THE WEEK THAT WAS##

Khumaar | Geo TV, Fri-Sat 8.00pm

Feroze Khan plays safe with his return to the small screen, in a formulaic drama about a clash of good, old-fashioned, middle class values versus nouveau riche materialism.

Faiz (Feroze Khan) is a sweet, humble young man who sticks with his childhood friend Rufi (Sheheryar Zaidi) and old neighbourhood, but his family has moved on. Faiz’s newly wealthy father (Behroze Sabzwari) has become arrogant and his mother (Hina Bayat), a social climber. Meanwhile, Faiz has fallen for his friend Rufi’s idealistic and strong-willed sister Hareem (Neelam Munir). Faiz’s mother hates Hareem because she is a reminder of a past she desperately wants to erase. When Hareem is abandoned on her wedding day by a greedy groom (Adnan Samad), Faiz offers to step into the breach. Feroze Khan, in a more subdued, emotional role, still works well for the masses and Neelum Munir fits nicely into the empowered role of Hareem.

This is a very commercial script from author Maha Malik with little nuance and/or depth, and the main attractions are the star leads. Disappointingly, usually good performers such as Adnan Samad and Hina Bayat play the villains with a disappointingly cartoonish exaggeration, in an attempt to bring some intensity or interest to this predictable melodrama.

Jaisay Aap Ki Marzi | ARY, Tues-Wed 8.00pm

Alizey (Durre Fishan) is a confident young woman with a career, till she marries the controlling, manipulative Sherry (Mikaal Zulfikar). As the marriage progresses, Alizey and her mother are fooled by Sherry’s tactics of grand displays of generosity, followed by abuse and manipulation. This is not a new story but author Naila Jaffri freshens it up with a detailed script and some nuanced characterisations. Alizey and her family have good intentions but are not painted as sanctified victims; they also make quite a few mistakes before understanding the situation.

Good performances from Durre Fishan, and Kiran Malik as Sherry’s proud, narcissistic sister, stand out. The show also marks a welcome return to acting by the talented Huma Hameed. Mikaal Zulfikar’s tireless efforts at playing the same kind of character in so many serials surely deserve some kind of award. As the show winds up, the last episode promos tease us with “punishments” for Sherry and his sister, which are quite satisfying on screen but lose touch with reality, which is rarely so straightforward.

What To Watch Out For (or not)

Khai | Geo TV, Coming soon

7th Sky Entertainment presents some very filmi style promos for their new project with director Syed Wajahat Hussain, replete with guns and threatening monologues in what looks like an exciting action-adventure thriller! Faysal Quraishi has been playing the wealthy villain who abducts innocent young maidens a lot recently, but what might set this show apart is a heroine with the resilience for a real slow-burn revenge. Durre Fishan and Osama Tahir play the victims who turn the tables, and count their enemies’ bodies in this story from Saqlain Abbas.

Serial Killer | Green Entertainment, Coming soon

Green Entertainment has shown it can make good thrillers, unlike the main satellite channels whose projects are handicapped by an advertising model that dumbs every plot down to cater to the masses.

Saba Qamar plays S.P. Sarah in this much-awaited story of suspense and horror, written by Umera Ahmed. Five bodies found in suitcases in one year means a serial killer is on the loose. Will he be discovered before the next victim?

Takkabur | Hum TV, Coming soon

Who kidnapped the bride on her wedding day? Was it an accident or well-planned revenge? Fahad Shaikh and Ayeza Awan star in a new serial about obsession and arrogance.

Published in Dawn, ICON, December 31st, 2023