THE WEEK THAT WAS

Dunk | ARY, Wednesdays 8.00pm

As Mrs Humayun, the wife of Humayun (Noman Ejaz), the professor accused of harassing his student Amal (Sana Javed), Yasra Rizvi’s performance is, as they say colloquially, ‘next level’. She is not only very appropriately cast in a difficult role, but she is so owning it that she makes Noman Ejaz look a tad unconvincing as the accused professor. While Bilal Abbas as Haider is so far just replicating his Cheekh character, Sana Javed is deadpan. Yet another gripping episode where Humayun’s wife cracks, under pressure, due to the social stigma she faces for being a harrasser’s wife, starting from jibes from her own sister to kids at her daughter’s school. Haider’s bad attitude gets worse as some students at the university begin to see both sides of the story.

Ghissi Piti Mohabbat | ARY, Thursdays 8.00pm

Shattering all romantic preconditioning in our heads, and all expectations of a romantic ending, GPM’s finale was realistic and laudable. Three marriages and a romance didn’t kill lead character Samia (Ramsha Khan), because she didn’t want to die herself. She never shed a tear every time she fell, she got back on her feet with grace, steadily educating her family that women are empowered as long as they know their strength. When Samia realises that Aziz (Danial Afzal Khan), her new romantic interest offering marriage, is fickle, and that boss after boss will only harrass her, she resolves to set up her own little food business, borrowing money from her mother. That today’s woman can reach for the stars herself, instead of waiting for someone to promise them to her, was the bottomline of GPM. Writer Faseeh Bari Khan has set a new benchmark for himself.

What To Watch Out For

Raqeeb Se | Hum TV, Wednesdays 8.00pm

Darr Si Jaati Hai Sila’s successful duo, director Kashif Nisar and writer Beegul, return with an unconventional story inspired by Faiz’s poem Raqeeb Se. The beautiful OST is by Hadiqa Kiani, who also makes her acting debut as Sakina, a central character that kicks off the serial. Sakina, Maqsood sahib’s (Noman Ejaz) ex from his earlier life in the village, arrives one night to his house with her daughter Ameera (Iqra Aziz). She wants to deposit Ameera at Maqsood’s home because her new husband not only beats Sakina but has started to get violent with Ameera as well. Maqsood’s wife (Sania Saeed) is mysteriously accepting and affectionate of the situation, Sakina and Ameera, but Maqsood’s daughter Insha (Faryal Mehmood) is more realistic. For more reasons than one, Raqeeb Se promises to be a must-watch.

Published in Dawn, ICON, January 31st, 2021