Opening Thoughts – Brilliant:

Ohkay so, Surkh Chandni ended last night. I had left reviewing this drama because I found it a bit slow and quite a bit depressing, however, I continued to follow it right till the end. Not reviewing it was basically a conscious decision that I made because I felt I won’t be able to do justice to it because after quitting its review & watching it on its own, I got the liberty to forward the scenes that did not appeal to me or I found repetitive. However, the last episode absolutely gave me enough reasons to discuss it because it was a very convincing end which was perfectly written and executed.

A Different Take on The Subject:

The journey of Surkh Chandni in simpler words is basically a struggle story of an acid attack victim. We have seen quite a few dramas based on this subject in the past but Surkh Chandni stands above them because of the way Aida’s journey was shown. The thing that was highlighted every step of the way was the fact that a person who goes through this needs nothing but continuous support, love & encouragement. This is what made Surkh Chandni absolutely different & better than the rest of the dramas that dealt with the stories of acid attack victims. The best & most endearing aspect of Surkh Chandni was the amount of love Amaan had for Aida & how he stood against all odds to not only prove his love to her but to the world too. This kind of relationship & support coming from a husband was quite refreshing in a drama which otherwise was quite serious & depressing at a lot of points. I am glad that the writer & the director didn’t even for a second shift the focus on something else but continued to show that Amaan was a man of substance who stood by his words & did everything he could in his might to bring Aida out of misery.

The Characters:

The drama ended last night & even though I did feel that may be Shumaila will not only be forgiven & accepted by Aida’s family, I kind of felt the ending that she got was justified. Shumaila did confess about all of her wrongdoings but then, she would’ve had too much of a baggage to carry for the rest of her life if she had gone back to living with Mukhtar with his entire family. Shumaila mistreated Mukhtar’s mother, she cheated on Mukhtar & kind of knew that Jawad was planning Mukhtat’s murder. Shumaila also played a role of an ally when Jawad threw acid on Aida’s face. Shumaila asked for forgiveness, she didn’t even need to do that because even before she regained consciousness, Mukhtar’s entire family was feeling bad for her & they chose to stay by her side. I did feel may be Shumaila will go back & lead a normal life filled with regrets & remorse but I think it was totally justified that she passed away. It was however good that she didn’t die miserable, she confessed, she made sure Aida got her justice, she helped putting Jawad behind bars for the rest of his life & in the end, she had this sense of satisfaction that no one in her husband’s family hated her, rather they all were ready to forgive & move on. Shumaila also had this contentment that her daughter will be well taken care of by Aida & Mukhtar’s mother. It was a sad end that Shumaila met but it was totally justified & just right!

Jawad was a perfect case of man who grew up feeling entitled & it was instilled by his mother who made sure to let him know that he was above everyone else. Jawad continued to make one mistake after another but it wasn’t because he didn’t get Aida so he did all of that, it was basically he wasn’t brought up the right way. His mother failed as a parent & Jawad then failed at life. Jawad continued to commit one mistake after another, one crime after another & thought that he will continue to stay unpunished because of his wealth but he was mistaken. The justice was served & Jawad was well aware of what had happened to him. I am glad they didn’t show him losing his sanity or not knowing what his fate was going to be like. Jawad deserved to stay conscious & sane to understand that this prison cell was going to be the only world that he will know from now on!

Amaan & Aida’s love story was not only a sweetest aspect of this drama but it was such a nice change from the typical equations that we get to see in different dramas. In Surkh Chandni, the best thing was that Amaan never once did question Aida or doubted her character. He always knew that all the things that Aida did or say came from a place of helplessness. Amaan always was aware of the things that Aida had to go through & the demons that she had to fight, be it in the form of her family or society. However, he knew that he had to stay determined because the love of his life was going to rely on him to get through the toughest phase of her life. Amaan’s mother Safina was also such a beautifully written & played character. When do we get to see such Khalas or Mothers in law who go above & beyond to make sure their daughters in law feel safe, secure & loved? Safina knew that Aida’s mother was helpless, so she decided to play the role of her mother as she knew this was the need of the hour!

Right from the beginning, the way they dealt with this subject showed that a lot of research & thought has been put into this script. They even addressed how the scar should be treated & how Aida should not stay in hot & humid room because it slowed down the process of healing. We never really get to see such minute detailing in dramas like these, in fact after dragging unnecessarily, everything gets wrapped up miraculously, which actually does not do justice to the entire journey. Surkh Chandni did have its slow & stagnant moments, it did have a lot of never ending scenes which could’ve been chopped down, it did have a lot of flashbacks as well but still, the overall journey was enticing & always had something new to offer in every other episode. I am glad they decided to air double episodes right from the beginning, dramas like Surkh Chandni are better wrapped up quickly. The script, the story, direction & production value of Surkh Chandni were absolutely on-point. They had a vision, they made a promise & they delivered.

I must say I have rarely seen a drama meeting such a proper & well-thought ending. They covered every little detail from Aida becoming an activist & using her experience as her strength to empower others, as eye-opener for others as well. They also showed that this little incident didn’t mean that Aida’s life was over. Yes, for a long period of time it came to a standstill but then with Amaan & Safina’s help, she got back on her feet & fought with the world, to the point where she earned her respect & place in society once again. Showing that the NGO was always in contact with Aida & by her side was also a very important & nicely executed aspect of the drama. Characters such as Rehana & the compassionate doctor also made the story of this drama wholesome & complete!

Well Done Team Surkh Chandni:

The performances given by all the actors in Surkh Chandni will remain one of the best in all of these actors’ career. Mansha Pasha was phenomenal as Shumaila, it definitely was not an easy character to play but she gave it the right kind of treatment. Asad Siddique got to showcase how far he has come & what he is capable of by playing a character like Jawad just so convincingly. Huma Nawab should be proud of herself for not only getting to play such a beautiful character of Safina but doing complete justice to it. Sohai Ali Abro was the right choice made by the casting directors to play the role of Aida & showcase her journey. Sohai Ali Abro also has come a very long way & she got to show how she has refined her acting. Osman Khalid Butt got to play such a substantial character such as Amaan after such a long time & it was a treat to see this character on-screen. I wish Osman Khalid Butt learns to underplay & tones down his expressions a bit. After so much experience in acting, he still has to learn the art of effortless & natural acting. Even though Osman Khalid Butt was convincing as Amaan, he did make it look like he was acting all this while. Sohai Ali Abro for the longest time was known to overact but Osman Khalid Butt made her look subtle & natural in front of him. This makes me feel that Osman Khalid Butt is best suited on silver screen with such larger than life expressions & not on small TV screens in dramas which do not require so much over the top expressions. Hassan Ahmad, Lubna Aslam, Gul e Rana, Rashid Farooqi, all of them were brilliant as supporting character & they did justice to their characters. Surkh Chandni is one such drama that the entire cast & crew should be proud of. The drama-makers have succeeded in bringing a very convincing & realistic drama to our TV-screens. They deserve the recognition & appreciation! Please share your thoughts about the last episode of Surkh Chandni.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Depressing:

Ohkay so, this episode of Surkh Chandni & this drama in general has been quite depressing. I say that as a compliment that they have shown everything just so realistically & have covered all the aspects of such a tragedy in such a convincing manner that before tuning to Surkh Chandni, I actually have to make up my mind. I have to force myself to watch Surkh Chandni because I know it is going to be quite heavy.

Depressing:

This episode of Surkh Chandni covered all the aspects that Aida’s tragedy brought along. It was like Aida became the talk of the town & everyone felt entitled to have a say on this & believe the rumours. Junaid made sure to do something beyond Aida’s imagination to further tarnish her reputation & he succeeded because Mukhtar was the first one to believe everything & hold Aida responsible for facing all of this.

This entire situation has landed Aida’s entire family in hot waters because in stead of sympathizing with them or being compassionate towards them, the neighbours gathered to let Mukhtar know that his family was being a nuisance to them all. This was another angle which was covered brilliantly that people participate in gossiping but no one comes forward to lend help of any sorts & when the time comes, everyone turns their backs towards the victims.

Amaan’s role in this entire situation is like a ray of hope. It is brilliant how the writer has shown that for acid attack victims, the hope is never lost & there are always people around them who are willing to help them deal with & come out of this darkest phase of their lives. Amaan has been nothing but supportive of Aida. He has tried to uplift her every step of the way but then Aida can’t do much when her own brother has turned against her. It was nice to see that Aida considered getting married to Amaan because she knew he will take care of her but then, it wasn’t meant to be. Amaan’s eagerness to help Aida start afresh was sweet, it was nice to see him doing everything to arrange a ring for Aida.

Aida’s father couldn’t take it anymore & he succumbed to the pressures so much that he took his own life. It was tragic but it wasn’t something brave that he did. Aida’s father was always weak, he did try to take a stand but always faltered in front of Mukhtar citing his financial support as a reason behind his weakness. Anyways, he passed away & this was the last thing Aida wanted to see or hear because eventually everyone is going to hold her responsible for her father’s death.

The last scene of this episode was intense, it was good that Aida decided to take the matters in her hand because no one else was believing or listening to her. It was also realistically shown that both Shumaila & Junaid’s mother did feel a little guilty upon hearing the news of Aida’s father’s death. They know they are supporting the wrong but they are biased & have their agendas. Shumaila is supporting Junaid because he helps her financially & his mother is supporting him because he is obviously her son.

Closing Thoughts – Depressing:

Overall, this episode of Surkh Chandni was done brilliantly but was very very depressing. I really hope they show some positivity in Aida’s life from now on where she comes out of this phase & does something good for herself. The acting of Sohai Ali Abro in this episode was top-notch. Osman Khalid Butt as Amaan has been convincing too. Hassan Ahmed outdid himself in this episode especially. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Surkh Chandni.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Brilliant Performances:

Ohkay so, this episode of Surkh Chandni gave the viewers a chance to see some outstanding performances from all the actors. One of the best things so far about Surkh Chandni has to be the pace as well because they make sure to cover one chapter of Aida’s life in each set of episodes. I hope as the drama progresses, they continue with the pace because it is definitely making this drama a great watch & is keeping everything quite gripping!

Aida Faces Rejection:

Aida was suffering from physical & emotional trauma but the court case & everything that came along it put her through a mental trauma too. Aida still hadn’t found that courage & confidence in herself & she was still struggling but Amaan & those who supported her thought they were doing the right thing by opening a lawsuit against Jawad but they were wrong.

Before the court case happened, it was nice to see how everyone like Amaan, Aida’s parents & Amaan’s mother were ready to do everything to make sure they win the case. Even though they wanted to help Aida but part of it was also their urge to get Jawad behind bars for what he had done, but unfortunately, things didn’t go according to their plan.

It has been very realistically shown that criminals like Jawad get the edge to do what they feel like because they have supporters around them who make sure their agendas are fulfilled. Shumaila has played a very important role in ruining Aida’s life because right from the beginning she knew exactly what Jawad had done but chose to side with him because of her own motives. Jawad also has got his mother’s support that is why he hasn’t thought about it for a second that he has been nothing but wrong all along. Shumaila has not only supported Jawad but has also made sure that Mukhtar never really questions her choices or doubts her. Even though Mukhtar did ask Shumaila if she saw Jawad’s face the day acid attack happened but she easily convinced him & talked him out of it.

Unfortunately, Aida lost the case & not only that, it came with another label which made it easier for everyone to blame her for what she has been through. It indeed was realistically portrayed that in times like these, no one really cares to find out the truth or give benefit of the doubt to the victim, in stead everyone finds it very easy to believe the gossip or rumours because it seems convenient. In Aida’s case, her own brother Mukhtar chose to believe the court’s verdict because he thought it was easier option to get rid of her.

Amaan’s involvement in Aida’s life & in general has to be the most endearing part of this drama. The way Amaan made sure to let Aida know that he was going to be there every step of the way was sweet but because Aida has been emotionally & mentally scattered, she couldn’t really see through his honesty. Aida still loves Amaan but because she has been through so much, she only feels like a liability to him & the thought of nurturing this relationship has slipped Aida’s mind. Amaan & his mother have proved that they genuinely want to help Aida come out of this nightmare but things around her have become so complicated that she even is not looking for a way out & has probably given up any hope that she ever had. Aida is just ready to take what comes her way & in her mind it is mostly humiliation & rejection.

Closing Thoughts – Intense & Gripping:

Overall, this episode of Surkh Chandni was vey intense & gripping. The direction has been strong too & all the actors are performing brilliantly. I particularly liked a few scenes a bit more because all the lead actors acted amazingly in those scenes; Amaan barging into Jawad’s house after losing the case, Jawad going to harass Aida & laughing as she beat him up, Aida pushing Amaan away from her & telling him to go, Sohai, Asad & Osman were brilliant in those scenes especially. The preview of the next episode suggests that may be Aida’s father will commit suicide, but I am glad that the lady from the NGO is following up, which means she might bring Aida out of this setting. Also, I must say the actor playing the role of doctor has been very convincing too, usually those who play doctors in our dramas make it very obvious that they don’t know how to act but this actor surely does. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Surkh Chandni.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Shift In The Story:

Ohkay so, this episode of Surkh Chandni was nicely executed. I am glad that this episode ended on a very different note. I was relieved to know that they kind of moved the story forward after showing the suffering of everyone pretty much within this episode. While watching Surkh Chandni last night, I was thinking that dramas like these give the actors a great opportunity to showcase their acting skills but when it comes to the story & characterization, there is barely anything new there but by the end of this episode, I was actually happy that they are going to give a different direction to the story & from now on, it won’t be purely about the victim’s suffering but mostly about how the culprit will be nabbed. To show the entire journey & the process is still a better approach than just focusing on the suffering and supposedly buri kismat of the acid attack victim!

The Secret Is Out:

Jawad thought that by instilling the fear in Aida, he will be able to keep her silenced but he actually underestimated Aida. Yes, all that has happened to Aida has totally shattered her but then assuming that she will never tell the truth was basically Jawad’s misapprehension. Even though Aida has lost everything, the confidence, the courage, the motivation to live & all of that was realistically portrayed but I felt relieved when she actually shared everything with her mother, Rukhsana. Aida had to do this in order to feel less burdened. It was nice to see that even though Aida kept everything to herself & she didn’t want to make anyone worried, she confided in her mother & shared her fears with her. It was also nice to know that Aida’s parents didn’t let Aida feel that something about her had changed & that they were being burdened by her, rather they let her feel loved & secure because of which Aida was able to share such an important detail with Rukhsana.

Jawad told Aida that he was capable of hurting Amaan too & that was a reason enough for Aida to back out & stay silent because she loved Amaan so much to let anything happen to him. It was nice to see Aida finding some support & encouragement from a few people around her but then it was unfortunate that she was also being mistreated & being told that she was being a nuisance & nothing else by Mukhtar & Shumaila!

Mukhtar is someone who doesn’t really have a mind of his own & because he believes the white lies of his wife so much, he ends up doing all that she asks for because that is Mukhtar’s way of compensating & showcasing his love for her. Without even letting anyone know Mukhtar decided that he doesn’t want to file a case against the culprit. It is also because he knows that his father is financially dependent on him, so it kind of gives him the edge to make such decisions without consulting him.

Shumaila has her own thing going on with Jawad. She is an opportunist & since she has seen the kind of favours she gets from Jawad by helping him with his agendas, she is making the most of it. Mansha Pasha really has taken a challenging role & she is succeeding in making us all hate Shumaila due to her flawless acting. It is nice to see that Mansha Pasha has not overdone her expressions & has rather kept it very subtle which seems far more realistic.

So, Rukhsana ended up telling Safina about Jawad being the one who did this to Aida & I am glad the secret is finally out & no one will be making assumptions anymore. Even though it was heart breaking to see Aida taking the brunt for something she was not even responsible for in the first place, it was still good to see that she had a support system like Amaan who was ready to do whatever it takes to not only bring her back to life but also put the culprit behind bars.

I am glad that the writer has kept things a little unpredictable in Surkh Chandni like initially everyone bring totally cool with Aida & Amaan’s liking for each other, supporting them & not pushing Aida to marry a financially stable guy like Jawad & now Aida telling the truth. At times these things are always given a typical approach but Surkh Chandni is turning out to be different which is actually nice. I dreaded that it might take Aida 10+ episodes to expose Jawad but she took my by surprise & I hope I keep getting surprised like this in the future episodes too.

Closing Thoughts – Great Acting:

Overall, this episode of Surkh Chandhni was good to tune to. I am glad that the depressing phase is kind of over & now the battle will begin where Jawad will have to face the consequences & Aida will get the justice she deserves. Even though it is going to be a long journey I am glad things have started to make a progress. Sohai Ali Abro has nailed the character of Aida, she made me feel her pain every step of the way. It is also good to see Sohai Ali Abro not going overboard & rather keeping everything very subdued & realistic. Asad Siddique & Mansha Pasha are actually a treat to watch, despite their characters being annoying, their acting makes it all very interesting. Osman Khalid Butt is also doing a good job but at times it feels his larger than life expressions are best suited for a big silver screen & not a small TV screen, like he makes it obvious that this is him acting for a drama. The direction is apt so far & I am looking forward to the next episode as it promised a lot more drama. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Surkh Chandni.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza

Opening Thoughts – Brilliant Execution:

Ohkay so, this episode of Surkh Chandni was nicely executed & it focused on how everyone dealt with the acid attack on Aida. Even though this episode was a bit depressing but I am glad that they didn’t drag it & kept on shifting the focus on other issues which didn’t make it one-dimensional. It was also realistically shown how they all were trying to cope with this life-changing incident while others were trying to take the advantage of this situation. So far the execution is definitely decent & they are keeping on the right track.

Raw & Real Portrayal:

So, Jawad threw acid on Aida’s face but like a coward, he sat there weighing the possibility of the fact whether she saw him or not. Jawad wasn’t too concerned about Shumaila knowing about him being the culprit because he knew exactly how to deal with her but yes, the thought of Aida recognizing him did unsettle Jawad.

It was all about how Aida’s family especially her parents & Amaan reacted to all that happened with Aida but it was brilliantly shown that in such tough times, the victims only need moral support & Aida had all of it. The doctors also sympathized with Aida but tried to show her the bigger picture & now it was all left on Aida to find it in her heart to come out of this & move on. It obviously is not going to be an easy journey & that is why where Aida seemed a little composed at one moment, the very next she cried at her helplessness. Aida would’ve never imagined that something like this could happen to her but now this was a cold hard truth that she has to live with.

In this entire scenario, Amaan’s approach was brilliant. He just wanted Aida to know that nothing had changed. Amaan wanted to make Aida feel that she was the same girl that he loved with all her heart but then it was obviously hard for Aida to accept. Amaan tried to put a brave face on in front of Aida & even though he didn’t want to address those feelings, he knew exactly how everything had changed & to what extent. Amaan knew that he now had a long battle to fight where he had to rebuild Aida’s confidence & make her feel loved & valued.

Aida’s parents wanted to do everything for their daughter but then it was realistically shown how their financial condition was holding them back. Even though at this stage anyone wants to do what’s best for their family members but there are so many factors that play a part & hinder from doing what one wants to for their loved ones. Aida’s parents knew that they were financially dependent on Mukhtar but then they also were satisfied as they had their last & final security blanket; their house which could help them with Aida’s surgeries. Mukhtar was worried about only one thing & that was the medical expenses that he’ll have to bear that is why he immediately thought of contacting different NGO’s to request some financial help from them.

Shumaila is the one who has benefitted from this situation the most. I am glad that right from the beginning, there are a couple of people apart from Jawad who know that he is the one who has done this to Aida because sooner or later they will be forced to admit the truth. Shumaila stayed quiet because Jawad started giving her all the favors that guaranteed her some comfort & financial relief but eventually she too will come under the radar for being an ally to the criminal.

Closing Thoughts – Quite Impressive:

Overall, this episode of Surkh Chandni kept everything very raw & real. They perfectly showed the struggles of both the victim & her family members in detail & a convincing manner. Sohai Ali Abro, Osman Khalid Butt & Asad Siddique were quite impressive in this episode, especially Sohai Ali Abro. The preview of the next episode showed that things will change drastically for both Amaan & Aida & I am sure it is going to be quite a journey. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Surkh Chandni.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Enjoyable Episodes:

Ohkay so, this episode of Surkh Chandni covered the high & low moments of Aida’s life. The best thing that I found about this episode was that Aida finally decided to move on & stop sulking. This drama I guess is done with the depressing phase & now things are shaping up for Amaan & Aida’s better future & I can not wait to see. I thoroughly enjoyed watching these two episodes of Surkh Chandni & can not wait to see what comes next. The direction is pretty good & the acting to be seen in this drama is exceptional.

Amaan Convinced Aida To Stop Feeling Guilty:

Before talking about any character, I would love to discuss Safina. I love her character, I am glad that Huma Nawab finally got such a substantial & memorable character to play. Safina’s wisdom, her strength, her courage & most importantly her optimistic approach towards life is inspiring. It is amazing that even though things have not been in Safina & Amaan’s favor, she still sees the light at the end of the tunnel & always tells her son to think that way too. Safina not only knows how to take a stand for her son but she is not even scared to call spade a spade in front of selfish people like Mukhtar & Shumaila. Safina knows that nothing good can be expected from them but she still gave them a piece of her mind because she knew that this was her moral duty to do so & speak against their tyranny that they were directing towards their sister Rukhsana. I am so glad that this drama has covered so many aspects & has so many dynamic characters, it somehow makes this entire picture wholesome & completes this drama on another level.

So, Amaan & Aida finally got married but they had no idea that their problems were far from being over. Aida was estranged from her family & she found a security & a home because of Safina & Amaan. Even though that was enough for Aida, Amaan & Safina, they all had no idea that no one around them was going to let them live in peace. Amaan & Aida’s marriage was their personal choice & decision but people around them thought otherwise. This is yet another bitter reality that has been covered in this drama’s story where everyone feels it’s their duty to judge the decisions made by others. Instead of being courteous or considerate towards Aida & all that she has been through, the neighbors made sure to let Safina & Amaan know that Aida was not welcomed in this building.

This entire episode focused on how Amaan & Safina were still fighting for Aida & her right of living a peaceful life. Safina informed Rukhsana about Amaan & Aida’s marriage & that was one sweet scene, but I loved how she put both Shumaila & Mukhtar in their right places before sharing the news with her sister. Amaan was done fighting & even though he was doing it all to encourage & empower Aida, what broke his heart was that she still saw herself as guilty & held herself responsible for putting Amaan & Safina through all of this. Amaan wanted Aida to hold her head high & face the world, this way he knew that no one will be able to break her or tear her confidence apart. It took a lot for Amaan to finally convince Aida & she realized it. Aida felt that Amaan was doing so much for her, the least she could do was not sulk anymore & just be happy for him & this is what she finally decided she’s going to do. Aida took a little step towards normalcy, she decided to come back to life for her husband Amaan. It was sweet but then, their happiness was short-lived.

So, Shumaila has now started resenting Mukhtar. She was alright with the kind of life she was leading with Mukhtar but now she has started finding faults in everything that he does or says. Shumaila is not happy with Mukhtar & that is also because of Junaid. Shumaila would’ve never thought of this but Junaid’s constant reminders have forced her to consider how her life will be if she gets married to a younger, richer man like Junaid. Shumaila was always selfish & it won’t be a surprise if she will choose Junaid over Mukhtar. Shumaila’s friend has also started to push her towards Junaid, she thinks this proposal basically means the luck is knocking on her door & she shouldn’t turn this golden opportunity away. Junaid has started playing his game & he has decided to distance Mukhtar from Shumaila, that way he will be able to pursue her easily & they both will be able to meet freely without Shumaila being distracted by the thoughts of her husband. Junaid is ought to destroy Shumaila’s life but then she is also responsible for being content with what she has rather than playing with fire. They both surely deserve each other.

Closing Thoughts – Amazing:

Overall, this episode of Surkh Chandni was on a positive side but then it ended on a very sad & dramatic note. Amaan suffered injuries & this will again put Aida in a shell where she will hold herself responsible & probably think that going away from Amaan’s life is the best option. The direction & the acting seen in Surkh Chandni is definitely amazing. I must say, Sohai Ali Abro, Mansha Pasha, Asad Siddique, Osman Khalid Butt & Hassan Ahmed have done a great job. This episode however, belonged to Huma Nawab, not only for her character but also for her acting. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this episode but I hope things don’t slow down or go in a loop with Aida feeling guilty once again. Please share your thoughts about these episodes of Surkh Chandni.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Different Aspects of A Victim’s Journey:

Ohkay so, this episode of Surkh Chandni was depressing & somewhat slow but still, it is good to see that they are showing different aspects of what a victim goes through & how in some rare cases a victim tries to take the matters in her hands. Aida was pushed to the limit & her patience was being tested time & again, therefore she was left with no choice than to do what it takes to punish the one who was responsible for what she was going through. The direction & acting to be seen in Surkh Chandni is definitely amazing but it is too bad that the theme of the drama is so depressing.

Aida Took Matters In Her Hands:

Aida tried to harm Junaid but she couldn’t succeed, however Aida showed no remorse over what she did, to an extent that she was not even worried about the consequences she’d have to face if Junaid had actually died. It was basically the way to highlight what Aida was put through time & again & how it boiled down to this point that she saw this as the only option. Aida has grown cold, she has shed enough tears & after seeing the destruction her family has faced, she was numb but the only thing that riled her up was the thought of Junaid roaming around freely while still being the one who did this to her.

Aida was arrested & then once again, Amaan’s love & patience for her was tested. Amaan did everything to get her out of the prison but in the end, his helplessness took him to the path which he so did not want to walk on. Safina knew that the only person who could help them in this hour of need was Junaid & Amaan ended up doing which no one would’ve done for Aida. He surrendered but made sure that it guaranteed Aida’s freedom. Aida stayed aloof & numb but a part of her was done sulking because AIda had pretty much understood that nothing else or nothing worse could happen to her. Aida once again got to see the love Amaan had for her but she would may be never find out how he arranged for her to get out of the jail, it was by begging for her life in front of the one who destroyed it completely.

Mukhtar took the gloves off & told his mother that they had nothing to do with Aida anymore & if she wanted a roof over her head, she had to abide by the rules set by him. I know, this is yet another realistic part of the story but showing this much of helplessness is pretty depressing. Aida’s mother knew she couldn’t do much plus she was not even in the right state of mind to do anything, she was mourning the tragic loss of her husband & now her daughter too.

Junaid now has called dibs on Shumaila & I am sure this was something that no one saw coming. Junaid is after this entire family & he obviously is mentally twisted, that is why he didn’t even feel ashamed of thinking about Shumaila that way. I am sure Shumaila, despite hesitating will eventually understand what Junaid wants & she’d most probably get ready to get married to him. Shumaila only wants comfort & luxuries, that is the only reason she is drawn towards Junaid & his mother, while bearing in mind that they are responsible for all that has happened to Aida. This was definitely an unexpected twist & I am interested to see the doom of Mukhtar, when he will be ditched by the wife he trusts the most & this will eventually lead to the doom of Junaid & Shumaila too. Their lives will be full of regrets but then, before that happens, I so want to see Aida & Amaan pushing though. The ray of hope in this entire situation is the involvement of the NGO worker, where she has not only grown curious about Aida but is also following her case up because she can sense something is totally off about the way her family has been behaving. I so hope she gives Aida a hope & a new path which will shape her life like no one would’ve imagined.

Closing Thoughts – Brilliant Acting:

Overall, this drama definitely scores brownie points for the overly realistic portrayal of what happens in an acid victim’s life but still, I can not emphasize enough about the fact that it is very very very depressing & I watch the episode by forwarding quite a lot of closeup shots, tears & such scenes where the OST is echoing non-stop in the background. I must say, this drama is also quite loud, loud in a sense that it does have a lot of yelling & screaming but on top of that, the usage of OST is horrifically way too much. I so wish they had toned it down on it a bit because they are making quite a point so they don’t need to emphasize the sad state of affairs by relying so much on the depressing song. All the actors are doing a phenomenal work in this drama, be it Hassan Ahmad, Huma Nawab, Mansha Pasha, Sohai Ali Abro, Osman Khalid Butt or Asad Siddique, they all are brilliant in Surkh Chandni. I must also add that I am glad once they start off with one chapter, by the end of the double episodes, they wrap that up & give a teaser of what is going to happen in the next episode, I guess this will keep the story moving consistently & I hope that doesn’t change. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Surkh Chandni.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Introductory Details:

Ohkay so, the writing of Asma Nabeel, direction of Shahid Shafaat & the production of Next Level & Six Sigma Plus Entertainment; Surkh Chandni is the new drama airing on ARY Digital which is going to focus on the journey of an acid attack victim. The first set of episodes of Surkh Chandni were well executed and established the plot of the story in detail. Even though dramas like these do tend to get slow in the middle but I am glad that they have started off with double episodes because it is going to help a lot with the pace. The first two episodes introduced the characters & their personalities in such a way that I didn’t have a hard time connecting with them.

Cast & Characters:

Amaan (Osman Khalid Butt) & Aida (Sohai Ali Abro) are maternal cousins & they both are in love with each other. Amaan & his mother Safina (Huma Nawab) are not financially stable but that is also because Amaan is still studying & is looking for a job. Aida comes from a middle class family too but her brother has taken the financial responsibility of the entire family.

Aida’s family includes her father Badar (Rashid Farooqi), her mother (Lubna Aslam), brother Mukhtar (Hassan Ahmad), his wife Shumaila (Mansha Pasha) & their daughter. Aida is the peace-maker of the family & she always makes sure to pacify the situation when it gets rough between her mother & Shumaila. Badar is a very conservative father who believes that a girl may or may not pursue education but she should actually know how to be a good homemaker & that is why Aida is the one who has taken the responsibility of household chores because she has been told to do so. Aida’s mother doesn’t share the same mindset as Badar but she can not do much for Aida as she knows that it’s the men of her family who make the final decisions.

Aida has a subdued personality, she has kind of trained herself to be that way because she is well aware of the kind of environment she is in plus the kind of mentality her family has but it doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have dreams. Aida loves Amaan & she wants to get married to him, that is also because she kind of sees it as the only escape from this suffocating environment of her house.

Jawwad (Asad Siddique) happens to be the neighbour of Aida & he is not someone a girl will ever idealize to get married to but he has his sights on her & continues to pester Aida every chance he gets. Jawwad has been married before but it seems his first marriage ended on a bad note too but that hasn’t changed Jawwad at all. He comes from an affluent family & his mother Humera (Gul e Rana) has instilled it in her son that he is entitled to everything that he wishes for.

Shumaila is basically playing the character of Balaa in Surkh Chandni. She is bitter, manipulative & conniving & that is the reason she has formed a relationship with Jawwad because she sees it as an opportunity of getting financial support from him. Shumaila tries really hard to make sure that everyone in Aida’s family accepts Jawad’s proposal but that is when Amaan & Safina prevent it from happening & suggest that Aida & Amaan should get married as soon as possible. It was definitely a pleasant surprise to see how everything worked in Aida’s favor where Badar rejected Jawad’s proposal & chose Amaan over him, considering the fact that Aida loved Amaan & he loved her. It definitely came as a surprise considering the kind of introduction Badar got so it was nice to see him thinking about his daughter’s happiness & telling his son to back off. I liked how everything fell into its place seamlessly & turned into Aida’s favor. Jawad is upto no good & thanks to the over-elaborate promos that we all know what is going to happen next!

What I liked the most about the first two episodes of Surkh Chandni was that the director kind of set the tone of the story & gave it a gloomy feel because it sure is going to be such a drama which will show us the pain & agony of an acid attack victim. The director didn’t really commercialize it & kept it very realistic, which was nice. I also liked how they showed the daily-life struggles of regular people in such a realistic manner, minute details like Badar saving up some money for Aida’s marriage & Aida going to basic parlour in the vicinity of her locality made it all very realistic & relatable. I also liked that the director & the actors did not give an OTT treatment to the characters & kept the look & styling very natural.

Closing Thoughts – Engaging:

Overall, the first two episodes of Surkh Chandni definitely kept me engaged right till the end & as the episodes ended I found myself wanting to see more. The first two episodes kind of had all the flavors that one would want to see in a drama but yes, it is going to get more serious from now on. Sohai Ali Abro has definitely come a long long way & I say that because I have seen her drama after years so I really found an improvement in her acting. She made Aida’s character quite admirable. Asad Siddique has really done a great job as well & the more I see his work, the more I feel he is getting comfortable in front of the camera. Osman Khalid Butt was natural too. The very first scene did seem a bit too filmy but I am glad everything after that mellowed down & became realistic. I am happy to see Mansha Pasha in a negative character but I am not sure what has made the stylists think that a wig can make a girl look villainous? In my opinion it makes a character look more cartoonish because of the total unnatural & unreal effect. A crooked look can be given to any character with the help of makeup so not sure why the heavy relying on wigs. I think Balaa has set quite a trend in ARY Digital dramas & everyone seems to be following it now. Mansha Pasha acted brilliantly but I still had a hard time accepting her in a negative role because she seems as in she is too nice for that, but it is good that she has opted for a different role this time. The direction, production value, camera work, editing, everything was perfect & it showed that the entire team worked in harmony to achieve these results. Definitely looking forward to the next episodes & definitely recommending it too. Please share your thoughts about these episode of Surkh Chandni.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.