Contractors starring Shamim Hilaly, Mohammed Ahmed, in lead roles took over our Eid holidays. For those who missed it, here’s a recap of breakout content that deserves a spot on your watchlist, well, because, it’s short, sweet and zara sa “hut kay”
It’s beginning to happen finally. Pakistani dramas are breaking free from the ageism trap, crafting stories around characters who are not 20 something, or even 30 something pretending to be 20 something. It’s all about storytelling and that too, with a window into the world of limited episodes series. We have Express TV, Green Entertainment and Geo Entertainment to thank for giving us an influx of short series from Jurm, to Hum Dono, Gumn, then Razia, Guna, Aik Thi Laila and now Contractors.
Firsts in the Pakistani Drama industry are an initiative taken by the few courageous creators who are willing to go against the tide of 40 episodic dramas with romance and joint family conspiracies as the primary hook, to crossover to crime thrillers in digestible limited episode format that make for an engaging watch over the weekend – a brave feat indeed.
Contractors did just that. The short series revealed the settings of a crime thriller that had not been attempted as yet in the industry.
The Story
An elderly couple, Nigar and Rashid inhabits a seemingly “normal” life with a young girl, Sara as their tenant. The onscreen chemistry between Shamim Hilaly and Mohammed Ahmed is fun to watch as they switch between sharp, well-practiced contract killers to a slightly forgetful, ageing couple who want to call it a day and move to a safe retirement haven in Mexico.
Of course, life wouldn’t have it that way and they end up going for the final kill or contract which ended up being more than they bargained for.
Storytelling
Direction from Mehreen Jabbar marks a distinct departure from her previous crime thriller Jurm which was all about non-linear storytelling and enigmatic reveals within a broader mystery. Here too though, scenes shown in parallel to propel the story forward kept the tempo fast-paced and also, injected an element of human emotions and judgement calls that ensured audiences were invested from the outset.
The costumes and transformations of Nigar and Rashid were a standout effort by the team to infuse vibrancy and pique interest in these two characters. Despite their actions being highly dubious, they prevented us from passing judgment and instead, compelled us to focus on the task at hand – murder. So invested were we in making sure they got away, right till the very end, that we could have very easily, been an extension of their hit squad, if that were possible at all.
Pakistani crime thrillers often fall victim to omissions or ignoring the finer details of the case, showing careless thievery or murder so much so, that audiences call them out for the missing links. However, Contractors managed to check all the right the boxes, from Rashid Sahib meticulously switching inhalers and Nigar playing it brave and cool when Kabeer’s brother drops in on an announced visit.
Characters That Pulled A Punch
Mamya Shajaffar and Hamzah Tariq Jamil aka Sara and Shayan might seem like characters who were present to add a young feel to the story, but they essentially drive two sides of a debate that often polarizes society – do hardened criminals deserve to live even if they have been released by the justice system? The recent demise of OJ Simpson might bring the case home in multiple ways. Although Contractors might not have intentionally sparked debate, it likely ignited one within us, on a subtle yet lasting level. The conversation was cemented further with SHO Hamid, a principled police officer played by Haris Waheed and Badar Sahib, played by Mehmood Aslam, who both view the criminal justice system from diametrically opposite perspectives.
Scripting Wins
All along the 5 episode series, Contractors maintained a grip on the audience’s attention, without a dull moment. Mohammad Ahmed and Shah Yasir’s scripting infused a delightful camaraderie between our lead couple – Shamim Hilaly and Mohammed Ahmed. These two kept things interesting. Bakhtawar Mazhar portrayed the role of Sara’s phoppo added a punch to the casting as she essayed a character that was both fiesty and spirited. Ali Rizvi, who played the ghutka chewing police officer added the “goofy” to the narrative, introducing a touch of humour to the story, lightening the mood at just the right time.
What could have been better?
If one were to critique what could have been better, perhaps a few moments of emotional intensity within the story might have enhanced the impact. Sara’s inner conflict, though aptly essayed by her sobbing at a point when she grappled with moral dilemmas in a world turned suddenly chaotic, would have been more striking if she could have engaged in a conversation with Nigar and Rashid about the torture she was enduring all alone. Again, Nigar and Rashid’s repentance or a coming to terms was brushed over ever so lightly, not that it took away from the characters, but perhaps, the depth of the storytelling. As an audience, one longs to experience the full spectrum of pain, joy, and relief in all its highs and lows, and while we got the relief towards the end, the joy and pain could have been explored more fully. Additionally, even in the moral debate between Badar and Hamid, the emotions felt subdued, muted, as if neither was coming out fully. A passionate outburst could have punctuated the conversation with a much-needed exclamation point!
However, this does not detract from a project that is undeniably watchable! Contractors is a series that will deliver a delightful watch and leave you with a smile even as you bid goodbye to the daredevil team Nigar and Rashid, secretly hoping for a season 2. There is ample room to have one by the way, and much as we love the short series format, a season two can always fit in with our happy couple coming together once more, ala Mission Impossible. Our mantra? Never say never in the life of Pakistani dramas, anything and everything is possible!
Contractors is written by Mohammed Ahmed and Shah Yasir. It is produced by Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi under 7th Sky Entertainment and directed by none other than Mehreen Jabbar who has given audiences another mini series last year – Jurm. The cast includes Mohammad Ahmed and Shamim Hilaly in leads along with Mamya Shajaffar, Agha Mustafa Hassan, Rashid Farooqi, Haris Waheed, Hamzah Tariq Jamil, Ali Rizvi, Bakhtawar Mazhar, and others. It’ll be airing on Geo.
