THE WEEK THAT WAS

Chaudhry and Sons | Geo TV, Sundays 9.00pm

As promised by the teasers, this is a fun-filled, family-oriented drama with the kind of eccentric but lovable characters that author Saima Akram Chaudhry has become an expert at writing.

Learning from the slow pace of last year’s Ishq Jalebi, director Wajahat Hussain has had time to edit and conceptualise this show to much better effect. Both leads look a little old to be in college but both are bad students who are hanging on to somehow passing after being stuck in one grade. Pari (Ayeza Khan) lives in Hyderabad, Pakistan, with her digest-obsessed Nani (Irsa Ghazal) and an unwanted Romeo next door. Meanwhile, in Lahore, we meet the Chaudhry family: the strait-laced responsible Shakir (Noor Hassan) has to handle his mischievous, young-at-heart father Chaudhry Dildar (Sohail Ahmed) and the fun-loving Billu (Imran Ashraf).

Ayeza Khan is a proven hand at comedy and she is completely at home in this manic role. Though his stint as Bhola in Ranjha Ranjha Kardi had a lot of comedic elements, Ashraf is usually seen in intense roles. We will now see if he can keep up with the frenetic pace.

Hum Tum | Hum TV, Sundays 9.00pm

This is another romantic comedy written by Saima Akram Chaudhry but with a new flavour. Director Danish Nawaz has given this story a wonderful fresh, modern vibe that will appeal to those who like their humour subtle and smart.

Sara Khan plays Maha, a fitness freak obsessed with not gaining weight; Ramsha Khan is Neha, the tomboy studying chemistry, and Anoosheh Rania Khan is Sasha the tech geek. Their father Professor Qutubuddin (Adnan Jaffar) wishes he had a son, like his best friend and neighbour’s son Adam (Ahad Raza Mir). Adam is a kind young man but suffers from OCD, and wants everything in its place. His father is interminably lazy so his entrepreneurial Tammana Nani runs the house while his older brother Sarmad (Junaid Khan) runs the family restaurant.

Hum Tum shows us the kind of balanced and nuanced characters that we might have seen in a Haseena Moin drama but which have long disappeared in a haze of melodrama.

Mrs & Mr Shameem | Zee5

Meet Shammo (Naumaan Ejaz) who is the butt of every joke because of his effeminate ways. But he is a good brother, a respectful son and a loyal friend to Umaima (Saba Qamar). Still the neglected, rootless Umaima can only see him as a “khusra” (transgender), while she chases after the kind of macho man that stirs her heart and body, but ultimately leaves her in disgrace. Author Saji Gul gives us a wonderful exploration of what it really means to be a good man and the two-dimensional models of masculinity that we so often believe are set in stone. Ejaz and Qamar shine in this well-made drama put together by expert storyteller, director Kashif Nisar.

Some crude language and the more liberal aesthetics (outside of Pemra rules) might shock some, but the plus side is it’s not overdone and may well be a relief from some of the very limited, black-and-white characterisations that haunt prime time. The few minuses are too many episodes and too many issues which can test the patience and focus of viewers for an otherwise wonderful story.

What To Watch Out For

Paristan | Hum TV, Coming soon

For romance addicts, here is another relaxing watch for post-iftar. Nayab Saleem is the star of this show about an orphaned girl who lives in a daydream world of her own imagination.

Published in Dawn, ICON, April 10th, 2022