When Pakistani actors bring their A-game, it is something else. Set in the heart of Pakistan’s tribal landscape, Farhat Ishtiaq pens a tale of revenge, murder, madness and love. Directed by Shehzad Kashmiri under Momina Duraid Productions and airing on Hum TV Network, Zanjeerein has a star-studded cast. The show peels one layer after another of a complicated tribal family with one murderous twist after another. Read on if you’re okay with spoilers.
We’re at the thirteenth episode now so if you haven’t already caught the drift of what the story’s about, you’d have to go back to the start and watch because a lot has happened. A lot.
Long story short however, we’re at a point where Rabiya (Sajal Ali) is now grieving with the loss of her husband (Ameer Gilani) who was murdered in cold blood by Torsam (Usman Javed) because Torsam was obsessed with Rabiya. Mudassir was Sarbuland (Danyal Zafar)’s childhood friend and now Sarbuland has promised to protect her.
As Sarbuland and Rabiya face each other, Rabiya comes to terms with the truth and Sarbuland attempts to cope with the various dangers that surround him and his new rescue mission. An important note here is that Sarbuland’s own brother was murdered earlier (Ahsan Khan as Sherdil) by none other than Torsam, but Sarbuland doesn’t know that Mudassir’s murderer is also the same. (Yeah I can’t wait for him to find this out, either.)
While the show hit some snags in the middle (especially after when Sherdil died), it has picked up pace again and the powerful performances that justify the massive plot twists make it for a great watch. The recent episode especially can take anyone’s breath away. Sajal Ali’s Rabiya has hypothermia (thank God a Pakistani writer decided to accurately depict the aftermath of being stuck in a water tank, where Rabiya was hiding) and Sarbuland does what any smart friend would do: take her away from where she’s in abject danger.
As Rabiya comes to, as she realizes Mudassir is gone, her panic, grief-stricken face is where you realize that Sajal Ali is miles above most people when it comes to performances and digging deep into the skin of the character and wearing it like her own. As she blinks into the light as she wakes up from her deep hypothermia, as she slams her tiny arms against Sarbuland’s frame, as she sits besides Mudassir’s grave, each and every moment will make you want to reach into the screen and hug her and protect her with all you can. So yeah. We get it, Sarbuland.
Danyal Zafar as Sarbuland, whose jawline could cut diamonds, takes right after his brother when it comes to talent. Ali Zafar has stellar screen presence as well and so does Danyal. Danyal Zafar holds his own with dignity and without overdoing the drama, he keeps the grace and the power of a Pakistani television drama hero. He doesn’t try to overdo the heroism, the anxiety or the pressure his character is under. He keeps it natural and charismatic, exactly how it should be.
Shehzad Kashmiri toys with our emotions like they’re nothing: a particular scene stands out where Sarbuland’s car gradually moves in slow motion with Rabiya’s distraught face staring out into the space. Some cuts seem abrupt and don’t land but by this time you are so incredibly invested in the pain of Rabiya and Sarbuland, you just … get it.
Zanjeerein is held together by beautiful performances and some interesting upcoming plot twists. What will happen when Sarbuland’s fiancé will see him bring home a strange woman? Torsam is still chasing Rabiya like a predator (great performance, tiring revenge plot) and Sarbuland is a typical urban dude, will he even be able to be the head tribal leader everyone expects him to be?
I’m hoping they won’t drag this on to help us find out the answers. Because these performances are far too extraordinary to be wasted in a dragged show. Episode 13 gave me hope: this will shape into a mighty good watch when it does.
