THE TUBE

THE WEEK THAT WAS

Jaan Nisar | Geo TV, Fri-Sat 8.00pm

After almost 60 episodes and the kind of ratings that channels dream of, Jaan Nisar draws to a close, proving the phenomenal popularity of the Danish Taimoor and Hiba Bukhari pairing in the mass market.

Nosherwan Ghaznavi (Danish Taimoor) is a powerful feudal who lost his first love and was forced to marry his brother’s widow Kashmala (Hiba Ali). He falls in love with Dua (Hiba Bukhari), a lively girl from a poor, conservative background, who is sold into prostitution by her manipulative ex-boyfriend Sarfaraz (Haroon Shahid). Ghaznavi is a good guy and rescues and marries his love, but then Kashmala and Sarfaraz join forces to make one ridiculous plan after another to keep this low-content story going.

Too often we forget that cartoonish villains are the main drivers of plots like this, but Haroon Shahid and Hiba Ali deserve as much credit as the leads. This commercial formula, with its heavy emphasis on the hero’s charisma and wealth, and the heroine’s endless struggle for acceptance, is bound to be repeated again and again.

Vo Ziddi Si | Hum TV, Fri-Sun 9.00pm

Rida (Aina Asif) is a spoiled, little rich girl used to living her life on her own terms. A single parent, her father Zaviyar (Ali Abbas), finds it difficult to discipline his only child. A simple, lonely man, Zaviyar wants to raise his daughter well but is overwhelmed with a teenager, work and household duties, till his sister comes to help.

Like all young people, Rida tests her boundaries and chafes against even the reasonable restrictions placed on her by her family. She particularly resents one of her teachers Ambreen (Shazeal Shaukat) for correcting her projects. The once wealthy Ambreen is now struggling to make her way in the world. Although Ambreen loves someone else, from the teasers it looks as if she will end up becoming Rida’s stepmother.

The basic story is strong, drawing a comparison between Ambreen’s patience in adversity and Rida’s rebellious attitude. Detail and nuance always make an emotionally based plot more relatable and the makers could not resist sticking to certain obvious archetypes. However, there is room for a character arc of maturity and understanding for all the leads. Aina Asif is not convincing as a young adult and looks more like the child (which she actually is), while Shahzeal’s glowing make-up and perfect hair belie any claim to poverty.

Baby Baji Ki Bahuwain | ARY, Daily 7.00pm

The new season of Baby Baji may not have the emotional depth of the first, but it has still turned out to be a solid entertainer. Writer Saqib Ali Rana has done an excellent job by taking Mansoor Ahmed Khan’s original characters and allowing them to grow, without losing any authenticity.

The cast understands and lives their characters, allowing us to see the kind of normal, everyday lives of the hardworking but comfortable merchant-class family that is the backbone of society. Last season’s penitent villains are believable: Naseer (Hassan Ahmed) has gained perspective and patience while the tortured Asma (Sunita Marshal) has bloomed with confidence. Azra Bhabi (Javaria Saud) has not lost her edge but turned her energy positive.

The bumbling but at times too-effective new villains, played by Asma Abbas and Madiha Iftikhar, are still nuanced and move the story forward. Director Tahseen Khan and the entire team deserve credit for reminding us again that even a commercial soap can be quality viewing.