Ali Zafar is one of those celebrities who came to spotlight with only one talent but evolved many more in all the the years they have been in showbiz. From being ranked among the most handsome men in Asia, to speaking on all kinds of philanthropic and social issues, he has always expressed his concern and wishes for this world to be a better, kinder and easier place in which all types of people can co exist.
Two days back, he has written, recited and shared a short video on his social media kuch toh ghalat ho raha hai, where he is talking about all the painful issues in Pakistan and across the globe.
Verna by Shoaib Mansoor is all set to release this month and the team are actively promoting it in some usual and some very unusual ways. Yesterday the lead stars Haroon Shahid and Mahira Khan, in a creative move to promote the film, surprised passengers travelling on PIA flight pk302 enroute to Lahore. The flight took off from Karachi and all through the trip, Mahira and Haroon interacted with passengers. They were both clad in casual jeans and t shirts. Mahira was also sporting a black hoodie and very cool dark shades.
Surprisingly, Zubaida apa, Pakistan’s very own home remedies’ expert was also on the same flight. Look at the stars entertaining the lucky passengers in plane.
Khamoshi started at a very good pace with the story forwarding to the original plot in just two episodes but looks like the director has now gotten stuck with filming Arsala’s crying scenes since they are too many and the story is at a standstill. This episode focussed on Naima and Atif. The starting scene was epic where Sabir reminded Naima of her limits. Naima’s character is all black with not even a tinge of grey to it. The goal of her life is to marry Atif by hook or by crook because she wants to defeat Arsala. And in the recent episode, she has finally succeeded to reach her goal. She manipulated Atif and his mother to showcase herself as an innocent person which obviously she is not.
Atif is the dumbest character on Pakistani television right now. The way he was shown in the early episodes as a stubborn lover boy who can go to any extent to save his relationship with Arsala has totally changed in a blink. This guy has no logic written for him in the script. He was the one who noticed how lifestyle changed for Sabir’s family after Arsala left and still he is the one who is constantly nagging and abusing Arsala. He even suggested to marry Naima himself. He is out of his mind that he doesn’t notice that Naima never reacts whenever he talks bad about Arsala. If she is so seedhi saadhi she should at least try to defend her sister even if she is wrong.
Haseena and Mudassar are shifting to Canada and may her character was shown as evil, she tried to talk some sense into Arsala’s brain. Her words were the highlight f this episode where she told Arsala that she will be left barehanded. Arsala will get a new job at Haseena’s friend’s home because it is clear from the preview that she will see her sister getting engaged to her ex-fiance. The story started on a good note and now the makers have started to unnecessarily drag it in the initial stages which can turn it boring very easily.
What was your reaction to Atif’s decision? Share your thoughts!
This was a beautiful episode packed full of amazing performances. It was more about character revealing than story building but that is perfectly fine because it was done brilliantly. It’s good to know a lot more about the characters and how they handle the situation in their own unique ways. They are also very naive about the other person’s potential and that is what is giving suspense to the whole play.
So the emphasis of the episode was on Farhad as he decided to pay no heed to Maahi’s warnings and went on to meet Mehr un Nisa himself. What followed next was a beautiful demonstration of the fact that despite being entangled in hatred and revenge, Mehr un Nisa still believes in love and the power it holds over human mind and heart. She felt no need to hide her glee at the fact that a man was so besotted by her daughter. No drama, no insanity, just pure logic and heartfelt wishes of a mother. Hats off to Mehrunnisa in that scene. The meeting between Mehr Punar and Farhad was also brilliantly written and executed in excellence as they both shook hands and stood tall. Farhad was not intimidated by him and Punar not small mindedly jealous of him. The later brother sister conversations in both households were also amazing. These youngsters make you forget that their dark and murderous pasts are looming over them and will soon take over their lives completely. For now, all four of them are so young and fresh and so full of love and hope.
Mehr Punar has some inkling that Bali has been around the paan shop and in the old master’s house. At the moment, he is only being saved from the young blood’s wrath due to the shopkeeper’s loyalty to him and the teacher’s dementia. Bali himself is only occupied with finding the whereabouts of his kids at the moment. His life has come to a standstill. It seems as if he had paid Jajji to look after his kids but now cannot find a trace of either of them. Babar Ali is doing a good job as a convicted murderer who is crying and longing for his children. Such are the complexities of this life. He took away one father from his unborn kids and is in deep pain to find his own offsprings now.
Saba Hameed and Waseem Abbas were phenomenal as always. The youngsters also impressed today, especially Faryal Mehmood. It was a surprise to see her emoting so well especially in her scene with her mother.
The next episode seems to bring some serious developments. Stay tuned..
Writer: Faiza Iftikhar
Director: Syed Ali Raza (Usama)
Producer: Babar Javed
Schedule: Every Saturday 8pm Geo
The first episode of Shayyad belonged to Saad, the character, and also all those actors starting from the child star to Uzair Jaswal who breathed life into a character which wins you over completely almost instantly. The introduction to the characters was also unconventional, the first few minutes of the episode quickly wrapped up the kind of relationship Hani and Saad shared and the rest of the episode focused on different dynamics within the house while keeping Hani and Saad in the picture as the central subjects. This first episode was fast paced, engaging and emotional. While the supporting characters weren’t too appealing, I felt an instant connection with Saad in particular; his love for Hani is somewhat similar to Saba’s love for Irtiza but the huge difference here is that for a change the female character isn’t the one who is hopelessly in love. Also, for a change the male character is the dreamer and the female lead Umm-e-Hani played by Sadia Khan appears to be more practical so far.
Saad and Hani’s scenes were directed brilliantly and were the highlight of this episode. The on-screen chemistry between Uzair Jaswal and Sadia Khan made their scenes together even more appealing. Both these actors owned their characters and the interactions between them showed how differently these two visualized their relationship with each other. Hani’s dialogues after Saad left clearly showed that apart from Saad, she never made any other friends yet she was strong enough to let him go and stayed composed after he left. Hani lost her parents at a very young age but even then she was not afraid of losing another person who was really close to her because that was the only way Saad could have a better future. Hani’s Khala who sent her son so that he could get to know Hani better has apparently never put in any extra effort to stay in touch with her therefore I am wondering why all of a sudden she wants Hani to be her bahu.
Apart from the typical phupo, all the other family members were shown as positive characters who loved Hani. Munazzah Arif in particular added the soft touch to her character which gave it a more elegant feel. Saad’s interest in the wada bazar and his grandfather’s advice was hilarious. It also showed another side of Saad’s personality. This episode showed just how madly in love and even obsessed Saad was with Hani. I am definitely waiting to find out more about Hani’s character because so far only the practical aspect of her personality was highlighted in this episode. Surely a girl who lost her parents and has a small social circle would have more to her personality. Sadia Khan’s styling and make-up was right on point in this episode, she looked beautiful in every single scene. It still remains to be seen if she will be able to do justice to the more emotionally overpowering scenes in the upcoming episodes.
Some of the dialogues and poetry in this episode were beautifully penned down. It was one of those rare first episodes which makes you root for the lead right from the get-go although it is quite evident that Hani and Saad’s relationship is going to be a complicated one. Am I the only one who feels for Saad already after watching the preview of the next episode? Shayyad seems like a must-watch for all the hopeless romantics out there!
How many of you watched the first episode of Shayyad? Do share your thoughts about it.
In this recent video clip where Kubra Khan and Gohar Rasheed are shown shaking their legs to this Bollywood song is sure to give you some dancing-goals.
Kubra looks so gorgeous and makes the dance look so effortless while Gohar compliments her charismatic presence as much as he can.
Meera Jee never has and never will run out of ways to surprise us. In this recent video clip that is going viral she can be seen sitting on a couch it looks like an interview is in progress while she looks at the lyrics of the love anthem from Titanic “My Heart Will Go On” on her phone’s screen as she sings.
https://youtu.be/coYUHnDSulY
How’d you find Meera’s version of My Heart Will Go On? Do share with us.
The private channels churned out innumerable cliched-ridden, snooze-inducing dramas all year through but there were some dramas in particular this year which were especially disappointing not only because they failed to deliver on every level but also because the viewers were not expecting these dramas to be as bad as they turned out to be. Some of the worst dramas of this year were also the most hyped and the most awaited dramas of the year. When the producers put in so much time, effort and finances into promoting a certain drama then the viewers very often fall for the trap especially when the actors and directors who the viewers have so much faith in are part of such a drama, the expectations sky-rocket immediately. Most of the dramas in this list can also be termed as star-studded disasters because they boasted of a star-studded casts which couldn’t save the day!
Here is a list of the worst dramas of this year.
Bin Roye
Writer: Farhat Ishtiaq
Director: Shehzad Kashmiri
Producer: MD Productions
Channel: HUM
Cast: Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed, Armeena Rana Khan, Adnan Malik, Zeba Bakhtiar, Javed Sheikh, Saman Ansari and others.
Bin Roye had all the ingredients to be a blockbuster; a renowned writer, a talented director, a big production house and a star-studded cast but the final product was anything but impressive. Bin Roye started off on a good note and promised to be an emotional drama but the haphazard pace, script which lacked clarity and depth, weak direction and choppy editing made Bin Roye one of the biggest disappointments of this year. This drama had total of 5 episodes which truly made an impact and were well put together. Mahira Khan and Hamayun Saeed’s chemistry made few of the episodes bearable and even entertaining, apart from that Bin Roye lacked the dramatic peaks which were necessary to keep the viewers looking forward to more. The viewers waited for years to watch this drama and eventually were relieved when it finally ended!!
Shehrnaz
Writer: Hoor Shamaeel
Director: Syed Ahmed Kamran
Producer: Mastermind Production
Channel: Urdu1
Cast: Ayeza Khan, Alyy Khan, Farhan Malhi, Imran Ashraf and others.
Shehrnaz was Ayeza Khan’s comeback play in a different role and also Danish Taimoor’s first drama as a producer. Like many other dramas in this list, this drama too appeared to be promising in the first few episodes. Shehrnaz was the story of a girl Shehnaz who dreamed of being a star one day. In the beginning Shehrnaz was shown as someone who did not compromise on her principles and was very sensible but gradually her character took an about turn; her foolish decisions and the fact that a man who did not value her came before everyone and everything else turned her character and the entire drama into a joke! It was almost as if the first 6 episodes were written down with a specific purpose in mind and all the other episodes were completely purposeless and terribly annoying. Viewers who fell in love with Shehrnaz’s character, fell out of love just as easily and stopped watching this drama altogether. The drama lost its charm completely and the biggest disappointment was that Ayeza Khan decided to make a comeback with such a drama.
Teri Raza
Writer: Naila Ansari
Director: Aabis Raza
Producer: Big Bang Productions
Channel: ARY Digital
Cast: Sanam Baloch, Surmad Sultan Khoosat, Shehroz Sabzwari, Shaheen Khan and others
It won’t be an overstatement but ever since this drama was announced, it garnered a lot of hype because after years and years, Sanam Baloch was making a come back. All those viewers who have been a fan of Sanam Baloch’s acting were not only excited but were eager to see her back on screen in a proper serial after such a long time but unfortunately, it ended up being a disaster. The fact that the story of this drama is so weak is one thing, but to see Sanam Baloch choosing it as a come back project disappointed her fans a great deal.
There is absolutely nothing about this drama that works or makes sense. The theme of this drama revolves around a girl, despite being in love with someone else chooses to get married to her cousin because of Istikhara. In a single sentence description, the story doesn’t sound so ridiculous but once you’d tune to it, you will see how many flaws this story and all the characters have. To see Sanam Baloch choosing to play such a character which makes no sense whatsoever makes one question what went wrong there that she decided to be a part of such a project which offers nothing to the viewers because they expected a lot from an actress of her caliber.
Mor Mahal
Writer: Surmed Sehbai
Director: Surmad Sultan Khoosat
Producer: Baber Javed
Channel: Geo TV
Cast: Umair Jaswal, Jana Malik, Hina Bayat Khan, Meesha Shafi, Fizza Ali, Kinza Hashmi and others
This drama promised big things but delivered next to nothing. The promos and the promotional posters that were released on the social media made Mor Mahal look like the next big thing in the Pakistani drama industry but as the viewers tuned to this drama, it turned out to be another story revolving around family politics transpired by bunch of jealous females who were fixated with one man; Asif Jahan, who despite being the ruler had no backbone and also no brains to run things on his own. It was a huge disappointment to see a strong built man following the lead of all the females in his life and not using his own mind and sensibilities enough.
Going by the promos and the overall look, it looked like the team of Mor Mahal were in a mood to give a memorable historic drama to the viewers but as the drama progressed, everything turned out to be OTT, nothing made sense and the story didn’t have any substance. It looked like the producers wasted their resources because even though they tried to make everything larger than life, it just didn’t do anything because the story was weak. Even though this drama had 40+ episodes, the viewers hardly followed half of the drama because it didn’t have enough substance to keep them hooked. It was an opportunity wasted and a project that flopped miserably.
Sanam
Writer: Mona Haseeb
Director: Haseeb Hassan
Producer: Momina Duraid
Channel: Hum TV
Cast: Osman Khalid Butt, Maya Ali, Hareem Farooq, Sharmeen Ali and others.
Sanam was yet another one of the most highly anticipated dramas that left the viewers shocked and disappointed as they had high expectations from it. Sanam was announced when Diyar e Dil ended and since everyone was in love with Wali/Farah, Osman/Maya chemistry, everyone was over the moon because they thought they’d be getting to see the magic again that too with Haseeb Hassan being the director of the new project but little did they know that Sanam would be everything that Diyar e Dil was not!
Before Sanam began, Hareem Farooq went out of the way to let the viewers know that the writer will be raising awareness about mental health and psychological issues that one faces but when the drama began, nothing made sense and the one character the writer should’ve shown as a victim was turned into a villain only to make the bechara hero and bechari heroine come together because it was easier. As the episodes progressed, the story lost the plot and the characters turned out to be such a disappointment because they had no personality whatsoever. The only agenda of the writer was to show how bechara Harib was. Sadly, where the viewers expected a recreation of magical Diyar e Dil, Sanam turned out to be a vol. 2 of Torturous Mann Mayal since Haseeb Hassan didn’t want to come out of that phase of his life where he assumed that Mann Mayal was amazing and anything similar would make the viewers jump with joy!
Seeta Bagri
Writer: Iqbal Hussain
Director: Iqbal Hussain
Producer: Cereal Productions
Channel: Tv One
Cast: Sarwat Gillani, Bushra Ansari, Syed Jibran, Qavi Khan, Shameen Khan and others.
Before Seeta Bagri commenced, it garnered a lot of hype because drama buffs assumed they will get to see the story about the life and the struggles of the Hindu minority community that resides in Pakistan but sadly that didn’t turn out to be the case. Even though the writer tried hard to showcase the reality but it looked like he himself got so inspired by Bollywood that he forgot to make all the Hindu characters purely Pakistani. This drama projected so many stereotypes which showed that the writer couldn’t do justice to what he was trying to show. The characters looked and sounded more Indian than Pakistani which was the biggest flaw.
Poor direction, lack of continuity in the scenarios and sloppy editing also made it hard to tune to this drama. The biggest peeve in this drama was seeing the romance between an aged woman and a young man. Bushra Ansari & Syed Jibran’s acting along with their characters were cringe worthy and the main character, Seeta Bagri was unimpressive as well. This story turned out to be a disappointment because after a few initial episodes, it became obvious that even the director had no idea what he wanted to show. Overall, it was an opportunity wasted and the writer/director had a lot of margin to show something different and bring forth the real issues of a minority which he was unable to convey.
Please feel free to share your views about the dramas in the list and don’t forget to add more names to the list!
Rangreza is an upcoming musical which will be released on 21st December 2017. The songs of this movie are already getting audiences love. Another song is out and this time we can see Urwa Hocane twirling and dancing in vibrant ghagras. She has really improved her dance if we compare it to her performance in Punjab Nahin Jaongi. The song is composed by Qurram Hussain of Josh band and is sung by Jonita Gandhi. The song is lively and a treat to listen. Here watch it:
https://youtu.be/xKl4h8G4jjk
What are your views on this song? Do you like it? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
Shooting has started for Jawani Phir Nahin Aani 2 and this time again the film will spot a star-studded cast. Humayun Saeed, Vasay Chaudhary and Ahmed Ali Butt will reprise their roles while Hamza Ali Abbasi has been replaced by Fahad Mustafa. The first female lead confirmed for the movie was Syra Shehroze who has opted out due to unknown reasons. Then Mawra Hocane joined the cast and now it is Kubra Khan who will be a part of this big budget film.
Kubra is undoubtedly a rising star in the industry. She made her debut with Nabeel Qureshi’s Na Maloom Afraad and went on to star in huge plays as Muqabil, Khuda aur Mohabbat and Sange Mar Mar as the leading lady. Currently, she is seen in Alif Allah Aur Insaan and Shadi Mubarak Ho. She is also shooting for a film Parwaz Hai Junoon alongside Hamza Ali Abbasi, Ahad Raza Mir and Hania Amir. This is another win for Kubra Khan.
Let us wait and see how Kubra performs in her upcoming projects!
Previously in the Qandeel Baloch murder case the hearing was adjourned on Mufti Qavi’s counsel’s request who stated that he needed more time to work on his arguments.
Earlier this week on Monday the police told court that Qandeel Baloch was in fact murdered at the house of one of Mufti Qavi’s close friend.
During a hearing of the murder case at the Multan district and sessions court, the investigation officer sought time to submit the charge-sheet. Judge Ameer Muhammad Khan gave him until November 20 for submitting the final charge-sheet.
Qandeel’s father (Azeem) still holds that his daughter was murdered on Qavi’s orders and that he offered him (Qandeel’s father) money to drop the case. In the court he said:
“I will never forgive Mufti Abdul Qavi and want Qandeel’s murderers to be brought to justice,”
Qandeel was strangled to death by her brother Muhammad Waseem and cousin Haq Nawaz in the name of ‘honour’ in July last year, weeks after posting selfies with Qavi on social media.
Waseem, who had confessed to his crime, was produced in the court along with Nawaz on Monday. Azeem, Qandeel’s father, was also present during the hearing.
The police declared Qavi as a suspect in the case at the request of Azeem and he was arrested last week after a court rejected an extension to his pre-arrest bail. Tho Qavi maintains that he is innocent.
The investigating officer requested the magistrate for a two-day extension in the cleric’s remand, saying the police was awaiting results of Qavi’s polygraph test which would determine the direction of further investigation. The magistrate was granted the request.
Previously in the “Pakistani actor headed Hollywood” headline we covered famous Indian film critic and entertainment journalist Rajeev Masand’s claim that Fawad Khan is looking for work in Hollywood.
Writing in his column in Open Magazine, the writer alleged,
“In light of the fact that there just haven’t been too many good enough film roles coming his way in Pakistan — not to mention any hopes of a promising career in Hindi films went up in smoke after the Ae Dil Hai Mushkil controversy last year — it appears Fawad Khan may be headed for the United States in pursuit of quality work.”
He went on to add,
“Reportedly, the 35-year-old star has confided in friends and former collaborators in Mumbai that he is exploring his options in the West; he’s already signed on with an agent in Hollywood and has begun reading scripts.”
To add more spice to the story Deccan Chronicle claimed that the Khoobsurat actor is seeking Karan Johar’s advice and his inspiration seems to be none other than Former Miss World Priyanka Chopra.
According to a reliable source Priyanka will be showing Fawad around in Hollywood.
“Although Fawad was initially skeptical of the idea, Karan told Fawad the cultural stereotypes of Asians playing cab drivers and terrorists had changed after Priyanka Chopra’s Hollywood innings. That’s when Fawad got interested,”
This isn’t the end of the story though, Deccan Chronicle also alleges that Raees actress Mahira Khan is also exploring her options in West.
Albeit the rumors haven’t yet been confirmed or denied by either Fawad Khan or Mahira Khan but everyone’s definitely waiting to see some reaction.
The Pakistan Motor Rally was organised by the Pakistan Army to commemorate Pakistan’s 70th Independence Day. It originated from Khunjerab Pass, passed through Gilgit, Islamabad, South Waziristan, Quetta and Karachi and finally concluded at Gwadar earlier this week having covered a total distance of more than 3,000 km. The rally consisted of over 300 jeeps, 150 vintage cars and 500 bikes drawn from 23 motor clubs. The celebration’s aimed to spread a positive image of Pakistan.
The rally’s successful conclusion was celebrated with the first-ever concert in Gwadar. Rock star Ali Zafar, singing sensation Atif Aslam and iconic artist Akhtar Chinar enthralled an audience of over 20,000.
As quoted by military’s media wing, COAS had the following to say about the event,
“Such events will promote adventure sports, showcase tourism potential and cultural heritage of the country.”
Have something to add to the story? Use the comments section.
Ohkay so, the first part of this episode was boring but the second part was decent, especially the bits related to Khayyam & Sassi.
I swear ever since Tipu’s character has made an appearance, he has made it impossible for me to take this drama & the entire situation seriously. He has turned into a pet peeve of mine & no joke, I have a hard time looking at my TV screen during his scenes. Though the writer is trying to use Meena’s character to convey something but it still isn’t making an impact. I so wish the writer hadn’t introduced the characters of Tipu & Meena because before them, the drama was doing great & it had that intensity which kept my interest intact but now everytime I see Tipu, I see him as a result of Mamo & Khayyam’s faulty upbringing & their failure as parents. Tipu seriously makes me wonder ke is family mai koi mentally sane, koi normal hai bhi ya nahi?
I think we were doing just fine with two difficult characters of Khayyam & Sassi therefore there was no need for another twisted character Tipu who abuses & assaults his girlfriend that he says he loves. I think we were also fine with two similar characters of Mamo & Qasim who only knew how to love selflessly that is why to see another selfless lover Meena isn’t really making an impact. I really hope the writer here is not trying to show that a girl who comes from such an environment which is all about woman’s independence & empowerment, settling for an abusive guy like Tipu? Meena’s reaction after she got slapped left me baffled & even before that, a lot of emphasis was made on the fact that Meena does everything that pleases Tipu, so I think she is another Mamo in a modern packaging. I don’t know how many readers will agree with me but I feel the writer has put all the characters into 2 catagories & it is becoming way more evident now. Catagory 1 is of characters like Khayyam, Sassi & Tipu who are selfish to the core & Catagory 2 is of characters like Mumtaz, Qasim & Meena who are a bit too selfless. Even though the situation may look interesting or engaging but this similarity is making everything seem a bit too monotonous & one dimensional!
Tipu definitely has committed some fraud back in London that is why he has come to Pakistan to get some money. His character is absolutely useless & what irks me more are his random ghairatmandi fits that he gets the moment he sees Qasim? Seriously? Anyways!!!
I loved Sassi’s character for the fact that she was unapologetically herself, she had her vision, she had her mind, yes, even though she saw things through her father’s perspective but still she had her own personality, her own thinking but now I have started to feel as if she doesn’t have that personality whatsoever. It is like Sassi gets fascinated by just anyone who isn’t like Mumtaz – first Sonia, like she was literally striving to be like her that is why she went through the hassle of trying to become an actor & now ever since Meena has come into her life, she is a bit too impressed & is trying to be like her too. I know it is natural that people do get inspired by people who are different to them but I wish the writer had kept her personality a little stronger in this regard because we all see her as that Sassi who had the nerve to look into Khayyam’s eyes & tell him that he was wrong! That is the Sassi that I loved when the drama began as she had so much to promise but now she looks like a lifeless simpleton who has nothing to do so she just keeps on wasting her time in things that don’t even matter!
Well, my favorite part of this episode was the conversation between Khayyam & Sassi. Since Sassi is a carbon copy of Khayyam & since she has experienced what is it like to be loved by someone to such an extreme that he sacrificed everything for her, she could relate to what her father was feeling & going through ever since Sonia Jahan went missing & how it was taking a toll on Mumtaz. Sassi may be tried to show him a mirror that Mumtaz’s love for him was way too strong because of which she was tolerating everything. It was good to see Sassi trying to advocate her mother this time but what’s even better was her question regarding Sonia’s return. Since Sassi herself is like Khayyam & she thinks like him too, she knew exactly how Khayyam Sani will change when Sonia will come back. Sassi knows that all of his guilt, his realization, his remorse will go out of the window the moment he will see her as he loves her a bit too much!
Oh well, it was disappointing seeing Qasim hovering in the background like a paid audience. Also to see him getting shoved by a half man like Tipu isn’t pleasing too. Chalo, he can’t take a stand in front of Sassi, like he likes being that way in front of her as it’s his way of displaying his love but why does he act like a fish out of the water in front of Tipu? Qasim had his strong reasons for what he did & why he backed out of marriage so to see him taking Tipu’s crap makes it look like he himself feels guilty for what he has done? Well, even though the writer has tried to showcase double standards of men, I was majorly disappointed by most of Mumtaz’s dialogues in this episode too because she kept on highlighting that it was ok for men to do cross all the boundaries but when it came to women, they had to abide by all the rules!?! Oh well!
Anyways, this episode was strictly alright. I still like the original lot & still find their bits interesting but since Tipu & Meena are getting so much of coverage & unfortunately a good chunk of story is dedicated to them, it is upsetting & disappointing that despite wanting to, I can not ignore them. I think it is safe to say that I will be screening Hamza Firdous’s projects in the future because like they say first impression’s the last impression & oh boy, I don’t think I need to say some more. Sajal Ali & Noman Ejaz’s performance was perfect like always. Anyways, please share your thoughts about this episode of O Rangreza.
Mawra Hocane is one of the most popular celebrities and among the most googled ones in Pakistan. Fans have this funny way of asking google all types of awkward and private questions about their stars, in order to fish out more information. So, in a video Mawra was asked to answer the most awkward questions googled about her.
Mawra’s repliy as to why people find her cute is that because she spreads a lot of love and happiness around her.
On asked if she would want to wake up as someone else, she said that she would want to wake up as herself only and then fulfill her wishes.
Her dream co star, whom she wishes to work with one day is ofcourse, her favourite Ranbir Kapoor. Then she also named Priyanka Chopra in the same context.
Her lady crush if she ever had one is Lady Diana according to her. We hope to see more of this spunky girl answering candidly.
Ohkay so, this episode of Yaar e Bewafa was not only emotionally impactful but took the story forward too. I am glad that the second phase of the story has now begun which we all were waiting to see. I must say, the way the emotions have been portrayed in this drama is what sets it apart & makes it a decent watch.
So, Saleem not only lost hope but he decided to end his life but before doing anything he decided to do something for his wife & son because that was the only way for him to put his heart to ease. Just because Saleem got to see how hard Amna was working made him feel a bit more burdened as he could see how much heavy lifting Amna has to do or would do when he won’t be there. Even though it was saddening to see Saleem losing last bit of hope that he had but at least he decided to fix a few things because he realized how hard life was for Amna, which was good & served as his redemption. Saleem’s visit to the Masjid was another scenario which showed that he was repenting for all of his wrongdoings, esepcially for what he put his wife & son through all this while.
Saleem went to meet Zaid so that he could have some guarantee that after his death, his wife & his son won’t be alone & that there will be someone who’d look after them. The fact that a rigid person like Saleem went to such an extreme of pleading Zaid to take Amna showcased how desperate he was to make things right especially for Amna & Omar as he could foresee how hard things will get for them with no one by their side.
Saleem ended up taking his life, leaving Amna all alone but she had no idea that before dying, he took care of her as he was sure that Zaid was a good human being who will take care of her. That entire scenario where Amna mourned his death was quite heartwrenching. The way Amna felt scared in her tiny room with her son sound asleep was another realistic portrayal, it showed that even though Saleem didn’t do much for his family, just his presence was enough for Amna to feel a little secure but since that wasn’t the case anymore, she was fearful.
Zaid now wants to do something for Amna but he doesn’t know how to approach her that is why he ended up seeking Jameela’s help as he really is keen on looking after Amna & Omar. Amna on the other hand was now struggling more than ever before, I think on Jameela’s insistence, Amna will once again start looking after Humera.
It was good to see Humera finally recovering, she will regain her mobility too but I am sure now even she’d want Amna by her side. The scenes of mother son duo were a treat to watch & finally, Zaid told her everything about Fizza, like she knew but this was the first time Zaid spoke to her without any filters.
Overall, this was one good episode of Yaar e Bewafa as the scenarios were not only done well but were perfectly portrayed. The way the emotions have been dealt with in this drama & how everything is shown realistically really draws your attention & allows you to relate to everything on a very different level. I like Yaar e Bewafa for its simple story, simple direction but impactful scenarios which strike a chord. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Yaar e Bewafa.
This episode covered all the tracks in the story therefore it was much better than the previous few episodes which focused entirely on Kanwal’s failed attempts to start a singing/modeling career. Tonight’s episode opened with Kanwal swallowing her pride and asking Goher for an apology. Kanwal’s changed attitude made perfect sense – she had now realized that she could only get “work” and earn money if she accepted Goher as her boss and did exactly what she was asked to do. She was however once again disappointed when Goher did not pay her as generously as he did before. The reason for this was obvious – he had “invested” a lot in her and did not get the returns he was hoping for initially and most importantly before Goher needed Kanwal to work with him but this time around she needs him more than he needs her. Goher knows that he doesn’t have to go the extra mile to win this girl over therefore he did not pay her as much as he did the last time she worked with him. This entire development was covered convincingly. Saba Qamar translated the change in Kanwal’s approach flawlessly on screen and Khalid Malik has been acting brilliantly too. The actor playing Goher’s role is also performing brilliantly, definitely looking forward to watching him in more dramas.
Ruby and Abid’s track was a perfect example of what goes around comes around. Ruby thought Abid will never cheat on her but he has started treating her the way he was treating Fauzia when he was having an affair with Ruby. While it was good to see Ruby paying for what she had done, I couldn’t help but wonder if Abid was ever going to pay for his mistakes as well! Ali Kazmi and the actress playing Ruby’s role nailed this scene. This episode also covered the financial problems Kanwal’s parents were facing which will probably be the basic reason why, they will ultimately start relying on her for financial assistance.
Once again a lot of screen time was given to Kanwal’s interactions with her “clients” which I felt was rather unnecessary. Kanwal’s changed attitude towards her “work” could have been covered in a short scene as well. Saba Qamar’s makeover in this particular scene wasn’t up to the mark at all. Yasir Nawaz’s acting however was the most interesting part of this particular development. Kanwal’s conversation with Salman once again showed that she didn’t want negative attention. This is one aspect of Kanwal’s personality which is not in line with Qandeel Baloch’s actual personality since from her very first appearance on television she was looking for attention – it didn’t really matter what kind of attention it was! Being unorthodox was Qandeel’s USP and she knew that – she sold her weirdness because it worked best for her and also because that was her only “talent” yet Kanwal has been shown as someone who is not looking for such attention.
15 episodes later Fauzia has a different name and a new identity but she is still struggling. In this episode she found out that getting attention on social media was far more easy than turning to electronic media to get attention. Now that she knows that Goher will not be paying her enough money she will look for other ways to earn money.
Overall, this was a much better episode and there were some scenes which were touching but as a whole Kanwal’s story doesn’t have a lot going for it since she is one of those many victimized female protagonists we have seen on screen a million times before too!!
How many of you watched this episode? Don’t forget to share your thoughts about it.
November the eleventh and the second last month of the year 2017 has started. With respect to the Urdu cinema, the last films were released on the 1st September 2017 on the Eidul Azha holidays. Both films Punjab Nahin Janungi (PNJ) and Namaloom Afraad 2 (NMA2) proved successful. Despite this grand success there has been only one Urdu film Saawan (a non-commercial film), released in the rest of September and the month of October. The absence of a new Urdu film provided a longer run to PNJ and NMA2 and both earned above 20 crore, where PNJ earned above 30 crore on the local box office
Coming to November, there were announcements of release of atleast four Urdu films Pari, Tum Hee Ho, Verna and Shor Sharaba. With November starting, only one film (Verna) is releasing while the rest are postponed. It leaves a lot of question marks on the planning of our film makers. It is highly unprofessional to announce the release dates and then cancel it when the end product is not ready. Films like Tum Hee Ho and Shor Sharaba have three announced release dates, which were cancelled later.
So only one Urdu film is releasing in the month of November.
Verna (ورنہ) Verna, a film by Shoaib Mansoor is perhaps the most awaited film for a while. It is the third film by Shoaib Mansoor, after Khuda Ke Liye (2007) and Bol (2011). Shoaib is known for selective but quality work. His films are not mainstream commercial films but still prove successful and thus Verna has huge expectations associated with it.
After Shoaib Mansoor, Mahira Khan is the other big aspect of Verna. Mahira is appearing in an Urdu film after a gap of almost two years where her last film was Ho Man Jahan (1st January 2016), though she did a cameo in Actor in Law (September 2017). Like the previous films of Shoaib Mansoor, Verna also covers a serious social subject. But Shoaib Mansoor is known for delivering a complicated subject in a subtle manner without being too preachy.
The two male leads of Verna are Haroon Shahid and Zarrar Khan, both making big screen debuts. Haroon Shahid is a singer and Verna is also his first acting assignment. Zarrar Khan has worked in few television dramas like Meri Bahan Maya, Tere Jane Ke Baad before taking a break from showbiz. With Verna, Zarrar Khan is returning to showbiz after a gap of few years. Veteran artist Rasheed Naz is also a part of this film.
Film: Verna
Release Date: 17th November 2017
Genre: Drama
Cast: Mahira Khan,Haroon Shahid,Zarrar Khan,Naimal Khawar,Rasheed Naz
Singers:
Music Director:
Written By: Shoaib Mansoor
Directed by: Shoaib Mansoor
Produced by: Hum Films and Shoman (Shoaib Mansoor) Productions
Production House: Shoman Productions
Distributor: Hum Films
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VernaTheMovie/
Ohkay so, the fact that the writer here is sympathizing with the negative character & trying to turn the villain into a victim makes this drama even more ridiculous. It is shocking to see how the writer here is trying to justify an extra martial affair & is showing that the lady involved had her petty & twisted reasons!?!
So, Suhana became a persona non grata in her own home but what’s amusing was that even though her parents were making it obvious that they were unhappy, they were still doing aap janab with her. While listening to Suhana’s parents go on & on & on about how she has wronged them & how disappointed they were, I wish they had raised her properly because it is due to their own faulty upbringing that they are living to see this day!
I think Imtiyaz should have divorced Suhana because to send her back just like that doesn’t make any sense. It was amusing to see Suhana still keen on running the boutique that Imtiyaz has sponsored for her. I think she should return it back to him because it is his investment but then Suhana won’t do that, as going to boutique is her excuse of seeing & dating Rameez.
Well Rameez showed up at Suhana’s boutique & even though she tried to shoo him away, she ended up sharing her sob story with him. It is quite tactful of Suhana as she knows how to stir sympathy for herself every single time. She knows that Rameez without any Tameez & weird collection of Kameez is still waiting for her & she ended up telling him that Imtiyaz has sent her back, giving him clear hints that she is available, well she always was available for him!
It was so amusing seeing Jeena & Rameez air their dirty laundry to the entire mohalla just like that, whereas they could’ve had this conversation in private or over the phone. I must say Suhana’s parents take dhitai to a whole new level, like even though they know that their paakbaaz beti is at fault & is equally involved with Rameez, in stead of disciplining her, they call Rameez’s parents & order them to stop him? Every single time they call them, I love the responses of Rameez’s parents because they try to knock the sense into their heads that in stead of blaming Rameez, they should control their spoiled brat Suhana!
Well, Suhana’s father had a heart attack & all this while I was thinking that nothing happened to Daadi but Zafar on the other hand ended up becoming a heart patient. Anyways, Suhana’s speech filled with her sob story in front of Imtiyaz was so baseless, she again is blaming her parents for the marriage whereas she herself chose to get married to Imtiyaz? I am sure now Imtiyaz will convince Talat & Zafar that they should allow Suhana to get married to Rameez, setting an example of some other kind. I just hate the way Suhana sees herself as a victim & blames everyone else for how her life has panned out whereas she herself is responsible for everything that she is going through! Oh well, someone please teach Seema how to keep personal & professional life apart. It is absolutely ridiculous to see her talking about Suhana & even their divorce with Imtiyaz at their workplace & later when she sensed that he was upset, she used ‘files’ as a distraction to change the topic? This woman is ridiculous & obsessed with Suhana, still sore over the fact that Imtiyaz chose Suhana over her! Also, Seema’s desperation is cringe worthy where she tried to hint that she is stil waiting for Imtiyaz! Anyways, please share your thoughts about this episode of Teri Raza.
Yakeen Ka Safar has one of the most watched and to put it correctly most loved drama for some time. People loved the lead pair and a lot of fangirling happened over Ahad Raza Mir aka Dr. Asfandyar. The drama has ended now and fans are sad on saying goodbye to Yakeen Ka Safar. Here are some reactions that people had on the last episode of YKS:
People found real Yakeen Ka Safar:
Fans cried and bid farewells to YKS:
People were again fangirling:
The happy look on Zubiya’s face made fans happy:
People felt threatened, some on their handsomeness and some to get disowned by the society:
People had love for the show:
And didn’t want it to end…again:
Some had issues with a scene:
Some were so invested they noted even the minor details:
The most important couple on the show finally got some limelight:
And this one is my personal favourite. Height of accuracy in that hashtag:
What are your emotions on YKS coming to end? Share your feedback in te comments section!
This year there were quite a few dramas which were not entirely flawless but they should definitely not be missed. The stories of these dramas were intriguing enough to keep the viewers looking forward to more but at the same time either the direction was not up to the mark or there were times when they were dragged so much that some viewers chose to skip a few episodes. The best aspect of watching an entire show online is that the viewers have the option of skipping scenes and even entire episodes which do not contribute a lot to the story and watch what happened next. When you are a watching a drama which is on air, you don’t have that option which is why quite often viewers stop tuning into dramas which have a few weaknesses or test their patience. Some viewers might have skipped these dramas altogether, while others might have given up on them at one point, there would be some who watched them till the end and would agree that these dramas definitely shouldn’t be skipped altogether because they have more strengths than weaknesses.
Here is a list of dramas which are definitely worth a binge-watch!
Alif Allah Aur Insaan
Writer: Qaisra Hayat
Director: Ahson Talish
Producer: Momina Duraid Productions
Channel: Hum TV
Cast: Mikaal Zulfiqar, Qavi Khan, Kubra Khan, Ushna Shah, Imran Ashraf, Shehzad sheikh and others
Unfortunately, if it wasn’t for the dragging and addition of unnecessary scenarios after the 20th episode, this drama would’ve made it to the list of best dramas of 2017 because it began on such a strong and promising note but went haywire due to unknown reasons. Alif Allah Aur Insaan can be binge watched because the initial episodes have all the ingredients of keeping you hooked. Phenomenal direction, amazing script and perfect performances will surely make you fall in love with this drama and will provide a perfect amount of entertainment. The story of this drama revolves around a lot such characters that are trying to chase after their dreams, dreams related to love, fame, money and success and to see their journey unfold is what makes this drama a unique experience. The way the director and the writer took care of the plot of the drama in the initial episodes made the viewers fall in love with this drama because all the characters not only got equal coverage but their tracks were dealt with immaculately as well. Sadly, because the producers are choosing not to end it at the right time, it seems like a better option to add its name in this list because now the drama is at such a stage where watching it on a weekly basis is not that appealing. So, those who are on the fence about it and want to give it a go, we say you should wait and start watching it after it ends.
Yaar-e-Bewafa
Writer: Mohsin Ali
Director: Zeeshan Ali
Producer: Wajahat Rauf
Channel: Geo TV
Cast: Imran Abbas, Arij Fatyma, Sarah Khan, Saleem Mairaj, Samina Ahmed and others
This drama isn’t commercial nor its fancy but it is a very simple and realistic portrayal of the struggles people belonging to middle class experience in their lives. This story showcases how some people dream big and literally compromise everything to chase after those dreams while others despite not having much do everything to hold onto what belongs to them. The fact that this drama has very few characters contributes towards an extremely slow pace of the drama, therefore despite being a decent watch, tuning to it week after week for one slow episode after another doesn’t make it a good drama watching experience. This drama should definitely not be missed in case of binge watching because it is a very decent watch and that is the only way to enjoy the decent entertainment it provides. This drama will definitely strike a chord because the way the emotions have been portrayed in it and for that reason, it should be watched.
Nazr-e-Bad
Writer: Imran Nazeer
Director: Iqbal Hussain
Producer: Moomal Entertainment
Channel: Hum TV
Cast: Azfar Rehman, Sarah Khan, Ali Abbas, Sakina Samo and others
This drama once again started on a very convincing and realistic note because in the initial episodes, it was too obvious that both the writer and the director had full grip on the story and most importantly the concept that they were trying to elaborate through this drama. However, when this drama garnered a lot of attention, the producers decided to drag it by adding one character after another, one scenario after another which literally ruined the charm that this drama once had. This drama definitely unveiled the darkness that is prevalent in our society in a very convincing manner and for that reason solely, we recommend this drama for binge watching because later when the pace gets slow and the story loses its track, those episodes can be easily skipped but this drama on the whole is definitely worth a watch because the team of this drama tried to bring something new to the table and they did a brilliant job.
Mohabbat Tumse Nafrat Hei
Writer: Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar
Director: Farooq Rind
Producer: 7th Sky Entertainment
Channel: Geo
Cast: Ayeza Khan, Imran Abbas, Shehzad sheikh,Saba Faisal, Kinza Hashmi, Haroon Kadwani, Saman Ansari, Beena Chaudhary, Faryal Mehmood , Sabreen Hisbani, Khalid Malik and others.
As the title of the drama suggests this is yet another script written by Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar which explores love, this time from a completely different angle. Mohabbat Tumse Nafrat Hei was stretched beyond limit at one point which is why it did not make it to the best dramas list. It should however not be missed because the first few episodes and the last 10 weeks of this drama are absolutely remarkable. The director however failed to do justice to Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar’s powerful script. The intricate storyline and a climax which is completely worth the wait are the main reasons why MTSNH is in this list. Imran Abbas and Ayeza Khan’s on-screen chemistry and their impressive performances are another reason why this play is a must-watch. The OST of MTSNH will blow you away and the dialogues in the last few episodes in particular will leave you speechless!
Titlee
Writer: Samina Ejaz
Director: Ahmed Bhatti
Producer: Gold Bridge Media
Channel: Urdu1
Cast: Ali Abbas, Hania Aamir, Saba Faisal, Emmad Irfani, Tauqeer Ahmed, Shameen Khan, Abid Ali, Naeem Tahire and others.
Titlee as a whole was an entertaining show, it was one of those rare plays which you watch only for their entertainment value and for the most part, it delivers. Although Titlee wasn’t perfect throughout and even the characters were black and white but the way these characters were presented on screen made the viewers connect to them. Strong main characters with definite characteristics played by Hania Aamir and Ali Abbas superbly are the main reasons why Titlee wasn’t just another drama which showed problems of marital life. Also, most often in our dramas, women are shown as victims in a relationship and they are the ones compromising but in this drama the man was the real victim and even though he compromised so much he couldn’t win over his wife. The fast-paced first 15 episodes or so keep you hooked and wanting to see more. This drama also has a good ending. It is an ultimate guilty pleasure, not to be missed!
Noor-e-Zindagi
Writer: Sarwat Nazir
Director: Siraj-ul-Haq
Producer: 7th Sky Entertainment
Channel: Geo
Cast: Aisha Khan, Syed Jibran, Shakeel, Noman Habib, Faria Sheikh, Sajida Syed, Humera Bano, Saleem Mairaj, Somi Dawood and others.
Noor-e-Zindagi’s basic plot was clichéd to the core but the main reason why this drama deserves a watch is the chemistry between Syed Jibran and Aisha Khan. Also, although Noor was the perfect wife, daughter and sister in law but she was never a door mat. The way she fought to keep her marriage intact was almost endearing and refreshing to watch. Noor-e-Zindagi has some interesting twists and turns, few remarkable performances and characters which are relatable. Like many other plays on this list, this drama was dragged at a certain point but overall it was interesting and shouldn’t be missed. Anyone who wants to forget that Aisha Khan played a fickle character like that of Jeena should definitely watch this one!
Mubarak Ho Beti Hui Hei
Writer: Faiza Iftikhar
Director: Badar Mehmood
Producer: Big Bang Entertainment
Channel: ARY Digital
Cast: Saima Noor, Sajid Hasan, Sabreen Hisbani, Ayesha Khan, Naheed Shabbir, Ali Abbas, Akhter Hasnain, Mariam Ansari, Saboor Ali, Farah and others.
This year the viewers got to see many dramas in which women played the victim but Mubarak Ho Beti Hui Hei is the story of a victim who chose to be a fighter. Mubarak Ho Beti Hui Hei was one of those few dramas this year which gave a strong message of women empowerment. The title of the drama too is far more meaningful than it appears to be. Faiza Iftikhar’s well-thought-out script, Saima Noor’s character and her performance are the main reasons why this drama shouldn’t be missed. This play could have been a blockbuster had the cast been chosen more wisely and if the pace of the drama did not slow down after every 5 weeks or so. Even though this drama had its weaknesses but overall it was a good watch.
Sun Yaara
Writer: Asia Mirza
Director: Danish Nawaz
Producer: Six Sigma Plus
Channel: ARY Digital
Cast: Junaid Khan,Hira Salman, Zarnish Khan, Faris Shafi, Ghana Ali, Hassan Niazi, Minal Khan, Asim Mehmood, Ismat Iqbal, Nida Mumtaz, Laila Wasti, Samina Ahmed, Maham Javed, Qaiser Khan Nizamani.
The drama mainly revolves around a family and explores the relationships of the four siblings amongst themselves and their love interests/spouses. The cast comprises of well known faces such as Hira Mani, Zarnish Khan and Junaid Khan. While the story is nothing extraordinary, the execution of the drama itself makes for a pleasant experience. One would not count the days waiting for the next episode to air weekly but factors that make this drama entertaining and perfect for a binge-watch are the multiple tracks running alongside each other, the acting, the realistic portrayal or emotions and family dynamics and wonderful direction. There is humor, heartbreak, scandal, grief – but all of it in moderate doses so that one is drawn in but not overly overwhelmed when watching. The OST is beautiful too which is a plus. Those who have read the novel would most likely beg to differ to the above opinion as but for those who have not – save a few drags here and there- Sun Yaara makes for a decent time pass.
Tumhare Hein
Writer: Parisa Siddiqui
Director: Shehrazade Sheikh
Producer: Show Case Presentation
Channel: ARY Digital
Cast: Agha Ali, Sarah Khan, Rubab Hashim, Ahmed Hassan, Hassan Ahmed, Behroz Sabzwari, Huma Nawab, Shaheen Khan, Birjees Farooqui and others.
The drama focuses on four young people Rayan, Zoya, Aania and Kamil and their relationships with each other. The story isn’t unusual and although the viewer is led down an almost predictable path, the chemistry between the four main characters and their realistic depiction of emotions on screen make the drama a decent watch. It is always refreshing to watch a drama where one is shown how people actually react to feelings that arise from within or face obstacles that life throws at them rather than becoming a pawn or victim of situations shaped by a scheming mother in law or a vengeful ex fiancée! Rabab Hashim, Agha Ali, Sara Khan and Ahmed Hassan were the perfect choices for their characters and made you relate to them. If you have time to kill and want to watch a drama which is not heavy duty yet engaging, Tumhare Hein is a safe option.
What do you think about the list? Please do add more names to the list as it helps the viewers to choose which drama the should tune into.
PS. Special thanks to Kunwal Javid for contributing to the list.
Coke Studio has given us many memorable songs in its ten years. But the one who has been undoubtedly the best and most loved is the rendition of Sabri Brothers Tajdar e Haram by Atif Aslam. Since it aired people loved it and it has been one of the most watched renditions of Coke Studio Pakistan. Another feather had been added in Tajdar e Haram’s cap as it has become the first music video to cross one hundred million views on Youtube.
It was watched in over 180 plus countries and is still equally loved by the listeners as it was when it came out in season 8. Listen to it one more and get mesmerized because Tajdar e Haram indeed one of the best Pakistan has ever produced!
Shaan Shahid is coming back on silver screen after a really long time with a film which is not an action movie. He will be seen in Arth-the destination which is coming out on 21st December 2017. Arth-the destination is the remake of Indian classic Arth. A month is left for the movie to hit cinemas and the team will promote the film on a large scale as was expected. Shaan was seen promoting Arth at BBC World. Looks like the actor is leaving no stone unturned to make his film reach out to the masses. Plus it is a good sign that our artists and films are now getting International coverage. Here Shaan shared his appearance at the BBC World:
It is indeed great to see our stars shining in International media. Now we all will know in December what Shaan has in store for us!
So we end this drama with the tagline “mubarak ho beti hui hai” from the very same father who had ousted his first wife and four young daughters for the crime of being born.. talk about a real turn about. While it would have been better if the realisation had come slow and steady for Sadiq instead of just one accident that changed his whole perspective on having female offsprings, it was still not too bad, but could have been more realistic.
These two episodes were among the very good ones of this play, in which Saima Noor has emerged a far better performer than many in demand actresses of today. If it’s one person who owned this drama through and through, it was Saima Noor. Not once did she falter in her epic portrayal of Naheed, a woman cursed and made to suffer because she bore four successive daughters in a society where they are considered a liability and unwanted burden. The actor who followed closely behind was Sajid Hassan. It was hard to hate Sadiq, since he was emoted so perfectly on screen. Every human flaw and false perception was translated brilliantly in yet another one of Sajid Hassan’s truly memorable performances. Saboor Aly has also acted very well and you can see the passionate acting of Sajal showing in the youngster. Mehwish Qureshi, Mariam Ansari and Naheed Shabbir also suited their roles, even if their performances were not too impressive.
Life came full circle today as Sadiq realised that wishing away daughters never got anyone anywhere. Kids from both genders can prove to be blessing for their parents. Getting to reap the benefits off your children is not gender specific.
Anila has realised that Ahmed had called her because he needed a maid and the way Ahsan broke down on hearing his mother’s selfishness after Sadiq’s accident was very touching. Despite Anila’s upbringing,Ahsan has turned out to be a very fine young man. He forgave Amber and still wanted to venture into life happily with her was really sweet of him. Anum’s story still did not make a lot of sense but atleast she is fair and kind as a second wife which says a lot about Naheed’s parenting. She insisted Jawad to stay with his kids and has gone to study abroad herself.
The re entry of Aftab and Iqra’s marriage with his younger brother was a good development and it was good to see Iqra standing up for her mother and her happiness. She made Fareeha speechless by saying that if her mom wanted to re marry, she would be the first to get her mother her happiness since she has all rights to be happy as well.
Now all of Naheed’s daughters are married and happy and striving for living their lives according to their own values and beliefs. She has raised strong independent women with zero resources and absolutely no support. Hats off to this woman for proving to the world that she not only accepted her daughters when no one else did but also cherished and celebrated them.
A good ending to a good play. Well written, well executed and well performed. Kudos to the whole team behind “Mubarak Ho Beti hui Hai”
Oh well, what a beautiful end of a beautiful journey but I will be honest, did we get enough of Asfand & Zubiya? I am sure all the viewers here will unanimously say no because we all wanted more of them. This episode no doubt was beautiful & complete but it still has left the fan of love stories in me wanting to see more. I am glad I get to watch the dramas with such special scenes alone because I can bawl my eyes out without being noticed, lol. Even though this episode had a slow start but the note at which it ended left me feeling content, but I am still saying, I wanted to see more.
So, Asfand on his own was struggling to put two & two together ever since he found out that Zubiya was the girl he saved years ago. Asfand’s call to Mahjabeen was basically his attempt to know what transpired in Zubiya’s life for her to end up at such a remote area because even Asfand could feel that there was more to Zubiya’s simple answer where he stated that she liked her life being full of challenges. Asfand could sense that things must not have been easy for Zubiya that is why he tried to get some details without probing too much & what he heard from Mahjabeen further confirmed his fears that his Zubiya, the girl that he loves with all his heart went through so much & dealt with everything on her own. It definitely moved Asfand & made her feel for her a lot.
Asfand telling his family that they should forget about his marriage went to show the confusion that he had because he was unable to come to a conclusion as to how he should approach Zubiya & talk to her about her past. Gaiti’s concerns for both of them were quite sweet, like she genuinely wanted to see Zubiya & Asfand together, that is why she was keen to know if there was anything that she could do!
Well, Rehan came to the hospital & the moment Zubiya saw him there, she lost her sense of rationality. The way Zubiya felt restless went to show the negative impact Rehan had on her mind, on her heart & on her soul that just by seeing him there, she knew that things were going to go wrong. Even though Zubiya picked up the pieces, composed herself & came to terms with the fact that she had no one except her Khala, still just the sight of Rehan was enough for her to do something so reckless because given her past, she assumed that he would only bring more miseries her way. Who could’ve imagined that a girl who always taught others to be strong, who wanted others to survive no matter what comes their way could think of ending her own life? It showed the amount of mental torture she went through which pushed her to such a limit. Zubiya was all alone & because she learnt to live alone, she decided to end her life without thinking about anyone else as she believed she had no one who would care.
Well, Rehan & Asfand had a conversation, where Rehan came clean & gave away everything which was a burden on his mind, Asfand got to share Zubiya’s perspective & told Rehan how she struggled, how she survived that too after going through so much. I loved how this moment made Asfsnd realize that he couldn’t live without Zubiya, he realized what she meant to him & most importantly, it made his heart ache for her even more because he got to know everything that she has been through!
Now coming towards the best scene of the episode & the entire drama; Asfand & Zubiya’s conversation. It was again conveyed like all other moments that they had shared till date – very few meaningful dialogues but filled with so many emotions. Asfand got to tell Zubiya how much he loved her but how hurt he was as he expected her to trust him a bit more than she did. Zubiya obviously still felt that she didn’t deserve him but Asfand assured that nothing mattered to him anymore, her past or whatever she has been through, it just didn’t matter because all he knew was that he wanted to spend his life with her. I loved the expressions on Zubiya’s face where in the middle of all those tears, a smile appeared on her face whe she got to know how much Asfand loved her, it was like after a long long time, she felt relieved that she didn’t have to hide anything from Asfand & that all he cared about was Zubiya & nothing else. I must say I loved that frame which showed Zubiya peacefully sleeping while Asfand was standing looking at her, all heavy hearted. The flowers near Zubiya’s bed & that entire frame gave me Sleeping Beauty vibes. ♡
Well, they chose to end the drama with a narration which told that everything was perfect & everyone was happy. All because of Zubiya’s guidance Khajista chose to educate herself. Gaiti & Haroon got married & so did Asfand & Zubiya. As typical as it may sound, I so wish they had shown us everyone like a big happy family having a time of their lives together because where we saw them crying, we deserved to see them sharing a few laughs too. Even though I totally get that this was not meant to be seen as a love story, but since they made Asfand & Zubiya’s relationship so so special, I feel I wanted to see more of them, may be 1 more episode showing them as a happily married couple!?! Sigh!
Well, what can I say about this entire journey, it made us cry & it made us smile, it made us feel for all the characters because right from the beginning this drama was set in such a way that it stirred the emotions & struck a chord every single time. Even though I felt this drama lost its charm after Daniyal’s death because things became too stagnant, but after Asfand & Zubiya crossed paths, they took this drama to a whole new level. It is beautiful how the writer embedded so many messages in this drama, through Daniyal she showed that no matter how hard it is to walk on the path of truth, it will always reward you in the end. Daniyal’s journey showed that even if you are alone & have no support, your perspective will always leave an impact on others’ lives. Zubiya’s journey was full of all such messages that no matter what you go through, if you are strong enough, you can deal with anything & not only in your life, you can bring a change in others’ lives too. It was absolutely beautiful seeing a simple girl like Zubiya being so self-sufficent & empowered. Farhat Ishtiyaq should take a bow for this brilliant piece of writing. Shehzad Kashmiri outdid himself & once again proved what an amazing director he is. The way he used all the locations to set the mood of the drama right from the beginning till the end was just brilliant. The background music & soundtrack added more depth to each & every situation. Now talking about all the actors; Ehtashamuddin, Shaz Khan, Farhan Ali Agha, Huma Nawab, Hira, Mani, Beenish Raja, Shamil Khan, Suhaee & the actors who played the characters of Rehan & Lubna, all of them were perfect & in their element when it came to acting, they perfectly supported the main cast & made things complete. Even though that kid who played the character of Noori’s brother Bilal had a very short role but he left a huge impact too with his amazing acting & extremely cute face. I must say I loved Shaz Khan & Hira Mani in this drama. Well, there’s no doubt about the fact that Sajal Ali & Ahad Raza Mir are the stars of this drama, they took it to a whole new level & the restored the interest of the viewers in Yakeen Ka Safar. Everything about them, their acting, their chemistry, the way they approached & portrayed their characters in all the phases of their lives & the transition that they went through was flawless. They both outdid themselves & gave Asfand & Zubiya’s characters the sort of treatment they deserved. This drama is going to stay with the viewers for a long long time & I congratulate the entire team of Yakeen Ka Safar on their success. Please share your thoughts about this episode & the entire journey of Yakeen Ka Safar.
Keep Supporting, Cheers, Zahra Mirza.
PS: I know the hoo haww brigade must be wanting me to talk against the ‘hug’ but since I found it too sweet, I say let it be & please don’t spoil it for those who loved it, thank you!
Best Dramas Of 2017 – You Should Not Miss – The year 2017 had some brilliant dramas to its credit, which covered different genres and explored something other than the regular family politics. There are many different ingredients which make a drama click with the viewers; a gripping storyline, strong characterizations, impressive performances, sleek direction and good camera work are few of these ingredients. With so many new production houses equipped with the latest technology which are more than willing to invest in these dramas, production values of all the dramas, even the average ones, are almost always up to the mark. Also, great production values cannot make up for the lack of quality in terms of the script, acting and direction therefore these three are definitely the determining factors.
This list contains the names and details of those dramas which ended in the beginning of 2017 and also those which are currently on air. Many of these dramas have only been on air for 10 weeks or so but they clearly have all the ingredients needed to make it to this list.
Here is the list of the best dramas of 2017:
Sang-e-Mar Mar
Writer: Mustafa Afridi
Director: Saife Hassan
Producer: Momina Duraid
Channel: HUM TV
Cast: Noman Ejaz, Sania Saeed, Uzma Hassan, Hassan Noman, Masroor Paras, Mikaal Zulfikar, Kubra Khan, Omair Rana, Syed Tipu Sharif, Kaif Ghaznavi and others.
How often do we get to see dramas like Sang-e-Marmar where every single episode offers so much for the viewers to grasp and absorb. In times like these where Riba is prevalent in our society, Mustafa Afridi took the initiative to showcase what dependence on Riba can do to one’s family unit and how it can destroy generations after generations. Sang-e-Marmar was a story of powerful men immune to ruling over each other, some very strong women who despite being in such a male dominant society knew how to fend for themselves and then Sang e Marmar was a story of intense family politics where every single person was affected by the deeds of one another where some were the tyrants and some were victims. It was also a story of revenge which actually showed how one wrongdoing can ruin someone’s entire life and how karma dishes out to you what you deserve.
Strong cast and stronger portrayal of characters, exceptional performances, intense emotions, meaningful dialogues and unpredictable yet convincing situations are a few key points that can define the masterpiece known as Sang-e-Marmar. The perfect direction, intense situations, intelligent writing through which the writer stirred the emotions of the viewers made this drama a success and a treat to tune to and there is no doubt about it, that the drama buffs declared Sang-e-Marmar as one of the best dramas of 2017.
Dumpukht – Aatish-e-Ishq
Writer: Zafar Mairaj
Director: Kashif Nisar
Producer: Moomal Shunaid – Kashif Nisar
Channel: Aplus
Cast: Bilal Abbas Khan, Anjum Habibi, Haseeb Khan, Aamna Malik, Saqib Sameer, Munazza Arif, Sara Baloch, Ibtisam Musa and others.
Dumpukht had a powerful script, an unpredictable storyline and was definitely the kind of drama which keeps the viewers hooked to their television screens. It was also one of those dramas in which all the actors gave phenomenal performances. Nauman Ijaz always gives a faultless performance no matter which role he plays but he was especially impressive as a Pir Habib Ullah who destroys himself and everything around him because he gives into his desires and manipulates those people who have nothing but respect and reverence for him. One aspect of this play which makes it a complete winner is the fact that every single character in this drama has a story to tell, even the supporting characters have an important role to play in the story and their characters are brilliantly etched-out. This drama also has a beautiful OST which has been utilized to the maximum by the director Kashif Nisar.
Those of you who haven’t watched this play should watch it for its beautiful characterizations, soul-stirring dialogues and spell-binding performances, you won’t be disappointed.
Khuda Aur Mohabbat
Writer: Hashim Nadeem
Director: Syed Ali Raza
Producer: Baber Javed
Channel: Geo TV
Cast: Imran Abbas, Firdous Jamal, Kubra Khan, Saadia Khan, Usman Peerzada, Humayun Ashraf and others.
The second season of Khuda Aur Mohabbat was well-hyped and well-received because those who watched the first season were in love with its story already. This time around the team of Khuda Aur Mohabbat promised the complete story that is why the viewers knew they were in for the ride. Unfortunately, the second part of the story which was something that the viewers wanted to see wasn’t tackled properly since it was shot in America and it was obvious that the team had some restraints, they however pulled off the first part of the story to perfection and once again made every single viewer fall in love with the characters of Hammad and Imaan. Khuda Aur Mohabbat was a journey of spirituality, a journey of love, a journey of how a lost soul finds the purpose of his life because he falls in love. The way the writer showed how love for a human being can bring someone closer to Allah was commendable. Imran Abbas’s portrayal of Hammad’s character was the highlight of this entire drama because he not only breathed life into that character but owned it as well. The supporting cast and characters were beautiful too because they completed this journey and added more charm to it.
Khuda Aur Mohabbat was a beautiful love story with some beautifully embedded messages along the way which were conveyed to perfection. The character of Hammad made everyone fall in love with him where viewers got so emotionally invested that they felt each and every emotion that he went through. It was unfortunate that the second phase of the drama couldn’t do justice to the story and characters but they did wrap it up decently. For the very convincing and beautifully executed first phase of the story, Khuda Aur Mohabbat deserves a place in this list of best dramas of 2017.
Muqabil
Writer: Zafar Mairaj
Director: Ali Hassan
Producer: Big Bang Entertainment
Channel: ARY Digital
Cast: Asif Raza Mir, Kubra Khan, Mohsin Abbas Haider, Saba Hameed, Saife Hassan, Shaheen Khan, Nadeem Asgher, Sundus Tariq and others.
Drama serial Muqabil was yet another drama this year which attempted to be different and clearly succeeded in doing so. Muqabil was the story of a child abuse victim who decides to take revenge from the person who violated her in her own strange way. It also showed the journey of this victim – how the abuse affects her in the long run and the manner in which she eventually heals. This drama serial was thrilling, for the most part fast-paced and most importantly it had a really strong message. Asif Raza Mir played a role unlike any other he has played before on screen and it goes without saying that he excelled in it every step of the way!! Kubra Khan and Mohsin Abbas Haider’s riveting performances coupled with their sizzling on-screen chemistry gave the drama a definite edge. This drama was also a visual treat because of its superb picture quality and its locations, although the entire drama has been shot indoors but the director has shot every scene in such a manner that the colors and the decor gives an otherwise bleak story visually pleasing look.
All those viewers out there who missed this show should watch Muqabil for its unique plot, skillful direction and unforgettable performances.
Sammi
Writer: Noor-ul-Huda Shah
Director: Saife Hassan
Producer: Momina Duraid and CCPP
Channel: HUM
Cast: Mawra Hocane, Sania Saeed, Adnan Siddiqui, Rehan Sheikh, Saman Ansari, Bilal Khan, Nadia Afgan, Ahad Raza Mir, Seemi Raheel, Madiha Rizvi, Haris Waheed, Irfan Khoosat, Humera Ali, Noor-ul-Hassan, Kinza Malik, Beena Chaudhry, Malik Raza, Mirza Zain Baig.
Drama serial Sammi was a trendsetter in many ways. It touched a lot of issues which truly matter especially in a time when most dramas focus only on one subject it was a pleasure watching a drama like Sammi which tackled with number of important issues in an effective manner. The writer and director’s strong grip on all the tracks and their understanding of all the situations which were shown in the drama was the primary reason why Sammi managed to get all the messages across efficiently. Every single character in this drama was there for a reason, even the negative characters in the story were used by the writer to explain the reasons why some people feel the need to control and oppress others.
Drama serial Sammi is a must-watch because it has a brilliant script which sets all the right precedents, the script has been executed on screen impressively by the director Saife Hassan. Although Mawra Hocane’s performance leaves a lot to be desired but this drama overall has a lot of powerful performances to its credit and a solid script.
Yeh Raha Dil
Writer: Mustafa Afridi
Director: Siraj ul Haq
Producer: Momina Duraid
Channel: Hum TV
Cast: Ahmed Ali Akbar, Yumna Zaidi, Ayesha Sana, Anum Goher, Azra Mohaiuddin, Arjumand Azhar Hussain and others.
When this drama began, a lot of viewers felt that the story was lifted from Korean drama ‘House Full’ but as the story of Yeh Raha Dil progressed, despite the similarities, drama buffs fell in love with it because of beautiful and unique characters and their equally amazing chemistry. This drama was light, fun and a true example of what entertainment should be like. Even though by the end, this drama was dragged where a few unnecessary situations were added to prolong it, but it most certainly doesn’t take away from the fact that it provided thorough entertainment to the viewers for first 19 weeks without a fault.
The story of how two completely different individuals fall in love was the main plot of Yeh Raha Dil and as the story progressed, the chemistry between the leads made the viewers hooked to this drama because everyone was rooting for Zaki and Hayat. Situational yet perfect comedy, some very witty dialogues and beautifully written characters with unique personalities made Yeh Raha Dil a treat to watch. If we take away the last few episodes away, we definitely can say that it was one of the best dramas of 2017.
Pinjra was a heavy-duty drama which depicted the ugly customs and traditions which completely destroy the lives of people who fall prey to them. Pinjra is a must-watch for all those viewers out there who like a heavy dose of reality depicted on screen impeccably by a strong cast. It was also a different take on the custom of Vani which involved a great deal of raw emotions. This wasn’t the first time that Kashif Nisar did complete justice to a complicated script by making it come alive on screen in a realistic manner. Imran Nazir’s powerful script enacted on screen brilliantly by a team which put in a lot of hard work into making this serial a drama which is bound to transport you to another world which is very different and dark from the one you live in makes this drama one of the best dramas of this year. Yumna Zaidi’s impeccable performance is the best thing about Pinjra.
Watch this serial if you are not afraid to see an ugly glimpse of man’s monstrous nature. This drama will leave you truly upset but then that is what the makers wanted to achieve! Pinjra was without any doubt one of the finest dramas this year.
Yakeen Ka Safar
Writer: Farhat Ishtiyaq
Director: Shehzad Kashmiri
Producer: Momina Duraid Productions
Channel: Hum TV
Cast: Ehtashaamuddin, Sajal Ali, Shaz Khan, Ahad Raza Mir, Fazila Qazi, Beenish Raja, Huma Nawab, Shamil Khan, Hira, Mani and others.
Based on the novel Wo Yakeen Ka Safar, Yakeen Ka Safar is a story of two individuals who fight through the hardships that life dishes out to them. A drama which started off on the note of a social issue later turned into a love story is how Yakeen Ka Safar can be described. The first phase of the drama was a reminiscent of Udaari and the second phase reminded everyone of Dhoop Kinare but own its own, Yakeen Ka Safar is currently the most watched and most loved drama of the current lot because of the beautiful chemistry between the main leads and the positive message that the writer has embedded into the story by showing how one strong and self sufficent individual can impact the life of people around her.
Yakeen Ka Safar is basically a journey of a girl who learns through her mistakes, who empowers herself in such a way that she becomes a source of empowerment for others too. This drama definitely didn’t have an ideal start and the slow treatment did take away the charm but everything was redeemed once Dr. Asfand and Dr. Zubiya came across each other and their journey began. Scenic locations of Kashmir and calm and soothing feel that this drama makes it a treat to watch. Dr. Asfand and Dr. Zubiya’s love story has turned this drama into a talk of the town because after a very long time drama buffs have come across such a beautifully portrayed relationship and for this reason definitely, Yakeen Ka Safar happens to be one of the best dramas of 2017.
O Rangreza
Writer: Saji Gul
Director: Kashif Nisar
Producer: Moomal Entertainment
Channel: Hum TV
Cast: Noman Ijaz, Irsa Ghazal, Bilal Abbas Khan, Sajal Ali, Omair Rana, Sana Fakhar and others
O Rangreza is a story written with a motive of exposing double standards of our male dominant society. The writer Saji Gul has been pretty open and vocal about his intention behind writing a story like O Rangreza. Vibrant colors, beautiful OST, visually appeasing backdrops and aesthetically perfect frames showcase the amount of hardwork that has gone into this drama. O Rangreza is filled with phenomenal performances where the actors do not allow you to take your eyes off screen.
O Rangreza is a story of a girl who dreams big and dreams everything through her father’s perspective but since her father believes in having double standards, that turns out to be the bone of contention between the two. Even though the drama is still on air and it has a lot more in store for us, with the first half of the drama we are pretty convinced that it surely is going to be one of the most memorable and best dramas of 2017. Every single actor in this drama has owned their characters, be it Noman Ejaz, Irsa Ghazal, Sana Fakhar, Sajal Ali or Bilal Abbas Khas, they have elevated the level of this drama and each and every single one of them has contributed towards the final result which is obviously perfect. It is a rarity to see a character like Sassi who is anything but a damsel in distress and with the trend of showing crying and helpless women in our dramas, Sassi comes as a breath of fresh air.
Tau Dil Ka Kya Hua
Writer: Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar
Director: Shahid Shafat
Producer: Momina Duraid, Tariq Shah, Sana Shahnawaz and Samina Humayun
Channel: HUM
Cast: Sami Khan, Ayeza Khan, Mansha Pasha, Zahid Ahmed, Hajra Yamin, Imran Ashraf, Noor Khan, Hira Hussain, Rehan Sheikh, Usman Peerzada, Behroze Sabzwari, Seemi Pasha, Farah Shah and others.
Tau Dil Ka Kya Hua takes unconventional storylines to a whole new level! This drama is mainly about love, hatred, revenge and relies heavily on complicated relationships. The way all these emotions have been woven together is beyond impressive. The slow pace of this drama and the overall treatment given to it makes it a “leave everything and watch this” kind of a play but only for those viewers who have a taste for the most unusual scenarios which often take you completely by surprise! Apart from the direction which leaves you in awe of the amount of creativity the director has put into every single scene, the mind-blowing dialogues are the main attraction of this drama. Sami Khan, Mansha Pasha, Ayeza Khan and Rehan Sheikh have given some of the best performances of their career in this drama, which is also another reason why this drama made it to the list.
If you want to watch something intriguing and unusual, you should definitely tune into Tau Dil Ka Kya Hua! It is a drama which will demand your undivided attention once you start watching it.
Do share your thoughts about the dramas in the list and don’t forget to add to the list! Which drama did you like the best from all these brilliant dramas which aired this year? We would love to hear from you.
PS. The list is in no particular order, the dramas which are currently on air are however at the end.
Saat din mohabbat in is the most anticipated upcoming romantic comedy, as Mahira Khan and Shehryar Munawwar will be in the lead roles, after the duo got much appreciation as best friends in ho mann jahan. Now it is officially confirmed by Dawn Films who are entering into film making with this movie, that Ayesha Omer and Hina Dilpazeer have also joined the cast of saat din mohabbat in.
The news is surely as exciting for the fans as it is for Ayesha and Momo, as both have them have already gained widespread adoration by sharing the same screen space as Khubsoorat and Momo in Bulbulay, where they are playing a pair of very unconventional saas and bahu. Lets see if their roles in the movie reach up to the standards already set by both of them.
This has been a very exciting year for Urwa Hocane, as she has starred in more movies than any other Pakistani actress. After a very successful release of punjab nahi jaungi, the actress is all set to promote her next upcoming release, Rangreza. Its trailer has been launched a couple of days earlier and Urwa has now shared some photos from the ceremony on her social media accounts. She is looking pretty in an off shoulder gown with a metallic sheem to it. Alongwith her co actors Gohar Rasheed and Bilal Ashraf , Farhan Saeed was also also present in the function, as usual in full support of his wife’s new film.
This Sharmeen Obaid Vs AKUH doctor fiasco needs no previous context anymore, everyone knows when and how everything went down.
Sharmeen shared a note on her twitter earlier today to justify her stance and her previous tweets. It is a general agreement that what the doctor did was unethical and unprofessional and can’t be justified as “alright” under any circumstances but the way Sharmeen Obaid handled the situation and especially her choice of words blew the whole thing out of proportion.
While Celebrities like Ushna Shah and Mahira Khan supported her stance Hamza Ali Abbasi and Haroon Shahid disagreed, this lead to a massive media debate and still is catching more fire.
In her recent tweet Sharmeen had the following to say,
Firstly Sharmeen agreed that her choice of words was rather poor and has lead people astray from the matter at hand, she further explained that her “wrong women in the wrong family” expression didn’t stem out of some wrongly placed sense of power or privileged-ness she merely meant that women in her family are strong and can stand for themselves.
She went on to add that the examination that AKUH doctor conducted was of rather private nature after which he not only sent her sister a friend request but also commented on some of her pictures. It is a breach of trust and shows severe lack of professional code of conduct. She stated that all she did was voice her concerns whether that doctor stays at the hospital or leaves will be decided by AKUH’s own investigation team and she doesn’t have anything to do with that.
So far the AKUH administration has given no updates on the development.
“The AKUH always maintains the highest standards of confidentiality and will not release any information on either employees or patients.”
Shehzad Roy is not just a singer but a hardcore philanthropist too. Throughout his career, Shehzad has worked a lot for the humanity. He has worked for the well-being of 2005 earthquake victims. He has worked a lot for the betterment of education system in Pakistan. He ran a whole show and helped upgrade education in many areas. Shahzad is also the recipient of Sitara e Imtiaz, the highest civil honour in Pakistan.
Shehzad has now been honoured as being appointed as United Nations Good Will Ambassador against drug abuse. He will be seen talking about drug abuse as well as reforms in our system of justice including police and prisons.
Way to go Shehzad. He totally deserves this position after the work he has done!
Seriously, as this drama is progressing, the story is losing its purpose & nothing is really making an impact. I can not believe this drama has come down to such a stage where it is hard to sit through its episodes & impossible to praise it!
Reena came back to the brothel & Chaman Begum like a kind hearted mother accepted her back. When Nigar & even Reena used to rule the brothel, they used to make all the decisions but this time around it was Chaman Begum who welcomed Reena back despite Shireen Bai telling her not to. What’s next in Reena’s life? What’s left in her story & if I take a look back at her entire journey, I do get that she has fallen flat on her face but I want to know the crux of it? Somehow things are not making much impact & that is ruining the drama for me completely.
So, Basit & Nazneen got married. Malkiyani did all she could to bring Nazneen back but she was a bit too late as they already tied the knot & Nazneen told her mother that she had nothing to do with her parents. I still see it as a biggest flaw that Malik Hashmat had no idea that Shahzeb divorced Nazneen & even Malkiyani chose not to give him such an important information. Yes, she must have been waiting for his return but still Malkiyani not telling Hashmat the first thing after he came back that his daughter got divorced is a bit hard to digest!
So, Nazneen had a verbal spat with Basit’s parents too & the way she dragged him made it look like she forgot that Basit was now her husband & not her servant’s son that she was bossing around. I really don’t get the transition that Basit’s character has been through. He was fine without Nazneen like he came to terms with the fact that he couldn’t be with her. He then took a job at Shahzeb’s despite knowing that he will come across Nazneen. He then fought with his parents for Nazneen & completely overlooked what their opinion was when it came to his & Nazneen’s wedding & now when he finally got her, he started feeling guilty thinking that he wronged Shahzeb. If that was the case then why did his guilt occur the moment he got married? Why didn’t he think things through before taking such a huge step knowing that his parents were against this marriage? If he had done that, his parents wouldn’t have died because this was Hashmat’s way of taking his revenge – Basit took away his daughter, he took away Basit’s parents from him!
This drama is becoming worse with each passing episode, not to forget the extremely boring & long scenes which show that there isn’t much content left & that is why the episodes are just being filled for the sake of it. Zimal is another filler which has gone wrong, it is quite annoying to see her getting the coverage that too like she is the main character of the drama. It is amusing that by making her cry, they thought we will sympathize with her character, one can barely tolerate her character let alone sympathize with her. The direction of this drama has become a joke as well. Anyways, please share your thoughts about this episode of Alif Allah Aur Insaan.
This drama which is a sequel of Landa Bazar, a Khalil ur Rehman Qamar drama that was aired 15 years ago transports you into another world altogether. The writer and producer have tried to incorporate that story into the new social set up of today brilliantly. The new generation is shown to be more enlightened and advanced, yet still weaved into a complicated web of love, revenge and dynasty. It is not an entertainment play. Your heart and mind becomes heavy as it is about what is possibly the darkest side of human emotions. It would be a little too gloomy if not for some characters’ natural wit and a shady sense of humor. The credit for providing comic relief goes to Waseem Abbas, who has taken it on brilliantly. The veteran actor never fails to impress with his impeccable dialogue delivery and total ownership of the character that he is in and this play is no exception. The other experienced stars including Saba Hameed, Babar Ali, Kashif Mehmood, Tauqeer Nasir are all in full awe inspiring moods. The newcomers are all relatively new faces but they are also doing quite well in their respective characters.
The first three episodes have shown the aftermath of age old murder of Mehar Hukum, where his widow has been keeping constant fasts, praying wholeheartedly for revenge and nurturing the seed of hatred with more care in her heart than any other feeling, including motherly instincts. She had been raising her son with the sole intention of killing Baali, the man who killed her husband. She is single minded to the point of crime and loved her late husband to the point of self destruction. Her son Mehar Punaar, played by Aabi Khan has imbibed her hatred, her aggression and her revenge in the truest possible way, while her daughter, who has just returned from America after three years, tries to talk sanity and patience and self preservation with both her mother and brother, but to no avail.
Mehar Charagh, the grandfather played by Waseem Abbas is also helpless in the face of his daughter in law’s wrath. It was him on whom Baali had initially attacked but he survived and his son got killed when he was on a revenge spree from Baali. Babar Ali is nailing the role of Baali perfectly. He has been released from jail after serving his term which Hukum’s family had initially mistaken for death penalty. He is trying to gain footage in the world which is now alien to him. He has come from Rahimyar Khan jail to Lahore and is looking for his children whom Jajji took away after his wife’s death. He is still aggressive and voilent but age has certainly mellowed him down and he is quite woeful over the fact.
Another twist is that both of Baali’s kids and Hukum’s daughter Maahi were studying together in America and Maahi and Baali’s son Farhad are in love with each other. While they are still oblivious to each other’s paternal identity, Maahi has become quite disheartened at the state of hatred and revenge she finds her mother and brother in. She has decided to warn Farhad to stay away from her as she herself intends to do. She does not want him to get entangled in the game of life and death her family are playing.
Stay tuned to see how these two generations come to terms with both their pasts and futures.
Cast: Neelum Muneer, Minal Khan, Wahaj Ali, Waseem Abbas, Zainab Qayyum and Nida Mumtaz among others.
When the promos and pictures started surfacing for Dil Nawaz, honestly my first instinct was that it will be a stupid try at horror genre with people screaming and objects floating in every second episode. But Dil Nawaz literally came out as a pleasant surprise for me. When the first episode came out, it was a clichéd start, with Aijaz Aslam and his family shifting in a haunted house and then leaving it due to supernatural stuff. The start may be clichéd but the drama as a whole is a great package, it shows the evils and manipulations prevailing in our society. Eight episodes are down up till now and let’s break how everything went on:
Characters and Storyline:
The writer has hands down done a great job. All the characters are developed with accuracy and that takes the story forward. Alam Ara (Zainab Qayyum) and Jahan Ara are two sisters who have mastery with magic and control over supernatural beings. They inherited the knowledge from their father but Alam Ara has become super greedy and manipulates and harm people who come to her. Hazrat Bibi aka Alam Ara has cut off all ties with the normal world due to her devious deeds and with the recent developments, looks like she is the one who has forced to do Jahan Ara the same.
Next, comes the two lovebirds Fawad(Wahaj Ali) and Kiran(Minal Khan)who are neighbours and want to marry each other. Fawad is a young doctor and his character is probably one of the very strong male lead characters of recent times. He stood for the right and protected the character of the girl he loved even if he had to go against his mother. Kiran, on the other hand, is a great daughter. She loves Fawad but she is not “Mai tumhare liye sabb ko chorr doongi” type. She has self-respect and she loved and respected her mother to the extent that she left Fawad to protect her mother’s honour.
Fawad’s parents are Waseem Abbas and Nida Mumtaz. His father is chill like a glacier and his mother is heated like a volcano. She is not only possessive but pure evil too. She can go to any extent just to get the results she wants. Her objective in life is to get her son married to her sister’s daughter kyunki unki industries hain. Kiran’s mother, on the other hand, is a single parent who has worked hard all her life and supported her daughter when she chose Fawad as her life partner. Her character is very positive and a treat to watch.
And yes the main and titular character, Dil Nawaz. Dil Nawaz is a supernatural entity. She is under Alam Ara’s thumb and has to do everything to please her. Her character is not black and white but grey. She harms people on Alam Ara’s orders but regrets it too. She didn’t even want to manipulate Fawad and Kiran’slove because she saw they were serious about each other. Fawad is the first person she has let stay in her house and she will fall for him hard.
The story has now become a love triangle because Dil Nawaz has fallen for Fawad. On the other hand, Kiran will seek Fawad because there is a person warning her to help him. We will have to wait to watch the next developments in the story now.
Performances:
Wahaj Ali has performed exceptionally from the start. From a love-struck doctor to a person who stands for right, he portrayed every emotion flawlessly. Minal Khan is good in her role too, her scenes with her mother are the best ones. Her performance was a bit weak in the scene where Fawad comes to talk to her at her engagement. It could have been more emotive. Zainab Qayyum and Nida Mumtaz are the best performers until now. The way Zainab is portraying the character of greedy and hungry for power Alam Ara is exceptional and Nida Mumtaz looks like a true obsessive mother who just wants her child to do what she wants him to do and see what she wants him to see. Neelum Muneer is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful supernatural entity in the history of the horror genre. Her dialogue delivery is lacking but her expressions and those orange death stares make up for it.
Direction:
The direction of this play has been a plus point for it up till now. The story is moving forward smoothly and there are mostly no useless scenes inserted just to prolong the drama. And thank God, there are no floating sheets and broken vases after every scene since they are the only two things which happen in our supernatural genre. The overall look and feel of the play are exciting and for that credit goes to the director.
OST:
A fitting OST and Alycia Dias’s voice actually makes it sound magical and supernatural. Yes, it is different from the typical OSTs but the drama too is. The theme music when plays in the background gives a feel to the overall story. Here is it if you want to listen to it:
So eight episodes down and I am unexpectedly loving Dil Nawaz. I hope they don’t start dragging it reasonlessly which is a plague that hits all the dramas I start liking. But since the news is that Dil Nawaz will have about 25 episodes, I am a bit relieved. This is a treat to watch, a successful experiment and I will look forward to the next episode.
Have you watched Dil Nawaz? Share your thoughts in comments!
Earlier this month we heard the news of Pakistani-American actor Faran Tahir’s appearance to be expected in American T.V series ‘Scandal’s final season.
Faran appeared as Bashran’s President Rashad in second and fourth episode of the show respectively.
US President Mellie Grant’s introduces him as the guest of honor at a state dinner designed to mend relations with the unstable Bashrani government and as a step toward peace in Middle-East.
Bashran is soon to become a nuclear power and the aim of the episode was to get President Rashad to sign on a de-proliferation agreement. Rashad doesn’t cave in initially but eventually agrees when he is saved from an assassination attempt, the episode also hinted a possible romance between The US President and President Rashad.
In the fourth episode a spark is shown between both Presidents while they are struggling for the Middle East peace summit between Bashran and Dacal to succeed.
Amidst all this a coup in Bashran unseats President Rashad. Mellie insists that US sends troops into Bashran to restore Rashad’s presidency while Olivia accuses her of letting her personal feelings for Rashad cloud her better judgement.
Over all Faran did an amazing job, the intensity he brought to President Rashad’s character is downright beautiful.
Not sure if he’ll be returning to the show after this whole coup scene but we certainly hope he does.
This episode of Mujhe Jeenay Du had some important developments to its credit and once again Mehreen Raheal completely stole the show. She is beyond brilliant as Shaheena; the way she carried herself and the manner in which she delivers her dialogues is impressive, she definitely deserves an award for her performance. Gohar Rasheed is also giving an outstanding performance in this play although he is also playing a role completely different from the ones we have seen him playing in other dramas. The writer of this drama deserves tons of credit for penning down characters which are not black and white. While there are men like Murad, Mohammadu and Saira’s father who can easily be termed as stereotypes, there are also characters like that of Naseeb and Shaheena in particular which have tons to offer. Naseeb isn’t a bad guy but he tends to lose his temper every time he gets frustrated and he treats Saira like a punching bag in these situations. As long as Shaheena was around, he was happy and he was very kind to Saira but as soon as Shaheena left he obviously blamed Saira for it too and started treating her the way he was treating her before. Also, Naseeb is a product of the system he grew up in. He is a good person at heart but Bushra’s loss, his inability to run the house or to look after his son made him do something which he knew was wrong but it seemed like a convenient option. The fact that he was pressurized into getting married to Saira also shows that overall he is different from all the other men around him. He also loved his wife unlike Murad and Muhammadu who fail to see their wives as human beings.
Although the divorce was rather sudden and somewhat unexpected as well but I liked the way Shaheena didn’t mourn over the “loss” much. Yasmin was there to comfort her and to give her a reality check as well. It is great watching these women stand by one another although they have very little control over their own lives. There is a definite attraction between Shaheena and Naseeb therefore I am wondering where this track will lead. Mohammadu’s reaction was completely in line with his character; instead of taking responsibility for his actions, he decided to teach his wife a lesson by divorcing her!
There was a great deal of focus on Shabo in this episode. Even though his father is doing everything he can to make him happy but he feels that his father betrayed him and his mother therefore he finds it difficult to forgive him. Shabo’s situation and his feelings are easy to connect to and the writer has also given this child a definite personality. He does not get convinced easily and knows the difference between right and wrong – after all he is Yasmin’s son! Saira and Shabo also share a special bond, one which is unbreakable. At this point it would be even better if the story picks up pace and the viewers get to see how things change once all these characters get older. Emaan Sher, the child star playing Saira’s character has been phenomenal throughout, her confidence and natural portrayal is impressive.
The overall feel of this drama is very real, it manages to transport you to another world and you can’t help but feel for the characters. The preview of the next episode was very interesting. I am waiting to see how Naseeb will react once he finds out that getting married to a minor is illegal. Yasmin will also meet her husband’s second wife in the next episode, it is really difficult to predict what turn all these tracks will take in the next episode but I am waiting to find out!
How many of you watched this latest episode? Do share your thoughts about it.
This Saturday marked the one year anniversary of film-maker Karan Johar’s film “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” so Karan took to his twitter and opened up about the film.
He said that the movie is very close to his heart and thanked everyone who was a part of this project except of course Fawad Khan.
Indian political party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena gave this film a hard time and banned the release based on the fact that it stars a “Pakistani” actor to mark their protest of the Uri attack on 18th of September 2016.
As a result the decision by Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association of India prevented the release of films with Pakistani actors in four states – Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Goa.
Karan issued a video back then addressing this agenda and had the following to say:
“For me, my country comes first… When I shot Ae Dil Hai Mushkil from September to December last year, the (political) climate was completely different. There were efforts made by our government for peaceful relationships with the neighbouring country. Going forward, I would like to say that of course I wouldn’t engage with talent from the neighbouring country given the circumstance.”
Have something to add to the story? The comments section is all yours.
Saat din mohabbat in is the most anticipated upcoming romantic comedy, as Mahira Khan and Shehryar Munawwar will be in the lead roles, after the duo got much appreciation as best friends in ho mann jahan. Now it is officially confirmed by Dawn Films who are entering into film making with this movie, that Ayesha Omer and Hina Dilpazeer have also joined the cast of saat din mohabbat in.
