Meer Abru: Interesting Story...But Have We Seen It Before?

When I discovered Sanam Chaudhry and Noor Hassan were in a drama together, I immediately jotted it down on my "to watch" list and waited for the air date.  When that day came, I sat in front of the TV and began watching.  Within seconds, my mind was taken back to a show I watched several years ago, back in the years when I indulged in watching Indian television serials.  For those who watched Indian television in the mid-2000s, an Ekta Kapoor serial ruled television screens at the time, a show called Kahin To Hoga.  This show starred Rajeev Khandelwal as Sujal, Aamna Shariff as Kashish and Rohit Bakshi as Piyush and created one of the most compelling and frustrating love triangles on television

 Kahin To Hoga told the tale of two best friends that lived together in one house with their families.  Their children Sujal, Rishi, Piyush, Varun, Aman and Sanjana all grow up together.  Kashish Sinha, the daughter of a professor, is one of four sisters and takes care of the household as a mother would.  She begins working in Sujal's office and immediately, sparks fly and despite irritation with each other, deep feelings form.  Kashish also befriends Piyush, who also has feelings for Kashish.  In a mistake, Kashish accepts the rishta that comes from their house, assuming it to be from Sujal.  However, after seeing Sujal's reaction to the misunderstanding and his mistrust of their relationship, Kashish decides to marry Piyush, a move that sends Sujal down a heartbroken path of anger.  This story gets fairly messy. 

A side-story is also as such:  Rishi, Sujal's brother, has a run-in with Kashish and Professor Sinha and in an effort to get revenge, he has a relationship with Mehak, Kashish's sister, and gets her pregnant.  Does this all sound familiar?  It should, because this is the exact same story as Meer Abru.  The story is so similar that even the casting has been done in such a way that the Pakistani counterparts are styled the exact same way as they were in the Indian version.  There are very slight changes made.  For example, the "Rishi" character (Waleed) is "Piyush's" brother (Mirza Zain Baig) instead of "Sujal" (Meer) and the Aman, Sanjana, Varun characters have been erased.  When I watch Meer Abru with family or friends and they say "I wonder what Meer will do now?", I answer with "Just wait and watch" - because I know exactly what he's going to do.  I know exactly where this show is headed.  I know exactly what is going to happen to Meer, Abru and Saim - because I've seen it all before.

The issue I take with this "copy" is simple - ethically, shouldn't due credit be given when remaking an already existing television show?  "But India copies our music all the time."  I know there will be someone out there who makes this statement.  Two wrongs do not make a right.  Regarding television shows, a remake of "Dhoop Kinaare" was made in India several years back and their opening credits stated that it was a remake of Dhoop Kinaare.  Credit was given.  Likewise, when Talkhiyan and Mera Naseeb were made in Pakistan, credit was given to the novels they were inspired by.  I simply do not understand why this happened in an industry where we are lauded for our content and people across the border love watching our serials for their simplicity and originality.

All this being said, Meer Abru is actually an incredibly entertaining show.  Despite knowing exactly how the story will play out before it happens, I tune in every Wednesday and Thursday to catch the new episodes.  Noor Hassan is doing a great job in his role as Meer and his chemistry with Sanam Chaudhry is electrifying.  Mirza Zain Baig is doing a great job as well as Saim, the reliable, mature character.  At entertainment value, this show is high on the list - I thoroughly enjoy the show and I am not in the minority.  Meer Abru has caught on and has many die-hard fans.  And, quite honestly, I am one of them.  I look forward to watching the show on Wednesdays and Thursdays, excitedly watching the story play out - an excitement made more possible by already knowing how the story plays out, I suppose.

Is Meer Abru a bad show?  No!  It's a great show.  It's simply just not original - and how I wish it were a legal remake (a fact that I google searched with optimism) or even had a line in the credits, because that step alone would have excused all my complains.  Alas, it is not so.

Aangan: A Recap

To start off, I know I promised to write more often and have not displayed living up to that - but I have.  I'm writing for Masala.com these days - and writing quite often -, so it leaves less time to write here.  I'll still be uploading original pieces here, but those pieces are exclusive to Masala.com, so I can't share them here.  I will, however, link the articles here, so you can visit the site to read them.

With the finale of Aangan airing this week, I was requested to write a recap of Aangan.  For those who have missed an episode of Aangan, airing on Hum TV, here and there OR for those who are interested in Aangan, but would like to know more about it, I've written a VERY lengthy recap of the show on Masala.com.  The recap is so lengthy that it had to be split into two parts.  I am linking the articles in this post.  Please read, enjoy and comment (both here and on Masala.com)!

Aangan: A Recap - Part 1

Aangan: A Recap - Part 2

I have an article I wrote specifically for this blog written and ready to go, but will upload it tomorrow.  As always, thanks for reading and happy watching!

Khaas: A Different Kind of Abuse

Hey guys!  It's been some time - I'm going to spare you the excuses and just dive right in.

Khaas airs on Hum TV, is written by Sarwat Nazir and boasts of a star-studded cast including Sanam Baloch, Ali Rehman Khan and Haroon Shahid in the lead roles.  It goes unannounced then that the show kicked off with high expectations - and boy, does it live up to them.

The story, to put it in simple terms, revolves around Saba (Sanam Baloch), a free-spirited, self confident woman who catches the eye of Ammar (Ali Rehman Khan), a man who, while being the life of every party, cannot see beyond his own wants and desires.  Saba and Ammar get married and immediately begin having marital issues.  Throw Faakhir (Haroon Shahid), one of Ammar's best friends who also falls for Saba, into the mix and you have the recipe for a love triangle......except, the show is not what you would expect.

The story for Khaas is described as "focusing on the issues of a married couple in society."  The story is not that simple.  We've seen abuse depicted in Pakistani dramas before - coincidentally (or not), one of the best dramas on abuse in a marriage is "Kankar," also a Sanam Baloch starrer.  However, here, the abuse is of a different sort. 

Ammar can be pegged as a narcissist from episode 1 itself and it's this narcissism that propels his behavior towards his wife.  Ammar routinely indulges in emotionally abusing his wife by making her feel inferior and verbally abusing her by putting her down in a joking manner.  This sort of man can be seen throughout our society, but this may be the first time that the media is touching upon the issue, depicting Ammar's character in a way that clearly shows that this carefree insulting is NOT appropriate. 

We see Ammar crack insensitive jokes on everything from Saba's unattractive hands, her curly hair, her social skills, all while praising himself for being "khaas" (special).  While watching these scenes can be uncomfortable, it's also eye-opening.  How many men and women like Ammar exist in our society?  Many years ago, "Maat" came to our television screens and took the country by storm (and shock). People couldn't believe a girl like Saman (Saba Qamar) could be so shockingly vile and self-absorbed.  At that time, the show was presented in a simple manner - a "good" sister and a "bad" sister.  With "Khaas," that same self-absorbed nature is put it into a man and we get to witness how it psychologically affects those around him. 

On the other end, we see Saba steadily progress from a self-assured, confident, bubbly girl to slowly showing signs of self-doubt and confusion.  "Is my anger justified?  Should I apologize when I don't believe I'm wrong?"  We've all had these moments, but in Saba's case, she struggles with her own concepts of right and wrong and how to apply them to her marriage (or more specifically, her husband's behavior).

At present, Khaas is 5 episodes in and my curiosity is at a high.  I'm interested in seeing how the story progresses, whether Ammar's behavior will actually receive a label within the story itself and how Faakhir will figure into the narrative moving forward.

Are you watching this show?  What are your thoughts?  Leave a comment below or on Twitter.  And as always, happy watching!

One-Line Thoughts on Drama Endings!

I've been missing in action, as usual.  This time, honestly, I've been missing because dramas simply aren't that interesting at present.  A lot of dramas have ended in the past several months and I haven't documented my thoughts on them AT ALL.  I wanted to take a quick moment to just talk about my overall feelings about a large chunk of dramas.  There are a HUGE number of these, so I will be dividing this post into 2-3 parts!  So let's just dive right into it.

Teri Raza:  Great story, great concept, but too much time was spent on the turmoil of divorce and not enough time was spent on the reconstructing of Suhana & Imtiaz's relationship.  Suhana had a bad time in her (love) marriage to Rameez, but she still hurt Imtiaz badly.  Taking care of his mother wouldn't be the automatic path to forgiveness.  A lot more should have been shown.  Nice show, great acting, but inconsistent writing.

Mujhe Jeene Do:  This was a highly underrated, very well-written show with great, complex characters.  There was no black & white, each character had different shades to them.  Highly recommended.

Alif Allah Aur Insaan:  So quite honestly, the show started off brilliantly, completely lost steam once they introduced the new characters (the arts college students) but then managed to pick up again in the last 5-6 episodes, only to end on a brilliant note again.  The show wasn't magical from beginning to end, but when it was great, it was really great.  Recommended.

Tou Dil Ka Kya Hua:  Too many characters, too many love angles, too many confused emotions.  This show definitely highlighted the angst associated with bad relationships and made me feel a certain kind of sorrow for the characters......but something about the relationship-switching also made me feel a certain kind of icky.  I consider myself very open-minded, but this show was a bit much for me.  Great cast, great actors, really good story, but the 2nd half of the show just took a turn for the "unbelievable, this is too much" realm.

O Rangreza:  Beautiful dialogues, zany one-liners, the show screamed poetry in motion.  With a female lead that challenged all gender roles, we knew straight away that Sassi would find herself in trouble.  However, what started off as a gripping show slowly trickled into something else.....Sassi's confidence and reluctance to be the "typical girl" led to her downfall.  Why?  Was that something that was necessary to show?  Why was the Qasim-Aamna "love story" shoved down our throats with Aamna begging Qasim to love her despite marrying him for a specific reason and knowing he loved Sassi?  It came off as irritating, pitiful and forced.  In the end, I didn't care for the show, nor can I say that I enjoyed it overall.

Daldal:  Incredible.  This show depicted a very grim, but "real" side to immigrant life.  The grass is not always greener on the other side, especially without legal status and the ability to acquire a professional job.  This show not only gave a grim visual of the struggles of illegal immigrants, but also showed what their loved ones go through on the other side.  Powerful, heart-wrenching and a story that deserved to be told, I highly recommend Daldal to anyone who hasn't seen it.

Aisi Hai Tanhai:  There was a very strong, positive message associated with this drama, as well as a great OST.  The greatest drawback of this drama was the lead character Pakeeza's attitude towards Hamza.  Hamza was also an innocent in the situation and he lived equally horrible consequences because of the situation, though entirely different.  For Pakeeza to behave as though he was "the enemy" was indigestible.  I also really hated the outcome of Hamza's character.  That being said, I appreciate that this story was told and that ARY puts such stories on air.  This was a good drama, but it was not perfect.

Khudgarz:  What a brilliant concept, a hard-hitting story and some really beautifully written characters.  But the end treatment of Jibran & Amina's characters really was uncalled for, unnecessary and didn't sit well with me.  The ending also left little room for redemption for Sami's character.  I was left wondering......who won here?  Did anyone win?  Did anything get resolved?  Why wasn't Jibran & Amina's child raised in Jibran's home?  It just felt incomplete.  Great show touching upon some necessary themes, but again like Aisi Hai Tanhai.....it could have been better.

Laal Ishq:  Brilliant.  Heart wrenching.  A depiction of what happens when hatred is taken too far.  When a sequel to Landa Bazaar was first announced, I was skeptical as to how good it would be.  Well....it wasn't good.  It was great.  Highly recommended - and if you haven't seen Landa Bazaar, you may be confused for a few episodes, but it's not really necessary to go back and watch the first.  Laal Ishq is SOLID.

Darr Si Jaati Hai Sila:  This is another drama that blew me away this year.  Dark, unsettling,  irritating in how the members of this household played games with one another.  But this is a story that was 100% necessary to tell and was told in a way that really resonated with the viewer.  Acting, writing and emotions were well depicted.  Hard-hitting and definitely not "light viewing," but this one is a must-watch.

De Ijaazat:  I expected more, because Zarnish Khan usually associates herself with good dramas.  But honestly, this show irritated me more than anything.  I found little enjoyment in watching it and used it more as a "white noise" show while working.  Skip this one.

Alright guys, that's it for this post!  As you can see, I'm very far behind on the amount of shows that have ended since I last wrote.  Watch this space for the next blog on endings.  Until next time, happy watching!

Laal Ishq - Catch Up

Hi guys!  Just recently, I discovered that "Laal Ishq" existed.  I wasn't choosing not to watch this particular show, I just didn't know it was a "thing."  On the recommendation of someone, I picked it up - and realized "Oh my God, this is a sequel to Landa Bazaar!"!

Flashback to 2002, I remember catching glimpses of Landa Bazaar when at a friend's house and watching episodes here and there, mostly because all the girls found "Rameez" (Ali Zafar) dreamy.  Moving to the summer of 2004 when I was visiting Pakistan - Ali Zafar had hit the big time and the TV channels began reairing Landa Bazaar.  My memories of the show are of watching it in a room with my Dadimaa (grandmother), so not only was it a good show, but I have great memories associated with it.  I also remember being particularly impressed with Babar Ali, because up until that point, he had been quite the goofball of an actor in Lollywood films and suddenly, he was giving this very impressive performance in a great show.

OKAY.  So now I am hoping SOMEONE who is reading this will be able to answer all the questions that I have.  Mind you, I am STILL catching up and I'm on episode 8.

First of all, the OST is stinking beautiful.  That's the only way to describe it, it just grabs your attention immediately and holds you there.

Guys, so many questions.  Who is Saba Hameed playing?  Is she Ameeran?  I feel like I need to watch Landa Bazaar again, because I didn't think Hukum was married.  He was in love with Zohra?  Did he marry Ameeran and that's who Saba Hameed is playing?  Or did I just forget him being married?  Second, where did these kids come from?  Baali and Hukum had that fight ON Baali and Zohra's WEDDING DAY, so I can't imagine that after all that ruckus, Zohra and Bali went into the room to bring some children into the world!  Likewise with Hukum - where did these children come from?  He wasn't married (again, unless I'm wrong and he was).  Also, where did Rameez and Baali's sister disappear to?  I don't think there was an explanation for that one, was there?

And most importantly, Mehar Chirag had FORGIVEN Baali at the end of Landa Bazaar, so why was he in jail?  Why did he get a death sentence to begin with?  He was pardoned......?

*Phew*  All of that aside, there is something so heartwarming and nostalgic about this show.  I love that SO many of the original cast members are a part of the show.  It's great to see Babar Ali again.  Kashif Mehmood is doing such a great job showing Jajji's growth and change over the years.  He's a very lovable character.  It's actually really nice to see Faryal Mehmood in a lead role, as she's a very talented actress that rarely gets her due.

I'm honestly enjoying this show, for both sentimental reasons and for the very gripping story.  Is anyone else watching?  Let me know your thoughts!  Until next time, happy watching!

Best Dramas of 2017

2017 was a year that, overall, had fairly mediocre dramas gracing our television screens.  However, sprinkled throughout the year were some solid gems that were not only memorable, but may be remembered as classics in years to come.  While I've struggled each year to come up with a "top 10 favorite dramas" list in the years preceding, this year, I had a hard time narrowing down the list to only 10.  While we didn't have many action-packed thorough entertainers, this year gave height to more silent, subtle and powerful storylines.

Disclaimer:  As always guys, I only include completed dramas in my list.  Dramas like Baaghi, Mujhe Jeene Do, Daldal, etc. that are still ongoing will most likely (unless they manage to mess up in the coming weeks) be featured on my list for 2018.  I consider the year the drama ends in rather than the year it begins in.

There is also a VIDEO version of this post this year, so if you guys are interested, please visit my YouTube channel at the link below!

The Best Pakistani Dramas of 2017 - Video Version

Alright, so let's get into my list of the top 10 best dramas of 2017!

1)  Yakeen Ka Safar

By far, the best show of 2017, Yakeen Ka Safar is cemented at the #1 spot.  No other show has been able to come close.

The story tells the tale of two families - one being Zubia's family (Sajal Ali).  An abusive husband, Zubia's father accidentally kills Zubia's mother in a domestic dispute and then covers up the abuse by threatening his children.  During this low point of her life, Zubia makes a questionable decision that leads to her to disgrace, only to be rescued in a chance encounter by Asfandyar.

Asfandyar's family is a well to do, educated family headed by lawyer Usman.  His foreign educated son Daniyal (Shaz Khan) is also a lawyer.  Daniyal is married to his cousin and childhood sweetheart Geti (Hira Salman), while Asfandyar (Ahad Raza Mir) - who is in med school and is very fun loving - is engaged to another cousin, Faryal.  This tight-knit family is shown as a very happy unit - until Daniyal takes on a case with an NGO, fighting for a poor woman gang-raped by a politician's son.  Daniyal is directly framed for attempted rape by said politician, in an effort to ruin Daniyal's reputation, and the story reaches a heightened level at this point.  Asfandyar's family moves to a small town to escape the pain life has dealt them.

Zubia, in an effort to escape the shame, takes up a job at a hospital in a small town - a hospital run by Dr. Asfandyar.  It is here where the story truly begins, healing begins and we see the light at the end of the tunnel.

This drama depicts a realistic take on life, family and love.  The characters are lovable, relatable and the emotions depicted are both agonizing and endearing.  This is a show I would wholeheartedly recommend to everyone.



2)  Sang E Mar Mar

Sang E Mar Mar basically sits on the premise of love and a misunderstanding that ensues regarding hidden love.  The story focuses on Gullistan Khan (Noman Ejaz) and his family, consisting of three sons, a daughter in law and his wife (Sania Saeed).  The story essentially follows the plot of Gullistan's son Gohar (Agha Mustafa Hassan) who "traps" a girl Durkhani into his "Web of love."  A series of misunderstandings results in Shireen's brother killing Gohar. How this murder affects Shireen and Gullistan Khan's family forms the basis of the story.  The drama is riveting, each character having multiple layers to them.  There are shades of grey in every character and that's what makes the story all the more intriguing.  Sang E Mar Mar is a gem of a show and, despite the emotional highs and lows, was a treat to watch.  

Noman Ejaz is the backbone of this show and manages to create a character that is both detestable and lovable at the exact same time.  The entire cast plays their parts perfectly.  Kubra Khan leaves a strong impact as Shireen.  Special mention has to be given to Paras Masroor as Torah, who proves to be a stand-out performer.  I won't hesitate to say that as a Pukhtun, it's always nice to see some representation on television, so I have a special place in my heart for this show.



3)  Muqabil

Chup raho, Udaari, even recently Darr Si Jaati Hai Sila dealt with the issue of child abuse.  Muqabil stands out in dealing specifically with the effects abuse can have on a marriage.  Muqabil focuses on Parissa (Kubra Khan), who suffered childhood abuse at the hands of her mother's manager Mehmood, a beloved member of the family.  Years have passed since the incident, but Parissa still carries the pain with her and it has affected her entire life (and personality).  On the other end, Mehmood (Asif Raza Mir) has long carried the guilt of his sin and has turned to God to relieve himself of his heavy burden.  When Parissa decides to marry Armaan, the son of Mehmood, the lives of all three characters are led down a path from which there is no return.  The characters were so complex.  No one character was an angel, they all had shades of grey.

The love story is unusual, beautiful, riveting and in spite of an impossible situation, makes you root for the love birds to somehow make it work.   I cannot speak enough about the performances:  Asif Raza Mir is a master of his art and the way he presents every "pehlu" of his character is gripping.  Kubra Khan, yet again, has delivered an incredible performance, portraying a victim of abuse with depth and understanding.  Mohsin Abbas Haider is always a treat to watch (and LISTEN to).  His performance is so natural, you honestly believe that he IS his character.  Immediately lovable, but with many layers, his portrayal of Armaan is perfect.  

A story of healing, redemption and love, Muqabil presents the audience with a story that is not only memorable, but also very important.

4)  Mohabbat Tumse Nafrat Hai

Mohabbat Tumse Nafrat Hai is the kind of show that moves slowly, the dialogues coated in poetry, the acting subdued and before you can even think “What is the story here?”, you have already been transported into Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar's written world, the world of Kaneez Begum's family. The story is fairly simple: The shy and sweet Gulraiz (Shehzad Sheikh) is in love with Maheen (Ayeza Khan) and, on his wish, the family decides to get them engaged. Enter Waqar (Imran Abbas), a cousin from London and Maheen's childhood enemy. Before the two realize it, Waqar and Maheen have fallen for each other. What starts off as a love triangle between cousins turns into a whirlwind of emotional drama and heartbreak. At no point does the story become “predictable,” despite having a very slow, smooth pace. The emotions are deep, intense and heartfelt, drawing the viewer into a complex situation made further complicated by family relations. Each and every member of the cast does a commendable job, playing their designated part with sincerity.

This show may start off slow, but it emerges as a powerhouse of a show and leaves the viewer grappling with a plethora of emotions by the end. This one comes highly recommended.

5)  Sammi

Sammi boasts of a cast with one actor more talented than the last.  To summarize the story, Sammi is engaged, but on her wedding day, an argument errupts between her fiance and her brother - during which her brother murders her to-be husband.  In exchange for their son's freedom, Sammi's parents agree to making Sammi a "Vanni" (this refers to the forcible marriage of a girl as "punishment" for the actions of a male relative) and she is ultimately given to the Chaudhry of the village as a bride for his 12-year-old son.  It is from here that Sammi's problems really begin and the lives of Sammi, Rashid (Adnan Siddiqui) and Chandni (Sania Saeed) are thrown into a tailspin.

While Sammi focuses specifically on the plight of Sammi, played by Mawra Hocane, her trials and tribulations affect several different key characters and it is this ensemble cast that brings the show together.  Sammi also marked the acting debut of both Ahad Raza Mir and Bilal Khan.

Sammi is a story about the plight of women, not only in rural Pakistan, but also in Pakistani society as a whole.  While this is not a light-hearted fare, it is the sort of show that everyone should watch.

6)  Bin Roye

Bin Roye ended in January of 2017, which just made the cut to be part of 2017's list.  This show captivated me from the get-go.  The story is old wine in a new bottle, but the characters and the treatment make it one hell of a new bottle. Two sisters in love with the same man is not necessarily a new story, but this particular story focuses more on the emotions associated with the situation.  What I love most is that there isn't a "negative" character.  The negativity comes, rather, from the emotions. misunderstandings and wrong assumptions.  High on emotions, we see Saba (Mahira Khan) act out towards Saman (Armeena Khan) and Irtiza (Hamayun Saeed), despite the fact that she loves both in different ways.  Saba struggles with herself and her years of love and adoration for Irtiza, seeing that his heart belongs to Saman.  After tragedy strikes and Irtiza is suddenly presented on a platter to Saba, Saba's grief, turmoil and intense guilt takes over her life.  

It's interesting to watch this storyline only because these characters are written as nice people.  Had there been any vamp-like behavior, this show could've gone to the dogs.  Instead, you sympathize with everyone involved.  It's a beautiful show, visually and emotionally.



7)  Yeh Raha Dil

Yeh Raha Dil focused on the love story between Hayaa, Zaki and Nida - a love triangle between sisters and a boy.  While the story sounds cliched, it's the treatment and the flow that set this show apart.  The show was light-hearted.  Despite my emotional ups and downs with this show and my disdain at how certain characters behaved, I will say that this show was a step above the rest and was different from most shows out there.  They attempted to deliver something "fresh" and I appreciate that.  

Ahmed Ali Akbar and Yumna Zaidi are a couple I always look forward to watching on screen and they have yet to disappoint.  Their chemistry is incredible, you'd almost believe they were a couple in real life. If you haven't seen this show, I'd recommend it if you have a couple of lazy days and want to watch something fairly frustration-free, a little silly and not too heavy.



8)  Khuda Mera Bhi Hai

Khuda Mera Bhi Hai brought a new story to the forefront - a story that focused on a transgender child and his place in Pakistani society.  Ayesha, Jibran, Aly Khan, Saba Hameed, Furqan Qureshi, Irsa Ghazal, Mehmood Aslam......this entire cast deserves applause for their performances in this drama.  The situations depicted were heart-wrenching, the emotions heart-breaking and it made you feel passionate towards the issue of the treatment of "hijras" in South Asia.  Furqan Qureshi, who till date had yet to impress me, is the breakout star in this show, playing the role of Noor with confidence and a heartbreaking kind of sincerity.

How the birth of a third-gender child affects and essentially breaks apart a marriage and affects several relationships is the crux of the story and it was played out beautifully.  I am all praises for this show.

9)  Kuch Na Kaho

A story focused on two sisters, two brothers and the bond between the four characters, this show ran for FORTY SEVEN EPISODES.  In my mind, as the number increased, I thought "What's up with this?  Is it ever going to end?  Is this a soap?"  That being said, there was not a single dull moment.  The story was interesting, the acting was good and the episodes were fast-paced.  I looked forward to watching this show and would wait for new episodes with anticipation.  Was it without flaws?  No.  But was it possibly my favorite show this year?  Definitely.  Naveen & Emmad looked incredible together and their chemistry as at-odds spouses was riveting.  I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

10)  Shaadi Mubarak Ho 

At the last spot is Shaadi Mubarak Ho, a show that consisted of solid comedy from beginning to end.  In a year full of heavy, solemn topics, this show came like a breath of fresh air.  Resting on the tried and tested formula put into place by the "Baraat" series by Vasay Chaudhry, Shaadi Mubarak Ho follows the love story between a young couple and the chaos that ensues leading up to their wedding.  I will be the first to admit that this show has its share of awkward moments, repetition and lame jokes.  That being said, sometimes a show creates a space in your heart due to the opportune timing - without any good comedy shows on air and an overabundance of misery on television, Shaadi Mubarak Ho arrived at exactly the right moment.  Without being path breaking, this show delivered laughs and kept a smile on the viewers face from beginning to end.


Special Mention goes to these dramas for being good, but not making the cut:  Khuda Aur Mohabbat 2, Nazar E Bad, Phir Wohi Mohabbat and Dil Banjaara.

Alright guys, that's my list!  Please do comment below if there is a drama I missed that you believe deserves to be on this list (even as a special mention).  I am always up for recommendations!  Thanks for reading and until next time, happy watching!

Baaghi - The Finale

I've written a lengthy blog post on Baaghi in the recent weeks, so I don't want to ramble on and on.  What I do want to say is that I am one of "those."  I was pro Qandeel Baloch in her lifetime - not in that I agreed with what she did, but I very much disagreed with people saying she should die and that she was ruining society.  She had a right to live her life however she felt like living it, especially taking her life experiences into account.  I continue to be pro Qandeel Baloch after her death.  Maybe she would have changed.  Maybe she wouldn't have.  She was young.  Whatever she did, it was her choice and not our place to judge.  Whether her brother killed her for "honor" or whether that Mufti had her killed for HIS "honor," either way, Qandeel Baloch's death should not have happened.

Baaghi was a beautiful drama that thoroughly depicted Qandeel's life in a way that was as accurate as could be expected.  All the actors involved did a commendable job, but Saba Qamar in particular should win awards for this performance.  She really touched the hearts of the audience.  That's all I really have to say on this.  I enjoyed the drama from beginning to end, despite some sluggish episodes towards the end and I already know this will feature on my "favorites" list for 2018. 

The drama ended with these words:

"Jhooti izzat aur bemainay ghairati mujh jaisi kahin Qandeelon ko waqt se pehle bujha diya.
Sambhalnay aur badalnay ka jo haq mujhe khuda ne diya tha, woh aap ne cheen liya.
Main maushray ke liye kharaab thi, logon ke ikhlak ke liye khatra thi.
Main jaisi bhi thi, aap ki duniya se chali gayi.
Apni koi safai paish kiye baghair, main sirf yeh poochna chahti hoon ke
Ab to burai khattam ho gayi na?  Logon ke ikhlak bhi bach gaye.
Maushra?  Uska kya hua?  Maushra theek ho gaya?  Hmm?"

("False pride and meaningless ego killed many Qandeels like me. 
The right to grow and change that was God given to me, you took it away.
I was bad for society.  I was dangerous for the morals of people.
However I was, I have left your world.
Without justifying my actions, I would like to just ask one thing.
Now the evil is finished, right?  The morals of people are also safe?
And society?  What happened to society?  It's better now, right?  Hmm?")

I think without saying anything, these words summed up this drama, Qandeel's death and our society.  We have, as a society, gotten worse since Qandeel's death and that's something that is evident.  This drama was eye-opening and tragic.