Top 5 Pak TV Serials!

A couple of years back viewers lapped up Balaji baloney during prime time while critics complained about the death of drama in Pakistan. A dismal time where all hope and expectation attached with the drama heritage of Pakistan studded with stars like Ashfaque Ahmed, Mohammed Nisar Husain, Shehzad Khalil, Mohsin Ali, Shoaib Mansoor, Haseena Moin, Roohi Bano, Khalida Riyasat, Farooq Zameer, Asif Reza Mir, Shehnaz Sheikh, Saleem Nasir and Marina Khan, to name just a few, had either died a natural death or asphyxiated with junk TV that is mass-produced these days even under big banners and production companies.

Amongst all the confusion and chaos gradually a clear picture has emerged. Out of the saris, bindis, peroxides blondes, coloured contacts and jerky camera action and confused storylines has emerged new talent in all spheres of drama production. A fresh breed of writers, directors and actors with infinite potential has emerged, heralding a renaissance with bold and beautiful drama productions. Given a little more time they will probably have joint production companies like Balaji from across the border pack their bags and flee for home, joint productions et al!

We seem to be through the bad patch. Apparently stars don’t make plays but plays make stars. There are several commendable plays running on local channels and it was actually fun and not that simple to pull out a list of the top five…so here goes! However, it must be noted that absolutely none of these plays that we have chosen for top five use the Punjabi film-cum-Balaji Production technique of loud camera action or make-up.

Maane Na Ye Dil

Never before have I realised the importance of a commercial break than in 29th episode of this particular serial that is the highlight of my Sunday prime time TV. I need the commercial break to stop myself from hyper-ventilating, the serial has so much intrigue and suspense. It’s not the type you felt in Sydney Pollack’s The Firm (1993) written by John Grisham where Tom Cruise played the young lawyer, but the kind that you experienced in Yash Chopra’s Silsila (1981), a spellbinding mixture of extra-marital pleasure, romance, deceit and guilt. Directed by Babar Javed, screenplay by Sameera Fazal and produced by Momina Duraid, Maane Na… has the same heady mix.

The gorgeous and talented Ayesha Khan and the seasoned Faisal Qureshi glide through the various nuances of their roles smoothly, but Faisal Rehman takes the cake as his was the toughest role where he wears glasses along with an innocuous smile and uses his eyes to express love, jealousy and hurt. Wonderfully supported by Deepti Gupta (Zainab) her composure and sultry looks reminds one of Shabana Azmi. The best part about the serial shot mostly in Australia is that even at the most predictable twists in the story, the director takes you by surprise. The title song, beautiful locations and long shots, close ups during intense moments, sizzling dialogue, sensitive direction with just a couple of goof ups; build up a breathless suspense that you can’t take but you can’t even move away from. One is tempted to watch the repeat to savour the peak moments.

Mohabbatein Kaisi

Written by Nayyer Mukhtar Khan and directed by veteran actor Abid Ali, this prime time soap is on air three days a week and cannot be missed for even a single day. A fairly new but promising actress plays the lead role of a traditional Pakistani bahu who unfortunately cannot have a baby but is otherwise a gem of a person.

The story revolves around her life in sasural and the evil exploits of a close relative wonderfully depicted by Parveen Akbar, the new vamp on the block. The writer highlights the issue of jahez and dowry in the modern-day perspective that in one way or the other, society breeds vices like dikhawa and making unreasonable demands on the girl’s family. Abid Ali’s flawless direction has spun a realistic web of intrigue, love, hate and family values at war with age-old customs. Mehmud Ali, Zaheen Tahira and Rubina Ashraf have ably supported the lead actors. Beautiful yet appropriate sets, title song by Saher Tariq, lyrics by Mohammed Nasir, costumes to suit each character all point towards the hard work and detail gone into this Gold Bridge Media production.

Piyasi

Based on a novel by Bushra Rehman and screenplay by Syed Atif Ali, the play runs three consecutive days a week, leaving viewers panting for more throughout the week. Mona Lisa in the lead role of Sajeela does a wonderful job in her portrayal of a village belle in the big, bad city of Karachi who learns the ropes but not fast enough and is on the verge of being caught in a web of some unscrupulous people out to take advantage of her innocence.

Fresh talent Mahjabeen as the principled yet smug naik parveen haseena and the naughty and headstrong city chick Juggan Kazim shines as Dolly, while Seemi Pasha effortlessly plays the shady Razia Apa.

Aijazz Aslam’s next step at self-improvement should be an acting course and not one in designing; Jehanzeb Gurchani and Nauman Masood should quit playing the young eligible bachelor. However, at some points in the play, one feels that the screenplay shows weak adaptation. A situation depicted by Bushra Rehman might have had all the juice because it portrayed a certain era, but a situation from that time shown now in the age of SMS, Internet and cell phone would be quite difference.

Emotions remain the same but relativity to time certainly changes and this is where Asim Ali the director fails to translate to 2008 whatever Bushra Rehman had in mind. Dolly shouldn’t be going around on a bicycle in this age of radio cabs. The title song by Shibani Kashyab with lyrics by Khawar Kyani work wonders for the mood of the play.

Thori Dour Saath Chalo

Screenplay by Fasih Bari Khan, produced and directed by Amna Nawaz Khan, Thodi Dour… had some surprises in store. Little did one realise in the beginning that the writer would bring to light the bold issue of unmarried pregnancy and its repercussions in our society.

The cast includes Saba Pervaiz, Maria Wasti, Samina Peerzada, Mehmood Aslam, Mehmood Ali, Qaiser Naqvi and Mohammed Azfar. Fashion model Sunita Marshal struggles with glycerine tears on a mask-like face to make up for the sadly missing histrionics which is not her cup of tea as she has probably been used as the pretty face to sell the serial. Until the ninth episode Ayesha Omar, Shabbir Jan, Saba Pervaiz and Maria Wasti have done justice to their demanding roles whereas Sunita makes Barbie-doll appearances that hardly justify her shots in the promo, stills of the play and the title song by Alka Yagnik!

Sarkar Sahib

Produced by Humayun Saeed and Abdullah Kadwani, directed by Irum and Kamran Qureshi and aired on Sunday primetime, Sarkar Sahib marks the comeback of Asif Reza Mir.

Donning a huge pagri in the title role of the awe-inspiring Sarkar Sahib, the handsome heartthrob of the ’80s has put on some years and several kilos of flab.

The serial is set in the rural backdrop with huge havelis, lush lawns, swank cars, rivalry among the village sardars, rustic values, vices and traditions conflicting with the urbane Dubai and the modern upbringing of the present-day generation. Lavish set designs, aerial shots, colourful song and dance, intrigue, deception and a well-written screenplay by Seema Ghazal make it a compelling drama serial that is not to be missed. An added attraction is a star-studded cast with Deeba, Abbas Ali, Zainab Qayyum, Nirma and several others, while Sonu Dangerous gets full marks for choreography of the title song.

If you’ve missed watching any of these soaps yo