By Maliha Rehman
At a cursory glance, Shanaas is a drama about a young girl discovering that she is adopted and deciding to find out more about her biological roots. In a typical drama, one would expect her to break into tears as she battled the taboos that society attaches to adoption and eventually emerge stronger.
Then again, within the first two weeks since its launch, the Green Entertainment channel, where Shanaas is airing, has proven that it has no inclination for predictable, typical stories.
In addition, Shanaas’ cast consists of powerful actors who tend to make a beeline for the path less trodden; particularly, Sania Saeed, Yasra Rizvi, Shahzad Nawaz, Adnan Shah Tipu and Hajra Yamin. They may occasionally have to make do with cookie-cutter, ratings-oriented productions but generally, this is a motley crew associated with intelligent narratives. Shamim Hilaly and Arez Ahmed – both fine actors – are also part of the cast.
Shanaas, then, is a story about a girl searching for her biological parents, with a mystery added to the mix. Hajra Yamin is Aneesa who finds out about her adoption on the day of her baat pakki with her longtime sweetheart, Ramis, enacted by Arez Ahmed. The boy’s family back out of the engagement on the pretext that Aneesa’s adopted parents, Jalal and Mahrukh – Shahzad Nawaz and Sania Saeed respectively, had not revealed such a significant fact to them. Aneesa is initially shocked but then, she slowly begins to probe into her past. An adoption certificate, given to her by her mother, proves to be fake when she visits the orphanage from where it has supposedly been issued. In the meantime, Adnan Shah Tipu appears to be a sinister relative who is blackmailing Aneesa’s father. And then, Aneesa’s father is seen visiting a woman – Yasra Rizvi – in her apartment, telling her that she should leave town for a few days since Aneesa has found out everything. Shamim Hilaly, as Aneesa’s grandmother, makes appearances now and again, presenting archaic views on the concept of adoption.
The mystery attached to Aneesa’s past is what is likely to keep the audience rooted. Who are her actual parents? Why is Jalal being blackmailed? Could a Pandora’s box of secrets be on the verge of leaking out?
Yasra Rizvi directs effortlessly and the visuals are engaging: the lavish domains of Aneesa’s home, the hair, makeup and wardrobe of the characters and the colorful paintings in the backdrop in the home of the mystery woman that Jalal visits. Needless to say, the cast is exceptional; Sania Saeed, furrowing her forehead and trying to avoid discussions about a past incident that pains her; Shamim Hilaly, making imperious declarations and stalking about her home in her sari; Hajra Yamin, the young girl navigating her new sense of being; Shahzad Nawaz, the doting father with a murky past and Arez Ahmed, adding lightness and humor with his banter.
Two episodes in; it’s very, very interesting.
What do you think?