THE WEEK THAT WAS

Ghulam Basha Sundri | Green TV, Mon-Tues 8.00pm

Director Amin Iqbal interprets Zanjabeel Asim Shah’s script through a distinctly cinematic lens, prioritising stylisation and action over depth and nuance.

Basha (Zaviyar Ijaz) is a spoiled, decadent feudal, contesting elections in his family’s constituency. His right-hand man, Ghulam (Imran Ashraf), is a trained doctor who has been groomed since childhood to serve as both Basha’s caretaker and enforcer. Borrowing from his performance in Namak Haram, Ashraf plays a tough guy with a chip on his shoulder, whose yearning for love and acceptance makes him vulnerable. Both men fall for a feisty young woman, Sundri (Hina Afridi), whom a drunk Basha mistakes for a dancing girl, although she is merely performing at a college function.

Imran Ashraf leans too heavily into theatricality, while Zaviyar Ijaz’s expressions show little difference, whether he is drunk or sober. Meanwhile, Sundri is placed in one unlikely scenario after another, but her low-key performance makes it just about believable. Despite all this, Ghulam Basha Sundri is a fun new addition to the week’s viewing — one that ‘masala’ fans will enjoy with zero expectations of realism or a deeper meaning. I have filed it under the ‘just entertainment’ category.

Aik Aur Pakeezah | Geo TV, Wednesdays 8.00pm

Pivoting from its usual melodramas and commercial plots, Geo gives us a story with a deeper message, delivered through Kashif Nisar’s signature raw storytelling. Unfolding across three timelines, the drama pulls us into the world of Pakeezah (Sehar Khan) who, once a darling younger daughter, has now become a trembling victim of cybercrime — a bitter, angry fugitive burning for justice.

Sehar Khan plays her role well, once again proving her versatility. Nameer Khan is surprisingly good as Faraz, the unwitting catalyst of their downfall. Soft and gentle, he begs the gangsters who filmed them for mercy while Pakeezah trembles with anger and contempt. Running parallel is the track of an educated liberal couple: Barrister Zubair (Gohar Rasheed) and Barrister Saman (Amna Ilyas). Modern, independent and straightforward, Saman and Zubair hold their engagement without the customary Pakistani fanfare. Meanwhile, Pakeezah weeps over the ‘respectable’ wedding she could have had and hides her face for fear of being recognised from her viral video.

Writer Bee Gul brings a different flavour to this Kashf Foundation-sponsored story, forcing us to look at a situation without sanctimonious judgment. Kashif Nisar allows all the protagonists time to justify their actions and feelings without forgetting that, in our society, the burden of upholding honour usually falls on a woman’s shoulders.

Neeli Kothi | Hum TV, Mon-Tues 8.00pm

The fallout from the nikaah that did not happen between Zaid (Talha Chahour) and Elayna (Srha Asghar) leads to a scandal of favouritism at their college. The principal deliberately downgrades Zara’s (Anmol Baloch) hard work to benefit his daughter, Elayna, and Zaid. Although Zara withdraws her complaint, she is expelled nonetheless.

Her uncle then steals her mother’s last pieces of jewellery, and eventually the deeds to their house. This may sound improbable, but South Asian culture is notorious for shielding dangerous, corrupt relatives, often to its own detriment. Zaid is now being pressured into marrying his adoptive parents’ niece, Bisma (Maham Naqvi), even as both their hearts remain engaged elsewhere.

As Zaid and Zara discover the depth of their feelings for each other, the US-returned Bisma has a secret court marriage with Shaheer (Ahmed Rafiq) and nips her potential nikaah to Zaid in the bud. This is a fun family watch, and it is a relief to see brave women on TV who confront their problems and work around them, rather than surrendering.

What To Watch Out For (Or Not)

Rahguzar | Green TV, Coming soon

After the success of Pamaal and Kafeel, get ready to meet another sacrificing woman weeping through 20 episodes, who will be brought to life by Hira Salman.

Published in Dawn, ICON, January 25th, 2026