THE WEEK THAT WAS

Parwarish | ARY, Mon-Tues 8.00pm

Still holding the top spot for this viewing season, Big Bang’s Gen-Z story misses a few points but still manages to raise awareness and entertain.

After leaving his family and the support they had given him, Wali (Samar Abbas) realises music may be his passion but it will not pay the bills. He starts looking for a job and relegates music to a side hobby, shocking his musician mentor. His equally stubborn father, Jehangir (Naumaan Ijaz), also decides to leave for America while his family struggles with another crisis in the form of Jehangir’s daughter Anya’s (Nooray Zeeshan) mental health. As their family begins to falls apart, the story sends a sharp reminder that fathers are not just providers, as their stabilising presence and ability to guide and unite is often overlooked. The friction between parents and their inability to compromise can take a quiet but deadly toll on their children’s psyche.

The makers also add a new layer to Wali and Maya’s (Aina Asif) relationship. Now that Wali is no longer the cool rich kid from America, Maya’s (Aina Asif) parents ask her if he is the right match for an academic achiever like her. Writer Kiran Siddiqui misses a few points with her portrayal of Pakistani Americans, but the whole team deserves credit for highlighting the many issues faced by modern families.

Do Kinaray | Green Entertainment, Mon-Wed 8.00pm

Durre (Momina Iqbal) is convinced that her good looks and taste for the highlife means she is always destined for the best.

After marrying Walid (Junaid Khan) she achieves her dreams of wealth and a loving, indulgent husband. But she is still not satisfied and is in a constant state of war with her husband and the siblings he loves. When Walid divides up the inheritance, Durre decides to leave, as she has gained enough confidence to follow through with her plans.

This story from Rehana Aftab follows a set pattern and we can see Durre is going to be the architect of her own downfall as her arrogance and greed lead her back to an exploitative old lover. While Durre’s character is well-written and well-played by Momina Iqbal, there is a lack of depth in the supporting characters. While writers always show women such as Durre getting away with terrible behaviour, the enabling husband who literally refuses to set any boundary is whitewashed as a sweet saint. There is nothing new in this drama but the story is still popular because it resonates with the masses..

Raja Rani | Hum TV, Wed-Thurs 8.00pm

After being fooled by a fraudster pretending to be her childhood sweetheart Raja, Rani (Hina Afridi) becomes more contemplative and regrets her cold treatment of Zaviyar (Faysal Quraishi).

When she goes to apologise, she finds out Zaviyar has been illegally locked away in a mental asylum and, despite being the owner of vast wealth, is being tortured and mistreated. Rani being a brave, daring girl sneaks into the asylum, makes videos of Zaviyar’s plight and delivers them to his friends and, most importantly, his lawyer.

Hina Afridi has played her part beautifully as the rough and tough Rani with a secretly vulnerable side. Honest to a fault, she is a fun heroine who is not easily fooled. Faysal Quraishi and Arez Ahmed play parallel roles, one good and one evil, providing us with strong performances that assure the audience of their characters’ credibility beyond the storybook feel of this story.

What To Watch Out For (Or Not)

Pamaal | Green Entertainment, Coming soon

Coming soon to our screens, Green Entertainment is wrapping up shooting for this new serial written by Zanjabeel Asim, starring Saba Qamar and Usman Mukhtar.

Published in Dawn, ICON, July 20th, 2025