Green Entertainment is a channel which has been delivering, for the most part, in regards to quality entertainment and concepts that are outside the box. Now, with “Rafta Rafta,” Green delivers on its first Ramadan drama – but true to its statement of being different from the rest, this Ramadan drama only airs on Saturdays and Sundays. What this means is that the beloved “Standup Girl” (which has aired on Friday, Saturday and Sunday) is forced to now air only on Fridays. If one of Green’s best shows is losing days, “Rafta Rafta” better be worthwhile, right? Directed by Abdul Khaliq Khan and written by Hassan Imam, the show stars Saheefa Jabbar Khatak, Zaviyar Nauman Ejaz, Hina Dilpazeer, Rehan Sheikh and Shaheen Khan in central roles.
In the first two episodes, we are introduced to Savera (Saheefa Jabbar) and Hamza (Zaviyar Nauman Ejaz), two individuals riddled with financial burdens, struggling to make ends meet in a competitive, money-driven world. Hamza is Savera’s tenant and Savera is furious that Hamza, along with her other tenants (shopkeepers), do not pay rent on time.
Unfortunately, the characters in this one are definitely loud, a quality that’s both expected and fast becoming grating in Ramadan dramas. Saheefa Jabbar’s Savera does evoke sympathy as a single daughter to a single mother (Hina Dilpazeer) with a diminishing memory. Her character is a strong woman with the burden of carrying her household, maintaining finances and caring for her ailing mother – but she is also shrieking in every scene. Honestly, having the audience believe that Hamza is in love with Savera is a stretch of the imagination only because she does little else but yell about his late rent.
On the flip-side, Zaviyar Nauman Ejaz’s Hamza is a likable character, a normal young man with family pressure, job pressure and the woman he likes refusing to show him any affection. Saheefa Jabbar and Zaviyar look visually pleasing together too and their last scene in episode two is rather cute – if only the writer/director steer the show on that track rather than the overly aggressive bickering one. Friends to lovers is a much more appealing one than enemies to lovers. Hina Dilpazeer is excellent in this one with a very likable character and the funniest lines. “Rafta Rafta” hasn’t taken off to an incredibly impressive start, but there is some promise here and the actors/characters are likable. The jury is still out on this one.