Join us as we take you on a ‘dramatic’ journey from the Pakistani drama scenes that wowed this week. Take a look and revisit the moments before the next week sets in!
1. Biryani
Biryani premieres on the Pakistani drama scene and this conversation between Meer and Sarwat Gilani’s character Gul Mehar set the pace for the relationship – part cheeky, part serious, and also, something more hidden beneath the light-hearted dialogue? Well, for that, we will have to wait but these two, Meer Meran in his new college student era and Gul Mehar (we’ve not yet been told of her relationship to Meer, any guesses?), is certainly setting goals for video calls.
End of story, Meer swaps outfits and that’s all that matters! The contrast between the two backdrops, Meer’s earnest responses and Gul’s playful ones certainly amped up the scene.
Onwards to Shamsi sahab saying it like it is to Nisa. Meer’s family donations help pay for your scholarship, correction, 100% of your university fees. So just do the job or else… The interaction was clear, crisp and so matter-of-fact; we totally related. Nisa on her part was stumped yet took it in her stride, there’s no getting away from this one, she knew. We loved the brief yet focused dialogue interchange here, a few words can go a long way in sending a clear message. And this one hit the bullseye!
2. Goonj
Onwards to Goonj as Zarnab attempts to file that harassment report and the HR representative tries her best to dissuade her. Excuses to stall such as: “You will get distracted, you need to work to prove your recent promotion, oh, he’s like that with everyone, I’ll talk to him,” were relatable ways in which complaints against harassment perpetrators fail to be registered in time.
Goonj has its finger on the pulse of women like Zarnab who find it so hard to walk themselves to the HR office to file a complaint, primarily because, well, they know they might get a similar response as the one in the drama instead of support, counseling and to begin with, being believed and taken seriously.
3. Ek Jhooti Kahani
Zara Noor Abbas as Bushra shines bright yet again. Thise scene belonged to her as she penned a tongue-in-cheek letter to her father to let him know she’s leaving for a month to earn some money to enrol in the acting academy. The manner in which Zara delivered the scene – dialogues, body language, scripting, expressions, tone and voice as well as the execution of, add in pop icon Nazia Hassan and musical legend Musarrat Nazir’s posters in the background frame spoke volumes for Bushra’s passion, the way in which she manouvered the room, deciding how to make sure the letter is read, and also, the continuous accompanying dialogue, part amusing, part contemplative, added to the scene beautifully.
Well played Ek Jhooti Kahani!
4. Parwarish
When Boss leaves a video message for Wali, part sad, part witty and always with that ‘Boss’ feel; sending out messages with a tinge of self deprecating humour and poignancy all rolled into one, it was a Parwarish final episode moment. When he asked to be remembered in one of Wali’s songs, when his voice broke a little towards the end, it tore our hearts too, yet we knew that Wali needs to grieve for a soul who left him with an abundance of memories and life lessons.
The scene gave a fitting closure to the Boss-Wali relationship after the intensely sad graveyard moment in the past episode.
When Jahangir finally hugs Wali, when Wali first tries to fend him off then embraces him back, when they both cry their hearts out, and so do onlookers – the audience got what they were seeking in the final episode of Parwarish – a fitting conversation between Wali and Jahangir that checked all the boxes – well perfomed and well delivered by both Nauman Ijaz and Samar Jafri.
Parwarish also handed out a few light-hearted moments to make up for the heavy, and this scene in particular struck a note. The first whispers of young love can be cute, awkward and so very amusing when done right and relatable. Amal, Maya and Maaz showed how it’s done with a fleeting library scene that left us with a smile for its simplicity, Amal’s anxiety and Maaz’s smooth card-drop.
We hope more dramas can pick up on the vibe to give us Gen Z-relatable romance that is anything but cringe.
5. Main Manto Nahi Hoon
When Ifra’s dad, Matloob Ahmed, seeks Siraj’s help in finding his daughter, the forbidding gaze from Siraj speaks volumes. How could he leave his daughter all alone? The conversation was laden with guilt and embarassment in Matloob Sahab’s expressions, anxiety from Mehmal and a restrained yet obvious rage from Siraj. An intense interaction, well performed by all the players.
This was an intense conversation where Farhad delivered cruel dialogues without a hint of remorse or regret, his expressions tempered to match his words as he continued to speak about Ifra with a cold detachment, knowing exactly how his words would fall on his listeners – both the police and Ifra’s father. Well played Azaan Sami Khan, and well scripted and executed team Main Manto Nahi Hoon.
6. Dear Bestie
The edits where Iman is shooting an Op-ed to raise awareness on the garbage collection in the city was executed with an eye for detail. Trash and its disposal is not the most colorful topic to address in Pakistani dramas yet director Mehreen Jabbar did a great job of capturing the story through her lens; in a handful of carefully curated shots, the scene aptly conveyed the need for a garbage disposal system in a city that lacks proper resources or even the will to clear up its streets and make it livable for the inhabitants.
Iman’s expressions, her struggle to cover a meaningful story, how she brought it altogether, added to the impact of the scene and perhaps, the disdain with which her boss treated her efforts spoke ironically of how much attention we give to the ‘trashy’ problem that inhabitants of big cities live and breathe in daily.
When Dania essayed by Romaisa Khan takes in the perfume and sneezes violently, her wig slips off. The accompanying bewilderment from the onlookers, embarassment and dialogue play brought together an impactful scene as Dania’s inner struggles just came to a head in that one fleeting moment. The scene conveyed so many emotions and one felt for Dania instantly.
Added to that were the aesthetics that carried all the influencer vibe to deliver a moment that will make many Gen Zers turn to Dear Bestie as a relatable watch and a breath of fresh air on the Pakistani drama scene.
Please note: Dear Bestie airs on ARY Digital YouTube channel only.
7. Naqsh
Humna you have our heart as you try to make Rahim understand the complexity of the situation, the challenges you face alone and the weight of the secrets you know. Hina Altaf and Zarrar Khan have a chemistry going in Naqsh and here, Humna’s inner turmoil and Rahim’s pain conveyed a great deal.
And that’s all for drama scenes this week folks.
