In Conversation With Meesam Naqvi, Director, Parwarish

If a Pakistani drama could crawl into the darkest and brightest places where young people reside, in the music they love, the relationships they inhabit and the future they dream of, and fear of, simultaneously, Parwarish has done that. More and more Gen Zers are watching this story unfold onscreen and every week, the saga strikes an emotional chord that hits deeper and more different. It is no surprise then that we reached out to director Meesam Naqvi on this second of three conversations, to tell you more about the story behind the story. Read on…

So let’s begin from the beginning. Parwarish focuses on parenting choices of different couples and and how the young people they parent, deal with those choices as they step into adulthood. Is there anything that you think we can learn from all four, a parenting takeaway?

“So, I have only one answer – it is communication. If you are not communicating with your child and not looking at the world from their perspective, then you are making a big parenting mistake. And that’s what we try to show in Parwarish as well.” Responded Director Meesam

“These parents are not even trying to look into their children’s world. In any parenting style, communication with your children and also with each other is key. Because your children see you too, and also, whether you are communicating with each other…, or not.” Continued the director.

“The cycle of upbringinging tells us that 100% perfect parenting cannot happen in this world. This is my opinion.” States the director. “Personally, I feel that there is no fool-proof tried and tested formula. The key takeaway from Parwarish? That in the end, it is our responsibility as parents that our children turn out to be good people.”

“Hitting your child to punish them was the accepted way before, and maybe it shouldn’t be used anymore. Every generation is different.” Explains the director, as we reflect on Jahangir’s parenting style, especially with Wali.

“As a parent, what is my job?” Questions director Meesam. “Just like my parents brought me up, should I follow the same approach? My job is to follow the path my parents taught me, this is one way to parent, yes,” contemplates the director. “And another is to break the shackles of generational trauma and change myself and the way I bring up my children, try to explain things to them differently, to communicate more.” He further reveals that he thinks all the parents in Parwarish are in the same boat.

The director goes on to include dadi and dada in his parenting paradigm as well:

“See, Dada and Dadi are very cute and I have shown their relationship to be as such. But they also have their flaws. Dadi is not able to understand the new world.”

The director goes on to unravel the thought process that guided his characters:

“If you note, Mahnoor says the right things, the progressive things in the household. She is very rational. She is not toxic towards Panna or dadi in any way. But her mindset is not wrong. She doesn’t degrade Panna intentionally but has her own point of view and she doesn’t hesitate to share it.”

“Sameer’s mindset – He is street-smart. He has lived on the roads. Sometimes boys pretend to be cool, especially in Pakistani upbringing. That is Sameer for you, and you are seeing it now.”

“I don’t think Jahangir is an evil parent. The only problem is, that he is a controlling parent. He is acting for the welfare of his child, he is orchestrating his admission into medical college (according to what he deems is the right approach to parenting), looking out for his child and securing his future. So, as far as Jahangir’s intentions are concerned, he’s not wrong. He is trying to say that: I am a father, I have this liberty that I can do whatever I want with my kids. But let me tell you,” continues the director, “I understand Jahangir as a parent, that his child might grow up and become unsuccessful. He is worried about his son’s future, and that is what guides his actions – his anxiety, his worries as a parent.”

But while advocating for Jahangir, the director then debates his parenting choices:

“And on the flip side, what we are telling audiences is, that this is wrong, and you can see it. What are the after-effects of Jahangir’s actions? You can see them now. And he is doing the same with his wife.”

But will Jahangir’s journey continue? We ask.

Director Meesam responded, his words resonating a deeper truth: “I think hope is the only thing that makes or breaks a person.”

And we guess we have to watch Parwarish for the rest to unfold!

With that, we wrap up this week’s conversation. Watch this space for more on the director’s casting choices for Parwarish, coming up next week.

Parwarish: The Journey of a Mother Begins With Her Daughter

Credits:

Parwarish is written by Kiran Siddiqui and directed by Meesam Naqvi. The drama airs every Monday and Tuesday at 8:00 PM only on ARY Digital. The cast includes Samar Jafri, Aina Asif, Naumaan Ijaz, Savera Nadeem, Shamim Hilaly, Saad Zameer Fareedi, Reham Rafiq, Nazr-ul-Hasan, Bakhtawar Mazhar, Nooray Zeeshan, Haleema Ali, Arshad Mehmood, Saman Ansari, Abul Hasan, and others