Written by: Hurmat Majid
Posted on: January 18, 2021 | 
| 中文
Moosa (Imran Ashraf) and Zohra (Sarah Khan)
2021 is off to a great start, judging by the dramas currently airing on TV. Although The first quarter’s roster is quite impressive, the drama that has generated the most buzz with its star-studded line-up and interesting plot is Raqs-e-Bismil (Dance of the Wounded). Most dramas seldom live up to the expectations to the hype that precedes them. However, Raqs-e-Bismil has been a delightful exception to the rule.
Directed by Wajahat Rauf and adapted by Hashim Nadeem from Nabila Aziz’s book of the same name, the drama revolves around the lives of Moosa (Imran Ashraf) and Zohra (Sarah Khan). While Moosa belongs to an orthodox line of noble peers (spiritual leaders), Zohra is a dancer at private events. A chance encounter between the two makes Moosa fall in love with Zohra, without knowing her occupation. As the story unfolds, we see Moosa’s inner turmoil as he goes from denial to disbelief to acceptance of his love, while facing opposition from his family.
Imran Ashraf as Moosa
This plot runs parallel to that of Moosa’s younger brother Issa (Momin Saqib) and their cousin Sakina (Anoushay Abbasi), who go through the troubles of a hastily-arranged marriage to avoid a scandal that might have ruined the family’s reputation. During the night of the ill-fated marriage, Sakina curses Moosa that if he were to ever fall in love, he would never have the one he loves.
Anoushay Abbasi as Sakina and Momin Saqib as Issa
The drama does not just stand out because of the writing but also the sharp direction and cinematography. Rauf’s film background really shines through because the drama is shot beautifully. Viewers can see the attention to detail in each shot, the selection of locations and even in the wardrobe choices. At the beginning, audiences complained about the faded colour scheme of the drama, but as the story progressed, they realize that this was a deliberate decision on Rauf’s part. It makes the drama more realistic, as opposed to a few people coming together to say lines on a set.
GSarah Khan as Zohra
In terms of supporting actors, Saqib who appeared to be struggling a little in his attempt to let go of his natural accent in the beginning, seems to have eased into his role in the later episodes. He has adapted to the role of Issa magnificently, and has shown promising growth as an actor. Abbasi is brilliant in all her scenes, but it seems like the drama has more in store for her character. Javeria Abbasi who plays Sakina’s mother, gets to showcase her acting range as she plays the role of an older lady for the first time.
Mehmood Aslam as Peer Qudratullah Shah
Nida Mumtaz, who often plays the vindictive mother-figure in Pakistani dramas, is given the opportunity to play a more positive role. Mehmood Aslam, another versatile actor on the roster, plays Moosa and Issa’s father. His transition from his most famous role as the silly Mehmood Saab of ‘Bulbulay’ to Peer Qudratullah Shah, is quite impressive to watch. His presence in certain scenes makes viewers quake with fear in his presence, as he plays the descendant of a noble lineage. Gul-e-Rana is another senior actor who has the ability to make any role her own, and her character as Anna Ji is a treat to watch.
ul-e-Rana as Anna Ji
Four episodes later, the drama’s pace has picked up, and is keeping its viewers on edge. This is the kind of entertainment that viewers have wanted for a long time: the acting, direction and production all come together in a fascinating tale about love, responsibility and fate. Even if the plot were to fall flat later on, the drama’s great production quality and the actors’ strong performances would allow Raqs-e-Bismil to remain captivating.
This focus on production and taking pains to create a world that is detailed and rooted in reality, is a welcome change for TV dramas. One hopes that other production houses and TV channels can learn from Raqs-e-Bismil, and emulate its professionalism and attention to detail in other shows.
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