Move aside Ramadan shows, take a back seat depressing dramas; the trend that was revived by Suno Chanda is now taking center stage. HUM TV is not just presenting one but two Ramadan dramas this season, and we can’t be more excited than we already are. The two dramas –Chupke Chupke and Tanaa Banaa – will not just herald the return of romantic comedies but also entertain the audience the way they want to be entertained.
Let’s talk about the drama that was supposed to air last year, and took over a year to be completed – Chupke Chupke. Written by Saima Akram Chaudhry and directed by Danish Nawaz, the play is about two families that don’t see eye to eye with each other, despite being related by blood but divided by marriage.
Featuring the talented Osman Khalid Butt, the beautiful Ayeza Khan, the hilarious Ali Safina, the multi-faceted Mira Sethi, the always youthful Asma Abbas, as well as Huma Beg, and introducing Arslan Naseer (of Comics by Arslan fame) and Aymen Saleem, the play will be aired daily at 9 PM from 1st Ramadan. Osman Khalid Butt, who last appeared as the confused Malik Shahzain in HUM TV’s Ehd-e-Wafa feels that with Chupke Chupke, he not only got a chance to do comedy after so long, but it will also break the ‘depressing mold’ on our TV screens.
‘While Ehd-e-Wafa had many moments of comedic brilliance, I realized I hadn’t done an out-and-out romantic comedy since Aunn Zara, and really wanted to break the depressing mold on our television screens.’ Osman Khalid Butt told Spotlight as to what made him do Chupke Chupke.
‘Being a fan of Suno Chanda and of Danish Nawaz, when I was offered Chupke Chupke I was really excited. In hindsight, given how the country has been in the throes of a pandemic since over a year, I think a serial like Chupke Chupke is exactly what the doctor ordered.’
Osman Khalid Butt spoke at length about the drama’s cast as well as the interesting characters the viewers will get to meet in Ramadan. ‘My character is Faaz, an uptight, sarcastic man-of-the-house in his late 20s/early 30s. He’s surrounded by quite a madcap family, and so you’ll find him at the end of his tethers a lot. He’s very strict about education and tutors Meenu (played by Ayeza Khan), who is his polar opposite. With a controlling sister (Mira Sethi), an obnoxious-yet-lovable ghar damaad (the always hilarious Ali Safina), a grandmother on steroids (Uzma Beg), and a host of colorful family members, his one solace is his friendship with his cousin Hadi (an excellent debut by Arslan Naseer).’
He added that Chupke Chupke took over a year to complete, molding the cast more or less into a family. ‘The cast is practically family now – I mean we shot through Covid! – and trust me, they are as hilarious as they are talented. I really think everyone is going to see that chemistry onscreen. It’s a fast-paced serial with all kinds of comedy, from situational to cringe to slapstick, a unique romance, and dynamic between Faaz & Meenu, and with Danish bhai at the helm, it’s going to be an absolute riot, Insha’Allah.’
Mira Sethi who plays his dominating sibling is very excited about Chupke Chupke and believes that the audience will love watching it as much as they did making it. ‘Chupke Chupke’ is a super fun comedy — we spent all of last year recording it, every character is unique and makes their presence felt!’
She went on to add that it is unlike the many dramas that are currently on air, making it both unique and interesting at the same time. ‘It’s about love, family rivalry, sibling bonds, inter-generational conflict—but all with a comedic touch! Can’t wait for the audience to watch it and give their feedback.’
On the other hand, there is the family drama Tanaa Banaa that introduces Daniyal Zafar as the main lead, and features Alizeh Shah, Javeria Abbasi, Komal Rizvi, Aamir Qureshi, Hasan Noman, and Ismat Zaidi among others. Written by Hassan Imam and directed by Saife Hasan, its teasers have raised the bar for the viewers who were waiting for a TV drama that the audience can watch together, before Iftaar and Dinner.
Director Saife Hasan is confident that through this play, HUM TV would be able to bring back the Ramadan play culture they started a decade back.
‘Ramadan plays are nothing new, we made Chaand Pe Dastak in 2011, followed it with by Phir Chaand Pe Dastak and they were two plays that the whole family could watch together. Their place was taken over by Ramadan shows where people got sort of humiliated for the sake of prizes. Thanks to Suno Chanda a handful of years back, Ramadan plays are making a comeback and we hope that Tanaa Banaa will be able to revive the dying category. Others are also coming up with similar plays which are the need of the hour, since they both entertain, and deliver a message without seeming preachy.’
The one thing that makes the teasers of Tanaa Banaa worth a repeat watch is the cute chemistry between the main leads that have already ignited the screens. Alizeh Shah and Daniyal Zafar look like a match made in heaven and the audience would be rooting for them both when the play airs, because the story is quite interesting.
Speaking to Spotlight, Alizeh Shah described her character as someone who has to achieve her goals before she gets married. ‘My character Zoya is a very strong girl who knows what she wants; the one thing she doesn’t want is to get married. However, when she does find the right guy, she makes him sign a contract that contains the Dos and Don’ts of their married life. She does fall in love with the guy (played by Daniyal Zafar) when he stands by her every step of the way, but never shows it. How that contract affects their lives is what makes Tanaa Banaa a not-to-be-missed drama, during Ramadan.’
Alizeh added that usually she misses her family when she is on the sets, but the cheerful cast of Tanaa Banaa didn’t let her do that. ‘You can say Tanaa Banaa is my comeback project as I took a six-month sabbatical after my last project. Just like every other project, this one is really close to my heart as we have worked hard and in quick time too. The cast was very supportive and they didn’t let me feel that I was working in a drama, such was the environment on the set. I had my mother (played by Javeria Abbasi), and my sister (Komal Rizvi) there with whom I had a very good time. It was as if I found my family on the set, and that’s why it was easy for all of us to develop our characters. I hope the viewers have as much fun watching it as we had fun making it!
Aamir Qureshi, who plays Daniyal Zafar’s father in the play, also hopes that the drama would go on to do well because of its timings. ‘The best thing about Ramadan plays that air daily after Iftaar is that they keep the audience engaged. The viewers don’t have to wait for a week to find out what happens next and the ‘happily ever after’ happens in 30 days instead of six months. Suno Chanda revived the trend, and we are continuing it, hoping that the result would be the same.’
from HUM TV – Watch Dramas Online https://ift.tt/3g0J4Is
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