THE TUBE

THE WEEK THAT WAS

Qarz-i-Jaan | Hum TV, Sundays 8.00pm

This serial is a must for those with fond memories of classic PTV dramas, when attention to detail and storytelling took precedence over melodrama. Recent episodes unfold the generational trauma hidden behind the walls of a family bound by inheritance and tradition.

Veteran actors Faisal Rehman and Tazeen Hussain have stolen hearts with their portrayal of loss, as fate brings a widow and her love face-to-face again. Yumna Zaidi is at her best in a wonderfully restrained and nuanced performance, sliding from resilience and rebellion to absolute vulnerability, as she connects with the father she might have had in Faisal Rehman. A wedding brings the interconnected branches of the family together, and Burhan (Usama Khan) finds he is distantly related to Nashwa (Yumna Zaidi).

Director Saqib Khan has framed noisy excitement and the bustle of family scenes around oases of intimacy and revelation that hit the audience with surprising intensity. The discordant note has been Nashwa’s lack of caution around Ammar (Nameer Khan), a known predator. Nameer Khan’s easy charm belies the vicious nature of his character’s actions, illustrating the duplicity such personality types use to trap their targets.

Apa Shameem | ARY, Daily 7.00pm

This soap serial takes a turn for the conventional after the death of one of the lead protagonists, Abbaji (Munawar Saeed). He dies a man broken by regret, watching his family fall apart because of his favouritism towards his older daughter, Apa Shameem (Faiza Hassan).

Writer Asma Siyani gives us a detailed picture of the psychological damage from this common familial dysfunction. Shameem earned her family’s respect by working as a nurse and supporting her family in difficult times without a formal education. The power and authority this gave her was so enjoyable that she has become a manipulative, narcissistic person. Meanwhile, newlyweds Abdul Bari (Fahad Shaikh) and Kashf (Zoha Tauqeer) become the targets for her rage. When Shameem is held accountable for her behaviour, she puts on a penitent aura but is still quietly plotting her revenge.

Faiza Hassan brings another strong performance as the sister-in-law from hell, while keeping her character well within the realms of probability. The second track of Kashf’s sister Sara (Rahat Ghani) shows a soft, quiet girl who learns resilience after being rejected and emotionally abused by her husband. She is another victim of Apa Shameem’s jealous, vengeful nature. The story follows a predictable pattern but the writer gives pause and time for reflection to her characters, allowing them and the audience to understand how such toxic, negative people can easily be empowered by our own unacknowledged biases.

Mehshar | Geo TV, Fri-Sat 8.00pm

Aima (Neelam Munir) and Abdul Rehman (Imran Abbas) could be leading happy, productive lives. Instead, they are trapped in an unhealthy relationship, which causes both much frustration and unhappiness.

Carrying a heavy chip on his shoulder and an ego that cannot bear Aima’s achievements, Abdul Rehman vents his anger on his patient wife. As predicted from the first episode, he is emotionally unavailable to her, and actually falls in love with another classmate, Paras (Sidra Niazi), when he goes overseas to study. His resentment does not stop him from getting Aima pregnant, but it does prevent him from telling Paras he is already married when he proposes.

In any other serial, Abdul Rehman would be a villain and, despite Imran Abbas’ attempts at softening this terrible character, there is little to prevent this conclusion.