In a television landscape dominated by family sagas and romance, Sitaron Se Agay immediately stands out as fresh and intriguing. A Pakistani sports drama—especially one centered on a young female squash player—feels groundbreaking. Express Entertainment’s concept is a winning one, but does the execution live up to the idea?
A great sports story is both comforting and inspiring. What makes classics like Rocky, The Karate Kid, and Chariots of Fire endure is their familiar yet compelling rhythm—an underdog striving for greatness, intense rivalries, personal struggles, a dedicated mentor, rigorous training sequences, and a climactic final match that determines everything. While these elements may be predictable, they resonate because they tap into universal themes of perseverance, discipline, and passion. Audiences love watching characters push past their limits, experience failure, rise again, and ultimately find meaning in the game—a metaphor for life.
So, how does Wajahat Rauf’s Sitaron Se Agay measure up to this classic sports formula? Does it deliver the high-stakes competition and emotional depth that define the best of the genre?
Let’s break it down, point by point, to see if this drama is a true contender.
Matchup: Sitaron Se Agay vs. Generic Sports Drama
Round 1: First Serve
A strong sports drama starts with the sport itself. Whether it’s a culturally ingrained game like Lagaan (cricket), a regional sport like Friday Night Lights (American football in Texas), or even a nontraditional sport like Bring It On (cheerleading), the key lies in how the sport is framed. Universal sports gain new depth when tackled from a fresh perspective, while niche sports can be brought to life with strong storytelling.
Sitaron Se Agay focuses on squash, a lesser-explored but culturally significant sport in Pakistan. Adding a female protagonist breaking into a male-dominated world gives the show a unique edge. The sport, the setting, and the story all signal a great start. For me, the choice of an unexpected sport and setting was what made me want to watch in the first place.
Point: Sitaron Se Agay scores here for choosing a distinctive sport and narrative.
Round 2: The Player
The main character sets the tone for the whole show. A great sports protagonist is relatable, driven, and complex. Whether it’s the determined underdog (Rocky), the prodigy battling expectations or the athlete proving themselves against the odds (think The Queen’s Gambit or Dangal), we are drawn into their journey, struggles and triumphs.
In Sitaron Se Agay, Aima (Laiba Khan) should be that character, but her connection to squash is hard to grasp. The first time we meet her, it is her mother who is pushing for her to get the best coach so she can become a world champion—Aima remains silent. In the 10 episodes since, her motivation seems to fluctuate at random. Sometimes she wants to give up and get married, other times she just goes with the flow, and occasionally, some real determination and ambition shine through. It is unclear whether she truly wants to play, if she is simply trying to please her mother, or if she has a crush on her coach. This lack of urgency and emotional investment makes it difficult to care about her journey. While the character has potential, and her struggle against societal norms could be compelling, I cannot root for her when she does not even seem to root for herself.
No Point: The leads live for the game and Sitaron Se Agay struggles to establish Aima’s drive.
Round 3: The Mentor
From Chak De! India’s Kabir Khan, whose tough love turns a struggling women’s hockey team into champions, to Creed’s Rocky Balboa, guiding the next generation while battling his own past, the best mentors don’t just strategize and teach technique—they instill resilience and self-belief where there was hesitancy and doubt.
In Sitaron Se Agay, Nouman Ijaz plays Tahmaseb Khan a former coach turned professional player turned club owner. As we get glimpses of his past disappointments, layers to his character emerge. He has lived through the highs and lows of the sport, making his dynamic with Aima somewhat compelling. However, the show never fully explains what makes him want to coach Aima despite having been retired for years.
Point: Sitaron Se Agay wins this round for giving us a coach with depth, thanks to Nouman Ijaz’s strong performance
Round 4: Breaking Barriers
Sports can be a powerful way to discuss gender barriers. Bend It Like Beckham explored cultural expectations and the struggle for a young Indian woman to play soccer. Battle of the Sexes highlighted sexism that persists today. A League of Their Own reminded us that even when women are given a place in sports, they still have to fight to be taken seriously. These stories acknowledge the challenges women in sports face while also showcasing the pushback, victories, and sacrifices that come with breaking the rules.
Sitaron Se Agay introduces a young girl trying to make it in the world of squash in Pakistan—a compelling premise. The show recognizes the obstacles but doesn’t always explore them deeply. The other girls in the club remain indistinct, and the day-to-day struggle of proving oneself in an exclusionary space takes a backseat.
Still, the fact that this story is even being told is significant.
Point: Sitaron Se Agay doesn’t push the boundaries as boldly as some international counterparts, but it deserves credit for starting the conversation. This round is a tie.
Round 5: The Training Montage
Typically, our protagonist works for their dream, every struggle, and the small, hard-won victories make the final showdown worthwhile. The details of how someone improved their skills give us hope that they’re strong enough to withstand obstacles. When we see what the hero has to do to reach their goal we’re there with them in figuring out how to overcome the odds.
The Karate Kid gave us “wax on, wax off,” transforming chores into combat skills, The Cutting Edge uses the phrase “toe pick” to turn an arrogant hockey player and a refined figure skater, into teammates. And, of course, Rocky has become synonymous with training montages.
But in Sitaron Se Agay, Aima’s progress feels underdeveloped. We don’t really see her competing until episode 8 and even then its so short that we never get to see what her shortcomings are or where her strengths lie.
Aima’s training scenes are sparse and lack urgency, missing the chance to showcase the dedication, discipline, and exhaustion that define an athlete’s journey. Without a a consistent focus on training the payoff of her eventual matches feels unearned. It’s hard to believe in her as a rising athlete, and in fact when the other girls complain that she is getting ahead because of favoritism instead of hard work, that is easier to believe. We hear Aima complaining about grueling practice, but never see her have an emotional breakthrough moment or even visible improvement.
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No Point: This round goes to the classics—Sitaron Se Agay drops the ball with limited court time.
Round 6: The Rival
A great rival challenges the protagonist to become the best version of themselves. Rivals often force athletes to grow in ways they never could alone as seen with Johnny in The Karate Kid, Tonya Harding vs. Nancy Kerrigan in I, Tonya, or Apollo Creed in Rocky. These rivalries add tension, drama, and often, unexpected depth.
Sitaron Se Agay introduces Shiza (Eman Syed), a fierce competitor who is willing to do anything to win. Though her character is somewhat one-dimensional in her ruthlessness, her presence raises the stakes and injects energy into the drama. She manipulates the other interchangeable girls (one even refers to herself as an extra) in the club against Aima keeping the tension high, making every move feel personal.
Point: Sitaron Se Agay wins this round for giving us a strong, if slightly over-the-top, rival in Shiza.
Round 7: The Determined Parent
Parents in sports dramas can shape an athlete’s journey through encouragement or pressure. King Richard gave us a father whose relentless belief in his daughters redefined tennis history. Ice Princess had both a mother who tried to steer her daughter away from sports, forcing her to fight for her own dreams and another mother who wanted her daughter in win so bad she sabotaged the competition. In Varsity Blues, a father’s obsession with football made success feel more like a duty than a passion. These figures add emotional weight.
Sitaron Se Agay presents two contrasting mothers. Rabia (Sahiba Afzal) Aima’s mother, has a rich backstory as a former squash player who had to quit due to injury, leaving her with both wisdom and regret. The end of the first episode when she removes her prosthetic leg is a shocking and interesting moment, however the show hasn’t fully explored her impact of this. There is a lot of potential to discuss disabled sportspeople and a mother who knows the cost of ambition, who has felt both triumph and heartbreak, could add emotional weight to the story. But instead of exploring this dynamic, the show often sidelines her, missing a chance to create a truly moving parent-child relationship. Meanwhile, Shiza’s mother is
Point: Sitaron Se Agay gets a half-point—Rabia is one of the show’s most interesting characters, but her potential remains underdeveloped.
Final Score:
Sitaron Se Agay – 4 / 7
It’s a close match. Sitaron Se Agay has a unique premise, an intriguing mentor figure, and a fierce rivalry, but it falls short with its sluggish pacing, underdeveloped protagonist, and lack of immersive sports action. The show has the foundation of a compelling sports drama but needs tighter storytelling and a stronger focus on competition.
