THE WEEK THAT WAS

Khudgharz | ARY, Tuesdays 8.00pm

Punctuated with big doses of weeping by the arrogant business tycoon Monavar (Ghulam Mohiyuddin), the plot for the most part has remained taut. Full of remorse and regret, Hasaan (Sami Khan) returns home after self-exile to find his parents grieving two shocking deaths in the family. His brother Junaid (Mohammed Jibran) and sister-in-law Ayra (Aamina Khan) are dead. Now that the people he wanted to destroy are no more, will the wealth and power that he wanted more than anything else be enough to make him happy?

Ghar Titli Ka Par | Geo TV, Thursdays 8.00pm

Finally, a marriage proposal distracts Anji from her devious ploys to destroy her best friend Shafaq’s (Aiman Khan) relationship with her sister-in-law Erum (Yashma Gill).

While Shafaq’s brother, Kamran (Ali Abbas), has seen her true colours, naive-to-the-point-of-being-stupid Shafaq is clueless about Anji’s evil nature and wants her brother to marry Anji. As Kamran and Erum’s wedding date is being finalised, Shafaq plans a suicide attempt in protest.

What to watch out for (Or Not)

Zann Mureed | Hum TV, Fridays 8.00pm

The story by Amna Mufti highlights domestic violence against the backdrop of the recently passed women’s protection bill. Unvalued by her in-laws, working woman Tabassum (Nadia Khan) juggles a job, kids and the domestic front. Husband Sajjad (Omair Rana) is relentlessly taunted by his family for appreciating his wife. Eventually, misunderstandings ensue between husband and wife and, irritated by the situation, he becomes unsympathetic and abusive towards Tabassum.

Shamim Hilali is the mean, bed-ridden mother-in-law who can’t speak but expresses herself by writing on a whiteboard while her devoted daughter (Hina Bayat) is always plotting against Tabassum. Rana is brilliant at villainous characters but all eyes are on the assertive Nadia Khan in her role as a victimised woman.

Published in Dawn, ICON, April 1st, 2018