Mera Naam Yousuf Hai, Mehreen Jabbar's next directorial venture after Jackson Heights, airs tonight on TV channel A-plus.
The 22-episode serial stars Imran Abbas as protagonist Yousuf, and Maya Ali, who plays his intended love interest Zulekha. The drama is supported by veterans Behroz Sabzwari, Hina Biyat and Waseem Abbas, and rising TV stars Mansha Pasha, Taqi Ahmed and Faizan Shaikh. The drama has been penned by Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar, the man behind Sadqay Tumhare and Pyaray Afzal.
The plot revolves around a singer, Yousuf, who falls in love at first sight with a girl from a humble middle-class family. Meanwhile, Zulekha is mired between proposals from two of her cousins, proposals that are selfishly encouraged by her parents’ self-interest.
Talking to Imran Abbas about his experience, the actor shares: "After completing the series Alvida, I wasn't interested in working in a Pakistani television serial but I was tempted by Khalil-ur-Rehman's script. It's very challenging as he does not allow his actors to improvise with the script or even alter one word. It's a tough yet productive exercise and helped me grow professionally as an actor. With Mehreen donning the director's hat, she was able to get histrionic performances from us."
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The cast of Mera Naam Yousuf Hai has been deemed the 'dream team' by many. — Publicity photo. |
Mera Naam Yousuf Hai is a departure for New York-based filmmaker/director Mehreen Jabbar as the television serial has been shot entirely in Pakistan and delves into the world of a lower socio-economic class as compared to her other projects.
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Mehreen Jabbar intelligent director,Expected the serial Supper Hit.
Talking to Imran Abbas about his experience, the actor shares: "After completing the series Alvida, I wasn't interested in working in a Pakistani television serial but I was tempted by Khalil-ur-Rehman's script.
Oh really!!!!!! Mr Imran Abbas.....After giving one flop movie in India with Bipasha Basu your mind touching skies.... Sir, i think still you need much improvement in your acting ....... i dont remember any mindblowing serial of yours in which you would have shown someunmatched skills...looks can't give you permanent success.....
Khalil ur Rehman Qamar was not behind Humsafar as mentioned in the article, Humsafar was written by Farhat Ishtiaq.
In the West, TV series are going through a renaissance and breaking new ground with high-profile shows like Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, True Detective and House of Cards while we're still stuck with tales of sad marriage proposals gone wrong. Shame.
hmmm.. ok.
@Ali S - I'd still prefer to be 'stuck' with our dramas.
Love Pak dramas ever since I was a child ( I am in my mid 30s) quality of acting in general is so natural by all actors. Seen some super scripted dramas. Always noticed that Pak tv actors acted much better than bollywood actors. In bollywood movies only the lead actors are usually good the rest are usually so cartoonist....but in Pak dramas usually every actor is simply natural and fantastic. I rather watch a Pak drama any day over a bollywood movie. Just love them!
Except for a few exceptionally talented directors and actors/actresses, there is a constant infusion of new talent in the television dramas in Pakistan. It is like fresh breeze and makes for great viewer experience. Thank heavens you dont have to have a daily dose of BigB or AR.
Jackson Heights also delves into the world of the deprived,one is a cab driver the other is a person trying to trap a lonely woman, their family back home have no money and are looking for support from the cab driver and his nephew and one is working in a saloon and her husband and his friends are a street level crooks.
@yasmin I so agree with you!!
Wow! Just watched the first episode of this drama. It's fantastically amazing. Imran Abbas has acted very well in this drama who hitherto was pretty ordinary in his previous offerings. I'm hooked now to this serial. Great story telling by KRQ as always. Maheen Jabar is mesmerising as usual with her direction.
@Ali S so go watch those shows why are you bothering us here ?
@Ali S These sad marriage proposals that you point to are a reality in Pakistan and its culture. Until and unless women are truly free to make their own choices, such themes will be on the entertainment menu (pun intended) for decades to come.
@zafar Nothing mentioned about Humsafar anywhere! It was about Sadqay Tumhare and Pyare Afzal only!!