THE WEEK THAT WAS

Jhok Sarkar | Hum TV, Tuesdays 8.00pm

This action thriller from author Hashim Nadeem focuses on how law and order in rural areas is usurped by a nexus of powerful local landlords and politicians from the centre. Dedicated ASP Arsalan (Farhan Saeed) has tried to whip into shape the police station he has been assigned to and bring some semblance of justice.

However, he is thwarted by corrupt local police and feudal lords Peeral (Asif Raza Mir) and his son Meeral (Usman Zia), but finds an ally in Sassi (Hiba Bukhari), a school teacher. Arsalan has made it his mission to find Shaukat, who has been murdered by Meeral. As Arsalan pulls together the threads of evidence, the confrontation comes to a head. The son of a powerful politician and his wife visit Peeral’s haveli in preparation for the coming elections, making the usual promises of progress and education that the previous parliamentarian (Peeral’s father) never fulfilled. As an added twist, the candidate’s wife turns out to be Arsalan’s old fiancée (Mahenur Haider).

Farhan Saeed is a great fit for the determind ASP, while Asif Raza Mir and Usman Zia provide the right amount of villainy and arrogance. This show would have been even better as a thriller if the writer had unfolded the plot with a little more intrigue and fewer episodes.

Mayi Ri | ARY, Daily 7.00pm

Fifteen-year-old Ainy (Aina Asif) and 19-year-old Fakhar (Samar Jafri) are forced to marry by their dysfunctional family. After a few adjustments, they become allies: Fakhar supports his young wife’s dreams of becoming an engineer and Aini backs up her husband at home.

Aini’s pregnancy causes outrage because the physical intimacy would have been a major milestone in their lives, and its initiation or after-effects were completely ignored (probably from fear of more outrage and censorship), though it could have been respectfully hinted at. Aini is struggling with college, housework and a baby despite the help of her mother and a joint family system. As a young man suddenly drowning in heavy responsibilities, Fakhar neglects his wife and child, escaping the burdens of family and business whenever he can.

Aina Asif and Samar Jafri are the backbone of the show, with a strong showing from the large supporting cast. This show veers like a drunk driver, from illustrating the difficulties of the situation to romanticising it for ratings. The most unnecessary role is that of Raheela (Hiba Ali Khan), Aini’s wicked stepmother, who is supposedly to blame for everything that goes wrong, though all of these actions are a normal part of human nature.

Razia | Express TV, Thursdays 8.00pm

This new mini-series from Express TV highlights the struggle of being a daughter in a family where only sons are welcome. Mohib Mirza is deliciously bad as the neglectful father Salim, obsessed with his son, and Momal Shaikh plays the weak-willed mother. While there is nothing new in the story, it is told in a refreshing, tongue-in-cheek style that avoids the misery-porn formula used by mainstream channels to garner ratings.

Razia has a tough start but she is not bitter and the many instances where she loses out to her spoiled brother are presented with humour and cool-eyed satire, rather than heart-wrenching melodrama.

Superstar Mahira Khan pulls in the crowd, both on-screen and off, narrating Razia’s life from lively tone spiced with a little cynicism and sharply observed commentary on social norms that stubbornly resist change.

What To Watch Out For (or not)

Ishq Murshid | Green TV, Coming soon

The teasers for Bilal Abbas’s new serial promise manipulation and political intrigue, with a possible double role for the young actor.

Published in Dawn, ICON, September 24th, 2023