The drama that started off as a romantic action thriller, might have finished off as a dramatic cinematic TV watch (yeah, we invented the term, and we’ll tell you why), but if truth be told, Ishq Hua can make it to your weekend watch list for all the Haroon Kadwani fans who need a relive his onscreen presence ever so often. Not to say that Komal Meer has matched up to the onscreen chemistry you see.
Ishq Hua is produced by 7th Sky Entertainment with Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi at the helm. It is directed by the seasoned Syed Wajahat Hussain and written by Nooran Makhdoom. The talented cast features Haroon Kadwani, Komal Meer, Sohail Sameer, Sahar Hashmi, Fazila Qazi, Ramiz Siddiqui, Shehzad Mukhtar, and others. 7th Sky Entertainment banner productions are known for their unique approach towards storytelling and narrative building. Their newest offering Ishq Hua tells a tale of love, action, and redemption!
But here’s why the drama is making a dent in the, (as we put it), very audaciously – cinematic TV watch!
1. A Screen That’s Wider Than Your TV Screen
Yes, it is. Or seems like it at least. Hand it to a wide lens camera, angles that employ the latest in camera technology and a larger-than-life presence of angled shots that pull the viewer into the scene, literally. Ishq Hua teases audiences with a story depiction that was thoroughly pleasing to the eye. With a sepia-toned canvas that set the mood for the earthy, raw feel of the narrative, one was drawn to the visuals simply because of the cinemascope feel of the screen. Needless to say, 7th Sky has perfected the art of visual gratification for viewers and raised the storytelling bar to the next level.
2. Performances & Casting To Match
If one had told us that Sohail Sameer as Bahaar could be our ruthless villain with a comic streak, we would want to see it to believe it. If Haroon Kadwani could play the soft-feel hero yet again, but this time, with a raw energy that drew contrasts from a set that was anything but soft feel, one would feel it was heavily contrived, but the performance was convincing and subtle, delivering just the right amount of action x romance one needed not to feel the ‘overkill’ – a skill, many Pakistani dramas ace one time too often. Komal Meer as Minsa aptly complemented the role as spirited young girl meets life challenges, keeping it light with her late-night food cravings, yet sober with her longing for the parents she lost, and the feeling of isolation from the family and friends she lost.
Shehzad Mukhtar as Bahaar’s right hand man Daas, and Ramiz Siddiqui as Tabrez’s man Zulfi gave us an ensemble cast that added just the right punch to the storytelling. Perhaps a shade of grey in Daas’ character might have worked better, but the role still stuck well. Sahar Hashmi as Rukhsar added a touch of humor and later, positivity to a role that could otherwise have become toxic. Full marks to the makers on not following the “other girl’ toxic trope cliché.
3. The Age of Customized Drama Sets
If customized drama sets aren’t the rage, then we want to know what is. Ishq Hua flaunted a set derived from vintage feels. From the multi-story abode that served as Bahaar and his cronies’ home, to the old-world feel of Minsa’s parents’ home, Ishq Hua took viewers on a storytelling journey that wasn’t just about the words, or dialogues, but real-feel visuals to match. There is a moment in the initial episodes where Minsa is picking reels and thread shades for a fabric and the camera angle closes in on the details. The scene might have been a fleeting one yet added miles to the viewing experience. Attention to detail matters, and the creators got this one!
4. Curated Wardrobe to Match The Sets
Specific cast members were fitted out in wardrobes to evoke a certain feel for the character; Tabrez in his funky printed short kurtas, Minsa, in her embroidered-flowy cuts to add a sense of modern yet traditional feel. Bahaar’s look delivered a totally new look as Sohail Sameer flaunting a bespectacled look added a stand-out feel to the character and gave us an undeniably original visual experience every time he came onscreen. Rukhsar’s straight cuts and solid colors offset Minsa’s wardrobe and again, the attention to detail in setting off the characters added to the characterization and visual appeal.
5. Fast-Paced Storytelling
To wrap up a story in 9 episodes can be a bit of a challenge in a 30 plus episode Pakistani drama world. However, Ishq Hua did just that. Where audiences missed a few more romantic scenes between Minsa and Tabrez, and perhaps, one more action-centered episode before the finale, one can say safely that the drama is a breezy watch. From start to finish, the story rolls out in a bite-sized narrative that gives viewers just the right watch time in a world full of stretched out narratives. Neither was the accompanying soundtrack employed to delay the scenes, or an episode elongated unnecessarily. Ishq Hua was relatively crisp and delivered a limited episodes story in moments of drama injected with some light-hearted humor.
Perhaps what went missing was a dose of action, which, though the finale handed out in heavy chunks, seemed a bit cramped into the final episode. One also expected Minsa to step out of classic mode and deliver a few moves, after all, modern day heroines can reinvent the traditional tropes, right? The final revelation for Tabrez could have come a bit earlier, leading to more suspense and intense drama, as he conspired, along with Zulfi, how to battle it out with Bahaar.
But in retrospection, that’s us getting into reviewer mode. Ishq Hua can still be your Weekend Binge-Watch and gathering by the growing YouTube views, we’d say fans are flocking to the Haroon Kadwani-Komal Meer thriller for a fun watch that will keep you engrossed for a day and a half!
Have something to say on the series? Drop us a comment and tell us if you’ll be watching Ishq Hua.
Catch Up More On Drama Gup With FUCHSIA
Ishq Hua is produced by 7th Sky Entertainment with Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi at the helm. It is directed by the seasoned Syed Wajahat Hussain and written by Nooran Makhdoom. The talented cast features Haroon Kadwani, Komal Meer, Sohail Sameer, Sahar Hashmi, Fazila Qazi, Ramiz Siddiqui, Shehzad Mukhtar, and others.
