Must watch TV plays

While last year Pakistani television plays broke away from clichéd ideas and opinions, the plays in 2018 are becoming popular because of their diverse plots and realistic portrayals. Last year, the plays that offered interesting storylines and managed to keep the audience hooked to the TV screens include Baaghi, O Rangreza and Yakeen Ka Safar among others. And in 2018, we are looking at a set of TV plays that offer some unorthodox themes and characters. Instep looks into some of them.

Khalish

The play is about class difference, betrayal, love, relationships and most importantly revenge. The plot revolves around a man, essayed by Faysal Qureshi, who is determined to take revenge from all those who are responsible for the ordeals he and his mother have gone through. And in the process he emerges stronger and powerful. Directed by Syed Ali Raza Usama and produced by Aijaz Aslam, Khalish stars model turned actor Sunita Marshall as Qureshi’s love interest. Other cast members include Asif Raza Mir and Kamran Jilani. The play highlights some of the most common problems that still exist in our society. In a previous interview with Instep actor Faysal Qureshi said, “It is a family drama but in a different way. It’s a fight between a father and a son.” He continued, “The story revolves around him and how he breaks an entire empire - beginning from a small house. He is also a lost lover who loses the one he loves.”

Written by Imran Ali Safir, Khalish is quite engaging with impressive performances and a strong narrative.

Khaani

Directed by Anjum Shahzad, Khaani is based on a very common social practice that exists in our society and talks about the powerful and the lesser powerful. Written by Asma Nabeel, the play stars Feroze Khan and Sana Javed in lead roles. Khaani follows the story of Feroze Khan, who represents the powerful kin and Sana Javed, who comes from a less privileged background. Khan essays the role of Mir Hadi, the only son of a politician (essayed by Mehmood Aslam), who uses money and power to his advantages while Javed plays the titular character of Khaani, a brave and courageous girl who fights against injustices.

Aside from Khan and Javed, Khaani also features Mehmood Aslam, Saman Ansari, Qavi Khan, Salma Hasan, Rashid Farooqui, Muhammad Ali, Seemi Pasha among others. Co-produced by Abdullah Qadwani and Asad Qureshi, the play is about how family values differ significantly and how it influences the next generation.

Khudgarz

Khudgarz tells the story of complex relationships, jealousy, selfishness and betrayal. Aamina Sheikh has made a comeback to the small screen with this intense story of love and marital relationships, and complicated dynamics between the lead characters. Written by Rida Bilal, the play is directed by Yasir Nawaz and has an all star cast including Aamina Sheikh, Ghulam Mohiuddin, Sami Khan, Syed Jibran and Mansha Pasha in pivotal roles.

The story revolves around Hassan, essayed by Sami Khan, and his psychological issues. He is a selfish and jealous brat who gets away with everything. He has no respect for women and ill-treats everyone around him; in the process he ruins the lives of Ayera (Aamina Sheikh), Abeer (Mansha Pasha) and his cousin Junaid (Syed Jibran). With such powerful performances, the play is worth following.

Ghughi

Set in the 1940s, the period drama is a romance saga between a Muslim and a Hindu with all their fears, differences, morals and traditions at stake. It is a story of passionate love and overpowering hate set against the violent, bloody upheaval of partition.

The play is produced under Adnan Siddiqui’s banner, and he is also the protagonist. It also stars new actors Amar Khan and Hamza Firdous in lead roles. Directed by Iqbal Hussain and written by Amna Mufti, Ghughi is an adaptation of Amrita Pritam’s acclaimed novel, Pinjar. Adnan Siddiqui plays the role of a hot headed, Muslim man Rasheed while Amar is playing his love interest, a Hindu woman Nirmala. Aside from Adnan, Amar and Hamza, Ghughi also stars Haris Waheed, Rashid Mehmood, Asma Abbas, Mohsin Gillani and many others.

Belapur ki Dayan

This drama taps into the supernatural-horror genre. The plot of this intense suspense thriller revolves around injustice and revenge. The main character is a ghost Neelofar, essayed by Amar Khan, who is wrongfully killed decades ago. Adnan Siddiqui plays the dayan’s love interest in the play which has been divided in two different time periods. “One is set in the ‘80s, where I essay the role of a shy, coy girl who is into Parveen Shakir’s poetry and falls in love with her teacher, essayed by Adnan Siddiqui,” stated Amar Khan in a recent interview with Instep. “Something happens and this girl dies and comes back as a dayan to take revenge.”

Belapur ki Dayan has an ensemble of cast including veterans like Shakeel, Irfan Khoosat, Adnan Siddiqui, Sajda Syed, Rashid Farooqui, Sara Khan, Amar Khan, Osama Tahir and others. Directed by Saife Hasan, the play is surely a thrill to watch.