THE WEEK THAT WAS

Darr Khuda Se | Geo TV, Tuesdays 8.00pm

Karma hits back and it’s a sad little drop scene for the greedy Tamkeen (Kiran Haq) as her sly husband Shahwaiz (Imran Abbas) divorces her in the blink of an eye. After an exposé of how Shahwaiz mistreated first wife Gul (Mariam Mirza) and squandered her money, Gul’s son gives Shahwaiz and Tamkeen their marching orders. Gul allows Shahwaiz to live in her house only on the condition that he divorces second wife Tamkeen, and a shattered Tamkeen returns to her parents’ house after the divorce. Her previous love interest, Rasheed the sabziwalla, who is diligently taking care of Tamkeen’s father Siddiqui sahib (Qavi Khan), will perhaps end up marrying Tamkeen, foiling her plans of getting rich.

Ruswai | ARY, Tuesdays 8.00pm

Sana Javed is smooth in her role as the rape survivor Sameera, especially in a scene where, after receiving her divorce papers, she sounds off at her father Mehmood (Mohammed Ahmed) for being responsible for the divorce — he had saved his bahu Warda (Mina Tariq) from getting kidnapped and let go off Sameera’s hand who was then hauled away by the kidnappers and raped, a rape that Sameera’s husband Salman (Mikaal Zulfiqar) could never come to terms with. Sameera gets another blow when Salman remarries a couple of days later. Apart from a little bit of dragging here and there, Rubina Ashraf has adequately helmed Naila Ansari’s story, covering all stages of grief that a rape survivor goes through sans overflowing tears. Characterisation, casting and performances remain at par.

What To Watch Out For

Pyar Ke Sadqay | Hum TV, Thursdays 8.00pm

Dejected after his old and favoured employee Munshijee (Malik Raza) declines his proposal for Munshee’s young daughter Mahjabeen (Yumna Zaidi), the deceitful Sarwar Aaqil (Omair Rana) fires Munshee from his job. But that’s not the end of his temper. The brunt is also borne by his submissive older wife Mansoora Begum (Atiqa Odho) whom he humiliates, threatens to divorce and then walks out on to go and live with his mum. Mansoora Begum, her children and her business are all left behind in the lurch. But this has to be temporary, for if Sarwar abandons them for good, it would be the best thing to happen to Mansoora Begum’s family. Sarwar not only plays mind games with them but also physically abuses them, as in the case of Mansoora Begum’s son Abdullah (Bilal Abbas). Taking villainy to the next level, Omair Rana is a delight to watch as Sarwar.

Published in Dawn, ICON, March 1st, 2020