“Qalandar” can be called a lot of things, but one cannot argue the addictiveness of this show. This is a show that rakes in millions of views within a day of the episode being uploaded. Starring Muneeb Butt, Komal Meer, Ali Abbas, Hiba Aziz, Asma Abbas, Kashif Mehmood, Noor Ul Hassan, Ali Tahir, Kinza Malik and others in prominent roles, the show has been written by Samra Bukhari and directed by Saima Wasim. Telling the story of Durr E Adan, a pure soul who has been married to a man balancing two wives, we follow Adan’s heartbreak and loneliness as she navigates this life in search of small moments of happiness.
Komal Meer’s performance as Durr E Adan is honestly the best part of the show. Adan’s sincerity is visible through Komal’s performance and we genuinely feel for this young girl who wants nothing more than a small, happy life with her husband and family. Unfortunately, at present, things are about to go haywire for Adan. Sumbul (Hiba Aziz) is now aware that Tabraiz (Muneeb Butt) was already married when he married Sumbul and she’s now out for blood. While Sumbul may be ready to forgive, it will most likely come with a condition – that Tabraiz divorce Adan. Adan is currently expecting a child and is happily dreaming of a content future with Tabraiz. Will her dreams be shattered once again?
It’s hard to see where this show is headed, honestly. Somehow Irfan’s (Ali Abbas) presence in the show casts doubt on Adan’s future with Tabraiz. Is it possible that Irfan will set his love for Shafaq (Kinza Razzaq) aside and marry Adan in the future? This is just a guess, of course, but something certainly feels as though things will be flipped upside down in coming episodes.
While there are some wonderful performances in “Qalandar,” particularly those from Komal Meer, Ali Abbas, Kinza Razzaq and Muneeb Butt, there is one performance that has become quite the eyesore. Hiba Aziz is a wonderful actress and has proved herself in past shows. We all know she is capable and has given applause-worthy performances. However, in “Qalandar,” her dialogues, her shrieking, her attempts at speaking English (this is in no way looking down upon anyone based on language, it’s just not necessary to speak English in an Urdu language drama…..so if she cannot do it, why does she insist on doing it?), her “fits” as Sumbul loses her mental stability…..all of these things are coming across as ingenuine and are more comical than anything. It’s unfortunate to watch a talented actress being utilized in this way – and difficult to walk away from the episodes with much else in mind.
Overall though, “Qalandar” continues to be a thoroughly entertaining show. This is yet another guilty pleasure Har Pal Geo show, but at the heart of it, the storyline itself is actually an interesting one. Despite all the manipulation, the characters are crazy enough to be borderline hilarious (particularly Kashif Mehmood, Fajar Khan and Asma Abbas’ roles). It remains to be seen how the story plays out from this point forward, but it’s sure to be enjoyable regardless.