THE WEEK THAT WAS

Aafat | Geo TV, Daily 7.00pm

A child of divorce, Warisha (Laiba Khan) is trained by her self-centred mother and stepfather to hate her late father’s family, and sets out to take the inheritance she feels she is owed. Her first step is gaining her grandmother’s trust; the second, to quietly sow discord and division in the family. Her main target is her cousin Wahaj (Ali Abbas) who has always seen through her and guesses her agenda.

This one-dimensional script relies on the complete foolishness of certain characters rather than any intelligence from the villains. The grandmother, in particular, is easily won over and, despite years of duty and service from her other daughters-in-law, starts illogically siding not just with Warisha, but her unfaithful mother Mehak (Sahiba Afzal).

Laiba Khan is very effective as the pouting, sneering, middle class girl without limits, that our culture fears. In contrast Wahaj’s fiancée, “good girl” Shiffa (Hiba Aziz) is given only a few lines and left to smile blindly or gape mindlessly at Warisha’s actions. Such blunt characterisations and cartoonish twists are not by accident; the writer’s ultimate purpose is a forced relationship between Warisha and Wahaj, and a possible redemption curve.

Bismil | ARY, Wed-Thurs 8.00pm

TT (Naumaan Ijaz) and Reham (Savera Nadeem) are an uber-wealthy middle-aged couple looking forward to their son Musa’s (Saad Qureshi) wedding. When Musa accidentally runs over an older employee, his ambitious, social climber daughter Masooma (Hareem Farooq) enters their sphere.

When she cannot attract Musa, Masooma forms a relationship with TT because, according to the cliché, men cannot say no and ‘vixens’ always get their way. After various humiliations from Reham and Musa, Masooma has TT wrapped around her finger. An otherwise kind, mature and moral man, TT’s sexual fascination with the younger Masooma makes her a priority over his grown son and faithful, loving wife.

This kind of story is an old favourite with masala lovers and, in between the predictable stereotypes, it has some truths that resonate. Affairs, mid-life crises, the alienation of children and second marriages are all uncomfortable facts of life. For veteran actors such as Savera Nadeem and Naumaan Ijaz, these roles are a walk in the park. Saad Qureshi as the spoiled only son, shocked into the ugly realities of life from his comfortable, assured future as his father’s heir, is very believable. Hareem Farooq plays up the vamp and brings a lot of emotional energy to her role.

Nadaan | Hum TV, Saturdays 8.00pm

Saji Gul’s cleverly written script plays with the audience for six episodes before reeling us in for a knock-out punch in the form of Tayyab (Kashif Hussain).

Ignorant and street smart, Tayyab would have led a life of obscurity as a small-town drug dealer if it were not for Pir Subhan. As Pir Subhan’s chief mureed [devotee], but in reality his enforcer, his talent for manipulating public sentiment was nurtured till he learned the power of whipping up mobs into a frenzy of mindless violence. Tayyab’s real grudge with Dr Tabir (Ramsha Khan) is that she rejected him and, in one swoop, he murders the pir and shifts the blame on to the hapless young physician.

Kashif Hussain delivers a powerful performance that runs the full gamut between vulnerability to ruthless ambition, with shocking intensity. Director Mehreen Jabbar carefully builds the tension and suspense, using melodrama for impact rather than attention.

What To Watch Out For (or not)

Yahya | Geo TV, Coming soon

Khushhal Khan plays Yahya, a precious only son and the answer to many prayers, who is raised to support his family. Sweet and unspoiled, despite the favouritism he is shown, why is he hated by his eldest sister?

Published in Dawn, ICON, November 10, 2024