THE WEEK THAT WAS

Dil Wali Gali | Hum TV, Daily 8.00pm

Acclaimed writer and director duo, Zafar Meraj and Kashif Nisar, use their favourite setting, the inner, walled city of Lahore, to give us what can only be described as a serious comedy.

Deeju (Sajal Aly) and Mujju (Hamza Sohail) may have persuaded their families to give them a “respectable” nikaah, but old resentments and jealousies become a test of endurance for the young couple. Petty, competitive siblings, hard-hearted mothers and a run of unbelievably comic bad luck begin to pull Deeju and Mujju apart, but ultimately draw them together.

Restrained, subtly powerful performances from Sajal Aly and Hamza Sohail, combined with a gentle romantic chemistry, connect with the audience. As with all Kashif Nisar projects, every character is authentic and every scene hits its mark, and that very success may be the reason for its lack of big ratings compared to fluffier rom-coms. This rich tapestry of protagonists and detailed writing deserved more time and attention to be appreciated than the busy, time-pressed audiences of Ramazan can afford.

Ishq Di Chashni | Green Entertainment, Daily 9.00pm

Rakshi Butt (Sehar Khan) wants to open up her own mithai (sweetmeat) shop but her traditional family, especially her jealous brother Shahnawaz (Sachal Afzal), are set against it. Then there is her competitor, the foreign-trained Shehryar (Khushhal Khan), who is also trying to break free of his father’s mithai store and open his own restaurant, opposite hers.

From bickering rivals to friends to lovers — Shehryar’s kind, protective ways win Rakshi over. However, the spectres of familial disapproval and pining cousins are pushing them apart. Rakshi is forced into an engagement with her cousin Sultan who, despite his sweet nature, does not understand that a relationship can only be formed with mutual consent.

Writer Sadia Sadeeqa gives us a breezy romance filled with all of the easily watchable tropes that make this a fun, modern, Korean-style drama. Seher Khan and Khushhal Khan are perfectly cast and make a wonderfully lively on-screen couple. The breakout star of the show is Sachal Afzal who has used his own creativity to mould Shahnawaz into a deliciously evil and entertaining villain. His timing and comedic delivery is at par with the more experienced leads, and his scenes are worth the wait.

Aas Paas | Geo TV, Daily 9.00pm

From the pen of Samra Bukhari comes the Ramazan drama with the most ratings and the least actual story, starring Ali Ansari as Dr Saham and Laiba Khan as Arshia. The latter is a clever girl whose main aim is to get back at her father’s second wife, played by Sahiba Afzal.

Geo cashes in on the huge wave of cross-border popularity created by the main leads in their recent soap, Kaffara. The basic premise is Laiba Khan jumping in and out of ridiculous situations, while the rest of the cast are forbidden to speak and must look on at her with awe or shock in extended sequences, according to the Indian soap formula.

Sahiba Afzal, Jan Rambo and Saba Faisal provide some small anchor to reality while Ali Ansari plays the straight man to Laiba Khan’s zany antics. This show has captured the mass market, providing just the right amount of light entertainment for busy people this holy season of Ramazan.

What To Watch Out For (or not)

Kuch Na Kehna | Green Entertainment, Coming soon

Green Entertainment abandons its promise of quality and takes a deep dive into the commercial market with its new show. Naumaan Ijaz plays Sardar Jahaniya, a powerful feudal under the “magical” control of his second wife, Noor Madam (Savera Nadeem). How will the next generation, played by Usama Khan and Maha Hasan, fare under the rule of this clever woman?

Published in Dawn, ICON, March 30, 2025