Sweet love stories are not as common as one would think on Pakistani television. To have one good love story each cycle is a blessing. “Burns Road Kay Romeo Juliet” not only promises romance, but also one with intensity, opposition and agony. The first six episodes were great, but episode 7 takes leaps and bounds. Written by Parisa Siddiqi and directed by Fajr Raza, “Burns Road Kay Romeo Juliet” also stars Shabbir Jan, Khalid Anum, Raza Samo, Zainab Qayyum, Shaheera Jalil Albasit and others in prominent roles.
Episode 7 greatly picks up storyline-wise and not only moves the love story forward, but also pushes the story into an intense zone. While Farhad (Hamza Sohail) and Friha (Iqra Aziz) are currently fighting due to Farhad’s lies, Friha still has a soft spot for him. Forced to go out for coffee with a potential match, the audience is treated to a great moment where Friha not only defends Farhad by slapping her potential suitor, but also slaps Farhad for his lies. These moments are well-written, humorous and finally allow us to connect emotionally with Farhad and Friha as a couple. Up until now, their relationship has seemed almost forced, but in these moments, we can see the innocence and that bond of young love which has been formed between the two.
While Friha’s sister’s wedding is taking place, Friha innocently (and foolishly) invites Farhad to attend the wedding to see how she’s looking – and he agrees. Both are willingly wading into a pool of fire, but that’s the problem with young love, isn’t it? They cannot see beyond their feelings. Unfortunately, Friha’s meddling Bhabi informs the aggressive Saqib Bhai and Friha and Farhad’s relationship is exposed. While Farhad is thrown out, Friha awaits her punishment which, for now, is being ignored. This sequence is brilliantly executed, taking us all by surprise when the lovebirds are caught. The way the episodes have been playing out has been refreshing as it’s not predictable though we’ve been waiting for the torment to begin. The way these two characters have been written is so refreshing, Friha a headstrong, free-spirited young girl who despises being controlled and in Farhad, she sees her future, a break away from the controlling individuals around her. Farhad’s devotion is purely from the heart, a young man completely besotted by his love. And yet, we have to wonder – what is the basis or foundation for this love story? Physical attraction? Lies? Is the base for this love story strong enough to withstand all the opposition they’re about to endure? The Farhad-Friha romance is beautiful and Iqra Aziz and Hamza Sohail share surprisingly strong chemistry on-screen and are acting wonderfully.
There is a lot going for “Burns Road Kay Romeo Juliet” aside from the love story. Jojo, played by Raza Samo, is genuinely a highlight as the sort of friend/cousin one would want in their corner. He is the voice of reason, but also Farhad’s right-hand man who supports him in his dreams. Who would’ve thought Raza Samo would’ve been this good an actor? The love angle between Shaggo Phupo and Hamza is also promising if handled well. We rarely get to see well-written romances between older characters, so this one has real potential! Shaheera Jalil Albasit manages to make an impression, once again, after “Razia” in the character of Kiran. Kiran represents all those young women who hide their grief in an effort to protect their families – and the number is vast.
It’s great to see representation on-screen of different cultures, but couldn’t the actors and the writer muster up more of an effort than simply obsessing over malpuras, khaosay and the repetitive “kem cho? Majama”? Still, it’s always appreciated to see more diversity on our screens – and hopefully, the show will highlight the downside of only marrying within caste. “Burns Road Kay Romeo Juliet” is certainly a show worth watching with a root-worthy couple, excellent actors and engaging writing. At this point, we just wonder – will this Romeo and Juliet wind up like their predecessors or will they use their wits and have a happy ending?