THE WEEK THAT WAS

Meray Humnasheen | Geo TV, Fri-Sat 8.00pm

If it’s possible to ignore the grating Pukhtoon accents, this is a surprisingly good story that both engages and challenges. Khajista (Hiba Bukhari) is determined to become a doctor despite her conservative family traditions and her uneducated, insecure fiancé Darakhzai (Ahsan Khan). Hard work and complete dedication have won Khajista a place at medical school but she faces new obstacles and enemies who, despite their liberal education, are just as competitive and jealous as those who tried to impede her path in her village.

Dr Hadi (Shehzad Shaikh) falls in love with Khajista and insists on flirting with the reluctant girl despite being engaged to another student, Aima (Moomal Khalid). This turns Aima into an implacable enemy and typical ‘chalaak larrki’ (conniving girl) constantly plotting against the heroine. With her eyes firmly on the prize, Khajista keeps the annoying Hadi at bay, remembering her promise to return to her family and Darakhzai.

Hiba Bukhari owns this role, giving us a welcome change from the silly, naïve girls she became known for playing. Khajista and Darakhzai share a strange love-hate relationship, leaving the audience hoping that there might be a slim chance the latter might mature. Ahsan Khan is excellent as Darakhzai, lending him charm and even a touch of vulnerability in his love for a woman beyond his intelligence, even allowing us to laugh at his petty villainies at times.

Fraud | ARY, Saturdays 8.00pm

Following the time-trusted drama formula that if one wedding doesn’t work then just have another one, Fraud shows us the way divorced women are treated as “damaged” goods in need of “cover” by our dysfunctional rishta culture.

Trapped and abandoned by a gang of shaadi scammers, Maya (Saba Qamar) is humiliated again when her cousin Nael (Adnan Samad) walks out on their nikaah. Excellent portrayals from Adnan Samad, Saba Qamar and Mahmood Aslam combine with good storytelling that contrasts the family’s pain with the bickering thieves to make this compelling viewing. Nael has his revenge but only time will tell if this final blow will break Maya or be the impetus for her to reframe her life. So far, the narrative has been slow to unfold but, now that the backstory has been set, there is hope the pace will pick up.

What To Watch Out For (Or Not)

Kala Dorriya | Hum TV, Coming soon

After the success of Suno Chanda, Chupkay Chupkay and Hum Tum, Hum TV has started shooting a new script, Kala Dorriya, from Saima Akram Chaudhry. The cast includes Nadia Afghan, Faiza Hassan with Ali Rehman and Sana Javed in lead roles, to be directed by Danish Nawaz.

Published in Dawn, ICON, July 10th, 2022