THE WEEK THAT WAS

Mujhe Qabool Nahin | Geo TV, Wed-Thurs 8.00pm

It seems narcissistic, manipulative husbands are the newest trend on our screens and, in this show, Sami Khan takes up the challenge as Salman. Cruel, avaricious and exceptionally cunning, Salman has no true feelings for anyone except himself, and a grudging respect for his equally hard-nosed father (Mohammad Ahmed). Their victims of choice are Salman’s widowed aunt and her daughters Maira (Madiha Imam) and Mishal (Sidra Niazi), who are forced into compliance by their domineering grandmother.

Maira loves Atir (Ahsan Khan) but is emotionally blackmailed into marrying Salman because of her sister Mishal’s attachment to Salman’s brother Arsalan (Osama Tahir). Now, Maira is pregnant, but will Arsalan’s promises of love break when he finds out Mishal is infertile? Will Salman game Maira’s family out of their meagre inheritance?

This slow, grinding tale of misery is written by Adeel Razzaq, an expert at writing thrillers such as Dulhan, and directed by the equally skilled Aabis Raza. There is no denying that terrible things happen in life, but the viewing public also deserves more than just a catalogue of failures and wretchedness.

Neem | Hum TV, Mondays 8.00pm

As this serial gears up towards a finale, it leaves viewers with a mixed bag of progressive, well-meaning messages about land reform, education and the challenges of immigration.

The female lead Zymel (Mawra Hocane) has grown from determined ingenue to confident young woman, who is financially and mentally strong enough to ask for a divorce from a relationship that is only giving her pain. Ashhad (Ameer Gilani) has also returned from a bad experience of a paper marriage gone wrong while working in America. Both Ashhad and Zymel are surprised at the unexpected directions their lives have taken.

Despite Syed Jibran’s excellent portrayal as the evil Karamat Khan, his role should have taken less spotlight. The show would have done better to focus on the relationship between Ashhad and Zymel, using the popular pair’s famous screen chemistry to full effect. Ameer Gilani has been the standout in this serial, with a very relatable yet restrained performance as a poor immigrant trying to find his way.

Shikaar | Green Entertainment, Saturdays 7.00pm

Teasers for this serial suggested this was a rehash of the recent ARY drama Hook, once again starring Faysal Quraishi as a corrupt politician and wealthy landowner who wants revenge for the death of his younger brother.

Just as in Hook, the younger brother (Asad Siddiqui) is obsessed with a girl (Nazish Jehangir) who is in love with someone else. The younger brother is accidentally shot by the girl’s lover and a story of retribution begins. The plots of both shows are so similar, it’s beyond belief that not even a single person recognised the plagiarism. Let at least a decent interval of time pass before broadcasting such a similar script!

Who copied who is another difficult question, as a lot of Green Entertainment shows have been made well in advance. For the viewing audience that is probably unfazed by such concerns, the director Abdul Ahad has made a much better story than Hook or, indeed, its precursor Ishq Tamasha. Meanwhile, the sight of Faysal Quraishi playing the role of an “alpha male” villain threatening young women and forcing them into a nikkah at gunpoint, every season, seems unavoidable.

What To Watch Out For (or not)

Dhoka | ARY, Coming soon

Affan Waheed and Komal Meer play lovers forced to part when Komal’s character is wed to a wealthy man her mother favours in the shape of Aagha Ali. Sanam Jung also plays a lead role in this story.

Published in Dawn, ICON, November 12th, 2023