A mini-series which went on air only last week has come to an end with a total of four episodes. Starring Wahaj Ali, Durr E Fishan Saleem, Tooba Siddiqui, Atiqa Odho and Ehtashamuddin, “Jurm” has been written by Shah Yasir and directed by Mehreen Jabbar. The first two episodes pulled viewers into its story, which follows a married couple, Daniyal and Ayla, and the mystery that unfolds after Ayla’s abduction – and death. A crime has been committed, but who is responsible?
In episodes three and four, Daniyal (Wahaj Ali) is arrested for the crime of having his wife murdered (potentially). Other elements are revealed in the story, such as Daniyal’s illicit relationship with the older Samia (Tooba Siddiqui), which in turn casts suspicion on their intentions. The character of Ashley, played by Maha Hassan, plays a large role in how we, as the audience, view each character and Maha is convincing in her role. Each of the four episodes is as engaging as the last and points fingers in many directions. Right when we believe we’ve worked out who the killer is, the writer takes a step back and points us in another direction.
The greatest takeaway, however, is the power of keyboard warriors and the ability of social media to influence a case. Anyone with a device can create a conspiracy, because that’s a better, more interesting, more exciting story – but what’s the real story? This is what’s important and the true message of Jurm, which seemed to have, very loosely, took inspiration from the case of Anni Dewani.
This is an action-packed, well-written show with an engaging story. Shah Yasir’s writing keeps the audience on their toes while Mehreen Jabbar’s direction has our eyes glued to the screen. Wahaj Ali, Durr E Fishan Saleem, Tooba Siddiqui, Atiqa Odho, Ehtashamuddin and Tazeen Hussain are all excellent. Wahaj Ali and Tooba Siddiqui share great chemistry that warrants another show for their pairing. Shows like “Jurm” are too rare and send a clear message to Pakistani drama directors, producers and writers: as an audience, we do not need long, drawn-out shows for audiences to tune in with excitement. Rather, the Pakistani drama audience wants shows to play out in a natural, well-constructed manner which keeps us hooked – even if that only allows for four episodes. It’s better to have four strong, memorable episodes than fifty flawed, forgettable ones. Please, give us more stories like “Jurm,” quality narratives that leave us thinking long after the show has ended.