Just as I was about to give up on the Ramazan Dramas for the month, Fairy Tale came along like a breath of fresh air and I began to breathe again. If this is you, then read on!
There are 4 Ramazan dramas on offer this month. If you’re one who swears off Ramazan entertainment and would rather devote your time to the elevation of the soul, I respect your wishes. You need not carry on reading, but do save the post to read post Ramazan or, even on Chaand Raat if you will. For the rest, if a healthy dose of fun, comic relief and refreshing performances is what you’re missing, then Fairy Tale is your go to, one stop answer to everything you felt you missed.
Now before you protest, let me put your mind at rest.
It is unfair to compare content across the board or from past years. Yes, HUM TUM lovers and Ishq Jalebi, Chupke Chupke jiyale, I understand you are striking a comparison right there, but here’s why I feel Fairy Tale stands alone and tall as the one drama so far in 2023 Ramazan offerings, that is delivering on all fronts. Still not convinced, here’s why and read on to know.
1. Sehar Khan
Just one word, rather, two – Sehar Khan is giving viewers such an engaging performance. Umeed is the young girl who wants to conquer the world, she makes mistakes, without meaning to, she stands up for herself, fully meaning to. She’s outspoken, chatters at the speed of lightning and is all about material wants. She dives into unpredictable situations yet doesn’t seem OTT in her manifestation of a character who’s headstrong and often on the wrong side of an argument, but justifies her inner voice, to a point that we, the audience also stands convinced.
And the secret to this magic performance is casting.
Umeed is a young 20 something girl and Sehar Khan looks and acts the part. Her vivacious nature doesn’t seem out of place and her oot patang harkaten, apologies, couldn’t find an English equivalent, are actually amusing, even as she proceeds to concoct untruths at the speed of lightning, we don’t feel like judging her, dunno why. It’s all in the writing and performance!
When Umeed craves riches and luxury, she feels cheated out of privilege because her father considers Sameer, her brother, to be the jackpot of the family. When she decides to go to Islamabad, she not only apologizes to her dad but sends him a loving voice note, asking him to watch her on TV. When Haya gets engaged instead of Umeed, she apologizes but also remonstrates Haya as to why she couldn’t take a stand for herself. Umeed covers all her bases, even as we feel she might be too selfish – there is redemption in every action.
And that’s why audiences, myself included, are growing to love her.
2. Hamza Sohail
Farjad might be the picture of a typical angry young man aka hero aka male lead we’ve seen before but actually, he’s so much fun to watch that I’m not complaining. Last seen in Badshah Begum as Pir Shamir, this role is a far cry from the former and the two – Sehar and Hamza look just adorable onscreen. Again, it is casting that is key here and director Ali Hassan has given us characters that fit like a glove. The interactions between our hero and heroine are next level cute. From his perpetual scowl and her perpetual ability to thread a story from scratch reminds me of yesteryears Haseena Moin heroines who were sar phiri yet sensitive, determined, yet aware of the consequences of their choices. His reluctant ability to give in to her coaxing endears us further.
Hamza carries great versatility and is a talent yet unexplored to full potential. he is young, has already taken on diverse roles and each role has allowed him to reinvent himself to fit the character. To top it all, Farjad’s no nonsense attitude towards life paired with Umeed’s madcap histrionics makes for some welcome comic relief post iftar. So grab your chai and jalebi and make for the couch to watch these two lighten up your April evenings.
3. Storytelling
Writer Sarah Majeed has woven an engaging tale that strikes the right balance between heart-warming, silly antics and scattered poignant moments. Ramazan plays are actually a formulaic product but getting it right means the writer has to train all her/his sensibilities towards throwing the right mix of ingredients our way. Too much comic can lead to a shallow story, too sober and viewers might drop off in the middle (remember, competition is tough), too many family members aka cast and we might get confused between the developing stories, too few, and we might get bored!
And then the actual plot.
It has to be refreshing, original, push a few messages, yet subtly, and at the same time, promise 100% entertainment! Too much to ask? That’s not me, that’s the Pakistani drama audience we’re looking at, and top that with a star cast, main leads with millions of followers to ensure viewership peaks. All this is a hard bargain to run and hence, the producers must be lauded for having the courage to go with two stars who are giving us a young story, very youth relatable and so very engaging.
The game show twist in the plot is a new one for sure and audiences are enjoying the full on feels the drama has managed to create so full marks for that effort! Which brings me to the ensemble cast.
4. Family, family and more family
Whether it is Hina Rizvi playing the forgetful matriarch Aago Jaan or Saleem Sheikh as Pasha Sahab, the reluctant family dictator – the Fairy Tale family dynamics are amusing to watch. I would say that the supporting stories could have been a tad more well developed, especially the story between Haya and Sameer, but we’ll let that go as the two main leads are keeping us riveted to the screen as we wait to find out more about their supposed journey of love?
A surprise is what I call Ali Safina always, who lends his acting skills and versatility to every role he touches with a magic brush. His game show host persona is striking just the right mix of maza – Socho Pakistan is what a mix of Jeeto Pakistan & Neelam Ghar fusion plate would taste like. Not just that, but the finer details of the game show have been added in, giving us bonus enjoyment. I mean, so what if you’re tuned in to FairyTale and missing the ‘other’ game show in town, there’s always this one to keep you riveted to your screen.
Aago Jaan’s forgetful yet poignant remarks are not to be missed and one must keep listening as she throws in a dose of honesty, all heart and lots of crochet in a story that is gradually warming up.
And that’s it folks, that’s why I think that Fairy Tale is your cup pf tea, and mine too. Does it give me hope? Yes with a capital Y. Fairy Tale tells me we can, not often enough, but where there’s hope, there’s everything – ‘Umeed’ pay dunya qayem hai, right? Yes, pun intended there, so keep watching this Ramazan as I sign off, and prepare iftari to plan for episode 6 on air tonight. Mine will be with an illaichi chai and gulloo j, lovingly, gulab jamun – what about yours?
Written by Sarah Majeed, directed by Ali Hassan and produced by Momina Duraid Productions, Fairy Tale has an ensemble cast of Hamza Sohail, Sehar Khan, Ali Safina, Adnan Raza Mir, Saleem Sheikh, Salma Hassan, Tehseen Wajahat, Hina Rizvi, Saman Ansari, Amna Yousuf Zai. It airs daily in Ramazan on HUM TV.
