arwarish, a play written by Kiran Siddiqui and directed by MeesamNaqvi, is the new offering on the block. Produced by Fahad Mustafa and JerseesSeja under the banner of Big Bang Entertainment, it airs every Monday and Tuesday.

The drama features a talented cast, including Samar Abbas Jaffri starring as Wali, veteran actor NaumanIjaz as his father Jahangir andSavera Nadeem as Mahnoor. Arshad Mehmoodis the grandfather and ShamimHilaly is graceful as ever in the role of the dadi.

The plotline touches on the themes of belonging, identity and family dynamics. In the pilot, which aired this Monday, viewers were introduced to the Siddiqui family, residing in Karachi. It is a joint family consisting of grandparents, their son, Suleman, daughter-in-law, Panah, portrayed by actressSaman Ansari.

Suleman and Panah have two children, Sameer and Manal. Manal, a medical student, is portrayed as the more sensible sibling. She and her friend, Maya (Aina Asif), meet daily and attend the same tuition centre.

The viewers are then introduced to Suleman’s other brother, Jahangir, and his family. For some reason, has sold his business in the United States and moved back to Pakistan along with his wife, Mahnoor, and two children. The reason, revealed later in the play, is that his children are entering their teens and he does not feel that America is a suitable place for their bringing them up.

Wali, Jahangir’s son, is a musician at heart but his father, like most desi fathers, wants him to become a doctor. His sister, Hania is a very quiet and introverted. She’s also a vegetarian.

Now that this expatriate family has moved back, Hania is forced to share a room with her parents because Manal, a medical student needs all the time, space (read: room) and energy to focus on her studies.

Wali is forced to share a room with Sameer, his cousin. Initially, he raises a huge hue and cry about it but is then forced to compromise.

As the play unfolds, the viewers see the tensions escalate as family dynamics and politics come into play. As the new family settles in, there are myriad adjustment problems. Old tensions resurface as the families share the house.

A play about family dynamics and relationships as they change and evolve over time…

Then there are financs. Jahangir has been the major contributor to the household expenses and is financially far better off than his brother. Tensions simmer as the question is brought up on a number of occasions by Mahnoor. This is a sore point for Suleman and his wife.

Suleman and Panahare acutely aware that Jahangir holds the purse strings.Dadiis partial towards him and makes allowances for him and his family, dismissing the initial adjustment problems as teething issues that will eventually settle down.

The two cousins sharing the room are at daggers drawn. Sameer records Wali’s conversation with his girlfriend and starts blackmailing him. Sameer’s sister Manal is appalled at his audacity and rebukes him severely. Domestic tensions and politics begin to take a toll on everyone.The viewers are drawn in as skeletons come out of the closet.

Apart from the fact that the two sets of cousins have had a completely different upbringing, it is quite clear that Hania and Wali have been brought back from America against their will and are extremely unhappy in Pakistan.

Parwarishpromises a lot.As the weeks progress, we will likely see a Pandora’s box opening as tensions rise to the surface and the conflicts between the two couples and their children come to the fore.

The story is well-written and the dialogues are relatable. Acting is good, although Aina Asif seems to go overboard on a couple of occasions. Her acting is a little stereotypical.She should make an effort to tone down the histrionics. The two couples are excellent and grandparents also do justice to their roles.

A play about family dynamics and relationships as they change and evolve over time, how will Parwarishpan out? Will the two couples adjust to life together after the initial issues? Will Sameer and Wali resolve their differences? Will things settle down in the Siddiqui household?

Keep watching as tensions escalate in the Siddiqui house and embark on this rollercoaster journey with the Siddiquis as they fight, argue and bicker like typical families trying to adjust, adapt and compromise. Maybe this is the start of a new beginning and a new chapter in their lives.

The writer is an educationist and can be reached at gaiteeara@hotmail.com