Zanjeerain is a drama that has been highly anticipated since its announcement. The drama brought back the Yakeen Ka Safar trio of writer Farhat Ishtiaq, director Shahzad Kashmiri, and the lead star Sajal Aly. The drama went on air with a huge cast and caught the audience’s attention in an instant with its Game of Thrones-esque plot twists. With big names like Ahsan Khan and Momal Sheikh making cameos and stars like Adnan Siddiqui and Samiya Mumtaz taking the show forward, new stars like Danyal Zafar and Sahar Hashmi also tried to give their best.
Zanjeerain had a fast pace in the first half, and it gained an audience not just in Pakistan but internationally. Many people have praised the show for the strong performances and a storyline not revolving around conniving mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. But the drama still cannot be called a masterpiece due to some glaring flaws, which have dragged it back from reaching the peak it was aiming for. Here are the flaws that stopped Zanjeerain from becoming a masterpiece.
Unrealistic Settings
Zanjeerain was set in the rural areas of Pakistan. It is suggested to be the KPK area, as is evident from the Sardar attire, the women doing pardahs, as well as the Khan surnames. Some parts also seem to be set in Kashmir, though the provinces are not specifically highlighted. The Northern Areas of Pakistan and many parts of KPK are known for their beauty and nature. The culture of these regions is strong, and people often follow their norms and attire. Thus, watching a very rural Rabiya in a very Turkish-inspired attire looked very out of place. Similarly, the extreme frankness and closeness between Pashtun Bano and Sarbuland is also completely out of place. Their love and understanding make sense, but going freely into each other’s rooms at any time of the day does not match the area and culture depicted in the show.
Choppy Performances
Zanjeerain has some of the strongest performers from the industry in one project. Sajal Aly, Adnan Siddiqui, Samiya Mumtaz, and Hassan Nouman are all actors who give it their all. However, Danyal Zafar and Sahar Hashmi are two new actors who gathered praise for their work in the drama. But during some very important scenes, the performances were choppy, and the consistency faltered. For example, when Mudassir calls Sarbuland, Danyal Zafar was not able to hold his performance well. The same thing was seen once again after Bano disappeared.
Loopholes in the Plot
Zanjeerain has a thrilling storyline. The show did not hesitate in killing off the main characters played by stars like Ahsan Khan, Momal Sheikh, Ameer Gilani, and Sahar Hashmi. But there are some glaring loopholes in the story that do not make sense.
First and foremost, Mudassir grew up with Sarbuland, and he should technically know his family members and vice versa. Similarly, Torsum also grew up with them, and he should have seen Mudassir a few times. But they both acted like strangers when Torsum came to kill Rabiya.
Another huge loophole at this point is Rabiya staying for months on at Sarbuland’s house, and she has still not shared a single word about what happened that night. Why she is not taking Torsum’s name is not make sense, as she has nothing to lose at this point.
Sarbuland not getting suspicious at all of Sohrab, especially how calm he has been since his sister’s death, is also not making sense. Though Sarbuland has shown to be an “urbanised” guy, he is still the son of Sardars, and he should have some survival instincts.
Trench Level Lows After Peak Highs
Zanjeerain is a hit as the drama has shown some peak moments. The scene where Mahgul and Sherdil’s car was blasted looked realistic. Similarly, its aftermath, Sarbuland’s emotional breakdown, was also great. Ameer Gilani’s Mudassir’s death, as well as Sajal Aly’s breakdown as Rabiya, were high points of the show. The drama picked up after these high peaks, but the show again falters as it drags back to trench-level lows.
The drama shows a big plot twist and then keeps dragging on for a number of episodes. This alternating of peak highs and trench lows does not let the curiosity build as it did for a show like Khaie. The inconsistency has become a hurdle in this drama reaching the masterpiece level.
Underutilized Potential
Zanjeerain went with a stellar cast and then failed to utilise it to its full potential. A stunning actress like Samiy Mumtaz is mostly limited to crying for her dying progeny or lying in the hospital. Similarly, Adnan Siddiqui’s Zafran Khan was so intriguing, but he never got enough screen time. Usman Javed was a breakout star as he made people hate him as Torsum. He has now been confined to wandering around to find Rabiya, and his villainous streak has somewhat died down.
These actors were capable of a lot more, but all we get are repetitive scenes of Shireen and Sohrab’s cringe romance.
Unnecessary Screentime
The show has many tracks that have people invested, including Rabiya and Mudassir, Bano’s murder, Sherdil and Mahgul’s murders, and much more. But the screen time always keeps fluctuating between Shireen’s intrigues, Sohrab’s romance with her, and also running along the hills for no reason at all. Fans mostly do not get what they actually want to see, and screen time is given to unnecessary plot points, which drag the script unnecessarily.
All these shortcomings are a hindrance to Zanjeerain being called a masterpiece. What other shortcomings have annoyed in the drama? Share in comments!
