THE TUBE

THE WEEK THAT WAS

Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum | ARY, Mon-Tues 8.00pm

A script from Farhat Ishtiaq is always eagerly anticipated, but many feared a commercially oriented director such as Badar Mahmood would reduce it to a melodrama. However, apart from an unnecessary background score, this show has proven to be both entertaining and quality viewing.

Sharjeena (Hania Aamir) is a prize — beautiful, an academic achiever and good-natured — and she is set to marry the successful Adeel (Emmad Irfani). Adeel gets a better offer from his wealthy boss’ daughter and calls off the wedding, leaving a shell-shocked Sharjeena to pick up the pieces as guests begin to arrive. Fahad Mustafa plays Mustafa, Adeel’s easy-going younger brother, a genius with computers but whose lack of focus has made him the butt of family criticism. From the teasers, we see Sharjeena asking Mustafa to marry her, possibly to save face.

In the style of classic Pakistani dramas of the past, we see each character slowly unfold their quirks and flaws before our eyes without clumsy dialogues and repetitive scenes. So far, Emmad Irfani is impressive as the over-ambitious Adeel, while Haania Amir and Fahad Mustafa have wisely chosen a more restrained style for their roles, before their relationship takes centre stage.

Teri Chhaaon Mein | Hum TV, Thursdays 8.00pm

A new story, a new heroine and a softer hairstyle, but the same old “Love Goonda” attitude for Danish Taimoor’s character. Vadeema (Laiba Khurram) lives a life of misery with her deeply conservative, controlling father (Sohail Sameer) and mother. Her father and uncle are competing to control the large family inheritance and have arranged a marriage between their children, each thinking to trick the other.

Despite her father’s oppressively watchful eye and endless restrictions, Vadeema still manages to find a boyfriend, Salaar (Danish Taimoor), who is ready to do or die for her. Salaar’s father is also money-obsessed and dead set against his son’s choice. Like all Danish Taimoor characters, Salaar does not like to use intelligence or negotiation to achieve his goals; instead he threatens and beats up Vadeema’s fiancé, Naveed (Raza Abid).

Naveed had been trying to avoid the marriage but, after the assault, he decides he will punish the lovers by forcing the marriage even earlier. There is nothing new or nuanced in the story or execution of this script but its popularity with the masses proves, once again, that this is a winning formula for producers.

Gentleman | Green Entertainment, Sundays 8.00pm

Gang bosses Rehmati (Adnan Siddiqui) and Iqbal Munna (Humayun Saeed) are both in love with TV Journalist Zarnab (Yumna Zaidi). Meanwhile, Zarnab is fighting for her relationship with her fiancé, Faris (Zahid Ahmed), an assistant commissioner who has gone over to the dark side of bribery and corruption.

Faris is being controlled by the influential Mirha (Sohai Ali Abro), who recognises Faris’ inner weaknesses as her own. Sohai shines as the devil whispering in Faris’s ear, and delivers on the many layers of her tough character. Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar leads characters such as Faris, Zarnab and Iqbal Munna through an intricate dance of moral conundrums before bringing us the hard truth that doing the right thing is not so easy, except when it is.

For Faris, the sacrifice is too much but for Munna putting everything, even his life, on the line is done with an easy smile. Excellent performances and direction, that reigns in the melodrama but allows for subtle humour amid the darkness, make this one of the best shows on air.