THE WEEK THAT WAS

Khudgarz | ARY, Tuesday 8.00pm

A brilliant start and 10 episodes down, the serial sustains its pace. Aamina Sheikh makes a fabulous comeback as Ayra, the psychologist who treats Abeer (Mansha Pasha in one of her best roles so far).

Incidentally, both women have been victimised by Hasaan (Sami Khan), a neurotic loser. Rising to the occasion each time Hasaan fails his family, his brother Junaid (Syed Jibran) even substitutes as the groom when Hasaan disappears from his own wedding.

Rida Bilal is doing some good screenwriting, the characters feel real and conversations between Ayra and Abeer are outs­tanding. Yasir Nawaz has a grip on both the story and his actors. The double episodes are a treat for Tuesday nights.

Silsilay | Geo TV, Monday 8.00pm

While the matronly aunt (Simi Raheel) tries to discipline them in vain, Abeeha (a university student played by Moomal Sheikh) and her younger sister Hira (Hiba Bukhari) indulge in practical jokes and high-school antics with Shahzeb (Muneeb Butt) who is their neighbour.

Uninvited, Hira arrives right in the middle of a friend’s rishta scene and unintentionally ends up getting hooked herself. The cutesy ambience that the writer Samra Bukhari (Bholi Bano, Gul-e-Rana) is trying to create would look so much better with younger actors.

Let’s hope the serial becomes saner when Junaid Khan appears.

What to watch out for

Piyari Bittu | Express, Saturday 8.00pm

The plot of gets thicker and the situation stickier for Shakira (Sania Saeed), the protective aunt whose endless love for her niece Bittu (Saniya Shamshad) threatens to destroy Bittu’s marriage as well Bittu’s life.

Saniya Shamshad gives an epic performance as the traumatised young girl considering she is a young actor and working with stalwarts such as Sania Saeed, Atiqa Odho, Farah Khan and Rashid Farooqi. Fawad Khan as Shakira’s husband Mehboob is also doing a brilliant job as his role progresses. Mazhar Moin’s direction enhances Saji Gul’s compelling story.

Published in Dawn, ICON, January 21st, 2018