Written by: Hurmat Majid
Posted on: March 18, 2021 | 
| 中文
Zara Noor Abbas as Zeba in Phaans
Once in a while, a television drama comes along that is surprisingly thoughtful as well as intriguing. ‘Phaans (Splinter)’ is one such drama that combines powerhouse acting with an ingenious plot, and viewers are very excited to see where it will go. Directed by Ahmed Kamran and written by Samina Ejaz under Momina Duraid Productions, ‘Phaans’ tells the story of a woman seeking justice for her sexual assault, and the family secrets which come to the surface as a result of it.
The story revolves around Zeba (Zara Noor Abbas) who gets assaulted one night while working for an affluent family. She accuses Sahil (Shehzad Sheikh), her boss’ mentally challenged son of the crime. However, there’s more to the story than meets the eye, as there are three other men, Samad (Sami Khan), Hashim (Zain Afzal) and Siraj (Ali Tahir), who were in the vicinity of the crime scene when it happened. This, compounded with the fact that the crime scene was poorly lit and all three of these men are clearly hiding something, keeps the viewer in a state of perpetual suspense and intrigue.
Zara Noor Abbas and Shahzad Sheikh
The first thing that has got viewers praising the drama is that Zeba is not a stereotypical sexual assault victim, whose story would bring shame or dishonor to her family. From the moment she wakes up in the hospital, Zeba knows she has been wronged, and she is ready to take her assailant to task. However, the viewers do get an insight into the emotional trauma she has experienced, making for a more nuanced portrayal of a victim. Abbas’ acting conveys the exact pain that someone in Zeba’s position would feel, while also ensuring that she does not come off as weak and without agency.
Secondly, each of the male protagonists seem to be hiding something, that makes the plot highly captivating. It is essential for plays with such sensitive storylines to ensure that viewers retain the viewers’ interest by building subplots that serve or compliment the main narrative. Reflecting the traditional cultural mores, Zeba’s mother and sister are more concerned about their family’s honor than finding justice for Zeba. Hashim, Zeba’s fiancé, is worried about the fact that she went to the site of her attack because he had secretly asked her to meet him there. Siraj and his wife Nadia (Arjumand Rahim) are worried about their family’s reputation and honor as the accusations begin to pile up against Siraj.
Sami Khan and Yashma Gill in Phaans
Another thing that the drama has gotten right is the reaction people have to Zeba’s claim that Sahil is the culprit. No one believes her, as it is common in society to underestimate the harm that people with intellectual disabilities can do. Not only do they doubt the authenticity of the blame, but are also dismissive of the trauma that Zeba has undergone. The story compels viewers to ask why a woman’s word does not carry enough weight in our society.
One has to give Abbas due credit for her commitment to this role. Firstly, she has done what many other female actors are hesitant to do, and refused to wear makeup for this role. Even in the episodes before the incident, she looks like the part of someone who does not care much for appearances. Secondly, her performance is outstanding, sensitive and thought-provoking. Any doubt that was cast on Abbas’ ability to handle nuanced performances after her role in ‘Zebaish’, have been cast aside in these four episodes alone.
Zara Noor Abbas as Zeba
The other great performer on the show is Sheikh. Often written off as an actor benefitting from nepotism, Sheikh’s recent body of work has consisted of cookie-cutter hero roles that never had a significant impact. Here, however, he has taken on an extremely hard-to-pull-off role of a man with a disability, and his portrayal of Sahil is very moving. Just like Abbas, he has showcased his versatility as an actor in four episodes.
Shahzad Sheikh as Sahil
In terms of production quality, the drama has not shown any glaring flaws or issues of continuity. Overall, there seems to be a serious effort put into the show in terms of characters and plot, but it is still too soon to pass a verdict. As far as Pakistani dramas go these days, the first few episodes start the story off strong, and then the plotline meanders too much and people lose interest. If the show runners somehow manage to prevent that from happening, this drama may become one of the better serials of the season.
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