| B |
iryani, starring the dashing Khushhal Khan, Ramsha Khan and Sarwat Gilani, is a new offering on the Pakistani drama scene. Directed by Badar Mehmood, produced by Fahad Mustafa and written by the Zafar Mairaj, the play is off to a promising start.
The viewers are introduced to Nisa Majeed Ansari, portrayed by Ramsha Khan. Nisa resides in Karachi with her mother and maternal uncle. Her father passed away when she was in eighth grade. She has been studying on scholarship. She is enrolled at a prestigious university where, apart from juggling her academic responsibilities, she assists one of her professors with his PhD.
Understandably, she is none too pleased when she is asked to tutor Mir Meeran Zaman, played by Khushhal Khan, whose grandfather is a benefactor of the university. He hails from an extremely influential and wealthy family and has a feudal background.
Nisa, the star student, is virtually blackmailed into the assignment.
Since she has no choice in the matter, Nisa lays down some ground rules. Meeran then starts coming to her house. In a desperate bid to get rid of him, she joins hands with her maternal uncle and the two try every trick in the book to make him leave. The mother, played by veteran actress Laila Wasti, although extremely reluctant, is also pulled into the mission.
All kinds of tactics are employed. One day, for instance, the mother fries red chillies just when Meeran is over. She pretends that she is seasoning something she has cooked. The smoke is purposely directed towards him in order to make him as uncomfortable as possible. His eyes start itching and he barely manages to drive home.
Next, the maternal uncle invites a niece of his over with her young children who turn the whole house upside down. Nisa’s mother is furious at the two and constantly berates them for making the boy miserable. She is extremely annoyed with them and threatens to leave. However, her threats are received with a pinch of salt by her brother and daughter.
Meeran turns out to be incredibly thick-skinned and refuses to budge. When all efforts prove in vain, Nisa requests a man in her neighbourhood to pull off something that she feels would solve the problem. A local goon and his men surround Meeran on the way to his car and warn him to stay away, threatening him with a gun.
Nothing fazes or discourages him, however, and the next day, he is back for tuition. The goons return, enter the house and what ensues is a shock for everyone. The end of the third episode is somewhat anti-climactic, but leaves the viewers thirsting for more.
The two leads act well and the supporting cast provides adequate support in propelling the narrative forward. Ramsha and Meeran enjoy great on-screen chemistry and emote incredibly well. Sarwat Gilani as Meeran’s mother, takes to her role like fish to water. It is a delight to see her on television screen.
The direction, screenplay and dialogues are above average and the characters have been fleshed out quite well. The story seems interesting and the on-screen chemistry between the lead pair makes it appealing.
How will the story pan out? Will this be a typical love story or something more? How will Nisa and Meeran’s relationship develop in the coming episodes?
Biryani manages to swerve away from some familiar tropes and stereotypes. Nisa is very studious and has an impeccable academic record. By making the female lead strong, resolute and focused, this play pays homage to all women pursuing an education. Generally, characters from feudal backgrounds are painted in an extremely negative light in dramas, but despite belonging to a wealthy family, Meeran is portrayed as a humble and down-to-earth individual who respects his teachers and elders.
Nisa has some preconceived notions about him, expecting him to be spoilt and having a huge sense of entitlement. As she gets to know him better, she starts looking at him differently.
The play is off to a good start. It remains to be seen whether the director will be able to maintain his grip on the story.
Verdict: A welcome change from the usual fare, this play is worth it. Watch it for good acting, a gripping story and relatable dialogues.
The writer is an educationist and can be reached at gaiteearahotmail.com