THE WEEK THAT WAS

Khalish | Geo TV, Wednesdays 8.00pm

There was much hype and high expectation as Faisal Qureshi makes a comeback after Zakhm, but it’s not one of his best works. Poor boy (Faisal Qureshi) loves rich girl (Sunita Marshall). When poor boy’s mum (Zainab Qayyum, a complete filmi package with TB and a sewing machine) is not dwelling on her past at the time her husband (Asif Reza Mir) abandoned her, she dotes on her son.

Rich arrogant father (Tanveer Jamal) exploits the situation when he is asked for his daughter’s hand in marriage. A fight scene and ultimately poor boy gets shot in the paunch. Misery target achieved, story now swings to show Asif Reza Mir in a cushy life with his family.

Faisal and Sunita are ridiculously unsuited as young love birds ready to elope. Let’s hope writer Imran Ali Safir (Lahore Junction) and director Syed Ali Raza (Bashar Momin) have something more substantial ahead in the serial.

Dar Si Jaati Hai Sila | Hum TV, Wednesdays 8.00pm

The serial gets more intriguing as the younger people in Noor Manzil try to figure out the reason for Sila’s (Yumna Zaidi) weird behaviour which is initially swept under the carpet as a mental disease. As Sila’s mother (Saman Ansari) attempts suicide, we finally discover the reason for her odd behaviour as well.

Noman Ijaz continues to creep us out as the sleazy predator Joyi who might just meet his nemesis in his new bride.

What to watch out for

Aakhri Station | ARY, Wednesdays 9.00pm

Sarmad Khoosat’s new venture with Kashf Foundation is a seven-episode mini-series inspired by real stories of seven women who are huddled in a train compartment. As the train sets off, the first story is revealed. A young woman, who gets on the train with a little girl, starts telling her story as she removes bright blue colour off her nails. She has walked away from a remorseless husband who is a gambler, unemployed and a drug addict. After gambling away her gold bangles, he gambles her away and has plans to do the same to his daughter.

The taut direction, camerawork, the ambience and sensitive attention to detail add to the brilliant script by Amna Mufti (Uloo Baraye Farokht Nahin). The cast includes Sanam Saeed, Anam Goher, Nimra Bucha and Mikaal Zulfiqar. Akhri Station is a work of art meant for tough viewers.

Published in Dawn, ICON, February 25th, 2018