THE WEEK THAT WAS

Meri Tanhai | Hum TV, Mondays 8.00pm

While studying in London, Kh­i­zer (Azaan Sami Khan) falls in love with Maryam (Kubra Khan), a half-Pakistani, half-British girl who turns out to be his cousin.

Like his nephew, Ali Murad (Syed Jibran) once visited London and fell in love with a British woman who converted to Islam and married him. Ali was blackmailed by his family into divorcing and abandoning his wife and child, so his sister Kaniz Fatima (Zainab Qayoom) could secure her own married life. A victim of terrible emotional abuse from her domineering husband and mother-in-law, and under the constant threat of divorce for not producing a male heir, Kaniz became desperate.

This is a good story that illustrates the way bad decisions made by the older generation can ruin lives, but is let down by the lack of depth and self-reflection in the supporting characters. Khizar’s parents in particular are very two-dimensional, while the villain behind Kaniz, her husband Anwar, has so far been excused. Good performances From Kubra Khan, Uzma Hasan and Zainab Qayoom make this very watchable. However, Syed Jibran as a deeply bitter, self-loathing father is the star of the show.

Mann Mast Malang | Geo TV, Fri, Sat & Sun 8.00pm

Writer Noora Makhdoom continues her successful run of spinning elaborate yarns about fantasy feudals. Their clannish infighting, autocratic behaviour and wealth is presented with a sweet frosting of romance and glamour.

Kabir (Danish Taimoor) and Riya (Sahar Khan) were engaged as children but are forbidden to each other by their warring families. As an innocent child, Kabir shot Rhea’s father to save his mother, and has been in and out of hiding ever since. When fate brings them back together, Kabir’s feelings are rekindled but his mother makes him promise to forget Riya and her dangerous family. Riya says she hates Kabir but misses no opportunity to flirt with him or catch his attention, even faking his voice to scare off a potential suitor and, in an even stranger twist, begging him to tutor her. The absurdity continues as Kabir tries to teach the young woman the two times table.

Even more incredulous is the fact that this show is getting good ratings, boosted by cross-border audiences who enjoy the colourful filmi, masala-coated genre that Geo TV has mastered. Danish Taimoor is, of course, very comfortable playing such an intense, melodramatic character yet again, but Sahar Khan has yet to do anything impressive beyond looking pretty while she pouts on screen.

Dastak | ARY, Fri-Sat 8.00pm

After a divorced Kiran (So­h­ai Abro) starts an event man­a­gement business, it brings her in touch with her old college friend Moiz (Ali Raza). She finds out the girl marrying Moiz is being forced to wed him and loves someone else.

Moiz confronts the girl, who accuses him of having an affair with Kiran to protect herself from her parents. Moiz’s parents are immediately set against Kiran who they see as a cunning woman manipulating their son. Kiran is a strong woman now and, despite opposition from her authoritarian father and societal scrutiny, she leads her life with quiet but determined grace, raising her son Shani and running her own business.

Sohai plays Kiran with a light, inspiring touch that makes this show more watchable. Apart from his overtly trendy wardrobe, Ali Raza also plays the gentle Moiz with very believable restraint. Will Kiran’s son Shani become the centre of a war as his father discovers his new wife cannot have children?

What To Watch Out For (or not)

Raaja Rani | Hum TV, Coming soon

Faysal Quraishi and Hina Afridi star in a story about a young woman forced to marry a mentally challenged man..

Published in Dawn, ICON, April 13th, 2025