Salaams to all the readers. I hope that the dramas I will be discussing will be seen by many who haven’t seen them. There are many dramas that go unnoticed. One such drama is Rok Lo Aaj Ki Raat Ko. It aired on Express Entertainment in 2012. It was not a popular drama as it didn’t have a very happy tone to it and aired on a new channel. However, it is a drama or should I say a work of art that is very close to my heart. After I finished watching it, thoughts such as why this drama ended came into my head. Some characters left a mark on me and I remembered them for days.
Rok Lo Aaj Ki Raat Ko is directed by Farooq Mengal, written by Faizi and produced by Kohinoor Studios and Rashid Sami. Yes, these names may never have been heard but kaash yehi log zyada dramas banate. Farooq Mengal is a brilliant director who knows how to capture scenes with beauty and depth. Faizi delivers a heart-breaking script with powerful portrayal of emotions such as separation and freedom.
The HD camerawork seen in some scenes is mind-blowing. Itni acha camerawork toh Hum tv kah bhi nahi hai. The setting is in partly Karachi and partly the beautiful Gilgit and Skardu areas of Baltistan, which is a treat for all viewers because most dramas we see take place in Karachi or Lahore or Islamabad but some scenes of Skardu take the viewer into a unbelievable place from which you never want to leave. The ost sung by Sanam Marvi which plays throughout the drama might make you cry. Sanam Marvi is a dear favorite and her osts have the tragic feel to it.
It stars Danish Taimoor, Alishba Yousuf, Naila Jaffrey, Najeeba Faiz, Sajid Hassan and more. I will not go into details of the story as that will be a spoiler. There are themes of separation between a mom and her daughter, feelings of freedom and positivity that we all at need at points of our lives. The desire to belong to a loving family. Death is not deeply explored but thrown a light on in showing that we shouldn’t be depressed thinking about death since we all have to go one day.
As for the actors, this is the first drama I feel Danish Taimoor has delivered a versatile performance and I am sure you will notice that when seeing him in this drama. I love Alishba Yousuf, she has a unique and charming presence and delivers emotions that hit the heart. Naila Jaffery is a mother who waits for her daughter and her wait is heart-breaking. While watching her, we just want her to unite with her daughter. Sajid Hassan desires for a loving family but his wife doesn’t let that happen. Najeeba Faiz is such a brilliant actress. We don’t see her a lot but her portrayal of the desolation and breaking apart is just wow.
Here is the link to the drama. Please do watch this drama and I hope you all enjoy it as much as much as I have enjoyed it. Beginning episodes are not HD but of fair quality. For episode 17 and 18, the separate links are given.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBD6AECD84E3D5B97
For episode 17 and 18 (just be sure the pixels are at 720 p for HD)
ost: https://soundcloud.com/s-k-khalish-syed-khurram/rok-lo-aaj-ki-raat-ko-ost
My other pick is Bad Times on Atv which is a current show. It is written by the funny Vasay Chaudhry and stars Mani Azfar Ali and Samina Ahmed. It showcases lives of 4 employees who work for the hi-fi Mrs. Khan who is the head of a magazine called Bad Times. I know many people might just stay away when they hear Mani’s name but he and Azfar Ali are indeed hillarious. Mani and Azfar’s “Sab Set hai” and Mani’s show “Zeroes” on Hum tv were filled with endless laughter. The link is below and I hope you guys enjoy both shows.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x29id9j_bad-times-episode-01-full_fun
Written by Aisha Kazi
