THE WEEK THAT WAS
Jurrwaan | Hum TV, Mon-Sun 9.00pm
Writers Urooj Binte Arsalan and Fizza Jafri take on the trope made many times by Disney and Hindi cinema, of polar opposite twins.
Mazhar (Shahood Alvi) is a cruel neglectful father who has been tricked by his villainous sister (Nadia Hussain) into thinking his much-loved wife (Sabreen Hisbani) betrayed him. Bitter and vengeful, he mistreats his daughter Sarah (Aina Asif) and dotes on his sister’s children. Mazhar thinks his wife is dead, but she actually escaped, taking one of her twin daughters, Zara (Aina Asif), back to her wealthy father’s home.
Like every story before, one twin (Sarah) is gentle and soft-spoken while the other (Zara) is hyper-confident. This should have been kept to the level of a fun, fairytale-like children’s story, because the female lead is still a child, and possibly underage. However, the addition of romantic tracks with male leads that look much older make the whole story look disturbing, like exploitation. Aina Asif has screen presence which she uses with confidence but this cannot make up for her lack of acting skills and the reframing of a child as an adult..
Ae Dil | ARY, Wed-Thurs 8.00pm
Roham (Azaan Sami Khan) and Maliha (Komal Mir) were in love with other people, but found their attachments were not strong enough to withstand family opposition. Roham and Maliha begin their marriage on a note of crisis, as Maliha’s mother (Sania Saeed) begins to decline after her diagnosis of end-stage cancer.
Prickly and hesitant at first, Maliha sees the wisdom of her mother’s choice, as Roham and his family support her with compassion and generosity. Roham even confesses his first love story to Maliha, but promises to be faithful and steadfast to their relationship. Maliha is more hesitant to share her past because she knows society has double standards and will rarely forgive a woman, but find an excuse for a man.
This is a good story that lays out the importance of character and values over relationships based on superficial attraction. However, the slow pace of the story and lack of depth in the supporting characters stop the show from reaching its full potential. Komal Mir is a talented actress but her focus on glamour, rather than adding nuance to her character, is distracting from her performance.
Sitaron Se Aagay | Express Entertainment, Thurs-Fri 8.00pm
Acclaimed writer Amna Mufti reminds us that, unlike the messages we get from prime time television, the dream of every parent does not begin and end in a wedding for their child.
Rabia (Sahiba Rambo) wants her daughter Aima (Laiba Khan) to become a world-class squash player, and approaches an old friend and renowned head coach Tamasap Khan (Naumaan Ijaz) to train her. With a financially comfortable background and supportive parents, Aima is determined to use her natural talent to achieve her dreams, and do what her mother could not.
This story touches on many important issues, including sexual harassment, the intensity of rivalry and, most importantly, the way a parent’s unfulfilled dreams can become a burden for the next generation. Having played many commercial roles, Laiba khan has honed her acting skills well and gives a strong, believable performance. This is an entertaining, nicely plotted serial with well sketched-out characters. But it does lose a few points because of an initially slow pace.
What To Watch Out For (or not)
Mann Mast Malang | Geo TV, Coming soon
The world can never have enough of Danish Taimoor acting all intense and macho while kicking in doors and threatening people, at least according to Geo TV. So, a new series with those exact ingredients and a heroine impressed by this behaviour is on its way.
Published in Dawn, ICON, February 16th, 2025
