“Sukoon” is, without a doubt, a hit show with a talented cast and nice production values. However, aside from this, on the content front, it’s a completely bogus show with terrible characters and an illogical plot. Starring Ahsan Khan, Sana Javed, Khaqan Shahnawaz, Qudsia Ali, Sidra Niazi, Usman Peerzada, Adnan Samad Khan, Ahsan Talish, Laila Wasti and others in prominent roles, the story has been written by Misbah Nausheen and directed by Siraj Ul Haq.
After months of watching Aina (Sana Javed) and Hamdan (Ahsan Khan) being portrayed as victims in circumstances of their own creation, the story has finally begun moving towards a logical conclusion. Unfortunately, that conclusion appears to be just as stereotypical as the show has been until now. In recent weeks, we’ve seen that Raza’s (Khaqan Shahnawaz) fiancée, Natasha, had him framed in a money laundering case, because she wanted to marry the boy of her choice. Somehow Natasha’s terrible behavior makes Raza, who has had affairs with many people before meeting either Aina or Natasha, immediately think of Aina in particular who he has done “zulm” on. This is a stretch by all means for Raza to equate his situation with Aina – and yet still, this transformation is somewhat more believable because Raza has gone through starvation and all sorts of torture tactics at the hands of the police. We can accept this on some level. Unfortunately, the saga of “maafi” (apology) only grows more ludicrous from here.
Usman (Adnan Samad Khan) has been the show’s true villain, a slimy, self-obsessed, abusive man who not only made Aina’s life hell as his fiancee, he also went on to torture Aima (Qudsia Ali), his own wife. Up until now, we’ve been waiting for Usman to be revealed for who he truly is and, specifically, his hand in Aina’s character assassination. Usman played key instigator and declared Aina had run away from home without any evidence…..and yet, with Aima’s decision to divorce him, Usman is suddenly a changed man. He is reformed. He is ready to be his Mamoon’s right-hand man and supporter after destroying both his daughters. What? Exactly.
Raza shows up at Aina’s family home and Aina’s mother (Laila Wasti) once again proves herself to be brainless and a terrible mother. First she wouldn’t allow Aina to explain herself, she pushed Aima into an abusive marriage and now, when Raza arrives to smooth over matters, she tries her best to shut his mouth. If there were an award for absolute worst mother, it would be this mother. Fortunately, Aina’s father is now more willing to listen and hears Raza’s apology. Raza, on his part, is sincere and not only apologizes, but also reacts maturely when he realizes what Hamdan has done for him. Realizing Hamdan never had a hand in this entire scenario and Aina was innocent, Aina’s father has a hard time regaining his senses for a moment – and through it all, Usman plays his own version of victim once again. He half-heartedly apologizes for “jumping to conclusions,” as if he weren’t a key player in the entire chaos and hadn’t destroyed more than just one life with his behavior. Adnan Samad Khan is an excellent actor, but Usman is a terrible character who should not receive any retribution or forgiveness whatsoever. We do not, as an audience, want any whitewashing of this abusive character who literally starved his wife for 3 days. Misbah Noreen and Siraj Ul Haq, do you hear us? We won’t accept this.
Raza and Usman take Aina’s dad to meet Aina and Hamdan and we’re left on this cliffhanger. Meanwhile, Aina and Hamdan are having their own lovers quarrel now that Hamdan has decided to file for divorce. On his part, he isn’t wrong – he wants to live with his wife as a married couple while she’s consistently making him feel terrible for choosing her over others and, essentially, making him make terrible choices. Aina either wants to be with him or she doesn’t – and Aina herself cannot make up her mind as to which one it’s going to be.
“Sukoon” is simply a show that’s doing well due to its good looking cast, otherwise it does not have much to offer in terms of story. Is it entertaining? Yes, it is entertaining in the moment, but as far as quality goes, “Sukoon” is a show which will be forgotten the week after it concludes. Are these really the sort of stories actors like Ahsan Khan, Atiqa Odho, Usman Peerzada and Sana Javed (and even Siraj Ul Haq) want to associate their names with?