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    Drama Review: Aangan

    Written by: Hareem Zafar
    Posted on: December 26, 2018 | | 中文

    Momina Duraid’s latest period drama, the much hyped ‘Aangan’ finally aired last Thursday on HUM TV, pacifying the desperately waiting fans. The television serial has been directed by ace director, Mohammed Ehteshamuddin, who has dramas such as Sadqay Tumhare (2014) and Udaari (2016) to his credit. The star-studded partition drama is based on Khadija Mastoor’s literary novel by the same name, published in 1962. It has been adapted for screen by Mustafa Afridi, who also wrote the TV drama Sang-e-Mar Mar (2016).

    Mawra Hocane as Aaliya

    Mawra Hocane as Aaliya

    Ever since production began, the promos and teasers have been creating a lot of hype among the public, and when the serial was launched, fans couldn’t help but rave in delight. The stars of the drama seem to be Sajal Aly as Chammi, Ahad Raza Mir as Jamil, and Mawra Hocane as Aaliya. However, those who had been impatiently waiting to witness the chemistry between them were left disappointed, since this episode was all about the love story of Salma (Sonya Hussain) and Subhan (Ahsan Khan).

    Sajal Aly as Chammi

    Sajal Aly as Chammi

    The first episode introduces us to a grand haveli inhabited by a wealthy Muslim family. The costumes, the makeup, the music and even the mannerisms of the characters transported you to another era. Salma is depicted as being hopelessly in love with the servant Subhan since childhood, and while he constantly turns down her advances, Salma is consumed by her obsession with him. Sonya Hussain comes across as romantic and passionate, while Ahsan Khan alternates between flirtatious and cautious. But it is Malkin (Zaib Rehman), Salma’s mother, who outshines everyone else in this episode. Zaib Rehman effectively delivers the role of a strong, empowered lady of the house - a harsh woman toughened by the pain she has endured in her life. Her husband, Abba Mian (Abid Ali) is a selfish man taken up completely by his relationships with his two mistresses, while Malkin bears the burden of running the household and taking care of their lands. The audience gets a taste of both her unflinching cruelty, when she catches Salma holding Subhan’s hand, and her longing for love and attention, when she starts talking to her son’s photograph during the course of the episode.

    Zaib Rehman as Malkin and Abid Ali as Abba Mian

    Zaib Rehman as Malkin and Abid Ali as Abba Mian

    The promo of the next episode hints that Salma will run away with Subhan. Her dialogue, “Agar araam ya anjaam ki parwah hoti tou haveli chor kar na aati,” made popular due to multiple promos has a dramatic ring to it, and we can’t wait to see what becomes of her. Of course, everyone is also hopeful that we’ll get to see something of the romance between Chammi and Jamil or Jamil and Aaliya. Minor characters, such as Madiha Rizvi as Choti Bahu and Omair Rana as her husband, have their own intriguing storylines and hopefully we will get to see more of them as the story progresses.

    Ahad Raza Mir as Jamil

    Ahad Raza Mir as Jamil

    The partition of the subcontinent was one of most brutal upheavals of our history, smeared with the sacrifices of thousands of families. But the biggest sacrifices were made by the women of that era, and Aangan intends to shed light on how the women suffered and silently bore the burden of it all. The drama is off to a promising start. With visually aesthetic shots of the Haveli, classical music as background score, powerful dialogue delivery and masterful acting skills, the first episode was quite engaging and the attention to detail was commendable.

    Audiences have been drawing comparisons between Aangan and the epic period drama, Dastaan (2010), which was based on the novel Bano by Razia Butt, and also focused on Partition as a subject. However, Aangan is coming across as much darker so far. So was the first episode worth the hype? I would say yes! Next episode airs tomorrow, so make sure you catch it!


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021