“Sar E Rah” is a show that has won over viewers with its innovative concept. A short series of just six episodes, “Sar E Rah” stars Saba Qamar, Saboor Aly, Sunita Marshall, Muneeb Butt, Hareem Farooq and others in a story that highlights the struggles women face – and how they overcome those struggles. Less miserable and more aspirational, “Sar E Rah” puts a smile on the viewers face, even while witnessing these women go through difficult moments….because, at the end of each episode, there is hope. Written by Adeel Razzaq and directed by Ahmed Bhatti, the story plays out through Rania’s journey in her taxi.
In episode 3, Rania (Saba Qamar) meets Rameen (Saboor Aly) after picking her up. A social media star, Rania is initially excited to meet the small-time star, along with her fiancé Shozab (Mirza Zain Baig). However, that excitement turns to stress when she realizes the couple is running away to get married. We then flash back into Rameen’s story. A social media star earning great fame and success, Rameen is on her way to become a model – and that too, on her own terms, earning the respect of big-time designer “AMM.” The scenes between AMM and Rameen are initially stress-inducing, as we wonder when the ball will drop, but wind up being incredibly sweet. It’s nice to see a designer painted as a human being and not someone attempting to take advantage. As Rameen gains popularity, a dance video is leaked on the internet and she faces severe scrutiny, not only from the public, but also her own family and, even worse, her to-be father-in-law. The story of this episode is so realistic, especially in this time of TikTok and Instagram Reels. Becoming a public face isn’t difficult, but how many will sit up and support the journey of a female social media star? And when things go wrong, isn’t it always females who face the most scrutiny?
The relationship between Rameen and Amtul, (Shaheen Khan) her mother-in-law, is so beautiful and it’s great to see such a warm, accepting relationship. It’s the women who drive this story, both Amtul and Rameen’s mother supporting Rameen every step of the way. Of course, running away and getting married isn’t possible without a supportive partner. It’s really wonderful to see a supportive, loving partner like Shozab in a Pakistani drama. We see the other sort so often, as we saw in “Sar e Rah” itself in Rania’s story, so when we see such positive characters who recognize that their partner’s desires and want to see their careers flourish. Mirza Zain Baig wins our hearts in this role. If every man thought the way Shozab does, women wouldn’t live in fear of “exposure” on social media.
It’s genuinely beautiful to see how each character Rania meets has an impact on her emotionally. The heart wants to cry for Rania as she witnesses women around her going through so many different situations – some happy, some sad. Saba Qamar is such a stellar performer and she proves it with every show she stars in. Saboor Aly and Mirza Zain Baig are also incredibly endearing in this episode, specifically Saboor Aly who just “feels” every bit the part she’s playing. The honest takeaway at the end of each episode is the resilience with which women push forward in a society that isn’t forgiving towards a gender that’s seen as “lesser than.” “Sar E Rah” is a gem of a show and knowing that we are halfway through the journey with only three episodes left invokes a sort of sadness – while also leaving us wanting more and eagerly anticipating the next episode.
