Drama Update - February 2016

Even though our blog posts have dwindled to few and far between, we continue to watch dramas off-the-blog like a student studies for O' Level exams. (Thank you YouTube, thank you wifi, and thank you smartphone.) So, we decided to do this post just to give you a snap shot of what to watch or what not to watch as far as the dramas that we are watching go. For simplicity's sake, the dramas are in alphabetical order. But you'll know the duds - cos pointing those out is kind of our speciality. *smirk*

100 Din Ki Kahani

This drama is an easy watch with an interesting enough story to keep you coming back. Sanam Chaudhry and Furqan Quraishi look good together and the side stories are also entertaining and not just fillers. Due to some unknown reason (to me), this drama has stopped airing. I feel pretty cheated because I looked forward to this every weekend. #SoSad

Highlight: The churail nand's husband is planning to dethrone her the same way she is ousting her own sister-in-law and I can't WAIT for karma to come bite her in the butt. 

Abro

OMG. This drama - I am head over heels in love with it, and for the life of me, I AM NOT SURE WHY. LOL. Eight episodes in and this appears to be the classic Akbari-Asghari type drama of acha beta vs burra beta and achi bahu vs burri bahu. The drama is moving at a steady pace and, quite frankly, I managed to happily (understatement here) binge watch the episodes because it keeps you engaged. 

Highlight: Some ah-may-zing performances that will leave your heart bleeding like the characters'...

Low light: The actress playing Abro is a bit (read: humongous) of an eye and ear sore - she's loud and has an annoyingly monotone dialogue delivery.

Aitraz

Holy crap. Where do we start? You have this plethora of big names - Sania Saeed, Imran Abbas, Sana Javed, Gohar Rasheed - and this completely brainless story that continues on repeat and makes you want to question your sanity for bothering to tune in week after week. Seriously, thank your lucky stars if you managed to not watch this disaster.

Highlight: Nothing. Nada. 

Lowlight: EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS DRAMA. 

Bay Qasoor

If there was an award for most Depressing Drama, this would be the perfect contender. I started to watch this for Samina Peerzada, but now I'm just left wondering why she agreed to do this drama in the first place. Luckily (or unluckily?) the pace of this drama keeps me coming back just to see how things could possibly go even more wrong for the poor ma and beti. 

Highlight: Sajid Hassan's character's round about turn has been perticularly engrossing. He just randomly goes from absent-father to father-of-the-year and, in my humble opinion, only an actor that is so well seasoned can pull off that kind of a change and leave us convinced. Bravo. 

Lowlight: Hira makes me want to slap someone. And the phuppi ka spoiled brat beta is bad enough being a spoiled brat, but he can't act either. Annoying times infinite. 

Gul E Rana

Since we already have a detailed post on this drama and why it should be dumped, I won't write more here. (I typed this before I typed the Lowlights. Grrr. This drama...Grrrrr) 

Highlight: Zafri was the only highlight for me because atleast he was amusing.

Lowlight: Adeel. Feroze Khan playing Adeel. Adeel's wardrobe. Rana. Rana and her being a prude. Rana being a doormat. Asher and his questionable motives. Taya. Rana's mom that only appears once every two episodes. The lack of story. The lack of intelligent conversation between Rana and Adeel. The lack of intelligence period. 

Mana Ka Gharana

Hmmm. I have mixed feelings about this drama. It has a story, it has well sketched characters, it's moving along nicely...overall it has no issues. Yet, when I watch it, I keep wanting a key storyline - the big POINT of the whole drama. Is it about good guys finish last? Is it about how money is the root of all evil? Is it about true love always wins in the end? What is that big wow that makes this drama special? I'm not sure yet. However, it's an easy watch and I really need to watch something that will help me renew my loyalty to Sana Javed after Aitraz and Paiwand.

Highlight: Shehroz Sabzwari wows as Khizer aka the most perfect guy on this planet. You can't wait for Mana to come crawling back to Khizer after all the zulm her fiancé is heaping on him.

Lowlight: Barring the big wow, nothing to report.  

Man Mayal

Hamza Ali Abbasi returns to our screens to play the poor, hardworking, in love with a girl way out of his income bracket, chotay sheher ka lardka, dreaming along the lines of papa kehtay hein bara naam karayga...*picture me raising an eyebrow* I want to be enthusiastic, really, I do, but didn't he just play this character in Pyaray Afzal?
Highlight: Great visuals. The OST sounds like something from Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas soundtrack (and I loved the music and Madhuri in that movie, so in my book, that's a win). Aiman Khan - even though she's just playing the little sister - deserves honorable mention.
Lowlight: Ayesha Khan is in it. I repeat, AYESHA KHAN IS IN IT. Lord help us all...

Mein Kaise Kahoon

An evil Bhabi, a sister-like best friend, a dur ka rishtaydaar eligible bachelor...all these components make this a cute drama to watch as a relief from the other hardcore stories on air these days. 

Highlight: Maria's love for Samar and sitaron ka haal are endearing. 

Lowlight: Episode 6 promises to be heartbreaking. Bummer. 

Naraaz

Faisal Quraishi redeems himself (after flops like Mein Bushra and Mol) and gives us Naraaz. Naraaz has a solid story and I love watching how seamlessly the director has managed to capture subtleties of relationships. Honorable mention for Asad being an amazing friend, and the voice of reason, to our boy Azlan through his trials.

Highlights: Faisal Qureshi and Sarah Khan share an electric chemistry onscreen. Aazar is cute as a button, and his one-on-ones with Nana Abu are absolutely adorable. 

Lowlights: Azlan's ex-colleague, Aisha - it's just unappealing how desperately obvious it is that she has the hots for Azlan. 

Preet Na Kariyo

Thank god Hum TV decided to apologize for airing crap like Gul E Rana and Sangat by airing gems like these. Wonderful characters, wonderful dialogues, wonderful acting. Applause for all the actors. Ahsan Khan reminds us why we love him.

Highlight: I am officially a Hira Salman fan. She has managed to paint a flawless picture of Shagufta, and create a character who you will hate but love, disapprove of but admire.

Lowlight: The casting of Shagufta's younger brother grown up. Kaheen se Bhai nahi lagta woh uska. #CastingFail

Sangat

Saba Qamar takes on the topic of rape, but the plot got lost within the first few episodes and never recovered. It was less about her and her story and more about Shahvez and his quest for forgiveness for an unforgivable act. I'm sorry, were we supposed to sympathize with that animal? 

Highlight: It's over. 

Lowlight: Let's just do everyone a favor and not discuss this hideous drama, its hideous story, and its hideous message.

Sehra Mein Safar

Another time pass that I'm tuning into weekly just to see where the drama will go. I like how they have shown a very natural progression of how Iqra's life has changed and how these changes are effecting her as a person.

Highlight: Ali Kazmi returns to our screens and if he was irresistible in his tanks, he's even cuter as the nerdy glasses wearing Ayaz.

Lowlight: Iqra and her prudish ways. Seriously, you can maintain a distance from men and not be confrontational or rude. Gees. 

Tere Mere Beech

This drama doesn't bring anything new to the table or any mind blowing performances, except Sanam Chaudhry who has done a phenomenal job portraying the conflicted and proud Hareem, which is why I keep watching. 

Highlight: looking forward to how Agha Ali's character is going to react when he finds out his heiress isn't an heiress. #Woops

Lowlight: Saba Faisal as Nighat. Her treatment of Hareem is abominable and her character is borderline crazy because she can't decide whether to be nice to Hareem or yell at her (sometimes for no reason).

And there you have it friends - a nice, long, round up for this month of some hits and some misses that we are watching. Of course, even while we complete this there are some new dramas starting that we're looking forward to (Mera Yaar Miladay and Pakeeza to begin with), so go ahead and leave us a line in the comments if you enjoyed the post and would like to see something similar next month!

Until then, happy watching!

Inteha - Episode 1 - 2

Now that Garr Maan Reh Jaaye is over - and has left a gaping hole in my Mondays - I had to start looking for something else. I read a blurb on Inteha somewhere, and decided I'd give it a go. The drama revolves around Falaknaz and her family. Falak is the responsible, strong daughter who has an irresponsible, carefree brother and a younger sister (who doesn't look like she has much spunk or confidence).

As the drama opens, it's late at night and Falak's dad is having some kind of medical distress. They are trying to reach the brother, but he's at a party...Falak's brother is played by the same dude who played Kashaf's husband in Shanakth. (Strike 1 against this drama.)

Falak decides to take dad to the hospital herself. In the morning when brother dearest finally shows up, she tells him off and sends him home with mom and says she'll take care of dad herself....of course not at the expense of her morning walk. When she tells the nurse she is going for a walk, this charming (casual, Pakistani drama style) comment is made by the nurse...

Aur yeh dekeeaye...hospital ke grounds pe exercise ho rahi hei. Like it's the most normal thing in the world.

The underage fitness freak is spotted by this doctor-uncle. Isn't she a little too young for you?
Oh wait - let me guess, you're just admiring her perfect exercise posture...Because, actually, yeh bhi apni tie aur suit pehn kar walk karnei aaye thay.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? HUMA NAWAB IS PLAYING FARHAN ALI AGHA'S MOM?
Wow! Who was in charge of castings for this drama?!

Bari baji is helping dad run the family business - most successfully - and she wants baby brother to step up and join the business too. I won't lie - I'm liking this new twist of a daughter being more business smart than the son.

So - apparently - it's not JUST the business. Falak practically has complete say in how the younger siblings run their lives too and Zaeem (baby brother), is NOT happy about it, where as Shehwar is more complacent and grateful for her elder sister supporting the family.

Doctor Uncle is married to this hasina who also happens to be his cousin. Sonay pe suhaga, his wife's brother is in love with Falak. Wohi Falak jiss ke doctor married uncle khwab dekh rahay hein.

Dr. Shehereyar runs into Falak at the hospital.

Moid - the bechara in love with Falak. 

This is such a strange reaction to have to your husband being a jerk...Hmm...

Of course. Falak doesn't want to get married yet. Busy being a business woman and all that. But she agrees to meet Moid once she learns her dad is in favor of the union. 

The most awkward meeting takes place. Falak proves that even if she is super-brilliant-perfect-amazing (two episodes in and we aren't done learning how perfect she is), she still can't see a red flag if it hit her in the face.

Biwi calls to let the overseas Sherry know her brother is getting engaged and once more Sherry makes a snide comment. They've only been married for two years, but Sherry just doesn't seem to be into it...

Again - red flag. Magni ki rasam and lardka isn't allowed to come. Why exactly does Falak think she will be allowed to do as she pleases after marriage? This is the forth or fifth time we are hearing about how conservative  her in-laws are - especially the Mother-in-law.

He may be a musician, but he seems to be the only one thinking clearly.

Episode 2 and already married? Wow. This must be a record for Pakistani dramas.

Really? Really? No one noticed this expression change?

The valima takes place - so do a whole bunch of random, awkward conversations...

Falak yells at the poor bachi for calling her chacha 'munnay'. Is bechari ka kia kasoor?

Falak also informs her mil that she's going back to work. And mil don't likey.

I liked this scene - Moid's brother is smart in trying to meet the new bahu halfway and ask his wife to not call Moid 'Munna' anymore. I hope we can expect him to continue to be a voice of reason.


Overall, not a bad start to the drama. It has all kinds of nonsense - like Garr Maan Reh Jaaye - so I expect to watch it, even if I don't post about it much. I'm interested to see what contributions Shehwar and Shehreyaar make to the story line but Sumbul Iqbal's eyebrows a bit much for me...so we'll see if my curiosity wins over those....

Garr Maan Reh Jaaye - Last Episode

Let me just begin by...

THIS IS THE FINAL EPISODE?

WHY DIDN'T I KNOW THAT?

I FEEL SO UNPREPARED!!

*Breath Breath*

Ok - So Express totally sprung this on me. I thought it would take a few more episode to resolve this whole jalaibi of a mess, but after I started watching, I was pleasantly relieved at the pace and the tying up of loose ends. Without further ado, let's get this review started!

These two no-good-doers are up to no good. Asma sneaks namazi Ahsan into the house so Ahsan can convince Nissa of his 'love' for her.

Asma sleeping like Sleeping Beauty in her tower...

If I ever woke up to a face like this, I'd pee my pants. No joke. 

Uh-oh. Moment of truth...will Farukh beleive Nissa?

Waise aik minute - HOW DID FARUKH GET INTO THE HOUSE??

Oh hellllllz ya! Mard ka bacha hei tu chala goli Farukh!! #WishfulThinking

Ahsan calling Farukh 'Sir Ji' - lol

Wait - what?! Did I miss something? Farukh catches Ahsan and Nissa in a compromising situation, Farukh is on the precipice of washing his hands of Nissa - therefore making her 'available' to Ahsan (at least in his warped mind) - and Ahsan turns around and BLAMES Asma for everything??? Effectively handing Nissa back to Farukh in a silver platter and making everyone hate Asma more. Does this make any sense to anyone??

Poor Farukh. No wonder he's so stressed. One minute Nissa is trying to push him into accepting Asma, the next Nissa is accusing Asma of trying to get her raped. Sheesh. 

Again, Ahsan absolves himself of any wrong doing and blames Asma for deceiving him and goes crying home to his mommy.

And then the moment I've been waiting for arrives...Ghabra nei ki koi baath nahi hei because baby bilkul normal hei!

Once more Asma is seen running through the streets of Hyderabad.

Chotay mohallay ka yehi issue hei - everyone knows everyone else and people are always in your biznez. Of course Asma nei bhi koi kasar nahi chordi by screaming and shouting her accusations.

Hats off to Nissa, however. She stands and backs up her sister (you know the one that hates her guts and has been acting like a brat, trying to steal her man).

Farukh is like the terminator. Only cuter. 

Yeh uncle har jaga pohanch jatay hein....ab molvi nahi bulla rahay?

THIS scene. After all the havoc she's caused, even poor Amma knows Asma isn't lying. One must accept the superior acting of Hina Bayat in making you want to cry a little for the shame her son has brought to her and himself.

Asma is dead?! Nooo - wait, is that a french manicure Nissa is sporting? 

Helloooo a little attention to detail here! I can't even properly be shocked cos I'm so distracted by these white tips. For dirt poor Hyderabadis these girls sure do sport some badass manicures. #JustSayin #SeemsLegit

In case you wanted a better shot of Nissa hand modeling the white tips...

Ooooohhhh Ahsen...you better get ready to get your ass whooped!

I bet he could write Ahsan's biography. He's like always outside the dude's house. 

Complete déjà Vu. I'm glad it's as obvious to Ahsan as it is to us. 

More parallels...phenomenal job by GMRJ team. Beautifully brought the story around full circle. #Applause

When I was a kid it was Freddy Krueger. Now, I think I'll be scared of the dark thanks to this scary-as-crap scene. I didn't think he had it in him to do more than scream and scheme as Ahsan. But him going psycho behind bars is very very eerie.#MoreApplause

Gorgeous sunrise...unavoidable grammar mistake. 

Within a few months, our overachiever Daniya has become a teacher. 

Within a few months, our underachiever Nissa has become a nurse maid to her arch enemy and has completely alienated Farukh. 

Luckily, Daniya isn't going to stand for that crap. She won't let go until aba ka kia hua wada poora nahi ho jaayega!!

Yay! True love triumphs! 
Extra kudos for no long monologues or confessions or crying or falling into each others arms. Just ending on this picture was really poetic and closure enough.


So, my fellow watchers, we come to the end of Garr Maan Reh Jaaye. As I stated in the beginning, I wasn't quite prepared for this to be over and expected another 2 to 3 episodes for the situation to get resolved. However, I think within one episode the team did manage to do an exceptional job of getting people their due and ensuring some of the characters got their happy ending. I close this drama with a sense of satisfaction (unlike Mein Bushra last week - boooo).

The drama has it's ups and downs, but overall the performances are good and the drama doesn't drag (as much). If you have a good 27 hours to kill (an hour per episode average), I would recommend this drama.

Happy watching!