THE WEEK THAT WAS

Gunah | Express TV, Thursdays 8.00pm

The plot thickens as SHO Sabiha (Rabia Butt) follows her instincts and finds the bodies of tutor Ahmed (Ali Raza) and Gul Noor (Juggan Kazim) poetically buried beneath Noor’s husband Malik Hayat Khan’s (Sarmad Khoosat) new wedding stage. Gul Meher (Saba Qamar) has always coveted her sister (Gul Noor’s) life and her husband, and the affair seems of long standing.

Director Adnan Sarwar and his cinematographers show us how to project beauty, evil and power with effective use of colour and shadow, with strong theatrical undertones. Qamar is deliciously evil, strutting about in red and casting an evil, assessing eye on her sister’s life. Gul Meher may seem petty in her jealousy but she seems strangely powerful in her passionate embrace of self-love and her own desires.

Sarmad Khoosat matches her energy as the sneering, privileged aristocrat, who has never been accountable for anything. This show is an oasis of excellence in a sea of mediocrity, with well-written characters, a fast-moving story and good performances from Rabia Butt and the rest of the supporting cast. We have found out what happened to Gul Meher and Ahmed, but why and how are questions that remain to be answered.

Kabuli Pulao | Green Entertainment, Tuesdays 8.00pm

Haji Mushtaq (Mohammad Ehtashamuddin) has worked hard all his life to support his family. Now in his fifties, he has given away his wealth and focuses on charitable, religious missions. Travelling in the Northern areas, Haji helps a poor, local cook desperate to marry off his widowed sister and to help his handicapped brother. Haji’s act of unselfish charity lands him a very young bride, Barbeena (Sabeena Farooq), who insists on following him to Lahore.

Director Kashif Nisar makes every scene, every gesture work towards pushing the story forward, seamlessly blending a large cast into the introductory episode, without losing the main track or confusing the audience. The team has used restraint and quiet elegance to tell a story which could so easily become exploitative. Barbeena’s agency and Haji’s fearful reticence make it watchable so far. How will Haji Mushtaq explain this to his large extended family, and what will Barbeena do if the husband she thought was dead, returns?

Mujhay Qabool Nahin | Geo TV, Wed-Thurs 8.00pm

Financial difficulties and the tragic death of their father force Maira (Madiha Imam) and Mashaal (Sidra Niazi) into early marriages, as school girls. While Mashaal has a strong relationship with Arsalan (Osama Tahir), Maira is afraid of Salman (Sami Khan) who is a narcissistic, violent abuser with no scruples. Salman has no job and spends his days teasing unsuspecting women or dominating Maira, while maintaining a façade of charm and innocence in front of the family.

The only saving grace to Maira’s situation is both families cannot afford the rukhsati or wedding celebrations, which would mean the brides living with their grooms as true wives. Maira wants to work and surprisingly Salman gives her permission, because he wants to enjoy her earnings.

As this is a drama and a story written by Adeel Razzaq, millionaire CEO Athir (Ahsan Khan) immediately falls in love with Maira and creates a vacancy so she can come to work. Madiha Imam captures Maira’s suffocating frustration perfectly, while Sami Khan gives us a chilling but very believable portrait of evil.

What To Watch Out For (or not)

Mayi Ri | ARY, Coming soon

Another story on the terrible reality of child brides. Talented young star Aina Asif plays a schoolgirl who loses her childhood as she is forced to be an adult in a relationship she never asked for. The show also stars Samar Abbas, Maria Wasti and Naumaan Ijaz.

Published in Dawn, ICON, July 23th, 2023