Dunk Episode 1: This Star-Studded Show Does Not Waste Time Getting To The Point

“Dunk” is a show that has immediately created buzz with the subject at hand – harassment and how it can be misused. Can one believe a claim blindly or should there be a conscious effort to ensure the accused is actually guilty of the crime? This is the story “Dunk” will follow and adding to the intrigue is the exciting cast, which includes several A-listers and currently popular actors, such as Noman Ejaz, Bilal Abbas Khan, Sana Javed, Azekah Daniel, Fahad Sheikh, Shahood Alvi, Saife Hassan and many others. The show has been produced by Fahad Mustafa’s Big Bang Entertainment, directed by Badar Mehmood (who has directed shows like Cheekh, Balaa and Ishqiya recently) and written by Mohsin Talat.

In the first scene itself, viewers see Hamayun (Noman Ejaz) in a boardroom, surrounded by his co-workers as they discuss accusations of harassment that have been placed on him. On the flip-side, Amal (Sana Javed), the alleged victim, is supported by her fiancé Haider (Bilal Abbas Khan), Minal (Azekah Daniel) and a mob of protestors, burning effigies of Professor Hamayun. The audience is now well-aware of what is happening in terms of this accusation. We are also introduced to the home environments of Hamayun, Amal, Haider and Minal and their viewpoints on the situation are also presented. What this episode does is set the stage for what’s occurring, rather than what’s to come. Generally speaking, shows usually begin at a more relaxed pace, introducing viewers to the characters in the first episode and allowing the audience to develop some sort of feelings towards the main characters. However, “Dunk” travels a very different path, choosing instead to throw its audience headfirst into an ethical investigation, a situation of “he said vs. she said.” Viewers can see Amal’s grief as she’s supported by her loving fiancé, Haider. We also seeing a visibly upset Professor Hamayun at home, a man who lashes out at his young daughter in stress and later tries to rectify the situation – a family man. At this point, the audience is not given enough information about these characters and while it may seem as though Professor Hamayun has been declared “guilty,” is it really that simple? Who is the viewer to trust?

The topic at hand is a tricky one, because the show has to be handled with intelligence. “Dunk” has reportedly been based on the true story of a professor, so it cannot be argued that such cases do happen in real life. And yet, the show needs to be handled in a way that does not convey the wrong message in a society that already has a hard time believing victims. Without discounting the show, we have seen how “Cheekh” managed to completely unravel and go down a path that was no longer the story of a strong woman. We can only hope the team of “Dunk” manage to stand firm in the story they wish to convey and it’s done in an ethical manner. The first episode has taken off on a strong note, so all eyes are on this show to see how this gripping story unfolds!