THE WEEK THAT WAS

Iqtidar | Green Entertainment, Thurs-Fri 8.00pm

Sanam Shah (Rubina Ashraf) is a powerful feudal and politician whose spoiled good-for-nothing son Zain Shah kills a poor widow’s son. Sanam and her elder son, Shahnawaz Shah (Ali Raza), try to intimidate the victim’s family but the eldest sister, Mehrunissa (Anmol Baloch), refuses to yield.

A brave, determined girl, Mehrunissa is the breadwinner for her family and is used to fighting for her rights. The Shah family is powerful, with the police and politicians in their pockets. But the tide turns as Shahnawaz softens and allows his brother to be arrested. Does Shahnawaz really find Mehrunissa’s bravery and hardworking attitude attractive? Has he lost his heart to her or is this just playing next level chess to get a pardon for his brother?

This is a comparatively formulaic story for the once-innovative Green TV but it is making the ratings because both Ali Raza and Anmol Baloch have worked hard on their characters, and kept the focus on their chemistry. The pace of the story is slow but well-plotted, with believable motivations, and all the plot points are credibly worked out, too. It would have been even better with some sharper editing and a little suspense.

Sunn Mere Dil | Geo TV, Wednesdays 8.00pm

The romance between Bilal Abdullah (Wahaj Ali) and Sadaf (Maya Ali) begins as he helps her brother to get treatment for leukaemia in England. Once, she had been helpless and afraid of him but now Sadaf sees Bilal in a better light, as a caring, gentle man who respects the memory of his faithful employee, her father.

Meanwhile Ammar’s (Usama Khan) heart is slowly breaking as he watches the rapport build between the tycoon and the girl he loves. But he is not the only one pining away. Bilal’s PA, Hamsha (Hira Salman), is also secretly in love with her boss and deeply aware of his growing feelings for Sadaf. Hamsha is like a quiet demon, whispering in Sadaf and Ammar’s ears, pushing them together, and it is her words that finally push Ammar towards an attempt at suicide.

While most are unthinking fans of this show, some have raised objections to writer Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar’s plot points and dialogues, which once again hint at misogyny. Maya Ali, Wahaj Ali and Usama Khan have captivated the audience, but Hira Salman is standing out with her slippery-as-a-snake villain and styling.

Qarz-i-Jaan | Hum TV, Sundays 8.00pm

This serial opens with a strong first episode, setting up relationships and characters with a smooth, easy hand that informs but does not overwhelm.

Nashwa (Yumna Zaidi) is the daughter of a single parent (Tazeen Hussain) whose widowhood has made her the family servant. Hailing from a wealthy, traditional family, Nashwa has had to fight for her right to an education but, after topping her exams, a career seems like a distant dream. Her uncle Bakhtiyar (Mohammad Ahmed) is a hard man whose strict, conservative façade seems to hide a darker side, which Nashwa’s mother’s aversion to him hints at.

The family follows an authoritarian pattern where Bakhtiyar dominates the downtrodden Nashwa and her mother but is easygoing with his own drug-taking, loafer-of-a-son Ammar (Nameer Khan). Barrister Burhan (Usama Khan) is newly returned after studying in England and wants to buy Bakhtiyar’s younger brother’s properties. Writer Rabia Razzaque and director Sakib Khan have set up the story at a steady, content-heavy pace that looks very promising.

What To Watch Out For (or not)

Faraar | Green Entertainment, Sundays 8.00pm

Faraar hit our screens with a loud bang, offering a great show loaded with big stars and top talent in a wide-ranging action adventure series that looks quite impressive.

Published in Dawn, ICON, November 24th, 2024