THE WEEK THAT WAS

Meem Se Mohabbat | Hum TV, Thursdays 8.00pm

Acclaimed writer Farhat Ishtiaq turns her hand to romantic comedy with this light-hearted serial about love and healing. This also marks the return of Ahad Raza Mir to Pakistani television, in a new romantic pairing with Dananeer Mubin as Roshi, a fun-loving girl with no focus, and who is always landing in some trouble with her very organised family of academic over-achievers.

Tired of never being enough, naïve Roshi decides the only solution to get away from the constant pressure to go to college is getting married young. In contrast, Talha (Ahad Raza Mir) is a serious businessman who has forgotten how to smile or enjoy life. With a large supporting cast, impulsive decisions and polar opposite leads, this story looks like a reboot of the highly successful Ramazan serial formula.

The leads have established their characters well, with Mubin providing the energy and Mir portraying the emotional challenge. Director Ali Hasan has been justifiably criticised for lacking originality, and the wholesale copying of scenes from his previous hit serial Fairy Tale. Despite the fact that the show has started off well, the question is, will it establish itself more memorably with audiences with further episodes?

Aae Ishq-i-Junoon | ARY, Mon-Tues 8.00pm

With a strong, well-made story that delivers a new turn with each episode, and good performances to match, this show is raking in the ratings and critical acclaim.

Rahim (Shehryar Munawar), the adopted son, the achiever and, by necessity, the people pleaser, suddenly finds himself accused of a crime he did not commit. Irsa Ghazal and Shuja Asad play a matched pair: a ruthless mother-and-son duo willing to use any deceit to escape accountability and punishment. Munawar, as the broken son reeling from shock and betrayal, gives a strong portrayal that connects with the audience while Irsa Ghazal’s cool, controlled acting hits the mark where histrionics would have failed.

Aiman (Ushna Shah), the innocent victim of assault and attempted murder, barely survives but is blackmailed into accusing the wrong brother. Another interesting character is a rare honest policeman who thinks beyond the obvious and seeks the truth. Director Qasim Ali Mureed proves his range and growth as a director, translating Sadia Akhtar’s well-written script into a tense thriller that is not losing steam.

Mehshar | Geo TV, Fri-Sat 8.00pm

This story by Amara Shahid conforms to the Geo TV and 7th Sky Productions’ usual formula of tortured love triangles and impulsive two-dimensional elders as plot-drivers.

Aima (Neelum Munir) and Abdur Rehman (Imran Abbas) are cousins who have always competed to be first in every field. When Aima learns her parents want her to marry Abdur Rehman, she softens towards him but his insecurities about being an orphan raised by her parents get in the way of any attachment. A wealthy, beautiful, well-educated and much-loved daughter, Aima could move on and accept the offer of respect and love from her childhood friend Noman (Zain Baig), but then it would not be a Geo TV drama.

Instead of preserving her mental health, Aima now moves into victim mode, in which she will be married off to a man who will be emotionally unavailable for 30-plus episodes. Imran Abbas and Neelum Munir make a popular couple and, being good actors, make the characters believable and empathetic. The show is slow-paced and full of the kind of fantasy luxury-mixed-with-angst that the masses love.

What To Watch Out For (or not)

Tann Munn Neel-o-Neel | Hum TV, Saturdays 8.00pm

Contrary to the image presented by colourful teasers and the popular young cast, this is a dark story unveiling the painful realities of everyday people hidden in plain sight.

Published in Dawn, Young World, December 15th, 2024