Zanjeerain, featuring a big star cast, dropped its first episode last night – and it delivered a little bit of everything. Here’s what stood out in the premiere.
Sajal Ali as Biya, who runs her own cafe, is absolutely heart-winning. She wins you with her business skills and her strength to not be bullied.
Sahar Hashmi as Sher Bano has mystery around her character. Also, the softness and cuteness of a favourite girl in the family who is madly in love with her fiancé is also very, very endearing. It is not overly sweet, so it’s fun to watch.
The boys, Ameer Gillani and Daniyal Zafar, are fun to watch as you see the boy friendship, the nok jhok, and then the seriousness of their individual characters.
Usman Javed as Torsum is very impressive. He is that villain who is subtle when he is in love and lethal when he is the enemy.
Ahsan Khan and Momal Sheikh are both back on screen with impeccable performances.
Samiya Mumtaz as Bi Jaan gives off a tender, loving feel. Her character suggests grace mingled with a sadness for those she lost.
The pace of the first episode was fast, so your attention stays.
The screen appears larger than life and that captivates you as an audience. The visuals were breathtaking, the cinematography was super impressive, so you could never take your eyes away from the screen. And you get to see the scenic side of Pakistan.
Throughout the episode, the drama carries the feel of an imminent horrific event, so as you watch, enjoying the story, you are expecting something unpredictable to happen any minute.
Simi Raheal as the mystical soothsayer delivered a fearful, almost ominous feel, adding a heavy mood to the storytelling.
Written by Farhat Ishtiaq and directed by Shahzad Kashmiri, the first episode definitely has us hooked.
