Tag: Bilal Abbas Khan

  • ‘Pyar Ke Sadkay’: All’s well that ends well

    ‘Pyar Ke Sadkay’: All’s well that ends well

    Hum TV’s much-loved rom-com Pyar Ke Sadkay came to close Thursday night with a happy ending that left viewers satisfied.

    Starring Bilal Abbas Khan, Yumna Zaidi, Atiqa Odho and Omair Rana among others, Pyar Ke Sadkay is a love story of two bawlas (simpletons) Abdullah (Bilal) and Mahjabeen (Zaidi) who end up getting married after fate throws them together. Over the course of the drama, they fall in love and overcome several obstacles along the way including an ex-crush Shanzay (Yashma), a manipulative father-in-law Sarwar (Omair Rana) and a weak mother-in-law Mansoora Begum (Atiqa Odho) before finally ending up together in the last episode.

    Though the last episode paid attention to all the subplots in the drama and ensured that there is no loose end left, I do wish it was not as rushed as it was. Throughout its run, the drama has been well-paced except in the last couple of episodes which were a bit of a drag. But that doesn’t mean the finale did not have its moments. In fact, there were plenty of them starting with Abdullah telling Shanzay to shut up, Mahjabeen’s mother refusing to take a settlement from Abdullah, Abdullah’s run-in with Sarwar and finally the confrontation between Mansoora Begum and Sarwar. The finale was packed with drama and had viewers hooked. Abdullah’s evolution in the last episode was brilliant and every time he stood up to his bullies, you couldn’t help but cheer.

    On the flip, I do wish that Pho and Washma were given more attention in the finale. Mahjabeen’s pregnancy was also forgotten and Sarwar’s moment with his mother just seemed forced and out of place. I really didn’t understand why Sarwar is upset with his mother and blames her for all his actions.

    Meanwhile, the performances were absolutely brilliant – whether it was Yumna, Bilal, Atiqa, Omair, Shra Asghar (Washma) or Salman Hassan – each one of them did complete justice to their characters. Credit for the amazing acting also goes to the director Farooq Rind who brought out the best from his actors.

    Zanjabeel Asim Shah’s script was solid and the characters very likeable. Some of the dialogues, especially those by Mahajabeen’s mother were powerful and thought-provoking.

    Pyar Ke Sadkay was one of those rare, well-written and well-produced drama which you enjoyed watching. Will definitely miss watching Abdullah and Mahjabeen’s shenanigans every Thursday but onto the next now.

  • ‘Pyar Ke Sadkay’: The curious case of Mahjabeen’s pregnancy

    ‘Pyar Ke Sadkay’: The curious case of Mahjabeen’s pregnancy

    Pyar Ke Sadkay has been treating viewers to a myriad of emotions, the most recent being grief. However, in the latest episode, the makers of the drama take the viewers from grief into total shock by making Mahjabeen (Yumna Zaidi) pregnant. While this is a usual trope in most dramas to bring together estranged couples, in this particular drama it creates confusion because most viewers believed that Mahjabeen and Abdullah (Bilal Abbas Khan) did not consummate their marriage. All through the drama, every time Abdullah’s stepfather Sarwar (Omair Rana) would ask him about his marriage, Abdullah would say that there are no marital relations between him and his wife which is why audiences are now questioning how Mahjabeen could have gotten pregnant.

    Read more – Pyar Ke Sadkay’ takes a disappointing turn

    According to our research and analysis, Mahjabeen and Abdullah consummated their marriage in Episode 16 when they skipped Shanzay’s valima and stayed home instead even though Mahjabeen was all dressed up to attend the wedding. From that moment onwards, Abdullah stopped sleeping on the sofa and moved to the bed.

    The next morning when they went down and sat with Abdullah’s parents, the two were all shy and smiley, hinting the new developments in their relationship.

    While it has now been established that Mahajabeen getting pregnant is not out of the blue, the next question is: was that really necessary? Was that the only way to bring Mahjabeen and Abdullah together? Couldn’t it have been organic with Abdullah realising his love for Mahjabeen and taking a stand for her? At this point, you half wish that the two don’t end up together because Abdullah doesn’t deserve Mahjabeen anymore. He did not value her enough. And though some may argue that he is being misled by Sarwar, we have to accept that Abdullah is not as stupid as he comes across. He’s sharp and intelligent, the only thing he lacks is confidence.

    Apart from that, at some points, it does feel that the drama is being unnecessarily dragged – for instance, the scene at Munshi Sahab’s grave felt extra and out of place. Unless the makers are preparing us for Mahjabeen suddenly becoming rich and powerful. Other than that, I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again, the Shanzay (Yashma Gill) storyline is completely unnecessary. The plot could have moved forward without it. Nonetheless, hoping it wraps up soon so we can focus on the main couple and the evil father-in-law.

    Washma (Shra Asghar), as always stole the show. Washma is one character which I feel every Pakistani drama needs to have: she’s strong, sassy and a doer. She doesn’t sit around waiting for things to happen – she makes them happen. The way she defends Mahjabeen or stands up to Sarwar and her mother, one can’t help but root for her.

    The next couple of episodes should come with interesting developments. We’ll also find out whether Abdullah has signed the divorce papers or he is just pretending to have signed those. But one thing is for sure, Abdullah and Mahjabeen will have a happy ending, or at least that’s my prediction.

  • ‘Pyar Ke Sadkay’ takes a disappointing turn

    ‘Pyar Ke Sadkay’ takes a disappointing turn

    What started of as a sweet and adorable love story has turned into a typical love triangle with evil in-laws trying to break up a marriage.

    In my previous review, I had praised Pyar Ke Sadkay for being romantic and feel-good. However, a few episodes later I am very close to taking back my words considering how the story and plot have developed.

    Mahjabeen

    The recent episodes have seen Abdullah (Bilal Abbas Khan) sideline his wife Mahjabeen (Yumna Zaidi) and get involved with Shanzay (Yashma Gill), his ex-crush, who had ridiculed him when he proposed to her. Shanzay is now single after getting divorced and is hell-bent on getting married to Abdullah, just to satisfy her ego and get that confidence boost. Despite Mahjabeen’s efforts to make the marriage work, Abdullah seems to have forgotten his promises to his wife and the way Shanzay treated him and has is planning to marry Shanzay. Meanwhile, Abdullah’s stepfather Sarwar (Omair Rana) is also encouraging him to pursue Shanzay and divorce Mahjabeen.

    Shanzay

    On the other hand, Abdullah’s mother Mansoora Begum (Atiqa Odho) has developed a dislike for her bahu (daughter-in-law) after she commented on how much younger her husband Sarwar is to her. Mansoora, who was initially supportive of Mahjabeen is now okay with the idea of Abdullah divorcing her.

    Sarwar and Mansoora

    Abdullah is basically cheating on his wife, but because he’s a ‘simpleton’, he is being easily misguided by his stepfather and is falling into Shanzay’s ‘trap’. Shanzay is shown as the villainous other woman leading Abdullah astray. While Abdullah is conscious of the fact that he is not being fair to Mahjabeen, he is still allowing himself to be swayed by external elements, making him an extremely weak character.

    Abdullah

    Abdullah’s sister Washma (Shra Asghar) and his aunt Pho (Shermeen Ali) are the only two sane elements in the whole drama. They add the much-needed voice of reason and is one of the reasons why you don’t pull your hair out in frustration. That and solid performances by the entire cast. Bilal and Yumna are fantastic in their roles and the range of emotions they express in a single scene is brilliant. Yumna, in particular, is so convincing that you end up feeling what she is feeling.

    What irks me most is the fact that makers had a great chance to educate the masses about sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour within the household by focusing more on Sarwar’s attitude towards Mahjabeen. However, they chose to go to the tried-and-tested route by bringing in a love triangle and complicating things unnecessarily. Given that a couple of episodes are still remaining, I’m hopeful that the drama will take a turn for the better and end in a less predictable manner.

  • ‘Pyar Ke Sadkay’ goes from ‘aik tarfa pyaar’ to a love triangle

    ‘Pyar Ke Sadkay’ goes from ‘aik tarfa pyaar’ to a love triangle

    I’m pretty sure that this is the umpteenth review on Pyar Ke Sadkay you’re reading because this romantic comedy has been trending all around. The drama has received rave reviews from audiences and critics alike and has gone onto become one of the most popular dramas currently on-air. When the drama first aired, it didn’t really seem like my cup of tea so I skipped watching it and caught a few glimpses here and there, enough for me to understand what the story was about. However, after reading glowing reviews, I decided to jump the bandwagon and give it a watch. And let’s just say two episodes in, I figured out why.

    Read more – Bushra Ansari says she is done with ‘saas-bahu’ dramas

    Pyar Ke Sadkay is about two simpletons Abdullah and Mahjabeen who, due to a twist of fate, end up getting married to each other. Abdullah — played by Bilal Abbas Khan — is a shy, under-confident young man who lives in the shadow of his stepfather, Sarwar (Omair Rana). He does anything and everything to win his stepfather’s approval, who uses his simplicity to manipulate him. He is in love with his classmate Shanze (Yashma Gill) who isn’t interested in him (until now) and belittles him when he asks for her hand in marriage. Hence, the ‘aik tarfa pyaar‘. It’s obviously not as intense as the one we saw in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, but just for reference.

    Abdullah

    On the other hand, Mahjabeen (Yumna Zaidi) is the daughter of an accountant who works in Sarwar’s office. She doesn’t want to study and hopes to get married so she that can avoid giving her matric exams. Mahjabeen is all set to marry Dr Hammad (Khalid Malik) but when he ditches her, a heartbroken Abdullah steps in to marry her and save her izzat. As the two begin their wedded life and start developing feelings for each other, Shanze also gets married to a narcissist and when her marriage doesn’t turn out to be the way she imagined, she is impressed by Abdullah’s attitude towards his wife and sets her sights on him — giving birth to a love triangle.

    Mahjabeen

    As they say, ‘jorian asmano main banti hain’, Mahjabeen and Abdullah are perfect for one another and their compatibility has been perfectly encapsulated with Bilal and Yumna’s chemistry which is lit. Atiqa Odho, who plays Bilal’s mother in the drama has even compared their chemistry to Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan’s in Humsafar and I have to say that I do agree with her to an extent. Playing simple and comic characters is never easy but both the actors have outdone themselves with their performances. The romance between the two leads is perhaps the main reason why this drama has made it into the hearts of the audiences. It is so innocent, yet so endearing that you can’t help but sigh. Add to that, a strong performance by Rana as the devilish Sarwar and you have a winning team.

    Sarwar

    Meanwhile, the writing and direction is also brilliant. The dialogues are fun and witty and each scene has been well thought out and director Farooq Rind has made sure that everyone puts forward their best fronts. Another thing I’d like to point out here that the drama is not without a message. The writer and director have neatly weaved the concept of harassment into the storyline making the drama a perfect example of how to use entertainment to create awareness without making it sound like a sermon.

    Pyar Ke Sadkay is a delightful watch and one you should definitely watch while in isolation because it is bound to put a smile on your face and make you forget about ‘corona times’ for a while.

    The drama also features Khalid Anam, Gul e Rana, Shermeen Ali, Danish Aqeel, Ashan Mohsin among others and airs every Thursday at 8 pm on Hum TV.

  • Bilal Abbas Khan shares the three things he cannot live without

    Bilal Abbas Khan shares the three things he cannot live without

    There is not much known about Bilal Abbas Khan given his quiet persona and introvert nature. The phenomenal actor, who blows away his fans with his performances, rarely makes any public appearances and shies away from giving interviews. Considering how self-isolation is making all of us do things out of our comfort zone, the Bilal in a rare move decided to hold an Instagram question and answer session in which he answered his fans questions giving us a sneak peek into who he is as a person.

    Bilal shared that the three things he cannot live without are his family, work and lots of sleep.

    Bilal with his brothers:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B463PbgFiMD/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz-TpTulrMD/

    When asked which character is his favourite, Wajih from Cheekh, Taimoor from Balaa or Behram from the telefilm Laal, Bilal said that though he likes all characters, if he had to choose one, he’d choose Wajih.

    That makes the two of us.

    The actor’s favourite food is biryani.

    He also revealed his high while growing up.

    Does this mean Bilal is no longer single?

    We’re one step closer to knowing the actor who likes to remain behind the scenes.

  • Review: Is ‘Cheekh’ losing the plot?

    Review: Is ‘Cheekh’ losing the plot?

    ARY’s Cheekh began as an ambitious project. The drama centered around the theme of sexual harassment and abuse and the importance of raising your voice even if you have to go against your own family members. The first few episodes were gripping and had you on the edge but as the drama progressed, it became mundane the point that it almost became a chore to watch the drama.

    Though the characters were wonderfully written, especially Shayan, who we all agree was like a breath of fresh air in the Pakistani drama scene, the overall script of the drama weakened as the drama progressed. The storyline was also becoming depressing as Mannat continued to fight against her brother-in-law, Wajih and lost every time. However, as the drama heads towards its end, viewers got an unexpected twist and the drama caught our attention once again.

    SPOILER ALERT

    The last episode saw Shayan killed by his brother, Wajih after they get into a heated debate with each other. As soon as the accident happens, Wajih bolts from the crime scene while Mannat rushes him to the hospital. In her quest for justice for her friend, Mannat experiences her third loss. She first lost her child in a miscarriage caused by Wajih. Then she lost her mother and now her husband. In between all that Mannat was also admitted to a mental hospital after she lost her case to Wajih. While we agree and accept that the drama’s makers tried to be as realistic as possible, the question is did they become a little too realistic?

    Though I myself am of the opinion that the drama rightfully portrayed the situation of such cases in our society, my colleague appeared to have a dissenting view and argued that what was even the whole point of fighting the case, that too against her brother-in-law when in the end you’re left with nothing. He argued that the drama went overboard and situations like these don’t happen in real life. Whatever your opinion may be, the fact remains that women who dare to raise their voice are subjected to vilification by men who are more powerful than them. For example the case of Khadija Siddiqui.

    On the whole, Cheekh had its shares of highs and lows. The acting by the lead cast was brilliant. Saba Qamar, Bilal Abbas Khan, Emmad Irfani, Aijaz Aslam and Azekah Daniel all gave brilliant performances. The scenes which featured both Saba and Bilal were powerful, to say the least. Both the actors were phenomenal in their roles and deserve standing ovation.

    Though the drama became a drag in the middle with a lot of pointless scenes, the plot was intriguing and made you think about how unfair society is towards victims, especially those of sexual violence. The way the rich and influential are able to maneuver the law as per their liking and get away unaffected is food for thought and the drama portrayed that brilliantly. It also highlights how the law is not equal for everyone and anyone with an iota of influence can get away from being punished.

    With the latest development, it looks like viewers will be tuning into the series once again to see if Mannat will get finally get justice.