Chup Raho - Sinister Beginnings

It's a hard challenge to meet, taking the spot of the beloved Pyaray Afzal.  Looking at the cast, I was doubtful about how great this show would be.  What did pull me in were two things - Arjumand Rahim and the fact that the show is directed by Yasir Nawaz. as I always enjoy shows these two are associated with.

Coming to the first episode, as soon as the show started, I was overcome with a feeling of dread.  The show depicted a family - a set of parents and their daughter (Sajal Ali) - on their way to their son-in-law and daughter's house (Arjumand Rahim and Syed Jibran Ali).  As the couple had been living in Dubai and had just moved back to Karachi, the family was reuniting after a gap of five years.  They are also heading to Karachi for Rameen's engagement to Aazar, Numair's cousin.  Despite the light-hearted, sweet nok-jhok between the family, the overall feel of the show set its audience up to constantly feel that something bad was going to happen.  What was going to happen?  No clue.  At many points, I felt as though Abba jaan was going to have a heart attack, there would be an explosion on the train while Rameen (Sajal Ali) was on the phone with Aazar (Feroz Khan), the train would be derailed, leaving Rameen orphaned.....fortunately, none of this happened.

What did happen, however, was much worse.  The family safely reached Karachi.  Rameen spotted her brother-in-law Numair and playfully played a prank of being a stranger - unfortunately, he was instantly attracted to this "stranger" and was shocked when he realized it was his sister-in-law.  And so began his evil intentions.

We bear witness to Numair having a conversation with his friend (played by Yasir Nawaz), telling him that Rameen is his next "shikar."  His friend chides him, stating that she's set to marry his cousin, to which Numair responds that she's welcome to marry his cousin and it makes no difference to him.  He also tells his friend to keep his mouth shut and go on supplying him with his apartment keys as he always does.  Numair's face is revealed to the audience with this scene as a cheater and a man who preys on his conquests.

Throughout the dholki, Numair has his evil sights set on Rameen, even chiding Rameen and Aazar for secretly meeting on the roof, saying "What will people think?"  The following day, Rameen is set to go to the parlor to get ready for the engagement - to which Numair volunteers to take her.  However, instead of taking her to the parlor, he takes her to the apartment.  What happens next?  I think we all know, though that's where the episode ended.

This show has already managed to send chills down my spine, unnerving me.  Why?  Because what's scarier than a person who has no concept of relationships?  When the person doing the wrongdoing is supposed to be your protector and someone you consider to be a brother, what will ever make you feel safe?

The situation Rameen is in is not an unrealistic one - in fact, what makes it so scary is how realistic it really is.  How many good homes have secrets like these?  And how many times is the girl expected to keep quiet?

The cast is doing a great job in their roles, each character believable.

It's yet to be seen the route that this show takes, but so far, it's incredibly interesting and horrifying at the same time.  But we're off to a good start!

Happy watching!