THE WEEK THAT WAS

Raaz-i-Ulfat | Geo TV, Tuesdays 8.00pm

Mushk (Yumna Zaidi) belongs to a conservative family and, although she has been allowed to marry Irtiza (Shehzad Sheikh), a man of her choice, there are restrictions on meeting him until the wedding takes place. The best angle that has emerged in the story of the perpetual struggle of middle-class with values against the rich, upper class, which is shown to have little or none, is how Mushk’s mother (Hina Bayat Khan), the oppressed and disciplined wife of an authoritarian patriarch Iftikhar (Tanveer Jamal), has herself transformed with time. She has eased up rules and regulations on the newly-engaged Mushk, because Mushk’s mother is living her own youth through her daughter, who is in love and hence slightly rebellious. Mushk’s mum confesses to her younger daughter Amber (Arisha Razi) how lacklustre her engagement was, and how her romantic dreams were shattered when she found out that she had married an angry, authoritarian man in Iftikhar, who never spoke to her softly, let alone love her.

Pyar Ke Sadqay | Hum TV, Thursdays 8.00pm

Revelations galore for Mansoora (Atiqa Odho) when daughter-in-law Mahjabeen (Yumna Zaidi) puts stepfather-in-law Sarwar (Omair Rana) on speaker, and Mansoora hears for herself what plans he has for himself and Mahjabeen. But after hearing about Mahjabeen’s pregnancy, Sarwar no longer wishes to keep contact with Mahjabeen. Heartbroken but determined, Mansoora throws Sarwar out of her business, and prepares to divorce him. Realising how correct her daughter Washma (Srha Asghar) had been all along about Mahjabeen and Sarwar, Mansoora orders a re-audit and finds out that Mahjabeen’s father Munshee (Malik Raza) had been framed by Sarwar. We can’t wait to see how the snake Sarwar retaliates to the world that is crumbling around him.

What To Watch Out For

Ghissi Piti Mohabbat | ARY, Thursdays 8.00pm

Fasih Bari Khan is back with a fresh rom-com with contemporary, lively characters and an intriguing cast line-up including Saba Faisal, Sana Askari, Saba Hameed and Saife Hasan, with Ramsha Khan (Samia) and Wahaj Ali (Rizwan) as leads. Samia is a strong-headed, outspoken chef at a hotel, while Rizwan is a peppy RJ. They meet by chance, fall in love and get married of their own free will, without informing their families. The story is being told by Samia and the script is signature Bari, with crisp, punchy lines, as Bari talks through his characters. Samia’s character is just the kind of bold, courageous, slightly unconventional girl we want portrayed in our plays, and who better than Ramsha Khan to play the role. GPM is not to be missed.

Published in Dawn, ICON, August 16th, 2020