THE WEEK THAT WAS

Daldal | Hum TV, Thursday 8.00pm

Shot across several countries, this is perhaps the most well-researched and in-depth TV serial on human trafficking yet. Leaving his beautiful wife (Armeena Khan) and new-born daughter behind, the restless, money-minded and greedy Shuja (Zahid Ahmed), falls into the hands of unscrupulous agents who send him off on an arduous journey to the UK where he wants to fulfil his dreams. Smuggled across borders of Iran, Turkey and Greece on foot, by boat and hidden inside or underneath container trucks, he arrives in London; illegal, homeless, jobless and desperate to find a living, he suffers an unwelcome gay encounter. This is a meaty role for Ahmed who is holding up the serial as its mainstay. Armeena Khan continues to pull sad faces and weep while Abid Ali, Asma Abbas, Laila Wasti and Kinza Hashmi are fabulous as the supporting actors. The intriguing storyline by Qaisra Hayat and clever direction by Sirajul Haq keeps one glued to the screen.

What to watch out for

Zard Zamano ka Sawera | ARY Digital, Saturday 9:00pm

Seasoned actor Shahood Alvi dons the director’s hat for this ARY serial based on a novel by Nabila Abar Raja. The serial pegs Shahroz Sabzwari (with a brilliant performance in Teri Raza behind him), model-turned-actress Komal Aziz and Hira Tareen (now better known as an actor than just Ali Safina’s gorgeous wife) and Asad Siddiqui in lead roles. The promo shows intense situations and an interesting role for Komal Aziz. Shahood donning the director’s cap might just bring some novelty to the done-to-death storyline of how difficult life can be for a widow and her daughters as they suffer mistreatment by their family and society. All eyes are on Shahood!

Published in Dawn, ICON, December 3rd, 2017