THE WEEK THAT WAS

Ghair | ARY, Fri-Sat 8.00pm

Instead of parsing out the emotional arcs of the characters as the script required, Director Yasir Nawaz shifts the emphasis to suspense. Saalis (Usama Khan) married Wafa (Ushna Shah) on impulse, to save his love, Shiffa (Yashmeera Jan). Now, Saalis and Shiffa are in a predicament: how can Saalis divorce Wafa without tearing down the web of deceit and secrets that binds so many relationships in their family?

Saalis’ mother, Tehzeeb (Saba Hameed), is already guilty over not speaking up for Wafa’s mother; so when she learns of her son’s tryst with Shiffa, she warns her off. Despite Ushna Shah’s best efforts, she is not convincing as the traditional weeping victim, but fits the role like a glove any time she is assertive and takes a stand.

When both husband and wife claim to love others, what is their motivation for staying together, apart from a public certificate of approval that Wafa is a “good girl”? The man Wafa admires is volatile, suspicious and prone to violence, which does not make him a better choice than Saalis. Will Saalis and Wafa understand that the people they are attracted to are unreliable and toxic?

Yahya | Geo TV, Fri-Sat 8.00pm

Yahya (Khushhal Khan) is the golden child, the son his parents and grandmother prayed long and hard for, and he was always treated better than his sisters. Despite all the coddling, Yahya is a good-natured young man, who would like to avoid the attention and is more interested in cricket than academics.

His eldest sister, Appi (Zara Tareen), has not married and helps support the family. Loneliness and the obvious favouritism of her elders has made her resentful towards her brother. The younger sisters are more forgiving and love spoiling their brother, not realising how much it has cost them their self-esteem. Also, in the mix is Madiha Imam as Mili, the bholi larrki [innocent girl] next door.

Imam cannot play a sensible, middle class girl. All her “good girls” have her behave like a five-year-old trapped in an adult woman’s body! An only daughter, Mili is also the apple of her parents’ eyes, so when she expresses her interest in Yahya, her mother fears her daughter will not be able to cope with a husband who has so many responsibilities. The clash between Yahya and his older sister might be interesting, and the two actors playing them will make it worth your while.

Duniyapur | Green Entertainment, Wednesdays 8.00pm

Is Duniyapur a small lawless area or a pawn fought over by powerful factions exploiting its natives and resources?

The Nawab of Duniyapur (Manzar Sehbai) was a tyrant who was knocked out of power by his own servant, Nauroz Adam (Naumaan Ijaz). Nauroz ruled for a while but was replaced by a sudden and decisive show of force from the area police, who switched allegiance to the Nawab. The police has unlimited power and guns, playing the ruling parties against each other. Writer Radain Shah, holds up a mirror to contemporary society. Now the police have found a third option in Nauroz’s traitorous brother, Aurangzeb Adam (Yusuf Bashir Qureshi). Nauroz’s son Shahmir seeks help from Zabardast Qasai (Nayyar Ejaz) who once helped his father, where he also meets Nawabzadi Anaa. Is an alliance on the cards?

Khushhal Khan, Naumaan Ijaz and Manzar Sehbai pull this show above the ordinary. Slow execution and some badly shot scenes of this thrilling script are a minus point however.

What To Watch Out For (or not)

Qarz-i-Jaan | Hum TV, Coming soon

Yumna Zaidi returns to our screens opposite Usama Khan as a pair of duelling lawyers fighting a case that might break up their relationship.

Published in Dawn, ICON, November 17, 2024