna however hopes Faisal changes as a man, as a husband, and stops claiming to be a hero in front of people.

She added, “I am an educated woman, I am sitting in the country with all the rights and I know my rights” and that she will not take any threats from her ex-husband Faisal Rao.

This video statement of Faisal’s ex-wife, Lubna, created havoc on social media as questions poured from Nadia Khan’s admirers. But Nadia paid no heed and uploaded another vlog “Love Is In The Hair” on 12th February in which she shows her husband massaging her head with oil and the couple seems to be in love and enjoying their time together. The vlog has received a lot of love in the comments from her fans with prayers for the new couple.

Will this entire episode cause problems between Nadia and her “brand new” husband? Or will this marriage be the last for the couple? We wish the newly married couple all the best with this new bond, hoping all issues will be resolved between the ex-wives and the couple.

Here’s a list of our favourite lovestruck power couples

Atiqa Ali

February 14, 2021

This Valentine’s Day, the scent of love is permeating the air and we’ve compiled a list of all our favourite industry couples. Read along to spot your favorites.

Sajal Aly and Ahad Raza Mir

Sajal and Ahad aka “Sahad” are arguably one of the most loved couples in the entertainment industry. Ever since they shared screen space in Yakeen Ka Safar, fans started shipping them together, and later, when they announced their engagement, netizens went crazy over the pictures. Now married, Sajal and Ahad have a super strong fan base and people love seeing them onscreen and offscreen together.

Hina Altaf and Agha Ali

Hina Altaf and Agha Ali are another industry couple that has fans swooning. They were first seen onscreen together in the drama serial Dil-e-Gumshuda. After wowing viewers with their onscreen chemistry, people started noticing a budding friendship between the actors. Soon after, they shared their nikkah pictures with the public and fans were ecstatic for them. Now, the couple is a constant source of entertainment as they share adorable moments from their daily life on social media.

Sarah Khan and Falak Shabbir

Sarah and Falak are a couple who announced their engagement out of the blue. Fans instantly fell in love with them as their engagement pictures started rolling in and the sentiments solidified as they shared countless adorable moments from the wedding festivities. Now, we all await their daily Instagram stories to see Falak giving his wifey flowers every other day.

Hira and Mani

Hira and Mani are one of the most iconic couples of Pakistan. Parents to two beautiful boys, their love is evergreen. They share super cute pictures together, attend events together and are always cheering for their counterpart’s projects.

Iqra Aziz and Yasir Hussain

Iqra and Yasir are a couple who met on an award show and went on to fall in love. They vacationed abroad together sharing super cute beach selfies and then got married in a beautiful ceremony. They’re always uplifting each other and have just bought a new house together.

Hamza Ali Abassi and Naimal Khawar

Hamza Ali Abbasi and Naimal Khawar are another couple who announced their wedding plans all of a sudden. They used to be friends and decided to get married. Now parents to baby Mustafa Abbasi, Hamza and Naimal are often cited as one of the most beautiful couples in the industry. Netizens are completely enamored with them as we saw recently at Naimal’s sister Fiza’s wedding.

Sana Javed and Umair Jaswal

Sana Javed recently tied the knot with Umair Jaswal and they do make a stunning couple. For a while before their nuptials, reports of the couple being close were circulating the internet and as they made things official, fans rejoiced. Umair is a biker through and through and a look at his Instagram will show that he’s making a biker chick out of wifey Sana too and we love to see it.

Ayeza Khan and Danish Taimoor

Ayeza Khan caught Danish’s fancy and he married her, bringing her into the industry. The couple are now parents to two adorable kids and have amassed immense fame. They present as a power couple but have their own identities and successful careers behind them.

Aiman Khan and Muneeb Butt

Aiman and Muneeb worked together on a couple of drama serials and the rest is history. The two weren’t romantically inclined at first and Muneeb even went so far as to call Aiman his little sister but as they started talking and getting to know each other, they decided to get married. The couple now has an adorable daughter, Amal Muneeb, and the internet is obsessed with the super cute family photos they share on their social media.

Asad Siddiqui and Zara Noor Abbas

Asad and Zara are another loved up couple from the industry. Asad fell for Zara first and asked her out to dinner. Zara didn’t agree and wanted Asad to get through her parental unit before taking her out. Asad had no problems and brought his parents to meet hers. Things worked out spectacularly and the two ended up getting married, giving us one of the most attractive couples in the entertainment industry.

These couples are a testament to true love and we can’t wait to see how they’re going to spend v-day.

Did we mention your favorite couple?

‘Khuda Aur Mohabbat’ premiered yesterday and it was worth the wait

Uzair Anwer

February 13, 2021

The Khuda Aur Mohabbat franchise’s third edition has been one of the most keenly anticipated television outings of recent times. Ever since the project was announced with a new cast and fresh storyline, fans have been curious and excited to see the magical unfolding of captivating visual content on the small screen produced by Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi. Directed by the Do Bol fame, Syed Wajahat Hussain and penned by the prolific Hashim Nadeem Khan, the first episode of Khuda Aur Mohabbat 3 (KAM3) premiered last night and delivered beyond its promise of being a visual spectacle.

KAM3 boasts of a stellar ensemble cast featuring Feroze Khan, Iqra Aziz, Junaid Khan, Tooba Siddiqui, Sunita Marshal, Javaid Sheikh, Mirza Zain Baig, Meharbano, Fareeha Jabeen, Asma Abbas, and Waseem Abbas along with other cast members who will be introduced in the following episodes. The casting is a perfect mix of senior industry legends and the brightest young talent of the country.

The premier episode hit the one million mark within just 4 hours of its release on YouTube reflecting the craze amongst fans.

Story

The story revolves around Farhad, a middle-class boy from the Walled City of Lahore, and Mahi, belonging to an elite family of Bahawalpur. The episode shows Mahi’s arrival in Lahore for her best friend’s wedding where a series of events will lead to her proximity with Feroze’s character in the following episodes. The drama deals with multiple themes of love and religion, however, the writer should be mindful of not glorifying any certain religious belief or custom which can be problematic for the project.

Relatability factor

Mirza Zain Baig’s character Taimoor represents a segment of the current generation that prefers to capture the beauty of shrines for social media rather than actually being there for its actual purpose.

The equation shown between Farhad and his siblings is extremely refreshing and praiseworthy. The three siblings consisting of two brothers and one sister treat each other equally and bond very well together so much that they even cover each other’s faults and mistakes and don’t feel happy when they are being praised in comparison to their other sibling. The sister is also an equal member of the sibling squad. A positive and progressive equation of siblings shown in this drama is praiseworthy since the majority of leading dramas currently boast of themes relating to sibling rivalry or discrimination.

Taimoor’s love at first sight sequence with Mahi seems exaggerated and unrealistic. In the scene, Mahi accuses Taimoor of theft and threatens him of calling the cops in the middle of a crowded railway station. She is constantly insulting him and doesn’t even smile once or talk politely. Hence a well-groomed boy like Taimoor falling for her in a scene like this makes very little sense. He gets so obsessed with her that he even stalks her and asks his affiliates to trace her. He is shown daydreaming about her which all just seems a bit too farfetched.

Direction and cinematography

Cinematography is top-notch, the DOP, Saqlain Raza Waraich, has done a fabulous job at capturing the architectural beauty of different cities of Pakistan, i.e Multan, Bahawalpur, and Lahore. The bird’s eye view shots are rightly cultivated in the screenplay. Also, the ariel shots in the opening sequences make the drama a visual delight and glorify the religious and cultural shrines/mosques/monuments of the nation. The opening shots are breathtaking but at times look pale due to the overtly saturated colour-grading, with overuse of orange and yellow filters.

Since the drama spans over multiple geographical regions, a little caption below certain monuments mentioning their geographic region would have given more clarity to the viewers. A more natural colour-grading would have made the camera shots more appealing to the eyes. The backdrops are colourful and visualy enticing. However, there are hardly any close-up shots of supporting characters even in scenes where they should be given more importance, especially Meharbano during her henna ceremony. The director should make the supporting cast look more significant.

The mall sequence where Farhad and Mahi cross paths, adds to the curiosity of narrative building.

Performances

Feroze Khan as Farhad is both loveable and relatable. The actor displays elements of comedy, helplessness, embarrassment, confidence, and confusion all in the very first episode. Iqra as Mahi brings life to the screenplay. She is a natural performer and makes the character believable despite its over the top nature. Her improvisation of dialogues in the train sequence with Zain is also noticeable.

Sunita Marshal looks elegant and does justice to her character. Junaid Khan appears in only two scenes but exactly looks the part of a feudal lord, his mannerisms and body language are also in-sync with his character. Zain Baig looks charming on-screen but lacks the natural element in his performance as some of his nuances seem to be over-rehearsed. Meharbano, Asma Abbas, Waseem Abbas, and Seemi Pasha are decent in their respective roles. The supporting cast does a fair job, however, it has been given less margin to perform especially senior actors such as Javaid Sheikh, who doesn’t even get a single dialogue, Fareeha Jabeen seems to be wasted in the role of a maid. Some characters only seem to be a filler. Noor-ul-Hassan gives a scene-stealing performance and impresses with just two scenes.

Glitches

There are some minor continuity glitches as Iqra’s character complains to her sister-in-law that her blue shawl isn’t traceable in her luggage, but inquired her maid regarding the blue dress and not the shawl, later she again mentions to her friend that she needs a new blue shawl as she wouldn’t attend the mehndi ceremony without her blue dress. After her friend’s suggestion of quickly getting one from the mall, we see the two at a mall. However, at the mehndi ceremony, Iqra is seen wearing a multiple colour dress dominated by peach and orange with just an iota of blue on the shawl’s borders. What was this entire sequence about then if she had to wear a different dress at the event?

The first episode’s duration is more than 50 minutes which is indeed a delight for the fans of the cast members however a few scenes could have been chopped off to make the editing crisper such as the “Booti Baba” sequence was unnecessary and irrelevant to the narrative.

Farhad is shown coming out of the examination hall with his friends in one of the scenes however in the climax scenes his father is informed by a neighbor that Farhad’s examination officer informed him that Farhad hasn’t attended any exam.

Background score

The background score is stellar and enhances the screenplay’s impact especially in the shrine sequence between Taimoor and Baba Ji (a beggar on the shrine). It rightfully adds the essence of different moods and genres in different scenes, making the narrative light in the railway station sequence or interactions between Farhad and his neighbour and making the scene more dramatic and intense in the scene where Farhad is chased by a police’s car.

Minuses

Little efforts have been made on the cast to get the right lingo of their geographical settings such as except for Asma Abbas, Feroze’s family lacks the typical Punjabi accent of Urdu that is used by the residents of walled city, Lahore or more popularly known as “Androon Lahore”. More accuracy of the linguistic elements would have made the characters more relatable.

Iqra is shown to carry an abaya in her hometown, Bahawalpur publicly, but doesn’t follow the same in Lahore which makes her dressing inconsistent.

In a scene where Farhad is interacting with his female neighbour, he takes off his shoe and points at her telling her to shut up or else he’ll hit her with his shoe. Although the two were indulged in a fun banter, such antics by a superstar like Feroze on-screen can be misleading to a section of the audience which might replicate their favourite actor’s gesture. The director should be more careful of such little gestures in the future episodes.

Final Verdict

The first episode delivered what the teasers promised and beyond, stellar performances, brilliant cinematography and impactful background score makes gives it a winning start.

Brace yourself for more celebrity talk shows!

Uzair Anwer

February 10, 2021

It seems like our actors are exploring new avenues in their careers and this newly married celebrity couple is not far behind. One of the most loved couples of tinsel town, Hina Altaf and Agha Ali surprised their fans last year with the sudden news of their wedding ceremony. This dynamic duo has professionally collaborated on several fictional ventures such as the drama, Dil-e-Ghumshuda, anthology series Dikhawa and Eid Special Telefilm, Tere Pyar Main. The power couple is now collaborating for a trailblazer of sorts “The Couple Show” on Aaj Entertainment.

The Couple Show

Agha Ali and Hina Altaf announced their forthcoming talk show “The Couple Show” on Instagram with exclusive BTS and on-set pictures. The Mere Bewafa actor gave a glimpse on his social media handles of him displaying his singing talent in the BTS of the show. He revealed that his co-host on the show is his lady love and promised fans that he will soon upload pictures with her from the set. The show will feature celebrity couples on the guest list.

The premiere episode has been shot with the newlyweds Nadia Khan-Faisal Mumtaz Rao, who will be making their first public appearance after their marriage. Comedian Shafaat Ali along with his blogger wife, Rabica Faryal will be gracing the show in its following episode. This is a novel concept for the local media industry as this show features real couples instead of the reel. The audience is always interested to know more about their favourite celebrity couple’s lifestyle and candid stories.

Another show headlined by a superstar actor is ready to go on-air in the coming days on the same channel.

Gol Gapain

Noman Ijaz is set to make his comeback into the world of television hosting with ‘Gol Gapain’, post his stint in Mazaaq Raat. The show will be aired on Aaj Entertainment Channel and features Hina Dilapzeer, Waseem Abbas, Amar Khan, Nadia Khan, and Shabir Jan as guests on its first five episodes. The makers of the show initially maintained mystery over its title which added to the curiosity amongst fans, although the title was later revealed by the team along with the teasers. The Mera Saaein actor is known for his blunt responses over industry issues and social matters and has the reputation of being an opinionated celebrity. It is refreshing to see a mix of senior actors and fresh talent in the guest list of the show.

The show has a single guest format which makes the discussion more detailed and intimate between the host and the guest. Going by the teasers, the guests are set to appear on the show donning certain characters, actress Amar Khan can be seen carrying an alternate dress in her episode’s promo. Noman seems to be bringing his humorous side on-screen, indulging in a fun camaraderie with his guests.

It is always a plus for a new chat show to rope in a celebrity host, whereas a relevant celebrity couple is an even better option as it adds more star-power to the project. We are looking forward to both of these shows. Which one are you most excited about?

‘Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi’ continues to impress us with a powerful narrative

Hammad Akbar

February 9, 2021

Despite boasting an impressive cast, an experienced director, and a brilliant writer, Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi failed to create any hype before it premiered, however, people learned about the drama once it went on-air. Once its first episode premiered, the drama was all people could talk about. The audience immediately fell in love with the gripping storyline and realistic performances. But then again, when names like Kashif Nisar and Amna Mufti are attached to a project, the expectation is bound to be high. Fortunately, Kashf Foundation’s Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi delivers on all fronts.

Three separate timelines

Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi introduces the audiences to three separate timelines; one set in the present, one in 2012, and one in 2008. The present storyline focuses on a modern/elite brothel and the women that live in the house; the 2012 timeline is set in a patriarchal society where young girls aren’t even allowed to play outside their homes and the 2008 timeline is set in an underprivileged area that deals with a poor family finding it hard to make ends meet.

Apparently, the 2012 and 2008 timelines are supposed to be the background stories of the characters we see in the present timeline. However, they haven’t revealed exactly whose backstory is the audience watching so far and that element of mystery makes the show even more interesting. At a time when dramas struggle to manage even one timeline properly, Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi weaves three separate timelines in a smooth and effective flow.

Superlative performances

The drama stars some of the most talented actors of Pakistan. Leading the cast is Kashif Nisar’s favorite Yumna Zaidi as the enigmatic Sumbal. Sumbal is entirely different from the previous two characters Yumna played in Pyar Kay Sadqay and Raaz-e-Ulfat last year and that is a testament to Yumna’s versatility. Yasra Rizvi is equally brilliant as Sawera; her scenes with Yumna are especially enjoyable. Navid Shahzad doesn’t appear in a lot of dramas but her acting in this one proves that she still remains one of the finest actors in the country.

Nadia Afgan, Omair Rana, Kashif Mehmood, Samiya Mumtaz, and Noor-ul-Hassan make their presence felt in supporting roles. Wahaj Ali made a brief appearance at the end of episode 3. It will be interesting to watch his equation with Yumna Zaidi. The kids from the 2012 and 2008 timelines deserve a huge round of applause for giving such heartfelt performances. Their dynamics are very entertaining to watch and that is only because of the child actors’ convincing performances.

Since Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi deals with multiple sensitive topics, it isn’t exactly going to be an easy watch. Human trafficking, child abuse, and child marriages are rampant in our society and such stories need to be told in order to spread awareness about them. And so far, Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi has done an excellent job in conveying the right message.

What’s up with Geo TV’s orange filter?

Uzair Anwer

February 8, 2021

Geo TV is regarded as one of the most consumed and influential television channels in Pakistan. The channel has churned some of the highest-rated television ventures of recent times, be it the Baraat Series, the Khuda Aur Mohabbat franchise, Khaani, Deewangi, and even the recently wrapped Fitrat; the channel is setting new standards of scale and vision in the television industry. Along with the love and appreciation that the channel’s dramas get, there have been frequent complaints by the audience regarding the visual elements of their screenplay.

Pale colour-grading

Geo TV’s graphics have come under the public scanner as the audience has found the colour-grading to be overly saturated with an over-do of yellow and black colour palettes and lighting. The pale colour saturation makes the screenplay of its dramas look monotonous and at times shallow. It isn’t just a fluke, but rather has been the case with most of the dramas from the channel including the likes of Raaz-e-Ulfat, Main Agar Chup Hoon and Kasa-e-Dil. The screenplay gets dominated with yellow and orange shades and that doesn’t just make the frame less colourful, but also makes the actors fall victim to bad make-up faux pas.

The latest case of the pale colour-grading artefact of Geo TV is the OST video and trailer of Khuda Aur Muhabbat 3 headlined by Feroze Khan and Iqra Aziz. The opening shots of the promo which showcase beautiful landscape and architectural endeavours of the country have been given the same dark colour-grading treatment which takes away the natural elements from the cinematography. The promos of the latest soap by Geo, Mujhe Khuda Pe Yakeen Hai starring Agha Ali, Nimra Khan, and Yashma Gill, also has dark and pale graphical elements. It makes the visual narrative look more fictional and lacks a realistic touch.

The consistent paleness at times conflicts with the contrasting colours of production design and costumes and makes them look similar which further deteriorates the novelty of graphic visuals. In many scenes of Kasa-e-Dil, the make-up work of the cast looks extremely dull due to the orange-ish colour-grading.

The channel should be more conscious of its future dramas as so much hard work and effort at times translate into a dull screenplay. The editing teams should be more experimental with the colour-grading/ saturation technique. Alif and Dil-e-Gumshuda have been amongst the better projects in terms of colour-grading and visual editing from the channel. More such efforts should be consciously made by the makers.

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