From Aangan to Prem Gali, and everything else in between, Qasim Ali Mureed is about to mark his territory once again, with Jan E Jahaan. And we couldn’t let the moment go by without recalling his past projects!
Qasim Ali Mureed, in collaboration with exceptional scriptwriters, has gifted us a plethora of dramas that traverse a spectrum of emotions. Through his artistic prowess, he has skilfully woven narratives that made us laugh, brought tears to our eyes, and left us with the warmth of a satisfying conclusion. Thus, as anticipation builds for his upcoming directorial project, Pakistani drama “Jaan e Jahan,” featuring the talented duo of Hamza Ali Abbasi and Ayeza Khan, we thought it fitting to reflect on the four dramas by Qasim Ali Mureed that are indelibly imprinted upon our hearts.
1. Mere Humsafar – Get In The Mood For Romance
Mere Humsafar aired on ARY Digital. The drama was written by Saira Raza and directed by Qasim Ali Mureed. Hania Aamir and Farhan Saeed delivered captivating lead performances, accompanied by Samina Ahmed, Waseem Abbas, Saba Hamid, Aamir Qureshi, Hira Khan, Tara Mehmood, Umer Shehzad and Zoya Nasir.
Hala, abandoned by her foreign mother and raised by her Pakistani father’s family, faces constant mistreatment from her aunt. Enter Hamza, her first cousin who returns from Australia. He offers her a glimmer of hope by marrying her and shielding her from the family’s cruelty (specially from his own mother). But their journey isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Moreover, Hamza’s family disapproval, societal pressures, and hidden secrets threaten to tear them apart.
Hala’s journey is one of resilience and self-discovery after experiencing complex relationships. She fights for her rights, challenges societal norms, and learns to stand on her own two feet for her daughter. Thus, through her struggles and triumphs, she discovers the true meaning of love, respect, and finding happiness on her own terms. She breaks free from the shackles of oppression and emerges as an empowered woman, proving that her strength lies not in her title of Mere Humsafar (companion).
Qasim Ali Mureed’s directorial venture helped keep viewers invested in the story that turned quite intense at times – mainly due to some endearing moments between Hala and Hamza. Hala’s journey tugged at our heartstrings and the fact that this long drawn out project was shot mainly in the vicinity of a single family home, without becoming monotonous to watch, is reason enough to celebrate Qasim’s win as a director.
Watch this one ahead of Jan E Jahaan if you’re in the mood for some romance in December!
2. Aangan – Family Drama All The Way
Aangan, a family-oriented comedy drama, aired on ARY Digital in 2017. It was penned by Faiza Iftikhar and directed by Qasim Ali Mureed. The drama boasted a talented cast, including Mansha Pasha, Qavi Khan, Samina Ahmad, Irsa Ghazal, Mariam Ansari, Osama Khan, Noor-ul-Hassan, Hassan Ahmed, Iffat Omer, Zainab Qayyum, Waseem Abbas, Paras Masroor and Uzma Hassan.
In the sprawling household of Aangan, we meet the family of Zaitoon Manzil, bound by tradition and grappling with the complexities of love, family, and individual aspirations. Qavi Khan, the patriarch, embodies the traditional family head, holding onto his values while witnessing the changing world around him. Thus, his three sons, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, navigate their relationships with demanding wives and their own desires for happiness. Zoya, the young daughter, yearns for freedom and dreams beyond the confines of her expected role. Moreover, Anil with her complex relationship with her husband plays the ideal phupho role who loves to create entertaining drama in every situation possible to seek attention.
Through love life issues, hidden secrets, and clashes of personalities, Aangan unfolds a tapestry within a traditional family structure. Moreover, relationships are tested, sacrifices are made, and the very foundations of the family are questioned. But amidst the turmoil, a deeper understanding of love, acceptance, and the importance of individual dreams emerges. Thus, it’s a story of hope and resilience, reminding us that even within the confines of tradition, one can live happily surrounded by their loved ones.
Qasim Ali Mureed is becoming quite the maestro when it comes to family dramas. He has the ability to pull emotion from deep down inside the audience’s hearts and stack it right on top of the ever rising peak of Pakistani dramas – this is because he manages to balance intense, emotional, romantic and comic in one story. The casting is on point and this one’s your go-to Pakistani drama choice if all else fails to bring a smile to your lips. Go for Aangan in bleak December weather and binge-watch the story along with your family!
3. Prem Gali – Dreamy Yet Relatable
Prem Gali is a rom-com drama aired in 2020 on ARY Digital. The story was penned by Faiza Iftikhar and directed by Qasim Ali Mureed. The cast featured Farhan Saeed and Sohai Ali Abro in the lead roles, alongside Muhammad Qavi Khan, Farah Shah, Saba Hameed, Waseem Abbas, Shameem Hilaly, Uzma Hassan, Javed Sheikh Anoushay Abbasi, Abdullah Farhatullah and Faiza Gillani.
Joya, a vibrant and outspoken young woman, lives in a tight-knit neighborhood called Prem Gali. Despite her family’s notorious past filled with divorced women, she yearns for true love and a happy life. Her world collides with Hamza, a handsome bachelor new to the neighborhood, belonging to the family of male widowers. Thus, their initial clash evolves into a playful banter, eventually blossoming into a beautiful love story.
Societal expectations, family disapproval, and personal insecurities threaten to tear them apart, but the two lovebirds stayed strong. Joya & Hamza stand up for their love and break free from societal constraints. Through their relationship struggles and triumphs, they navigate tactics to engage in peaceful and happily married life. Thus, by challenging the status quo and defying expectations of family, the couple proves that true love can overcome any obstacle.
Prem Gali boasted a made-to-order, customized set design. Joya and Hamza’s neighborhood was a close-knit family of milk vendors and parchoon ki dukaan, everyone knew everyone and the drama teleported us every week into a make-believe, yet totally relatable small town world where the tiniest shift will be felt by everyone around and the repercussions will have a ripple effect on the entire neighbourhood. In Faiza Iftikhar and Qasim Ali Mureed’s Prem Gali, many staunchly held beliefs were shattered and many more questioned. The drama will always be special for young couples living in a joint family, trying to find their way with each other, yet losing themselves in the maze of familial bonds and commitments.
Watch this one for a dreamy yet relatable experience!
4. Meri Shehzadi – Political Intrigue x Finding Love Again
Meri Shehzadi was produced by Momina Duraid and aired on Hum Tv. The story was penned by Zanjabeel Asim Shah and directed by Qasim Ali Mureed. Moreover, the cast included Urwa Hocane in the lead role alongside Ali Rehman Khan, Atiqa Odho, Sonia Mishal, Muhammad Qavi Khan, Shamim Hilaly, Shabbir Jan, Nauman Masood Najiba Faiz and Farhan Saeed made a special appearance.
Meri Shehzadi is the story of Dania, a kind and innocent girl raised by her loving grandparents. Tragically, her mother passed away during childbirth, leaving a void in her life. But despite the loss, Dania’s Nana & Nani raise her like a princess, fostering a dream of a fairy tale life. Thus, this dream seems to come true when Dania is married to Shehroz, her wealthy and influential cousin. However, her “happily ever after” is shattered when she realizes Shehroz only married her to fulfil his late father’s wishes and gain political favor as he was already married to another woman called Cam.
Trapped in a loveless marriage, surrounded by a manipulative in-law, Dania navigates a web of deceit, betrayal, and societal pressure to discover her true identity. Her journey is one of resilience, self-discovery, and ultimately, breaking free from the constraints imposed upon her by her political family. Through her struggles and triumphs, Dania learns the value of independence, self-worth, and following her own path, proving that true strength lies not in a title, but in the courage to forge your own destiny.
Watch out for the hero who will mark his entry later in the drama. Meri Shehzadi gave us a different narrative, one with political intrigue, love, tragedy and perhaps, finding love again. Qasim Ali Mureed is a master of conversations, giving us just the right dose of romance, just the right setting and ambience for us to feel invested in the characters, not compromising on the essence of relationships and especially, ensuring that his hero and heroine utter the right words at the right time – almost as if they speak on cue, yet, so naturally that we wouldn’t suspect otherwise.
Meri Shehzadi is a fast watch, performances are well-turned out and the canvas is clean, clear and visually pleasing to the eye. Watch this one to get a flavour of Qasim Ali Mureed field a different mood altogether!
And that’s it from us. Are you looking forward to Jan e Jahaan and which drama did you love most from the list above? Do drop us a comment to tell us what you think.
