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Case No 9 is one of the best plays on air nowadays. Faysal Qureshi as Kamran Haider is unbelievable. He pulls off the role of a conniving and predatory boss who sexually assaults one of his employees, Sahar Moazzam, portrayed by Saba Qamar. The script, penned by GEO anchor, Shahzeb Khanzada, is like a tightly coiled spring, holding the viewers in its iron grip.
As the plot thickens and the court room battle intensifies, yours truly just cannot stop marveling at what a top-notch production this is: a fantastic script, excellent actors and stellar direction. Khanzada is definitely a revelation. He can give many seasoned writers a run for their money. His wife, playing Kiran, Kamran’s wife, although a little shaky at first, is bringing the house down with her performance and is incredibly convincing.
As the wheels in Kamran’s head turn and he spins a web of lies to convince his wife, his lawyer shreds Sahar’s case in the court. The dialogues are absolutely brilliant. The acting takes the cake. Aamina Sheikh as Sahar’s lawyer is proficient. No less was expected from her after plays like Jackson Heights, Pakeeza and Maat.
Case No 9 is far superior to the material generally available on Netflix. The courtroom scenes are incredibly believable. They are not too dramatic and although there is a tendency for writers to use clichés, Khanzada’s script never succumbs to the ordinary. The play keeps the viewers riveted. The suspense builds and whenever the viewers are close to concluding that Kamran is going to be get nailed, he weaves another story to convince his wife.
His friend Rohit; Junaid Khan, his business partner and his partner in crime; the only witness, is also a revelation. His wife, Manisha sides with Sahar and he is under incredible pressure. The rift between them deepens as he continues to support Kamran. Kamran has had a chequered past and Kiran, as the spouse, business partner and class fellow from university, knows him a bit too well. She is portrayed as quite a sharp and intelligent woman.
Verdict: this drama has raised the bar on a number of levels.
Her dialogues, laced with acid when she is talking to Kamran, bring the house down. Most women can easily relate with her plight. In her hearts of hearts; she knows her husband is guilty but she also loves him and wants the benefit of the doubt for him.
Rohit is in the middle. Since he is a shared friend, he is caught between the devil and the deep sea. On one hand, he knows that Kamran is lying through his teeth; one the other, he is aware that if he does not support him, they stand to lose everything. The stakes are too high and he cannot afford to back out.
Sahar, portrayed as the rape survivor, is incredible. An extremely versatile Saba Qamar brings her flavour to the set. This production is a milestone in her professional career and will only take it to new highs.
Verdict: this drama has raised the bar on a number of levels. Definitely Netflix material, it is far superior to most of the material on OTT platforms.
Keep watching as the drama unfolds. Will Kamran be able to fool his wife again? How long will it take Rohit to wash his hands of the whole affair? Will Saba ever be able to put this behind her as she repeatedly relives the incident in court? How will it affect her future?
Yours truly cannot wait for the next episode as the story becomes more and more complicated and the web of lies and intrigues gets more tangled. How long will Sahar be able to take this torture? Who will break down first? As the courtroom turns into a war zone, Kamran is determined to teach the woman a lesson she will not forget. Keep watching to see how the story pans out.
The writer is aneducationist and can be reached at gaiteearahotmail.com