Kashif Nisar is a name synonymous with quality, a director who takes up stories with unique subjects and presents them in a beautiful, visually appealing, gripping manner. When a new Kashif Nisar show is launched, Pakistani drama viewers sit up and take notice – and this time, the male lead is none other than Hamza Sohail, the current heartthrob of Pakistan post “Fairy Tale.” These two factors in itself make “Breaking News” worthwhile. Throw in the talented Amar Khan as the female lead and a story revolving around the behind-the-scenes politics surrounding news channels and this show has incredible potential. Written by Aamir Raza, Ali Safina is also a prominent part of the cast.
In the first episode, we are introduced to Mishaal (Amar Khan) and Hussain (Hamza Sohail). The two are college classmates who have graduated into the real world. While Hussain is successfully working at a news station under the slimy Naveed Khan (Ali Safina), Mishaal has yet to break into the industry yet and Hussain coaches her. Hussain and Mishaal’s relationship is immediately likable, both actors sharing a natural chemistry. Hussain’s training does, ultimately, help Mishaal land a job as an anchor – but by taking the job of another woman, depicting just how replaceable female anchors are in the workplace.
Amar Khan is the stand-out performer of this first episode as Mishaal. The ease natural manner in which she has embodied this character is applause-worthy as she nonchalantly eats in front of the camera, mispronounces Urdu words and talks to herself to ease her nerves. Mishaal is an immediately likable character. Hamza Sohail is equally likable as Hussain, a man who has already found his way into his profession and has already begun to learn the ropes, growing accustomed to fake news being peddled for viewership. Each journalist enters the industry with ethics – but how long does it take for those ethics to be cast aside? Ali Safina also makes an impression as the calculating Naveed Khan.
In the first episode, the narrative dives into the world of media, news channels and how they operate. The media is manipulated and curated to feed a certain narrative, create a certain perspective and, most importantly, bring in viewership. The amount of behind-the-scenes politics is already beginning to show, promising viewers an interesting, drama-packed journey, one which seems rooted in reality. Airing 3 days a week on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, this is a promising show.
