Jurm by Mehreen Jabbar is Slow-paced, yet a refreshing and intriguing mystery crime thriller.
Is Daniyal Really Innocent?
The recently married Daniyal and Ayla are out for a romantic date where Daniyal has planned a surprise visit for Ayla to a remotely located chai dhabba which she used to visit for chai with her family during her childhood. The visit turns into Ayla being kidnapped by some unknown people. After beating him up quite brutally, they leave Daniyal lying on the street. He manages to get to the police station. Now we wait to find out who kidnapped Ayla and why? Is Daniyal really as innocent as he seems?
Non-Linear Storytelling
The episode followed a non-linear storytelling approach which made for an interesting watch. We are up-to-date with the current scenario yet also getting insight into the backstory of the characters and relationships. The story also created suspense as we realise a character who might seem a certain way right now, might be an entirely different person in the past. So we keep wondering what happened in between, and how did he or she reach here?
The pace of the drama is a bit slow, faster storytelling with swift scene shifts would have really added to the thrill of the drama. The combination of a slow pace and multiple missing pieces in the story, can take its toll on viewers. We hope the pace will pick up in upcoming episodes.
Performances
Mention worthy performance from Atiqa Odho who plays a high society mother, engrossed in her own world and her daily routine. The way she has portrayed the character’s shallowness, never being too caring or emotional, yet never being completely aloof, is definitely engaging.
If you haven’t watched it yet, do give Jurm a watch. Notable performances, a mystery element, outdoor scenes, action shot from an experienced director’s lens, and a different manner of storytelling will definitely make for a refreshing watch.
