THE WEEK THAT WAS

Main Haar Nahin Manungi | Hum TV, Tuesdays 21.10pm

Brimming with talent and good looks, Anzela Abbasi (Javeria Abbasi’s daughter) appears in the lead role of a determined girl, Nimra, who decides to support her family by learning how to drive a motorcycle from her cousin Haroon (Ali Josh), who secretly likes her. This she does at the cost of getting caught and creating a scene in the neighbourhood and her family.

Saniya Shamshad plays her jealous sister Aruba who likes Adil (Asad Arsalan Butt), who likes Nimra. Aruba wants Nimra out of the way so she can have Adil all to herself. Aruba cunningly creates situations that convince Adil that Nimra prefers Haroon over him. Nimra, on the other hand, is more concerned about her father’s (Khalid Butt) declining health.

What To Watch Out For

Mere Khudaya | ARY, Saturdays 8.00pm

Sajid (Shahood Alvi) is a convicted rapist who returns from jail to find out that his mother and wife haven’t forgiven him for committing such a heinous act and throw him out. He gets a job as a van driver and can’t help overhearing a conversation between two close friends, Mehak (Saboor Aly) and Aleena (Zubab Rana), who study in college together and are the exact opposite of each other. While Mehak is studious and conscientious, Aleena is besotted with Shehzad (Malik Rizwan), her boyfriend who is not sincere with her and who she meets on the sly.

While Sajid begs God’s forgiveness, he also eavesdrops on Aleena’s chatter in the van about her boyfriend and finds himself preparing to blackmail her after learning about her secrets. In the meantime, a proposal arrives for Aleena and her arranged marriage takes place. Meanwhile Shehzad loses his mobile phone in a cab while rushing his mother to the hospital after a heart attack. Aleena is married off in a rush as the groom is leaving for work abroad. This is when Shehzad calls her and Aleena is in a fix. Written by Samina Aijaz and directed by Shahood Alvi, who is in special get-up to play the horrific character with his head shaved and piercing demonic eyes.

Published in Dawn, ICON, July 15th, 2018