Turning up the heat on TV

Hum TV has introduced three new mega serials, one sitcom and a game show for the channel’s next season

“Mujhe Hai Hukum-i-Azan” is actor-turned-producer Imran Abbas’s first production. The theme of the program is religion and focuses on the story of a father who is an imam and follows a strict religious path. His son does not follow in his father’s footsteps and the two clash on a number of occasions which results in the son being thrown out of his home. The son leaves the country and finds employment abroad, where he meets a Hindu girl and falls in love. The girl embraces Islam and the two are to be married, but a phone call from home stops him in his tracks, asking him to return home. Hina Dilpazir, who plays the role of the mother, says, “This was a difficult topic to touch upon and talk about. But I must congratulate Abbas on his very first production.”

Another mega serial is ‘Dastan’ which is based on Razia Butt’s novel about Partition. The plot follows a girl named Bano who is abducted and kept captive by her kidnappers. The play has been directed by Hiassam Hussain. Hussain is looking forward to airing the drama and believes that it will be popular, “The audience is the judge but I believe this play will speak for itself,” he said.

“Ishq Ghumshuda” is a story about relationships and focuses on the lives of three friends, Ali, Alizeh and Neha.  The trio’s story weaves through many twists and turns as they face many upheavals. This play  has also been directed by Haissam Hussain who said, “This is a simple play and each actor has done a great performance. The play is about emotions and feelings.”

A comedy sitcom ‘Love ke Liye’ revolves around a happy-go-lucky couple Ali (Nabeel) and Zara (Maria Wasti), and their neighbour Khusbo. As Khusbo enters their cozy world, strange things start to happen and the audience can see the effects it has on the life of the couple. Nabeel said, “It is a romantic comedy and describes the relationship between a husband and wife, there is certainly no love-triangle in the story.”

After the success of ‘Jeetein Wasim Akram Se’, Hum also plans to launch another quiz show, which is based on the ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire?’ format.

Momina Duraid, the producer of ‘Dastan’ and ‘Ishq Ghumshuda’, said she is very happy with the hard work that has been put in by the crew. She made it a point to thank them saying they are the ones  responsible for the number of new shows that Hum TV has been able to produce.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2010.