New drama Hurmat takes over our screens this week.
Starring Dananeer Mobeen and Shahveer Jafry, the story follows a girl whose father restricts her to the four walls of their house. Having just completed her bachelor’s degree, Hurmat wants to study further. It is her taya who steps in to fulfill her wishes and enroll her at university.
Dananeer delivers a moving performance from the very first episode as a girl who has the courage to do more but fears her father’s reprisal.
The scene between her taya (Javed Sheikh) and Hurmat is heartbreaking as she unburdens herself to him about the life she and her mother lead, practically imprisoned in their home. Ali Tahir delivers a powerful performance as a forbidding father who trusts no one near his family. It is always great to see Javed Sheikh onscreen, and this time, he shares remarkable chemistry with Dananeer.
Uzma Hassan as Hurmat’s mother delivers a subtle performance. It is great to see her versatility as an actress.
Although the story initially seems familiar – an unforgiving, cruel father and fearful mother-daughter, the storytelling is fast-paced, and the frames—utilizing natural light and zoomed-out overhead shots—enhance the viewing experience, making the drama engaging from both a visual and narrative perspective.
One particular scene, in which her taya draws back the roof covering of the house to reveal the open sky while the camera pans across multiple stories to provide an overhead view, was absolutely stunning and beautifully conveyed the pent-up emotions in Hurmat’s heart.
Shahveer Jafry plays an honest and upright law enforcement officer. More of his character will be revealed as the story develops, but the first episode provided a sufficient introduction.
The first episode intrigues with a scene of a young Hurmat in prison before quickly moving to a flashback; how she ended up there remains a mystery.
Hurmat is written by Kashif Anwar of Nouroz, Neem and Sabaat, directed by Nadeem Siddiqui, and airs on HUM TV. The cast features Dananeer Mobeen, Shahveer Jafry, Ali Tahir, Uzma Hassan, Javed Sheikh and more.
