Over the past week, Pakistani drama audiences have lost gems like “Kabli Pulao,” “Jhok Sarkar,” “Jannat Se Aagay” and “Fairytale 2.” With the void left by these shows, several new shows have begun, but haven’t necessarily been of the same caliber. However, “Khushbo Mein Basay Khat” not only has an excellent, exciting cast including Adnan Siddiqui, Nadia Jamil, Kinza Hashmi, Sidra Niazi, Saleem Mairaj, Nazli Mirza and others, but is also written by the talented Amna Mufti and directed by Mohammad Saqib Khan.
In episode 1, we are introduced to two individuals from entirely different backgrounds, the first being Husna (Kinza Hashmi). Husna is a young college student who isn’t particularly bright, but is determined to escape her (lovingly) controlling mother who refuses to relinquish her grip on her now-grown child. Husna is confident and self-assured, truly a go-getter who isn’t opposed to using her appearance to get what she wants.
On the other end, we are introduced to Ahmed Saryab (Adnan Siddiqui), a poet who is an incorrigible flirt. He uses his poetry as a way to lure in young women, flirting on the side despite having a wife. His wife, played by the brilliant Nadia Jamil, is a heart surgeon and is dedicated to her career, particularly with her husband’s dismissive behavior towards her. It’s clear that she has had a lot to put up with over the years and is disillusioned with the man she lives with. Rightly so, because Ahmed Saryab has a girlfriend in the workplace (an Urdu professor?), played by Sidra Niazi. Husna and Saryab’s paths cross when Husna invites Saryab to her college Urdu literature festival. Saryab is immediately enamored by this young woman, who he has previously eyed in a bookstore and between his flirtatious nature and Husna’s go-getting attitude, we can sense what’s to come.
What’s interesting about “Khusbo Mein Basay Khat” is that our male lead, our hero, is exactly the opposite of this. Adnan Siddiqui is playing this role brilliantly so far, a poet who is open with his affections, truly an “artist” type complete with eccentricities. Our hero is painfully flawed, almost cringingly so and our sympathies lie entirely with his wife despite the focus being on Saryab himself. This is an interesting way to start off a show, diving straight in to a man having emotional affairs outside the home and seeing nothing wrong with his behavior. Of course, Kinza Hashmi is a natural and is an actress who has gradually been making her way up in the industry through sheer hard work. She plays Husna in a likable way and it’ll be interesting to see where her character’s path is headed. Overall, the first episode makes a great impression with the supporting cast, including Saleem Mairaj and Nazli Mirza, making their presence felt. A lot unfolds in the first episode, leaving us wanting more. “Khushbo Mein Basay Khat” holds great promise.