Gumn came, it saw, it conquered. This crime thriller explored a genre that is rarely taken up as a serious challenge in the Pakistani drama scene. The narrative is often diluted due to the inevitable (and we’re told necessary) love angle, without which, drama kaise chalega, views kaise ayenge?
But Gumn decided it would not have any of that.
Bitter-Sweet Romance
That’s not to say, the romance wasn’t there, but it sort of, gelled in with the story. In fact, it was part of the story. It wasn’t a happily ever after ending, yet, it was a happily ever after end. Our protagonist arrived at her/his destination and that too, with substantial heart break. But somehow, Gumn left a warm feel inside – a bitter-sweet romance, not just between two characters who really seemed to connect in spirit, but also, a romance between the audience and the story – Pakistani viewers finally got to watch a crime thriller and one that acknowledged their intelligence as viewers.
When Rayyan appeared in his flat to surprise Maya, we were surprised too. When he taught her those smooth defense moves, we wish we had a Rayyan too, who’d teach us how to fend off potential threats, when Rayyan wept, laying his head in his dad’s lap, we felt his pain, “mein acha beta nahi bun saka“, he said. The dialogue was dramatic, yet true to life, impactful, yet simply put – Gumn gave us emotional moments, messages, suspense, mystery and a sprinkling of romance. Even the action seemed to be interjected with a plan in mind, Feroze Kadri pulled some punches, Furqan Qureshi aka Shahid kept us guessing as to his loyalties, so did Inspector Jahangir. Sameer kept us amused and Maya, oh well, Maya had us invested in her life journey.
From the woman about to jump off a building to the brave young lawyer, ready to risk her life to uncover the truth – Tooba Siddiqui slipped into Maya Malik’s character like a glove. Feroze Kadri rose to the occasion and gave his co actor just enough chemistry to light up the frame. We wanted more from them both, and here, the writer-director team knew it well, and kept just enough from us to leave us, thirsty in the final episode, for more of Feroze and Maya, yet, satisfied that we had what we had – a true hero who fought to gain justice, Robinhood-like maybe? And a true heroine who tried to save her hero, and couldn’t, yet lifted her chin to face the world and continue fighting for a cause.
Navigating The Narrative
I could go on. But what Gumn really gave us was a script with smart plot twists. Our hitman trapped by Shahid, Rayyan’s dad safe in the old people’s home, Shakir Hussain desperate to knock off Rayyan, and Hameed, landing up at home, a sitting duck for Rayyan – all these moves in the screenplay were finely tuned, timed right, to give us just the mystery feel we needed.
Rayyan beating the pulp out of his victims, having just enough knowledge of medical science to know how to drug Hameed, spotting Malik’s picture in Maya’s office, parts of his memory jogging back to life very gradually, all added to the suspense factor.
The screenplay switched back and forth in time yet kept viewers (un)confused thanks to some sharp edits. Not just that, but the moment it all came together for Rayyan and Maya, when he asks her to calm down after a stint of power boxing, and her mind is catapulted back in time to the rooftop, was just such an awesome revelation and so beautifully patched together that viewers no doubt, felt a hint of what Maya felt at that very moment; when it dawned upon her that Rayyan was the one who had saved her life!
There was just enough poignant romance there to satiate Pakistani audiences, yet not too much to take away from the poignancy of the narrative. And that’s why I call Gumn a great balancing act – it stayed true to its genre, and didn’t give in to “so called popular demand” – a rare moment in Pakistani dramas indeed!
And if you believe I’m on and on about Gumn, yes, I am. You see, this is the first drama where my husband wouldn’t walk in and announce: “That’s it, please hand me the remote, we need to watch some Seinfeld, can’t take too much more of your Pakistani drama marathon!” He would actually sit down beside me and …watch Gumn!
Performances
Lastly, but, as they say, not the least, Feroze Kadri is a find and a half. Rayaan’s stoic demeanour kept him totally focused, established a character who has a single mission in mind, is haunted by the ghosts of the past – his sister’s horrific murder – and he will not rest till her killers are brought to task. His explanation to Maya of why and how he needed to take the law into his own hands, having exhausted all avenues, kept the love going in our hearts for our hero, where we stood right by him, with every victim he felled.
Casting killed in this serial as Sohail Sameer hit the right shades in Inspector Jahangir, Furqan Qureshi took on shady feels as Shahid and Kashif Hussain as hitman aced their roles.
To sum it up, Gumn has been a monumental step in the right direction. Director Sarmad Khoosat, writers Tooba Siddiqui and Hamza Qazi as well as Green TV must be applauded for raising the bar on crime thrillers in Pakistan.
As Dora would say in signature fashion, “We Did It Hurray!” I’d say, yeah, we did it, hurray! But is there a season 2 on the cards? Coz’ we’re so ready for it!
Gumn is a collaborative effort by Tooba Siddiqui and Hamza Qazi, is directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat. The drama cast features talented actors such as Tooba Siddiqui, Feroze Qadri, Srha Asgr Furqan Qureshi, Zara Tareen, Sohail Sameer, Agha Mustafa, Kashif Hussain, Daniyal Khan, Anusha Khalid, Hashim Butt, Sudhir Vaswani, Fawad Jalal, Shuja Asad, Behroze Sabzwari, Sohail Masood, Wamiq, and Usman Peerzada.
Tell us what you loved most about Gumn and if you’ve watched it yet!