Written by: Hurmat Majid
Posted on: August 31, 2020 | 
Momal Sheilkh as Mehek
Within the television drama industry, the pandemic has put pressure on television channels to generate quality content that is both entertaining and can be quickly produced. Earlier on, viewers barely had enough time to keep up with just one drama each season. Currently, some viewers could watch five or more in one go. And the demand to innovate the plots and settings become more crucial than ever.
Mushk (Scent) is one of Hum TV’s latest productions written by Imran Ashraf (who also plays one of the lead roles) and produced by Momina Durraid. From its trailer, the drama seemed to be a conventional love triangle being played out for the millionth time. However, this misconception went out of the window right after the first episode: it is a fast-paced narrative in an interesting setting. Audiences could not be happier, as people lose interest while waiting all week for the next episode, only for the plot to turn out lackluster.
Imran Ashraf as Ahad
The story revolves around the lives of Ahad (Ashraf), Mehek (Momal Sheikh), Guddi (Urwa Hocane) and Shayan (Osama Tahir). Director Ahsun Talish also makes an appearance in the show. Initially, Kubra Khan and Gohar Rasheed had announced that they were to be part of Mushk, but due to scheduling conflicts, were replaced by Sheikh and Tahir.
The plot begins as Mehek returns from completing a law degree abroad. While her family is expecting her to return to her rural home on her own, they are surprised to find that she brings along Guddi and a baby. Ahad is Mehek's neighbour and harbors romantic feelings towards her. However, Mehek’s heart is with Shayan, who she met during her studies abroad, got married to and had a baby from him. However, Shayan has been imprisoned by his maternal uncle (Talish), who wants his underage daughter to marry Shayan.
Two episodes in, the drama has taken a conventional route and unfolds fast, revealing the secrets of its characters. The audience learns of Mehek's past and friction with her aunt as well as Shayan’s escape from his imprisonment. Although Ahad's love for Mehek has come into the forefront, Shayan returns to Mehek in the promo of the third episode, perhaps to become a foil to Ahad.
Osama Tahir as Shayan
Viewers excitedly anticipate a confrontation between these characters and their desires. And hopefully, there something more significant to be said about the theme of this show. Mushk appears to depict the problems and clashes that younger members of feudal families encounter while trying to resolve the conflict between their modern and educated outlook and the traditionalism of their families.
A Scene from the Village
So far, a major plus point for Mushk has been its solid acting performances. When it comes to acting, Ashraf has already proved his mettle in roles like Bhola from “Ranjha Ranjha Kerdi” and “Alif Allah aur Insaan”. Momal Sheikh, while not a seasoned actor, has shown a range and conviction in her character that gives audiences hope that she can carry the rest of the drama forward. Urwa Hocane also seems to be doing justice to her return to the small screen, after a four-year hiatus following Udaari. Ahsun Tahir has also shown promise in the few scenes he appears, and viewers are hoping to see more of him as the show progresses. Sami Khan, the rising child star, who gained fame from the drama Suno Chanda (also directed by Tahir), provides comic relief to a rather grim and serious storyline.
Urwa Hocane as Guddi
While a few online blogs have labeled Mushk a remake of the famous 1979 production “Waris”, it may be too early in the show to create such an unfair comparison. While the storyline seems similar at the moment, one can hope that this Hum TV production will focus on fresh and current issues that are relevant to the present day.
Many viewers hope that Mushk would bring about a welcome change from the hackneyed plot lines which seem to plague dramas with feudal settings. They hope that Imran Ashraf, who has been a part of the drama industry for some time, has paid attention to the demands of the viewers to create something original and unconventional. Television drama audiences have largely grown tired of endless love triangles and female rivalry, they want dramas that resemble their realities and capture a broad spectrum of experiences.
Only time will tell if Mushk is able to carry the high expectations of drama viewers, or like many other productions that showed early promise this year, will falter and fall back into the same old rut.
The Poster for Mushk
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