Written by: Dr. Saba Noor
Posted on: August 15, 2023 | 
| 中文
Mawra Hocane and Shamil Khan in Nauroz
Amongst various dramas that Green Entertainment has tabulated, Nauroz stands one step ahead. Nauroz, starring Mawra Hocane as the lead character, is different from the top offerings of most television channels that revolve around cousin marriages, family rivalries and fictitious love stories. Nauroz, the captivating drama with its unique storyline focuses on self-discovery, survival and resilience. It is produced under Nuqta productions and skillfully directed by Shahzad Kashmiri, while Kashif Anwar is the script writer, who has also penned many famous dramas like Neem and Sabaat, all featuring Mawra Hocane as the lead protagonist.
The story of Nauroz revolves around a young girl “Rishtina”, played by Mawra, who has lived 20 years of her life confined to the premises of her house in a mountainous valley. Rishtina has never stepped outside the confines of her house. Raised and educated by Agha Jaan, played by Shamil Khan, a friend of Armaghan Khan (played by Alamdar Khan), the biological father of Rishtina. Armagahan had married a singer against his father’s wishes and was blessed with Rishtina. Rishtina’s mother died while delivering her, and when Armaghan took the new born to his home, his father threatened to kill her. Armagahan flees from his home and hands over his daughter to his friend Agha Jaan, who along with his wife raises Rishtina.
Rishtina's parents, Armagan Khan (Alamdar Khan) and his wife, the singer
Rishtina lived in a basement for 20 years, hoping that one day she would get a chance to see the world. Upon turning twenty, Agha Jaan asked her to leave the village and go to the city on her own. She waited for this to happen for years, but the world was not as kind as she expected it to be, nor did she expect to be sent off unaccompanied to the city. Poor girl lost all contacts with her Agha Jaan, and discovers the underside of the world. The naïve girl undergoes a profound transformation, for Agha Jaan with foresight had taught her several self-defense techniques.
Shamil Khan and Mawra Hocane
It is evident that the director, Shahzad Kashmiri, has done an amazing job in arranging the appearances of little Rimisha, 16-year-old Rimisha (Maimoona Khan) and 20-year-old Rimisha (Mawra Hocane), as all of them bear striking resemblance, making the portrayal real.
Since the storyline of Nauroz does not revolve around a romantic theme, it will be interesting to observe if the audience continues to watch the drama. This departure from the hackneyed storyline is refreshing for the audience, as it offers a chance to engage with a different range of experiences.
One notable characteristic of the drama is its absence of a male lead character, and the complete lack of a romantic relationship. The audience is eagerly waiting to witness how this innocent girl shall encounter and deal with a harsh world on her own and seek retribution for those who have caused her irretrievable harm. The turning point in her life is yet to come, for this naïve girl has just started befriending a TikToker (played by Manhoor Shaukat), and it is expected that Rishtina will emerge stronger for having overcome all adversity.
Mahnoor Shaukat (the Tiktoker) and Mawra Hocane in Nauroz
Mawra Hocane is a versatile actor, evident from the diverse roles that she has played over the years with socially relevant plotlines. Nauroz has brought out the best of her acting abilities, since in the drama she has been portrayed walking barefoot on the streets, scavenging from dustbins, rubbing mud on her face and sitting in the garbage. In this role, she has completely shed her glamorous image and stepped out of her comfort zone.
Mawra Hocane in Nauroz
Nauroz is enthralling viewers with its divergent and varied storyline, as well as its talented and versatile cast. Other than Mawra, the cast of the drama includes Manzar Sehbai, Shamil Khan, Alamdar Khan and other seasoned actors. The dynamics between Manzar Sehbai and Mawra Hocane's roles in Neem and Nauroz are distinct. In Neem, Mawra epitomizes the personality of her teacher, portrayed by Manzar Sehbai, while in Nauroz, however, the relationship between the two takes a dark turn, as Manzar Sehbai’s character (Karvaan Khan) seeks to end her life. The teasers indicate that Mawra as Rishtina will eventually confront Manzar Sehbai, after getting to know about Agha Jaan’s demise. This transformation of the on-screen relationship between Manzar Sehbai and Mawra denotes their versatility as actors and adds an element of awe. Sehbai has portrayed the intensity and assertiveness of the character of a tribal elder with ease. Moreover, Shamil Khan has delivered a remarkable performance as Agha Jaan, portraying the strengths and weaknesses of the character with mastery.
Manzar Sehbai and Shamil Khan
Nauroz has set a high standard, and the audience is waiting for the story to unfold with the evolution of Rishtina’s character from a naïve girl confined to the basement, to a strong independent girl defying an extremely patriarchal grandfather. The remarkable performances of the actors combined with a socially relevant plotline, makes Nauroz one of the most promising dramas by Green Entertainment.
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