THE WEEK THAT WAS

Meri Tanhai | Hum TV, Mondays 8.00pm

Khizer (Azaan Sami Khan) wants to study in London, but his family already has a trauma-filled history with his uncle, Ali (Syed Jibran), whose study time abroad led to a secret marriage and heartbreak. The family blackmails him into an engagement to his young cousin Maliha (Ameema Saleem) and ambivalent Khizer agrees.

The first shock Khizer gets in London is having to cultivate a humble attitude at work, the second is an angry, young British woman (Kubra Khan) who hates him on sight. In flashbacks, we see his uncle Ali’s parallel history of meeting and falling in love with a British convert, Lynette (Armeena Rana). Ali is a sad, angry individual who has lost his family because of the cultural dysfunctions that rule his family, in which his sister Kaniz Fatima has a major role.

This is an entertaining story that gives a better-than-usual picture of diaspora lives and connects past and present, with the bad decisions of the past being paid for in the present. Azaan Sami Khan has taken a big leap in acting skills and is holding his own. However, the majority of this well-crafted story is carried by Syed Jibran, Kubra Khan and Armeena Rana.

Dastak | ARY, Fri-Sat 8.00pm

While the teasers presented a mediocre love triangle, those trusting the potential of an acclaimed writer such as Sarwat Nazir were rewarded with a strong first episode.

Kiran (Sohai Ali Abro) is a sweet young girl with a strict father who is getting her married to Saif (Feroz Kadri). Kiran and her family think Saif is conservative and shy, but the truth is he loves another woman (Momina Iqbal), and is being forced to marry Kiran by his manipulative parents. The teasers show Saif as an abusive, violent man who carries on his affair, while Kiran is made to carry the burden of maintaining a facade of respectability. Kiran’s only support is her uncle, Kabir (Sohail Samir), and perhaps the one young man who is disappointed by the news of her impending marriage, played by Ali Raza.

What makes this story work is the way all the characters and their motivations are mapped out. Kiran’s authoritarian father is what makes her an easy target for Saif’s parents. A good cast combined with Marina Khan’s expert direction makes this a great new addition to the viewing line-up.

Duniyapur | Green Entertainment, Wednesdays 8.00pm

After betraying and imprisoning Shahmir (Khushhal Khan), Nawabzadi Ana (Ramsha Khan) softens again. A prisoner exchange has been made; Nauroz Adam is exchanged to free his son Shahmir, giving the evil Nawab (Manzar Sehbai) a much-relished moment of retribution. Now Ana decides to release him and establishes a rapport with Shahmir.

Is Shahmir seeking revenge or is this new pact sincere? As usual with everything in Duniyapur, the palace intrigues are aplenty and ambitious individuals jostle for supremacy. A lot of money and effort has been poured into this serial, and the combination of a dynamic younger cast and authentic locations has yielded a huge response on YouTube. What it sometimes lacks is a strong main narrative and, despite the expense, it often has dreary-looking interiors that reflect poverty rather than projecting power and wealth.

Ramsha Khan, Khushhal Khan and Naumaan Ijaz take the acting honours with director Shahid Shafaat’s expert handling of such a large-scale project shining through.

What To Watch Out For (or not)

Sitaron Se Aagay | Express TV, Coming soon

For those looking for a change of pace from the usual, renowned writer Amna Mufti presents a story set in women’s sports. Laiba Khan, Naumaan Ijaz and Savera Nadeem are the star attractions in this serial directed by Wajahat Rauf.

Published in Dawn, ICON, February 2nd, 2025