I have been in a rush most of this week but decided I couldn’t give reviewing this drama a miss because it is fast becoming the highlight of my week. so please excuse me if I dont go into too much detail . I am still not at the desperately waiting for the next episode stage but this is definitely on my must watch list for the week. How wonderful to see good actors performing at their best,with a great script and a good director who knows where the story is going . It is a tough job analyzing or reviewing Pyare Afzal because the whole thing is such a seamless melding of talents that I don’t know where to begin .
The confrontation between Afzal’s family after he is caught gambling once again was highlight of the show and Firdause Jamal owned it with a powerful yet vulnerable performance that had me in tears. Normally I run a mile and then another mile from long monologues and heavy histrionics but here I was glued to the screen waiting for each characters reaction. I knew from Manjali that Khalil ur Rahman was a good writer but here in this drama he has honed his craft to another level of excellence altogether . The script is not flowery as I had feared it might be yet it maintains a depth that allows us to connect with the characters every emotion. The best part is the actors are managing to do it justice. In reality a character like Afzal would be unbearable but Hamza Ali has given him the required charm to make him almost likable. I loved his surprised look and concern for Miss Rosy after he learns of her accident. That whole scenario could have been very annoying but all it did was bring a smile to my face.
The cast have great chemistry together, especially Afzal’s family. We saw a little less of Farah and when we did she was quite rightly recoiling in distaste from Afzal the lafanga. Farah seemed a little demanding when dealing with Mehtab but she is right on the money with Afzal. I liked her attitude and am beginning to like Aiza Khan a lot more too…but the make-up is killing me softly. Her younger sister Lubna is however a piece of work. Nicely done by Sana Javed , she comes over as manipulative , secretive and a little over smart if not cunning. I am still guessing she is the one posting letters to Afzal as she pays him more attention than is strictly necessary. The story did not move much this week and I really missed Mehtab Chawla but the promos for next week show a storm on the horizon.
Pyare Afzal is a fun serial, where everything is working …I am just hoping it stays that way and doesn’t fall prey to drag or loss of main narrative.
