This was the lamest episode ever! It doesn’t deserve to be reviewed at all but I am going to write a few lines only because I would like to hear from my regular readers. When Saniya left the house, I couldn’t help but wonder………Why is Ehtesham still living in the same house as Sehrish? Why can’t Ehtesham just divorce Sehrish? Why is Sehrish still complaining? Why does she even think there is a way for her to make Ehtesham change his mind or more like his heart? So many questions but there can’t possibly be any logical answers to these questions because none of what we see on screen now makes any sense whatsoever. Sanam Saeed’s red lipstick and the candle light dinner definitely did not save the day!! The reason Ehtesham tried to please Sehrish, all over again was beyond ridiculous….he didn’t want Saniya’s qurbani to be wasted…yes lame!!

I can’t see Saniya as a bechari even though we are being pushed into believing that she is very special and a bechari at the same time. Why does Saniya get so effected by everything that Sehrish says? Doesn’t she have a mind of her own? Oh wait, I forgot, all the characters lost their mind along with their personalities when the producer decided to make the most of the viewership that Shukk had because of a strong storyline and characters they could connect to…something that is ancient history now!!

Now that Sehrish’s mother in law has left, she has her mother to give her expert advice. I wish one of these women was wise enough to advice her to leave Ehtesham. The episode ended on a lame note too! Guess what, there was no preview for the next episode either … as if we are dying to find out what happens next!

I hope and pray that the play ends next week.

Fatima Awan

Hmmmmmmm, interesting episode but not what I was expecting at this point of the competition. The episode was split into two halves where the contestants had to perform two genres first Bhangra & then Classical with Fuzon performing as their band by their side.

I must say Abrar ul Haq was great & the only guest judge whose performance was worth watching & probably the only performance by the guest judge that I have not only watched but enjoyed as well. He set the mood really high but the note at which the episode ended was disappointing. I didn’t enjoy Fuzon’s presence & looks like they brought out the worst in the contestants. They have created the so-called self-proclaimed best songs but it left the contestants bewildered because to be honest, classical training takes ages or at least when the show started they should’ve notified the contestants to practice classical because they’ll have to face the challenge.

I feel they should’ve conducted the classical round solely where the contestants didn’t have to have a divided focus on some other genre along with this one too because it clearly showed that the contestants focused more on the Bhangra & they tried to perform Classical with the best of their ability but didn’t shine in this genre. I feel just because they had to perform twice, they couldn’t do justice to this particular genre at all & it made the ending of the most awaited episode a lot more boring.

I must comment that Hadiqa Kiyani looked beautiful this time around but Bushra Ansari seems to be defying her age. Someone please get her a rattle & a pacifier because she is becoming a BABY ANSARI. I just can’t imagine where does she get the confidence to be so OTT given her age.

The commentary on the performances of both Bhangra & Classical genre is as follows:

Ali Asad Zaidi (AS) of Karachi performed Sonu Nigam’s ‘Nagara Baja’ in the Bhangra round. I think even though he tried he couldn’t do justice to this genre because naturally being an Urdu speaker he can not bring in the Punjabi touch which is needed for Bhangra songs. Abrar ul Haq commended him on his feel & said he performed it better than his expectations. Ali Azmat felt that his dance moves & body language seemed abrupt & he looked hesitant therefore it affected the feel of his performance but other than that he was in full-form & performed brilliantly. Hadiqa Kiyani said she loved his performance & Bushra (Occhi) Ansari complimented him on his expressions.

Mohammad Shoaib (MS) of Peshawar performed Daler Mehendi’s ‘Mai Dar Di Rab Rab’ in the Bhangra round. Being a Hindko/Pushto speaker he nailed the feel of the Bhangra. Abrar ul Haq said his performance was a wholesome package with expressions & the feel but said the moment he started enjoying himself, that took a toll on his performance. Bushra Ansari said he stole the show. Ali Azmat agreed to Abrar ul Haq but still said that he did maintain the notes & his performance was great. Hadiqa Kiyani praised him a lot, gave him a fighter jet & said that he has improved a lot.

Zamad Baig (ZB) of Mandi Bahauddin performed Abrar ul Haq’s ‘Jatt Charheya Kachehri’ in the Bhangra round. His performance was good because he is a Punjabi speaker & bhangra comes naturally to him but there were clearly some breathing issues & also he forgot the lyrics not once but twice & that’s a MAJOR fault which can not & shouldn’t be ignored at all but he clearly got away with it. Abrar ul Haq said that Zamad is the first person who did justice to Abrar’s bhangra. Hadiqa Kiyani said his performance was the best in terms of notes in comparison to the other two performances. Ali Azmat once again stated the obvious that he had an unfair advantage being a Punjabi speaker but he sang it well. Bushra Ansari commended him on being a sensible singer.

Mohammad Shoaib (MS) of Peshawar performed Shafqat Amanat Ali’s ‘Madhvanti’ in the Classical round. He had such a weak start & he showed his disappointment himself but as he moved along he got his performance under control. Fuzon’s Immu & Shalim praised him for having a strong yet soft touch to his vocal tone. Ali Azmat said that never let the crowd know that you’ve made a mistake, ignore it gracefully & make people forget it but overall praised him for attempting a difficult song & somewhat doing justice to it. Hadiqa Kiyani labeled his performance as a boundary & said she is waiting for the next 6er. Abrar ul Haq said that rehearsel was very important & he was better in the Bhangra round. Bushra Ansari said that being an untrained singer in classical genre, he attempted a very difficult song & it was a good effort.

Zamad Baig (ZB) of Mandi Bahauddin performed Ramez Khan’s ‘Soona Soona’ in the Classical round. His performance was good once again but his mistakes were pretty audible in the lower notes. Immu & Shalim of Fuzon praised him for the scale he chose & said he did a remarkable job. Abrar ul Haq said that Fuzon has very difficult songs but Zamad sang it with such an ease & definitely better than the bhangra round. Bushra Ansari gave him a standing ovation saying he was flawless. Ali Azmat said he was proud of Zamad & also said being a non-classical untrained singer he sang it with ease. Hadiqa Kiyani said his performance was soulful & truthful. She also said that Zamad always owns the songs he sings.

Ali Asad Zaidi (AS) of Karachi performed Ramez Khan’s ‘Neend Na Aye’ in the Classical round. This was again similar to those songs which he always performs but he did sing it well. Shalim & Immu of Fuzon said he improvised & did a great job. Ali Azmat said he had an emotional connection with the song & sang it really well. Abrar ul Haq said he’s God gifted & he must thank Allah for his voice & also gave him a standing ovation. Hadiqa Kiyani said this was the best performance of the night. Bushra Ansari said it was a beautiful but a very difficult song but his notes were just perfect. On a side note I must say the most memorable thing for me in Ali’s performance was the guy behind him holding the rattle-like instrument, his expressions were just brilliant & I had a good laugh.

So, this is what the whole episode was all about. I enjoyed the Bhangra round a lot because it was exactly what we needed at this stage. Not sure who will be eliminated but it would definitely be a shocker because all three of them deserve to be in the final. I have compiled a list of the songs that these contestants have performed starting from the auditions till this last gala round & I must say Mohammad Shoaib & then Ali Asad Zaidi have been the most versatile in their song selection whereas Zamad Baig has mostly performed similar type of songs.

So, here’s the list as a quick recap to their journey & their performances:

Mohammad Shoaib:

Auditions: ‘Kinna Sohna Tennu’ NFAK
Piano Round: ‘Kise Da Yaar Na Wichre’ – NFAK
Gala Round 01: ‘Ranjish Hi Sahi’ – Mehdi Hassan
Gala Round 02: ‘Afreen Afreen’ – NFAK
Gala Round 03: ‘Kaho Na Kaho’ – Aamir Jamal
Gala Round 04: ‘Albela Sajan’ – Ustaad Sultan Khan
Gala Round 05: ‘Na Na Na Re’ – Daler Mehdi
Gala Round 06: ‘Mai Tennu Samjhawan Ki’ – RFAK
Gala Round 07: ‘Watan Ke Sajeele Jawanon’ – Noor Jahan
Gala Round 08: ‘Akhiyan Nu Rehn De’ – Reshma
Gala Round 09: ‘Masti Ke Din Hain’ – Ali Zafar
Gala Round 10: ‘Mast Nazron Se Bachaye’ – NFAK
Gala Round 11: ‘Mai Dardi Rab Rab Kardi’ – Daler Mehendi
Gala Round 11: ‘Madhvanti’ – Shafqat Amanat Ali

Zamad Baig:

Auditions: ‘Ye Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai’ – NFAK
Piano Round: ‘Kali Kali Zulfon’ – NFAK
Gala Round 01: ‘Kiya Hai Jo Pyaar To’ – Ahmed Rushdi
Gala Round 02: ‘Mukhray Ton Nazran Hawatan’ – NFAK
Gala Round 03: ‘Khuwaab’ – Ali Azmat
Gala Round 04: ‘Teri Deewani’ – Kailash Kher
Gala Round 05: ‘Mai Tera Hero’ – Mika Singh
Gala Round 06: ‘Sanu Ik Pal’ – NFAK
Gala Round 07: ‘Pakistan Pakistan’ – NFAK
Gala Round 08: ‘Jiya Dharak Dharak Jaye’ – RFAK
Gala Round 09: ‘Dastaan-e-Ishq’ – Ali Zafar
Gala Round 10: ‘Ye Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai’ – NFAK
Gala Round 11: ‘Jutt Charheya Kachehri’ – Abrar ul Haq
Gala Round 11: ‘Soona Soona’ – Ramez Khan

Ali Asad Zaidi:

Auditions: ‘Pappu Yaar Tang Na Kar’ – Ali Azmat
Piano Round: ‘Meinnu Tere Naal’ – Najam Shiraz
Gala Round 01: ‘Dunya Kisi Ke Pyaar Mein’ – Mehdi Hassan
Gala Round 02: ‘Tera Hone Laga Hoon’ – Atif Aslam
Gala Round 03: ‘Sar Kiye Ye Pahar’ – Strings
Gala Round 04: ‘Nadaan Parinday’ – Mohit Chauhan
Gala Round 05: ‘Batameez Dil’ – Benny Dayal
Gala Round 06: ‘Dil Se’ – A.R Rehman
Gala Round 07: ‘Junoon Se Aur Ishq Se’ – Ali Azmat
Gala Round 08: ‘Bin Tere’ – Shehkhar Ravijani
Gala Round 09: ‘Dekha Jo Teri Ankhon Mai’ – Ali Zafar
Gala Round 10: ‘Dam Mast Kalandar’ – NFAK
Gala Round 11: ‘Nagara Baja’ – Sonu Nigham
Gala Round 11: ‘Neend Na Aye’ – Ramez Khan

So, now it’s time for us to anticipate who’d make it to the finals. Let’s wait for the last elimination & wish our respective favorites GOOD LUCK! :)

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

The OST of the play has really grown on me, I listened to it many times today and the line “aye muqadar koi hisab tu rhuk , kon jeeta hai, kon hara hai” is totally in line with the storyline. So, I was emotionally charged when I started watching tonight’s episode; all set to feel for the characters and to understand Romaissa’s situation but I completely lost interest fifteen minutes into the play. Every episode seems to be the same; Romaissa thinking about how life has changed, some flashback scenes and Nabeel’s family’s conniving ways. The only new thing about this episode was that Zeeshan has completely changed. He may have gone ahead with the nikkah but he is running away from the situation. There isn’t much that he can do to change the situation but he is venting out his anger and frustration by alienating Romaissa and his brother’s daughter completely. Zeeshan is not expected to take his relationship with Romaissa seriously so there is no family pressure either. On the contrary his parents would really like it if he continues treating Romaissa and Maham this way. Zeeshan was the only person in Nabeel’s family….well he was the only person in Romaissa’s life who felt for her and supported her in any way at all and now he has turned into a different person too. I think Zeeshan’s father knew that Romaissa will lose his support if this nikkah took place.

Romaissa has been living like a servant in the house for all these years only because she has nowhere else to go. It is ironic that she is the one who has a financial edge over everyone else legally but in reality her situation is the worst. I was actually shocked to see how much Maham has grown, did that mean that Zeeshan hadn’t visited the house for a year or so? He still hasn’t gotten over Rabbiya but Rabbiya has clearly moved on. Nothing has changed between Hamnah and Hassan and Bushra continued talking about Hassan and Romaissa’s affair as if all of that happened only yesterday.

There were times when I felt for Romaissa’s character but there were many other times when I thought her situation could have been shown in a much better way so that more viewers could feel for her character. None of the dialogues touched me the way they should have considering everything that Romaissa has been through till now. I fully understand Romaissa’s situation but the dialogues and the scenes are not intense enough. The director could have been a lot more creative and I know for a fact that Umera Ahmed is capable of writing very powerful dialogues. The actors are giving their best performances but their characters don’t have much to offer. The little child star playing Maham is adorable!

19 episode have gone on air so far and unfortunately except for a few episodes, rest have been very average. We see the story unfolding on screen every week but the play has completely failed to leave a lasting impression. The preview of the next episode showed that Romaissa will finally react to the unjust treatment being meted out to her and her daughter – I hope she changes for good. It remains to be seen if Zeeshan will accept her as his wife and protect her and Maham the way he should have right from day one. There was a time when I really thought that Hum TV’s tagline “Hum jaisa koi nahi” was so true but that is not the case any more!

Fatima Awan

Bee Gul, the writer of Talkhiyan and Khalid Ahmad, the director are back with Pehchan. Talkhiyan was anything but conventional so I expected Pehchan to be just that too and the first episode proved me right. Pehchan is bound to be dark and depressing just like Talkhiyan was but I expect it to deliver because Talkhiyan managed to engage me completely despite of its gloomy outlook and story. The drama has been produced by Seema Razi and Raziuddin Ahmed. Bee Gul is also the Associate Director of the play.

This first episode introduced the viewers to the characters in a very creative manner that demanded the viewers’ complete attention. We are going to be taken from the present to the past just the way we were in Talkhiyaan. Every character is narrating their own story this time around and a third person is not doing it for them. Pehchan is the story of Cuckoo (Iffat Rahim) who is a strong and independent woman on the outside but deep inside she is very weak and vulnerable. Cuckoo has a flourishing business but that does not compensate for the loneliness she feels inside because her husband is immature and irresponsible. Cuckoo is everything that her husband wished for and more but Cuckoo is tired of earning for him. She wants a normal married life and more than anything else she yearns to be a mother.

Mansoor Ahmed (Sohail Sameer) enters Cuckoo’s life at a time when she is emotionally vulnerable, he lifts her up and gives her the kind of love and attention which every woman wants. What Mansoor and Cuckoo have is very special but we don’t know yet why Mansoor is getting married to someone else. Was it Cuckoo who could not get a divorce from her husband? or did Mansoor back out at the last minute? Cuckoo cuts her wrist in the most unconventional manner on the day of Mansoor’s wedding. Cuckoo is a very strong woman but she is terrified of being left alone, that was probably the reason why she put up with a loser husband for all these years. Cuckoo’s work is like an escape for her, she fears that if she has enough time to sit down and think about her life she will not be able to cope. The opening scene was very intense; I am sure many viewers like me had no idea what they were going to see next.

Mrs. Khan is Cuckoo’s regular client who is always asking Cuckoo to make her look like celebrities her husband likes. Cuckoo keeps on reassuring her that she is beautiful but Mrs. Khan needs that assurance from her husband more than anyone else. In tonight’s episode when these two women meet, they know that something about both of them is not the same. There are many things weighing on Cuckoo’s mind and maybe there was a lot on Mrs. Khan’s mind as well.

The actor playing Cuckoo’s husband (Fawad Khan) could have done much better. He did not look younger than Cuckoo at all; I understand that the character is meant to be unorthodox but I felt that it would have been much better if we could see why Cuckoo married this man in the first place. I guess when you are lonely you end up making some very foolish decisions.

This first episode was on the slow side but by the time it ended I wanted to know more about the characters. I love the OST already. Erum Nafees has done complete justice to Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poetry. The music director Arshad Mahmood, has done a superb job with the composition; the song is melodious and impactful. The styling and make up was very impressive and it seemed like the director took some time out to find the kind of locations which we don’t usually see in dramas. I am waiting to see Alishba’s character in the next episode.

Did you watch this first episode? Do share your views about it.

Fatima Awan

Hawww I just started enjoying this drama & it ended. :/ Ohkay, we all want dramas that should end by 16th-18th episode but what I don’t get is the rushed ending all the directors opt for when they direct the very last episode of the play. I am not sure if I am happy or satisfied with the ending or I’m actually annoyed with what was shown in the previous episodes making the ending seemed totally rushed & rubbishy.

Is this what Kiran & Teeeeeepu’s story was important for? Teeepu divorced Kiran & left as if he had that huge of a spine but now when his mother called, he dumped Neha straight away as if his spine froze in the chilled weather of Turkey & he came back like a loser to embrace the girl he literally walk upon as a doormat. I am sure if they hadn’t wasted so many episodes on Kiran & Teepu, this drama would’ve become a hit & memorable as well but seems like the writer didn’t want it to happen.

What they revealed by the end was quite interesting but sadly it wasn’t tackled properly. If they had dealt with that part of the story with utmost attention & had even spread it in more than a couple of episodes, I am sure the ending would’ve seemed more justified & appropriate. They finally showed how Shabbi found out about Surmed’s past & what he did to her mother Neelam & also what Neelam did to Surmed. She obviously gathered a lot of sympathy for the guy who had to go through so much in the early stages of his life but still nothing seemed to have fallen in the right place now when the drama has ended.

Shabbi’s phone conversation with Usman & also the way Surmed was destroying Jameel Ahmed’s business, no light was shed upon those issues & I still can’t get over the fact that they actually had to sacrifice the screen time to show the Happy-Halala of the most faarigh couple on the face of the earth i-e Kiran & Teeeepu. I am actually gutted by seeing another Halala taking place in another drama of ours where the whole family seemed satisfied at what was happening. The smug look on Teepu’s face as if he did sawab ka kaam was just sickening followed by the squinted smile Kiran passed at him, I mean seriously!?!?!

I liked the whole Arif & Karam Din’s twist in the drama because it was something totally unpredictable & I so wish they had shown us more of it because I believe Surmed & Shabbi were the lead characters & the drama was based on their story but the way they were blind sided was absolutely ridiculous. It’s like one fine day Shabbi woke up & everything was fixed supposedly & did they really think we’ll have an AWWWWWWW moment seeing Kiran get annoyingly chummy with Teeeeeepu, sorry to be bursting the bubble but it was an eeekhhhhhh moment instead of an awww one.

I feel they successfully trolled the viewers by promising something else & showing something entirely different. If they wanted to end the drama on 16th episode, they should’ve started wrapping up the story from 13th episode onward so that the ending had seemed justified but just because they wasted a lot of time on Kiran/Teepu’s useless track, it looks like they were told to chop down the story & they had to literally re-edit the ending & fit it in the 16th episode or may be you never know the writer went into deep slumber after writing the 15th episode so whatever seemed suitable was put together to make such an absurd & abrupt ending.

Our drama makers need to understand that either they must not draggggg the story like anything or when they plan on ending a drama in lesser number of episodes, they must learn to finish it off smoothly by establishing the grounds for the climax 3 – 4 episodes before the drama actually ends with the support of flow in the scenes to compliment their purpose. Anyways, I’d label Rubaru as a 5 on 10 drama because of the obvious reasons. Share your thoughts on another one of Hum’s shahkaar.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Ohkay so it was another fast paced episode with so much happening & next to zero room for boredom. I enjoyed watching this episode but had my fair share of giggles too.

Zara has finally decided that she wants out of this marriage & I feel that’s the right thing she’s doing because she just couldn’t earn the respect of her husband so why waste her life for a man like that? Very conveniently Jazib didn’t even try to talk her out of her decision & then easily blamed Zara in front of Khala that she was the one at fault. Why didn’t Jazib tell her how he used to belittle her & underestimate her? Khala Masooma very easily told Dua that whatever happened was destined to happen & it didn’t happen because of Dua so she isn’t at fault but then whenever she got the opportunity to make a point, she told Jazib how bechari Dua was & how her name was being pulled in their own marital problems. Khala kept on saying ‘log kya kahainge, log kya kahainge’ & I kept on wondering where were the ‘log’ she is so worried about? I didn’t see anyone else ever intrude in their issues?

I am not too sure but looks like Khala Masooma is two faced. I don’t know what her name is but I am going to name her Khala Masooma because she portrays herself as soooo masoom that even an innocent baby might feel ashamed, so yes, for that, Khala Masooma is the right name for Khala Masooma.

I actually felt for the kids a lot when Zara tells them she is getting separated from Jazib. The kids took it pretty well but later on spoke to each other how much they missed their mother. It was actually very touchy & goes to show the effect these sort of issues have on the kids. I feel Saba Qamar acted really well in this whole episode & she has been actually successful in making us all feel a thing for the character of Zara more than anybody else’s.

I lol’ed when Zara tells Dua ‘tum Jazib k liye rotiyaan pakao’ & then Dua scurries to her mother telling her how ungrateful Zara is. I mean Khala Masooma knows that Dua’s entry in Jazib & Zara’s life hit the last nail on the coffin so why is she persistent in stating & then believing the otherwise. Even Dua keeps on telling her mother that nothing happened because of her & it’s like they know they have played an important part in the separation of Zara & Jazib but they are choosing to ignore the fact completely & they are pep-talking themselves that they ain’t responsible.

I didn’t even like when Khala Masooma told Jazib ‘Dua se shadi kaun karega?’. I mean please, she knows Jazib has called his dibs on Dua so why is she masoomiyat-ly posing a question to him? Even now when she knows that her husband has asked her to come back, she doesn’t want to go, which she should’ve done the moment she found out that Zara has left & Jazib has become a khulla sandh once again. Later when Jazib told her she must leave she goes like ‘Allah ki zameen bari hai’ & I was like there she goes again, Khala masooma with her masoomiyat that she even knows how to mend the situation in her favor by emo-blackmailing her damaad-to-be. I know she is sweet & masoom & what-not but she is unreal, lol!

Jazib’s last words in the episode had me rolling my eyes. He moved on a tinsy bit quickly then we thought. It was like he was awaiting this to happen & since it happened, he ceased the opportunity & grabbed the best available short order cook he had in his sights. I am dreading that the story which has been fast paced ever since it began might derail & lose the pace but if that doesn’t happen, I am sure we’d remain entertained  by the bunch of masoom people. Let’s see what happens next.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

I must say that this episode had “been there seen that” written all over it. The direction in which the story moved forward was quite predictable and I was reminded of Dil-e-Muzter while watching the play. The circumstances are completely different but the way Alvira’s father reacted reminded me of Silla’s father in Dil-e-Muzter. There were also times when the story seemed like a mixed version of some of the Tarang telefilms put together. The good thing was that Sajjid Hassan’s character is much more subtle than many of the rigid and unreasonable fathers we see on screen nowadays. Sarwat Gillani was superb in the scene when she calls Hamza to tell him that her father wanted to meet him. I really like Alvira’s relationship with her parents; she is very open about her feelings with them just like a “princess” should be! Alvira had faith that her father will understand her feelings for Hamza but Hamza had his reservations right from the start. The happenings in tonight’s episode were very filmy but they were presented in a non dramatic manner.

Alvira’s father like many other rich fathers thinks that Hamza is after Alvira’s money and offers a deal – yes absolutely nothing new there. We all know already that Hamza is not after Alvira’s money so his reaction did not come as a surprise either. Alvira’s mother watched the entire drama unfold without uttering a word. One would think that someone as modern as her would have a little more say in the house. It would have been nicer if Alvira’s mother could have discussed matters with her too because they did seem like they were very close. Alvira’s father is out to make a point and he doesn’t care about his daughter’s feelings.

Our hero did not turn into a lost soul after Alvira’s father’s proposal, that was definitely good to watch. He has faith in his relationship with Alvira and also in himself. Hamza’s mother of course is more interested in what her daughter in law will be bringing with her in jahez. She is going to be very disappointed when she finds out that Alvira’s parents are not going to support her in any way. Mujhe tu larki baghair dekhe hi pasand aa gaye dialogue was funny.

I don’t like the way the cigar is being used as a prop for no good reason. I am sure that Alvira’s father’s character could have looked “elitist” even without it. I appreciate the fact that there is a warning that smoking is injurious to health every time dad makes his appearance with the cigar but was it really needed? Somehow I am finding it hard to take Sajjid Hassan’s character seriously. The direction of the play, its picture quality and the chemistry between the main leads is standing out more than the script at this point. This is only the beginning of course, we will only know in the next four episodes or so if the story has something new to offer or not. The characters of the main protagonists are very likeable too. They are normal people with no complexes, issues or a baggage. I think Fahad Mustafa owns his role as Hamza, he is doing really well.

As it turns out the coming episode of Shukk is the second last one even though it was advertised on the channel and the FB page that the next episode will be the last one. Talk about using cheap tactics to get viewership!

Fatima Awan

The play Durr-e-Shahwar is very close to my heart for two reasons. Firstly because it has to be one of the most inspiring, engaging, intense and relatable plays I have seen in a very long time and secondly because this was the first play I reviewed when I started writing so there are many memories related to it. Durr-e-Shahwar has been written by Umera Ahmed, it has been directed by one of the best directors in the industry; Haissam Hussein. It has been produced Six Sigma Productions and Momina Duraid. The leading cast consists of Samina Peerzada, Sanam Baloch, Qavi Khan, Mikaal Zulfiqar, Nadia Jamil, Nauman Ijaz, Maya Ali, Umer Naru, Saba Faisal, Muhammad Ahmed, Kiran Haq, Sophia Saeed and Tasleem Kausar.

The opening scene of a drama says a great deal about how the future episodes are going to be like. Kudos to Haissam Hussain for introducing the characters in a very creative and beautiful manner. Durr-e-Shahwar is one of those rare plays that completely win you over right from the first episode. Durr-e-Shahwar is aesthetically and visually pleasing every step of the way. Every single scene is well-thought-out, all the conversations have depth and the casting is flawless. The contrast between Shandana and Shahwar is shown right from the first scene; the morning in Shahwar’s house is totally different from that in Shandana’s house. Shahwar’s mornings are peaceful and happy, Shandana’s mornings are rushed and chaotic. I could relate to everything in the play right from the get-go. I must confess the tranquility in Shahwar’s house in reality is not found in too many houses nowadays which are run by the younger generation. We are not as patient as our parents were and we also complain a lot more than they used to. Shanadana has a lot on her plate therefore she finds it very hard to cope for obvious reasons.

In my opinion Durr-e-Shahwar is not just the story of two generations but it is actually the story of three generations; Sophie was also a very important part of the play. When Durr-e-Shahwar and Mansoor had compatibility issues and communication problems during the early years of their marriage, they made sure that Shandana knew nothing about the problems between them. Even later on Shahwar only revealed those secrets to Shandana when she thought that it was the only way in which she could save her daughter’s marriage. The best aspect of this play is that women and men from the older generation can connect to Shahwar and Mansoor and those of the new generation can see a reflection of their own selves in Shandana and Haider. Haider is insecure, he thinks his wife wants to dominate him and because of this insecurity he feels that he does not need to do anything to make their relationship better. Shandana tries to make him realize that he needs to spend more time with his family but Haider shuts her out every time. It is almost as if he is punishing her for being a strong independent woman. Shandana does not have the patience to put up with Haider’s attitude. Both of them are impatient, uncompromising and immature. Haider is too busy watching television and playing Solitaire, going on a vacation with his wife and kid is not on top of his list of priorities. He has completely given up on his married life. Shandana and Haider both know that they are incomplete without each other but their egos won’t allow them to make the first move. The way the viewers are transported from present to the past was beyond impressive. The relationship between all the characters has been presented very skillfully; every little detail has been taken care of.

The drama focuses on the importance of being patient through the first few years of marriage and it also shows how important it is to have someone to guide you through difficult times. Shahwar had her father to guide her in the right direction and Shahwar does the same for her daughter. The play shows how daughters look up to their fathers. Shahwar’s father was her hero, Shandana thinks her father is perfect and Sophia loves her father more than anyone else in the world.

When Durr-e-Shahwar gets married she expects her husband to give her his undivided attention but her new life is entirely different and quite contrary to her expectations. She feels “ajeeb” in her new house;Mansoor and his family members are constantly judging her. Durr-e-Shahwar is right in thinking that there is no place for her in Mansoor’s life because his life is already over crowded with people who are his first priority. Mansoor’s family gets all his attention. Durr-e-Shahwar’s in laws are poles apart from her own family. Her father keeps on assuring her that there will be a time when Mansoor will put her above everyone else in his life even though he himself isn’t sure if his daughter’s marriage will work out. The conversations between Shahwar and her father are very poignant throughout the play. I fell in love with Shahwar’s father’s character like many other viewers out there. Muhammad Ahmed made this character memorable by breathing life in to it. Sami sahib is wise, gentle and very loving.

Some of the viewers thought that DeS was regressive because it was asking women to compromise alone while the men had no such responsibility. There were others who thought that DeS was targeting working women. I am a huge supporter of having strong female leads and for punishing men for their mistakes but DeS always worked for me. Mansoor and Haider both were not able to tackle with the ups and downs of early years of marriage tactfully other than that both of them loved their wives and were good human beings. They were not abusers (like Sikandar in Kankar), they did not marry the first woman they got close to after their wife walked out of the door (Adeel in DeM and Shaam in Shukk) and they most certainly did not cheat on their wives (Salman in SeZ and Hammad in Mirat-ul-Uroos). In my opinion both these men deserved another chance and if their women decided to give them that chance then they did nothing wrong. The fact that a woman is a home maker is actually very true, I agree both parties have equal responsibility to make a marriage work but the manner in which the responsibility was shifted to women’s shoulders was actually very well done. The script was written in such a way that it makes compromising seem like a virtue which does pay off after a while. There is nothing wrong with it if people let their egos take a backseat in order to save a relationship if the person they are doing it for deserves it. The play also shows that relationships need work; no matter how happy someone looks at present there may have been times when they had to fight to keep the relationship going.

The most touching scenes of the entire play had to be the one between Durr-e-Shahwar and her father. The conversation between the two on Shehwar’s rukhsati was powerful, tear-jerking and heart-rending. The first few years of Shahwar’s life were covered perfectly; the writer did a commendable job of showing how small things make a big difference. It is of utmost importance that the In laws should be willing to acknowledge their daughter in laws as individuals if nothing else.

Durr-e-Shahwar’s story is very old but the treatment given to it is brand new. Sanam Baloch and Mikaal Zulfiqar shine in one of their best performances in the play. Durr-e-Shahwar has some very powerful performances to its credit. The play is fast paced, beautifully written and directed.

The background score is played generously especially when the viewers are shown past events. The background music is haunting and mesmerizing; it fully gels in with every situation. Durr-e-Shahwar stayed with me for a very long time and is one of those very few plays which I watched again without forwarding a single scene. It was as effective the second time as it was the first time I watched it.

Sadly, Durr-e-Shahwar never got the attention it deserved from Hum TV in particular. Even at the time it was on air, it was never promoted as much as Hamsafar was. The fact that DeS aired in the same year as Hamsafar made a huge difference of course but even then the actors, the writer and the director deserved more recognition for their work than they got. Samina Peerzada was absolutely brilliant as the old Shahwar, Sanam Baloch owned her role as the young Shahwar, I have never liked Mikaal Zulfiqar better in any other role, Qavi Khan played the old Mansoor with precision. Nadia Jamil was flawless as the confused, bitter and depressed Shandana. Noman Ijaz nailed his role as Haider. Hassan Naru and Maya Ali couldn’t have been better as newcomers. Muhammad Ahmed won me over completely, he made Abba’s character unforgettable. Saba Faisal was equally wonderful as the controlling mother and mother in law. The actress playing Shahwar’s mother also did complete justice to her character and lets not forget Sophia. Haissam Hussain proved once again that he can create magic on screen. A big thanks to Umera Ahmed for some of the most heart-warming, soul-stirring and effective dialogues. Durr-e-Shahwar is a classic which every drama fan must watch. If you haven’t watched it do give it a go, it will transport you in a world of its own right from the get-go. You cannot watch it without crying buckets of tears. One review cannot do justice to this masterpiece.

I would love to hear from those viewers who have watched the show:)

Fatima Awan

So, 20 episodes down and Farah is still unaware of the fact that she loves Afzal;Or maybe she knows but hesitating in confessing it infront of everyone. Whatever the reason maybe, I started watching this show with a note that tonight, this love thingee should be confessed by Farah. And I am glad that they put a step ahead of what Farah thinks and feels for Afzal now. Because despite of that fun element and strong dialogues, from last couple of episodes, I was thinking that they are dragging this show and they should let Farah disclose that she is in love with Afzal.

Today, we saw more of concern from Maulvi Saheb for his son. Now, at this point, we all know that not only Maulvi Saheb but Afzal’s whole family is extremely worried for Afzal and loves him to the fullest. So, I think that concern scenes should now be ended and they should find something else to show whenever they think to show Afzal’s family.

Another thing that I pondered upon today was that “Bhaie” part where everyone called him “Afzal Bhaie, Afzal Bhaie” and Afzal took it so seriously. I mean, I know that it feels awkward when no one talks to you and soon after an incident everyone start paying regards to you. But why they have to highlight that word “bhaie” in that ? Are we living in such society where “bhaie” is taken in terms of an underworld don rather than an “actual bhaie” ? Bhaie ko bhaie he rehnay dou bhaie..

Moving on to Farah and Lubna, Farah se zyada pagal khatoon mai ne aaj tak nahi dekhi; She is so much confused about what she thinks and what she speaks. On her visit to psychiatrist, she was not even sure what she spoke about earlier and what she should tell to him.By the way, as soon as I saw Vasay Chaudry in psychiatrist role, I smelled something funny in forthcoming scenes but he proved himself that he is not better with comedy roles only but is good when it comes to act serious too.

Farah’s father was so right that sole reason of Farah not telling her mother about her feelings is the communication gap between her and Farah. Its duty of mothers that they should create such atmosphere at home where daughters feel close to them. I have seen many cases where daughters are so close to their mothers that even it’s so hard to guess whether they are mother-daughter or friends and I am glad that I am among those types.. :)

Immediately after seeing Sohai Ali Abro in the serial, I guessed that she will definitely be liking Afzal in next episodes and that is what exactly happened.Its the time when Afzal should give her a signal that he is not at all interested in her “pink lipstick” but in her “chicken ginger”..

Only scene that gave a new turn to the story was the discussion between Farah and Lubna. Farah was not ready to confess her love for Afzal and Lubna was not ready to accept that Farah is telling her the truth. And as soon as Farah went to Lubna to clarify herself again, Lubna asked for permission that if Farah is not in love with Afzal than permit her to marry Afzal.. Uss k baad kya tha..aik zor daar thappar jis ke goonj sab ne suni.. 

As far as I can predict, that was a stunt performed brilliantly by Lubna just to let Farah accept that she wants Afzal in her life. Another thing that can be guessed is that she was seriously asking Farah for her marriage to Afzal.What do you think ? I would love to read your feedback.

Rabia Basharat.

So the story has taken another turn. I like the production value of the drama & even the direction is fine too though I do feel that the on-screen chemistry in the families is missing. Apart from the couples, I feel everyone has been very hesitant in making an effort to contribute in forming the on-screen family that’s why we can clearly see the disconnection they all are sharing with each other. May be it will take another few episodes when the actors may have get comfortable & this thing will subside but for now there seems to be some sort of a barrier in between them all.

Daood has not surrendered in front of his mother but Gaitiara & Deeba both are acting ridiculous. I do feel for Gaitiara because at first she was insulted & now her daughter had to face all that, that too from the same family but when I saw Sherbaro being ashamed, I found Gaitiara to be lesser evil. Sherbano was right that she never had thought there might be a time when Gaitiara will have an upper hand but now she knows that when it comes to affairs related to daughters, how hard does it get. Gaitiara was someone’s daughter too but Sherbano never thought of that in her ignorance & arrogance but now when Momenah is going through a tough time Sherbano is trying to play the mazloom card which just doesn’t suit her at all.

Even though they have tried to show Gaitiara as stern & selfish but this fact can’t be ignored that she endured everything quietly because she wanted her marriage to work & she definitely didn’t deserve what she had to go through. Deeba’s involvement in this whole Daood/Momenah break up was very bizarre & absurd. She could’ve done better because being a young girl & Daood’s sister as well as Momenah’s cousin she should’ve understood how much Daood & Momenah were attached to each other, so for that at least selflessly she should’ve tried to make Gaitara understand that her breakup with Abdullah doesn’t mean Daood has to pay the price.

Even though Daood has retaliated but now Momenah has backed out because for her, her mother’s pride & dignity means everything & after seeing her mother being insulted, she has agreed to what Sherbano has requested her of & that is leaving Daood & starting afresh. I feel she should’ve at least given a chance to Daood so that he could explain what his take was on this whole scenario but Momenah doesn’t want to fall weak again therefore she has starting to ignore him completely. Deeba has once again come up with another suggestion to hit the final nail in the coffin & that is to get Daood married to someone else & by doing so at least it will satisfy the egos of Deeba & Gaitiara both.

I think the drama is moving forward at a very reasonable pace. There aren’t much loopholes as such & for the sake of watching a drama, Marasim is a suitable option to tune into, during the weekends. Personally I do feel that Sonia Hussain has dressed up a lot more modern than it was required because given the history of her family background, she belongs to a family with mediocre values & for that, such modernism ain’t suiting her role much, rest everything’s pretty well in this drama so far. Let’s see what happens next!

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Awwww, what a sad elimination. :/ Even though it was what we all somehow expected to happen but now seeing the contestant eliminated really set the mood down.

I liked the pattern of how the contestants were called on stage to hear their results. Indeed what the contestants had to say about their journey in Pakistan Idol was again very interesting. It’s like you do get emotionally attached to such things in life & their feelings came across as pure & straight from their hearts.

It was Ali Asad Zaidi & Zamad Baig who were called for their results. It was pretty evident who’d be in the danger zone & it was Ali Asad Zaidi.

Along with Zamad Baig, Kashif Ali was called to get his results. This time around Zamad Baig was safe & was sent back to the safe zone.

Now it was the time for the last two contestants Kashif Ali & Mohammad Shoaib who had to face their results & yes as expected Kashif Ali was in the danger zone.

Finally, it was time for the moment of truth when Ali Asad Zaidi & Kashif Ali had to hear the final results & sadly but rationally Kashif Ali was eliminated.

To see a young lot of boys cry their wits out for each other was actually something positive to see & spoke volumes about how nice of a people they actually are. It shows their feelings that they had for each other despite being in the competition & even though they all are fighting for the same title, they didn’t  let it affect their relation & they were equally sad for their fellow contestant.

The judges had to say really good things about Kashif Ali because obviously he is a great singer & there’s no doubt about that but what he lacked was the versatility & yes, it does matter in a show like Pakistan Idol. Hadiqa spoke about how much love he has gathered during his journey & how Mohammad Shoaib promised to leave his seat if he wouldn’t make it to the Galas as a Wild Card Entry. Hadiqa Kiyani as expected also promised to be doing a duet with him so yes, we can anticipate Kashif’s brighter future because he has been Hadiqa’s favorite & he deserves this limelight for sure.

Ali Azmat & Bushra Ansari both were overwhelmed at his elimination but they were right, at this stage who ever’d go would’ve made everyone sad because everyone has built a relation of emotional attachment to these contestants of Pakistan Idol by now. Can’t wait for the next Gala round because the contestants will perform twice & it would be last the elimination before the Finale!

I wish Kashif Ali all the best for his brighter future.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Saniya took an about turn yet again in tonight’s episode by deciding to leave Shaam for Sehrish because some of the words of wisdom from Shaam’s mom made her realize that she did destroy Shaam and Sehrish’s life after-all. Sehrish thought it would only be fair to find a house for Saniya since she was doing her such a big favor! I think tonight’s episode was meant to convince the viewers that Saniya is not such a bad person after all so that we should forget everything that has transpired in the past and happily accept Shaam’s decision to leave Sehrish. Not that too many people really care now who Shaam decides to stay with because most of the viewers feel nothing for any of the characters now. The conversations between Shaam and Sehrish yet again were nothing new. For some odd reason Sehrish could not care less about Shaam’s feelings and Saniya is no different either. Shaam is still confused and he feels like he can’t deal with the situation, so nothing new there too. Shaam’s mother’s presence in the house made little or no difference so all those episodes in which she was trying to patch things up between Shaam and Saniya were just filler episodes; in my opinion Saniya could have had this change of heart without Shaam’s mother saying anything to her too. The “who will sleep in which room” scene has been done to death by now , thank God the drama is ending next week.

The only scene that brought a smile to my face was the one in which everyone is having dinner in the bedroom and Roomi asks if Baba was going to be the next one who will give them all a reason to have dinner in the bedroom, other than that nothing interested me much. The new found understanding between Sehrish and Saniya is obviously going to be short-lived. Sehrish has nothing left to fight for but she continues to act like what Shaam wants does not matter.

We should all distribute mithai and celebrate when all these loonies finally make up their mind. This second last episode was full of useless conversations that did not add anything new to the story. I would have loved to feel for Saniya if all this happened a long time back. At this point, I just want this play to end! The acting by all the actors has been top notch throughout the play but what good is brilliant acting when the story and the characters lose their charm completely.

Fatima Awan

Finally, the much awaited genre of music was covered in Pakistan Idol tonight. It was an amazing episode & the guest judges were perfect as well. I thoroughly enjoyed the episode & a couple of performances too.

The first guest judge was the maestro of Qawwali – Amjad Sabri. His performance was the perfect opening of tonight’s episode. On the high demand Sajjad Ali was called again to judge the contestants & I am glad he once again made an appearance on the show. I am thinking they decided to have a Qawwali week at this point, it would’ve been so good if they had done it before when there were more contestants. It would’ve been a treat to watch as well but as they say better late than never.

The performances & the commentary on them is as follows:

Kashif Ali (KA) of Lahore performed ‘Akhiyaan Udeek Diyan’ of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. I must say this has to be Kashif’s weakest performance so far. I wasn’t too impressed & felt that he performed it more like a song & defeated the purpose of it being a Qawwali. He went off-beat so many times, once again sounded too soft & let the music over lap his voice. It looked like the judges were skeptical in giving away the actual comments therefore they sugarcoated a lot when it came to the feedback. Amjad Sabri pointed out a few places where he went weak & said that it was a good performance. Sajjad Ali spoke about the issue in his ending notes too but said he sang it powerfully. Bushra Ansari said it was a powerful effort that he did. Ali Azmat said he managed the camera, the choir really well & was good. Hadiqa Kiyani gifted him a bracelet she owned & said his performance had everything the feel, the heart, the soul & even the perfection of notes (!?!?!?!).

Ali Asad Zaidi (AZ) of Karachi performed ‘Dam Mast Kalandar’ of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Once again it was too evident in his performance that he was pushed out of his comfort zone. He did attempt it nicely but failed to make a mark obviously. Ali Azmat said that he sounded strained & tensed, in the end he tried to show his personality by changing the feel of the song but overall was a good attempt. Sajjad Ali said that he added the rock feel to the Qawwali by the end of the performance. Hadiqa Kiyani said that this wasn’t his comfort zone & it looked like he already had preconceived discomfort level therefore it was evident in his performance through out. She also went to say that he has a lot of potential & a good tonal quality so he could’ve learnt it a bit more & a bit better. Amjad Sabri said that if he had lowered the scale a couple of notches, his performance wouldn’t have gotten the rock feel to it. He advised him to understand the meaning & the purpose of Qawwali before performing it. Bushra Ansari spoke about accent being also another issue but she said it was a good attempt.

Zamad Baig (ZB) of Mandi Bahauddin performed ‘Ye Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai’ of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. He came, he performed, he owned & he nailed it completely. I think this has to be one of the best performances of the episode & also of Zamad’s himself too. Not only his voice was perfect for the genre but he understood the meaning of Qawwali & performed it just the way it should have been performed. No doubt he deserved all the appreciation that he got & also the standing ovation he received from Hadiqa Kiyani & Ali Azmat. Hadiqa Kiyani said no one else could’ve performed this specific Qawwali the way he did, he made a connection & created an ambiance which was necessary. Bushra Ansari said he was on a journey & he took everyone along. Ali Azmat said that Zamad has an advantage of this genre suiting his voice but this doesn’t mean that he sang it well because of it. He performed it brilliantly because he himself is a great singer. Sajjad Ali generally commented that he sang it nicely but said he wouldn’t comment on technical issue. Amjad Sabri at first made a vote appeal for him & said that he would’ve given him a standing ovation too but he picked on a minor note that was missing but otherwise said he sang it beautifully & needed a little more command on Qawwali too.

Mohammad Shoaib (MS) of Peshawar performed ‘Mast Nazron Se Bachaye’ of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. OMG! What a stellar performance. I thought he’d get criticised but he shook everyone by surprise when he performed it brilliantly. He enjoyed & he performed & he convinced everyone to say that he deserved to be in this spot. Amjad Sabri’s appreciative hug proved everything, he said Shoaib can become a perfect playback singer & even went to say that Shoaib could be the voice Pakistan is looking for. Sajjad Ali said that he selected a hit number but owned it because to listen to it in his voice was perfect & even Sajjad Ali gave him a standing ovation too. Bushra Ansari whistled herself thrice for him & said that she was worried for the sargam part of the song but the way he sang it, he nailed it completely. Ali Azmat went on the stage & hugged him as well saying he performed better to what we had expected & we thought that Zamad would have an upper-hand in this round but Shoaib proved us wrong. Hadiqa said he is a fighter who has improved tremendously. She said she was proud of him & the way he created the whole environment proved that he was perfect. She went on the stage & hugged him as well.

So, this was it from tonight’s episode & I must say the best performances for me were of Zamad Baig & Mohammad Shoaib. Kashif Ali did get some good feedback but after Ali Asad Zaidi performed & got criticised I felt that his performance was at par of Kashif too. They both didn’t have the feel of Qawwali in their performances & Kashif sang it like a slow song too. If they hadn’t announced in the beginning that this was going to be a Qawwali round, no one would’ve guessed that Kashif attempted a Qawwali. By looking at these performances, I feel Ali Asad Zaidi & Kashif Ali will be in the bottom 2 this week.

All of a sudden I feel that either Zamad Baig or Mohammad Shoaib could win the title. So far Ali Asad Zaidi & Kashif Ali looked like potential winners of the show but after this particular episode, this notion has changed completely. It was once again proven that Kashif Ali is not at all versatile that’s why when he had to perform Qawwali, his mistakes surfaced clearly. Ali Asad Zaidi has been good consistently but after this episode Mohammad Shoaib has overtook the limelight completely because if we look at it Mohammad Shoaib has performed all sorts of songs & might be the only one who has experimented throughout, I didn’t say it before because I didn’t want to give an impression of being biased but after this performance I proudly say that I supported Mohammad Shoaib & he deserves to win the title. :)

I am glad Sajjad Ali reminded the contestants about the versatility because our permanent judges didn’t emphasize much on it & in fact when they got a chance they gave them the songs that they could sing pretty well. I hope we do have a folk round too because this was a treat to watch after so long. Share your thoughts on tonight’s episode & also do let us know which were your favorite & least favorite performances.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

This episode laid the foundations for what is coming ahead. The best thing about it was that we didn’t get to see Hassan at all – Bushra was there to make up for his kami! Tonight’s episode was scripted and directed really well. I must say that even though Rabbiya isn’t your present-day Juliet but I found it hard to dislike her character. I was thinking that she would turn out to be just as bad as Nabeel’s family – someone who you can’t help but dislike instantly but that was not the case. Everyone cannot live on love and that is fair enough. It is good that she was honest about how she felt. The only reason her (over) confidence backfired was because she underestimated Zeeshan’s parents. Zeeshan’s parents were not willing to back off from their stance and Zeeshan did not want to let Rabbiya go, therefore he decided to go ahead with the nikkah. I really appreciate the way Rabbiya’s character has been etched-out and the manner in which Mira Sethi has brought this character to life on screen. I truly felt for Zeeshan, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

We have already seen Adeel Hussein dealing with the two wives scenario in detail so yes there will be times when the viewers may see a bit of Shaam in Zeeshan – even the names rhyme! The first wife like all other dramas is full of confidence and vocal while the second one is docile and pretty (of course) who is only going to get married to this man because she has no other choice. She will at some point win him over and then we will be left wondering which one he will leave! I am not sure if I am too eager to see another such situation again in a drama where both the wives are living under the same roof.

The opening scene of the play was very touching; the message was conveyed loud and clear and I am sure everyone out there felt what Romaissa was going through. The conversation between the servants later on should have been short and to the point. The only part of their conversation that really added something new was the one about the way Nabeel distributed gifts and goodies when Hamnah had her daughter. Romaissa’s flashback scenes and thoughts are gradually losing their impact because the way in which they are shown is always the same. The most touching scene of the episode was the one in which Zeeshan goes to Romaissa’s room to congratulate her. Nabeel’s family does not cease to surprise me with their spitefulness; they did not even bother visiting the hospital to see the newborn.

Everyone’s acting was up-to-the-mark in tonight’s episode and the developments in the story were quite convincing too. There could have been less of the servants though! I won’t be surprised if Bushra informs Rabbiya about the nikkah too in the upcoming episodes. I think the preview of the next episode once again gave away more than it should have. It would have been good if we saw Romaissa protesting against her In laws’ decision (in her own passive way) and we were not shown what happened later on. Now everyone knows that there will be a Nikkah and then we will see Zeeshan laying down the “rules and regulations” for Romaissa. I am not looking forward to the two wives living in the same house situation once again. Marriage is not a joke and neither is divorce!

Fatima Awan

Ohkay, I must say I have started to enjoy this drama a lot more now. I mean I find it something decent to tune into every week. They have taken the story forward reasonably & the direction has improved a lot as well.

I still have an issue with Kiran getting the limelight. I think the writer loved the character of Kiran more than Shabbi’s. Just when I thought that she didn’t deserve such a decent husband she proved me right because she shooed him away too. I thought Usman would reject Kiran’s demand of divorce but seems like he decided to part ways with such a negative woman the moment he found the opportunity because yes, a peaceful & calm guy like him deserved someone better. But having said all that I really hate the way they have mocked the concept of divorce & marriage in this drama just like all the other dramas. I am shocked to see the prevailing trend because girls who go through divorce unfortunately know how hard it is & what do they have to face afterwards but the way they are showing that the girls remain DHEET after 1+1 divorce is just puke-worthy.

Surmed continues to destroy the business of Jameel Ahmed & Shabbi has started to probe a bit & just in a very little time she has learnt a lot about who Surmed was as a kid, what he went through & why he is that stern of a husband. I feel they have nothing left to show in their story that’s why they have parted them in a way that Shabbi is busy in her own life expressionlessly & Surmed is busy with the new found business to handle & destroy.

Just when I saw Kiran all lifeless lying on the bed I was like chalo shuker that’s the end of her journey & our suffering but to see all that as a failed attempt of suicide, left me sad. Why didn’t she die? Ohkay we get it that she had to live & get married to Usman so that Shabbi could find out the real face of Surmed but now when all that has been taken care of, why not just kill Kiran’s character?

Teeeeepu is having a great time with Neha & they both have beaming attraction for each other. I know it’s a small detail but I couldn’t help noticing the 90’s TV in Teepu’s room which he manually shut down himself. I think the director got confused because when he was supposed to show the 90’s era he showed us the mod-scot Neelam but now when we’re already in 2014, Teepu has a cathode ray tube TV, funny isn’t it!

As much as I hated seeing Kiran’s mother blaming Shabbi for Kiran’s divorce, I loved the slap she got & the insult she had to endure. She was the one who told Kiran to keep a hawk-eye on Teepu & to be stern with him. Now when she is sowing what she reaped so why is her mother feeling sorry? Instead of blaming Shabbi for what has happened to Kiran, she must blame herself first for not turning Kiran into a compassionate & humble lady & then she should blame Kiran for having a crappy tongue. I mean sorry the way Kiran is pleading Teeeepu to come back because she is ready to do everything he’d want, I mean does she really think that’s going to happen? I hope that Teepu gets married to Neha ASAP & bring her along to shut everyone’s mouth & demands. That’s going to be a good twist that I’d want to see.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

It has been a while since I actually looked forward to a play. The only reason I was interested in finding out more about the play was that it stars Sarwat Gillani; she is one of my most favorite actresses among the younger lot. She is an outstanding actress and most importantly she is one of those exceptional actresses who refused to be typecast. I am already in love with the chemistry that Fahad Mustafa and Sarwat Gillani share on screen only by watching the promos but I must admit that the Big Bang Entertainment doesn’t have much to its credit – I hope that things will be different this time around. The play has been written by Sana Fahad, directed by Badar Mehmood and produced by Big Bang Entertainment (Fahad Mustafa and Dr. Ali Kazmi).

This first episode was well-paced and the picture quality was superb. It looked more like a film than a drama. Our female protagonist Alvira (Sarwat Gillani) comes from a very rich background, she is romantically involved and pretty much committed to Hamza (Fahad Mustafa) who is her class-fellow. The story starts with both of them finishing off their BBA. Alvira’s parents (Sajjid Hassan and Sabahat Bukhari) want her to marry a family friend’s son who is as well off as they are. Alvira tells her mother straight away that she is not interested because she loves someone else. Alvira is very confident about her feelings and her future with Hamza but Hamza has his reservations because of his status. Alvira was brought up in a very affluent household but she is not the least bit materialistic. Hamza loves her for who she is and does not measure her worth based on how much wealth her father has.

I must say that the first few scenes confused me. One minute Alvira walked in the house declaring that her papers had ended and the other minute she was applying for MBA. It seemed like Hamza found a job a little too soon, I just couldn’t make out how much time had elapsed since they graduated. Hamza’s mother (Ismat Zaidi) was quite happy with his choice once she found out that the girl was rich, it remains to be seen how Alvira’s father will react. I get the feeling that there will be a completely filmy scene when Hamza goes to meet him in the next episode.

Sabahat Bukhari should have gone easy on the western outfits; you can look stylish, chic and modern wearing age appropriate dresses too. Hina Bayat does it all the time, it would be nice if others could follow her example too. The diamond gift that Zaka gave Alvira was definitely OTT! The story isn’t new; rich girl falls in love with a middle class boy and the problems they face later on but Fahad Mustafa and Sarwat Gillani might save the day. I am also waiting to find out what Sana Fahad has ins tore for the viewers. Their characters are very likeable and they definitely look great together. The play isn’t overcrowded with side characters and the director didn’t take ages to introduce us to the characters. The party scene was very nicely done, talk about paying attention to detail! It had to be the most visually pleasing scene in the entire episode. The facebook page of the drama is promoting it in a very good manner and the admins are doing a great job of keeping the page active.

How many of you watched this first episode? Do share your thoughts about it.

Good News: We will be watching the 2nd last episode of Shukk this week, hurray:)

Fatima Awan