With Eid comes many traditions, including dressing up, meeting family members, exchanging gifts and so forth. And while this year, Eid has been a different sort of (socially distant) celebration, one thing has not changed – Eid Telefilms. If you’ve read my past reviews, I am not fond of this form of entertainment and I wish they would disappear – unless quality content can be presented. These short made-for-television films tend to have flimsy storylines, ridiculously loud characters and cringe-worthy acting, regardless of how talented the cast may be. While Hum TV chose to air their past big-screen releases, this year’s telefilm offerings included Agha Ali Khan and Hina Altaf’s “Teray Pyar Mein” on Har Pal Geo, Sami Khan’s “Yeh Dosti” on TV One, Zara Noor Abbas and Feroze Khan’s “Dil Tera Ho Gaya” on Har Pal Geo and a number of options from ARY Digital. Were any of these films actually worth watching? For the most part, no, they were not. However, two films managed to make a mark and are recommend-worthy.
Sami Khan, Srha Asghar and Michelle Mumtaz star in TV One’s “Yeh Dosti.” Written by Shah Yasir and directed by Mohsin Talat, this film focuses on friendship, along with familial relationships. While the initial presentation came across as a turn-off due to “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai”-inspired styling, the story is refreshingly different. Haniya and Rasha are best friends. When Haniya’s family tries to play matchmaker between her and her cousin Awais, Haniya uses Rasha as a shield – and Rasha and Awais form a bond in the process. What could have been a dramatic story full of misunderstandings is a sweet, simple story about the strength of friendship and the importance of communication, particularly between parents and their children. This one is a winner.
The other telefilm that makes an impression is Har Pal Geo’s “Dil Tera Ho Gaya,” starring Feroze Khan and Zara Noor Abbas. These two actors alone pique curiosity, but add Javed Sheikh, Farhan Ali Agha, Saba Faisal and Shaheen Khan into the mix and this is a cast worthy of attention. This telefilm brings back the “Suo Chanda” team as it has been written by Saima Akram Chaudhry and directed by Aehsun Talish. It’s no wonder then that the film does have a “Suno Chanda” hangover in presentation and style. However, that’s not necessarily anything to complain about and this is 1.5 hours of comedic entertainment. The story centers around bickering sisters-in-law and the effect their “war” has on their husbands and children. The entire cast is hilarious, particularly Saba Faisal and Shaheen Khan, but Feroze Khan and Zara Noor Abbas steal the show with their cute chemistry. It’s great to see both actors in light-hearted roles and one hopes they will be signed to work together again soon, because viewers cannot take their eyes away from this pair when they are on-screen together. Mizna Waqas essentially reprises her role from “Suno Chanda” as a potential homewrecker and it’s honestly exhausting. It’s not humorous to see a single women flirting with a married man right under the wife’s nose. These plotlines are simply disrespectful and need to be done away with. While this is not a perfect product, the comedy isn’t loud and the story is entertaining enough to make this a worthwhile watch.
http://thebrownidentity.com/2020/07/11/sadaf-kanwal-shahroz-sabzwari-open-up-about-newly-wedded-life-upcoming-telefilm/
These are the two picks that I felt are quality projects worthy of being recommended. Regular programming has resumed, so drama reviews will continue starting tomorrow. What are your thoughts on Eid telefilms and which ones did you enjoy?
