THE WEEK THAT WAS

Kala Doriya | Hum TV, Fridays 8.00pm

This is one of the few all-round entertaining shows on air, and always leaves viewers with a smile on their faces after each episode. While the family feud continues, Asfi (Osman Khalid Butt) and Mahnoor (Sana Javed) put aside their bickering for a cause. Fixing Bitto Apa’s (Tamkenat Manzoor) and Cucku Mammoo’s (Khalid Malik) broken relationship is the mission impossible that unites the cousins. Could this be the event that finally brings the rest of their clan to their senses? This feel-good show has all the emotional highs and lows of a good drama, with a lot of zingers and laughter thrown in.

Khalid Anam and Sameena Ahmed are wonderful as the grandparents yearning for each other’s company but torn apart by their warring sons. Sana Javed plays the unyielding Mahnoor well, giving her personality just the right amount of energy but perhaps lacking some warmth. Asfi is better written and gives OKB a great platform to show his well-honed skills in timing and dialogue delivery, seamlessly switching from comedy to serious scenes. Malik and Manzoor are also welcome additions, keeping this mix of fun and romance free from any sugary meltdowns, with a healthy dose of dour cynicism.

Pinjra | ARY, Thursdays 8.00pm

This is a rare, authentic story about modern family life and how even parents with good intentions can push, or even abuse, their children in the pursuit of grades. Javed (Omair Rana) is a domineering, narcissistic person whose controlling and demeaning attitude towards his much put-down wife Khadija (Hadiqa Kiyani) trickles down to their children.

Abaan (Ahmed Usman) is the point of contention — he is not academically inclined but kind, loving and artistic, and he wants to play music. Suppressing Abaan and forcefully shaping him into the kind of “high achieving” child Javed wants is the crux of this multilayered story. Abaan is not stupid but his different kind of intelligence is something his father refuses to accept.

The other track in the story is Khadija’s best friend Wajiha (Sunita Marshal), a single mother struggling to protect her children from the malignant influence of her estranged husband (Fahad Ahmed). Ahmed Usman, Aina Asif, Ashir Wajahat, Zuhab Khan and Emaan Khan need to take a bow for these powerful, restrained performances at such young ages. Written by the late Asma Nabeel, this beautifully written script is filled with compassion and understanding for young minds.

Zindagi Aik Paheli | Geo TV, Daily 7.00pm

This melodrama is not a story of survival or strength in difficult times, but a reminder that women’s suffering can give channels a lot of ratings. After the sudden death of their father, Mahnaz (Nimra Khan), Maliha (Maria Malik) and Faiza (Laiba Khan) have to leave their home and struggle through a life of poverty. While the girls are shown adjusting to their new circumstances, the biggest source of trouble seems to be their mother Kulsoom (Ayesha Gul). Instead of being an anchor or source of wisdom in tough times, the older woman spends her time overreacting or making childish plans that only compound the issues the family faces.

Badly written characters swirled together with a heavy dose of cliches make this melodrama seem like a comedy at times. Solid performances from Haroon Shahid, Nimra Khan and Maria Malik, however, give this show some level of watchability.

What To Watch Out For

Pyari Mona | Hum TV, Coming soon

Sanam Jung stars as the plus-size Mona, giving us an insight into the hurdles and prejudices women in particular face if they do not meet widely accepted beauty standards.

Published in Dawn, ICON, December 4th, 2022