THE WEEK THAT WAS

Main Manto Nahin Hoon | ARY, Mon 8.00pm

halilur Rehman Qamar (KRQ) brings us an old story about blood feuds but cleverly sets it between two crime families, dodging the trap of glorifying feudal pride and power, thus breathing a little life into this cliché. Mehmal (Sajal Aly), the daughter of one of Lahore’s biggest dons, Siraj Amritsari (Asif Raza Mir), begins her studies at a prestigious university in the city. She impresses her peers with stories of her family’s murders and a few puffs of a borrowed cigarette. The only person left unimpressed is her economics professor, Manto (Humayun Saeed), till he realises that her family’s connections to organised crime are very real. Director Nadeem Baig gives us some beautiful cinematic shots, combined with smooth-as-silk editing and transitions that perfectly capture the mood set by the writer. As with all KRQ stories, the men are fairly straightforward while the emotional intrigue is left to the females. A restrained but commanding performance from film star Saima Noor as Mehmal’s powerful aunt, Surraiya, who refuses to forgive the murder of her two sons, stands out. Otherwise, this is a well-balanced cast where every star pulls their weight. The only foreseeable downside may be Qamar’s own ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with some ridiculous twist.

Mohra | Geo TV, Fri, Sat & Sun 8.00pm

Geo continues its commercial downward trajectory with yet another low-quality soap serial aimed at the masses. Writer Tahir Nazeer and his assigned content head have taken great pains to make every supporting character as shallow as possible, while the cast has obliged them with similar performances. Playing towards middle-class prejudices gets ratings, so there are of course plenty of references to conniving middle-class girls, while the elite class girls are empty headed or pure evil. Wealthy playboy Sikandar Hamdani (Aagha Ali) might as well have villain tattooed on his forehead, but he still manages to fool and trap the naïve Anoushay (Tuba Anwar). After a terrible betrayal, Anoushay commits suicide, leaving her more practical and educated sister, Alizeh (Laiba Khan), to exact revenge. Alizeh does this by conveniently marrying Sikander’s much nicer, older brother Hamza (Mikaal Zulfikar), and becoming the CFO at their company. So far, the only characters worth watching are the ones the writer actually focused on: Alizeh and the psycho cliché that is Sikandar. This could have been a good thriller if the director had actually aimed for the intriguing suspense promised in the teasers. What we get instead is the same old, mass-market family melodrama.

Dear Bestie | ARY YouTube Channel

This story begins in the kind of bright and breezy pastel world that only an out-of-touch adult could imagine for a teenager: effacing the insecurities and struggles that three young women still in their 20s deal with. Happily, the show moves on to more authentic themes that anchor the characters to contemporary life. Ayra (Aena Khan) is from a middle-class family that believes in restraint, but her well-meaning in-laws are pressuring her into a corner with their extravagant plans. Should she invest in her salon? On the other hand, Eman (Maha Hasan) is a frustrated young journalist who wants to write serious articles, but convincing her editor is an uphill task. Finally, there’s Dania (Romaisa Khan), a budding influencer trying to find herself in a family full of boys and a saturated market. Director Mehreen Jabbar brings this fun Gen-Z story to life with a touch of sugar that both entertains and informs.

What To Watch Out For (Or Not)

Goonj | Hum TV, Mondays 8.00pm

Starring Komal Mir, Gohar Rasheed and Feroz Kadri, this story centres on a woman who has to endure a harassment campaign at work.

Published in Dawn, ICON, July 27th, 2025