THE WEEK THAT WAS
Dastak | ARY, Sat-Sun 8.00pm
Kiran (Suhai Abro) has moved on from her selfish ex-husband Saif, and built a life with her son, with a new business and home, and she is not desperate to remarry. For Moiz (Ali Raza), she was “the one that got away” because of his own indecision and family pressures, but when he finds her again, he reconnects with those buried emotions.
Moiz’s wealthy, ruthless father (Feroz Kadri) is dead-set against a match with a divorcee and a ready-made grandson, and tries gangster tactics to scare Kiran away. Writer Sarwat Nazir constructs a much-needed portrait of a divorced woman with dignity, who spends less time pondering on the past, focusing instead on her child and financial independence.
Suhai Abro plays Kiran without the constant victim mentality that is required to gather sympathy, allowing her joy with the trials. Ali Raza is a very capable young actor who brings the gentle, emotionally connected Moiz to life. The only downside may be that, although the gangster-like villainy of Moiz’s father is great for dramatic effect, it overshadows what could have been a more detailed exploration of creating a blended family. Otherwise, this is a refreshingly positive story, with well-sketched out characters that evolve over time.
Hijr | Hum TV, Fridays 8.00pm
Sabuhi (Hina Altaf) has achieved most of the goals that had once seemed impossible. Poor, and beholden to his wealthy brother, Sabuhi’s father had engaged her to an oppressive, abusive cousin but she escapes this trap to marry the man of her choice, Zamir (Imran Abbas).
Zamir is well-educated, kind and supportive of Subuhi’s career as a surgeon, but the very success that he nurtured now irks him. Zamir takes care of their child but Sabuhi’s ever-busy schedule, and the slivers of arrogance beginning to infect her, becomes a trial for the once-happy couple.
This is one of Zanjabeel Asim’s more superior scripts, detailed and highly nuanced, and the characters have been portrayed and nurtured on screen with equal attention by Imran Abbas and Hina Altaf. In a very telling scene, Sabuhi’s parents ask her how happy she must be after fulfilling so many of her dreams. Irritated, she again declares herself a victim of their expectations. As Sabuhi’s discontent grows, she unwisely allows another unhappily divorced doctor (Haroon Shahid) to become her confidant.
Farrar | Green Entertainment, Concluded
Writer Mustafa Afridi ends this action-packed thriller on a remarkably high note, allowing his protagonists to find resolution by confronting their tormentors rather than by escaping or with a dramatic blood bath.
This “Netflix-level” serial went far beyond the usual, exposing layers of societal corruption and the nexus between power, politics and big money interests. The script also touched upon human trafficking and the vulnerability of those under a smuggler’s control. An array of good performances from Haroon Shahid, Daniyal Zafar, Ahmed Ali Akbar and Nadia Jamil bolstered this serial.
Hamza Ali Abbasi was outstanding as Batish, a cold-blooded assassin and a soldier without a cause or an army but who is still human. Sohai Ali Abro and Hasan Niazi, as the hunted and the hunter, were also amazing, leading the audience on an often painful but always thrilling chase. The cinematic framing captured the harsh beauty of the landscapes, while the softer moments were brought skillfully to life by directors Syed Wajahat and Musaddiq Malik. This show is on YouTube and for those tired of melodrama and angry mothers-in-law, this is perfect binge-watch material.
What To Watch Out For (or not)
Naqsh | Green Entertainment, Coming soon
Starring Hina Altaf and Sami Khan, the serial revolves around a young woman who exposes the dark forces and corruption involved in the pharmaceutical industry, where money alone matters.
Published in Dawn, ICON, May 11th, 2025
