The first episode of 7th Sky Entertainment Khaie is out and here are our thoughts on the violence, pashto accents and the performances in the drama.
Saqlain Abbas is the credited writer for this production and it is directed by Syed Wajahat Hussain. Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi take on the role of producers under the banner of 7th Sky Entertainment.
The ensemble cast features prominent actors such as Faysal Quraishi portraying Channar Khan, Durefishan Saleem as Zamdaa, Khalid Butt as Duraab Khan, Noor ul Hassan as Darwesh, Uzma Hassan as Gul Wareen, Laila Wasti as Bareera, Osama Tahir as Badal, Shuja Asad as Barlas, Mah-e-Nur Haider as Apana, Shamyl Khan as Gulab Khan, Hina Bayat as Bakhtawar, Saba Faisal as Husn Bano, Javed Jamal as Badshah Khan, Nabeel Zuberi as Pamir, and Hassan Noman as Shanawar. This diverse and talented cast brings the story to life, hopefully adding depth and dimension to each character in this compelling production.
First Glances
Right from the beginning, our focus is hooked on to the serene locations of the northern areas of Pakistan, which appear to be fully utilized. Set amidst picturesque mountains and lakes, the cinematography accurately captures these locations in terms of each scene having a distinct feel and aesthetics reflected in the locations chosen.
The drama kicks off with a Pashtun family of five returning to Pakistan after 25 years, apparently from Bahrain. The parents, Darwesh Khan (played by Noor ul Hassan) and Husn Bano (portrayed by Saba Faisal), are accompanied by their children, including Durefishan (Zamda), and her two brothers.
The first episode appears to be well-paced, introducing the characters and storylines while establishing it as a thoroughly tribal, Pashtun culture-focused show. It is accompanied by violence, with a noticeable increase in graphic gore compared to past dramas. While there was a touch of romance and enjoyable banter, it seems that the good and happy phase won’t last for too long.
Story
Khaie essays the ancient tradition of eliminating the male members of an enemy’s family in order to discontinue their lineage. The story is one of revenge, a reign of terror and possibly, how the “good vs evil” saga will play out against a backdrop of conspiracies and violence. The multi-character plots aim to engage audiences in not only the core storytelling but also the personal lives, family dynamics and villagers’ lives of living under a ruthless rule of torture and savagery.
Will the good triumph in the end and how? Durefishan’s character Zamdaa will possibly play a major role in exacting retribution.
How Well Are The Actors Pulling Off The Pashto Accent?
While most characters in the drama appear to be Pashtun, they all seem to have worked on their accents though of course not natural. We can’t say it’s honed to perfection, but we see an effort with bits of Pashto thrown in here and there. Who did the best justice to Pashto acting? Saba Faisal! Hers was seemingly the most believable. The rest? Could be a tad better.
What’s Fresh & What’s Not
It’s great to see that even in the limited roles of playing father in multiple dramas, Noor ul Hassan continues to bring such variety to his fatherly characters. The children are observed absorbing the culture, though the way they do, seems to be a somewhat stale approach we have seen before. While we continue to see tribal, village violence, we have not seen many Pashtun, decades old traditions focused narratives before. There is an eerie feeling as they return, fearing the outcome of an old rivalry they can only hope is now settled.
Faysal Qureshi’s Character & The Violence In The Drama
Faysal Quraishi makes a striking entrance in a seemingly roguish and villainous role as Channar Khan, the son of tribal landlord Durab Khan, from a family of barbaric tribal Pashtuns.
The scene involving Faysal Quraishi and his father depicts a disturbing incident where they attempt to seize the land of a poor villager who refuses to sign the selling agreement. It escalates to the point where the ruthless father, Durab Khan ends up chopping off the poor man’s thumb and uses it for thumb impressions on the land deeds. The depiction is graphic, showing the act of chopping, the blood, the dismembered thumb, and even the shocking use of the severed thumb to stamp the papers. It’s quite intense and gory, so if you’re sensitive, be cautious as it may be difficult to watch.
A trigger warning is strongly advised here.
The character Chanar Khan, played by Faysal Qureshi, appears to be someone to fear, as indicated by the quote “Haar Chanar Khan say darta hai – Faysal Quraishi.” He is portrayed as a brusque and lethal individual, solely focused on winning and losing. Additionally, there are hints of his character’s romantic interests, with plans for a third marriage hinted at, as he seems to have his eyes on Zamdaa.
Durefishan’s Character & Perhaps A Noticeable Pattern
We see Dure Fishan once again, portraying a righteous, intelligent, and nation-loving daughter who keeps her brothers in check. She aims to build a school in her village to contribute to the education of children. As we anticipate further developments in her character’s journey, we can’t help but notice a recurring pattern in her past roles, all of which revolve around similar traits.
What’s Maybe Roped Us In To Watch The Second Episode?
The drama suggests that, despite Darwesh Khan’s return with the intention of forgiving and forgetting, and his desire for the dust to settle, Channar Khan and his family are not inclined to believe in such things. They revolve around misunderstandings, contemplating the possibility of cruelty, and being wary of it as the most dangerous aspect.
Faysal Quraishi essays Channar Khan’s violently villainous agendas. We wonder whether the tribal disarray, the actors and their performances and the accents will continue to engage audiences. However, the first episode inclusion of scenes like the thumb-chopping raises the question of further graphic and gory content awaiting us.
Note to makers: Pakistani dramas often fall prey to giving away too much in the pre release promos. Khaie is a glaring example of the same. Much of the storyline has been revealed in the YouTube script and successive promos which takes away from the initial episodes. Since viewers now know what’s coming, the current interest in the storyline has been compromised.
It would be great to switch strategy here and have more confidence in the storytelling to maintain a sense of suspense and intrigue for audiences.
Have something to add to our review? Drop us a comment and tell us what you think!
