THE WEEK THAT WAS

Sun Yaara | ARY Digital Monday 10.00 pm

Sun Yaara is a light family drama but a notch above others for several reasons. It is definitely a turning point for Danish Nawaz, the director, and Junaid Khan and Hira Mani as the lead actors. Danish Nawaz’s direction adds life to the characters who have a nostalgic Haseena Moin air about them, especially the character of Khurram with his crisp, poetic lines played by Asim Mehmood and the bubbly mamoo-bhanji banter between him and Minaal Khan. The camera work with slow-mo in romantic sequences and some interesting angles, such as capturing foot movement, adds to the nuances.

Junaid Khan plays the eldest son in the family, a handsome surgeon and an introvert for whom surgery is probably easier than relationships. He plays the male lead against Hira Mani and their chemistry absolutely sizzles. Also enjoyable are his scenes with new entrant Ghana Ali who plays the wicked temptress Tanya.

Hira Mani as Roshane exceeds her own expectations [and ours] as she performs with confidence, looks good and fits the role. The screenplay by Asia Mirza is based on her novel Kuch Meinu Maran Da Shauq Vi Si published in an Urdu digest. No weak and crumbly women here, they are all trying to fight their issues with dignity, not tears.

The OST of Sun Yaara by Junaid Khan and Damia Farooqi is an all-out winner. With lots of engagements, weddings, romance, colour, song and dance, the highs and lows have been steady right up to the 20-something episodes. Zarnish Khan, Faris Shafee, Hassan Niazi and Laila Wasti provide able support.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR (OR NOT)

Morning shows | All channels, week days 9 am

For the most trivial and inane beauty remedies coming out of kitchen cupboards and the sabziwalla, false claims and unverified advice from quacks, beauticians, fashion designers, wedding planners, nutritionists, exorcists, weight-loss and cooking experts, you can watch any and all morning shows. Designed to numb your mind, give you a deep complex about the colour of your skin and share with you very unexciting, average stuff that even your domestic staff is well aware of, these shows come without a viewer discretion warning that your fried eggs can turn in your stomach as you watch dermatologists do facial injections in close up. Thinking is something morning show teams and anchors don’t do. Period.

Published in Dawn, ICON, June 18th, 2017