Melodrama with a meal

KARACHI:

As a bearer of good tidings and blessings, Ramazan is a month that champions a sense of community. After winding down from a laborious day and a hearty iftaar, it is almost natural to spend just a little more time with your loved ones. And what better way to bond than to turn on a TV serial that everyone enjoys?

While you relax after tending to your obligations, a fool-proof way to bring everyone together is by binging a new drama. Here are four shows to look out for during the mellow evenings of your Ramazan.

‘Agar Tum Sath Ho’

If you’re still reeling from the wholesome affair that was Mawra Hocane and Ameer Gilani’s wedding, you might want to tune into this one. Led by a promising cast comprising the newlyweds, Zaviyar Ejaz, and Srha Asgr, the serial points to a spiralling love triangle, driven by a charismatic set of characters.

Although an expected tale of romance, the serial slips in conflict in ways that’ll have you at the edge of your seat. With a happy-go-lucky personality like Farhan’s (Ameer) and the quiet chaos building within Sahir (Zaviyar), one can only wait for things to go wrong.

Aside from its overarching theme of romantic love, the drama also focuses on friendship and familial love. Don’t take Farhan’s jovial nature for granted; he may be self-compromising, but he wouldn’t tolerate a word against his loved ones like his disabled sister.

But dialing back, Ameer and Mawra’s oozing chemistry is an easy bait into getting hooked to Agar Tum Sath Ho. Once you take the first step, many surprises await ahead.

‘Dil Wali Gali Mein’

Zard Patton Ka Bunn fans would wholeheartedly agree that Sajal Ali and Hamza Sohail are always an anticipated pair when it comes to TV. For Dil Wali Gali Mein, the two play innocent lovers who tie the knot despite the generation-long enmity dividing their families.

Despite the tough premise, the serial maintains a comic tone. It opens with a no-nonsense scene at the court where Sajal’s Deeju and Hamza’s Mujji elope to get married, defying their families’ wishes. Only problem is, it doesn’t take long for their family members to catch wind of their plans. And thus, chaos ensues.

Glittering with a star-studded cast, the serial brims with boisterous characters that know how to land an impression. From hilarious one-liners to unceasing conflict, this serial is your fill for an explosive combination of laughs and tension this month.

‘Qubool Hai’

Express TV’s latest offering is a sitcom, and what better way to bring your loved ones together than a session of unforgettable hilarity? Add a little fourth-wall breach from the narrator, and you have a series that serves your family-friendly entertainment needs well.

In case you were wondering how committed the show stays to its title, it informs you from the get-go. With respect to the freshly departed wedding season, Qubool Hai introduces Nausheen Ahmad as a bride, though wishfully so. Nausheen’s Laila is a dreamer, and the narrator is intent on telling you that, but she’s a reluctant one.

Influenced as she is by her widowed yet surprisingly liberal grandmother, the prospect of marriage unnerves her. But don’t take her for a timid and frightened woman because she won’t hesitate to show you otherwise.

Enter Ahmad Hassan’s Farhaad, who effectively brings out that headstrong side in her after a fated meet-ugly. After all, this is not just a clash between two individuals but also two cities. Our Lahori hero, who is looking to find a love match despite his family’s rigid rules, is stunned when he crosses paths with this Karachiite heroine.

Directed by Ahmad and written by Javeria Saud, the tale of drama, comedy, and romance packs a punch. Real-life couple Ahmad and Nausheen elevate the comedy serial through their dynamic pairing, one that fans had long been aching to see on the small screen again. Mix in a variety of characters led by a seasoned cast, and you have a marriage-centered sitcom to light up your TV screen for the coming weeks.

‘My Dear Cinderella’

If Burns Road Kay Romeo Juliet has taught us anything, it’s that classic tales of romance never expire and that they are sure to inspire new serials every year. But don’t let My Dear Cinderella deceive you, for our lead is the very opposite of the glass slipper-wearing princess.

Sana’s (Zara Peerzada) life is introduced to us as nothing short of a fairytale. As someone who leads a systematic routine, everything is going according to her plans, until it’s not. But when push comes to shove, Sana is not afraid to take a stand for herself, even if that means making a decision that her family might not agree with her.

Much like the Disney princess, this Cinderella too was orphaned at a young age, though she doesn’t have a fairy godmother to cry to. Instead, in a pleasant twist to the classic story, Sana has not one but two step-mothers that she adores, though her philosophy is rooted in tough love.

Raised in a home full of women with the exception of one younger brother, Sana has taken on the responsibility to look after her brother, grandmother, and late father’s two wives. Except, like any family head, she is prone to reinforcing her rules on the household. All the same, her family takes her methods with a stride, loving her despite how demanding she can get. After all, she’s only looking out for them.

Also starring Khaqan Shahnawaz, Juggan Kazim, Tara Mehmood, and Seemi Pasha, the serial has a long way to go before it can become a crowd-pick. However, the unique storyline offers a compelling argument in its favour. After a slew of unhealthy family dynamics on TV, it is refreshing to watch a drama that focuses on a loving step-family.