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Bold and brazen
The invasion of local private TV channels by pseudo-Indian soap operas is hard to ignore these days. However, one upcoming serial that promises to distinctly defy such commercial norms is Bebaak with its strong storyline and impressive cast comprising TV veterans.
The cast includes well known names such as Nadeem Baig, Moammar Rana, Talat Hussain, Sania Saeed, Samina Peerzada, Saba Pervaiz, Jehanzeb Gurchani, Faisal Qureshi, and Shabbir Jan. Written by Noor-ul-Huda Shah, who has many hit serials to her credit, Bebaak is perhaps one of the rare present-day serials that does not bank on the glamour quotient. Instead, what is promising about the play is its strong script and well-knitted fabric of characters.
Recently, this writer attended the serial’s launch attended by some of the cast members such as Nadeem Baig, Faisal Qureshi and Jehanzeb Gurchani. One also expected to come across Moammar Rana, Saba Pervaiz, Talat Hussain and Samina Peerzada but they were sadly missing. To make up for the loss, the Hum TV team showed pre-recorded interviews of these actors. Later, those among the cast present came up to say a few words about their roles and how the serial shaped up.
An interesting point raised at the ‘Bebaak’ launch was that all the artistes in the cast have given sterling performances, which proves the point that we don’t need Indian actors to make a good play. It is the script, direction, and performance by the lead cast that determines the worth of a production
Bebaak, as the name suggests, has a bold theme that indirectly refers to those who subjugate the poor and manipulate state politics to achieve personal benefits on the basis of power. Talking about the play, Noor-ul-Huda Shah said that the serial is based on a very sensitive subject and is probably her second daring attempt after Jungle, a landmark play that she wrote almost 22 years ago and was aired from PTV. “This play is about the jungle that prevails in the urban centres of Pakistan,” she added.At a time when most productions bank on glamour to snare the lion’s share of advertisement revenue, Bebaak treads a relatively unconventional path as per current market norms, and promises a revival of drama based on serious issues. “We wanted to get rid of the glamour and pave way for quality scripts. We have tackled a serious theme in Bebaak and it should satisfy our viewers who are thirsty for an intellectually stimulating dramatic experience,” said the writer.
“We had some security concerns when this serial was being made because of the obvious comparison between the lead characters and some well-known powerful authorities in our country. But we took the risk and went on to make this serial,” said the CEO, Duraid Qureshi. Later, Noor-ul-Huda jokingly added that viewers are cautioned to watch this serial at their own risk as the makers are not responsible for guarding their TV screens — a statement that raised curiosity among the guests present.An interesting point raised at the ceremony was that all the artistes in the cast have given sterling performances, which proves the point that we don’t need Indian actors to make a good play. It is the script, direction, and performance by the lead cast that determines the worth of a production. Of course, it is still too early to gauge what sort of a feedback this venture will receive.
The theme of Bebaak revolves round a love-triangle with a terrorist and a lawyer as two of the protagonists along with a key depiction of political mafia, which works underground and tries to manipulate state politics for its own gains.
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