The latest episode of Saba Qamar, Bilal Abbas Khan starrer Cheekh was one of the worst of the serial. As a viewer this is disappointing because Cheekh started with so much promise. Not only does it star Saba Qamar, arguably one of Pakistan’s finest actresses working today, but this is the first time that Bilal Abbas Khan has played a negative role. The two leads have been exceptional so far, however sadly no amount of fine acting can make up for flawed story telling.
It’s not that Cheekh has a weak plot, it’s just that a story that should have been told in two hours has been stretched over fourteen 45 minute-long episodes, leaving the audience with unnecessary suspenseful scenes.
Take the latest installment, the long rambling scene where Mannat’s (Qamar) husband Shayan played by Emaad Irfani drives her to her mother’s house, while the former cries quietly was utterly pointless. Anyone who has been watching the serial knows that Shayan believes Mannat is telling the truth about Wajih, so why try to make us believe that he is leaving her? Of course in the very next scene any confusion is cleared when Shyaan says to Mannat’s mother, ‘’yeh meri amanat hai apkay pass, iska khayal rakhe mei isko jald lai jao ga.”
These two unnecessarily stretched opening scenes ate way a good five and a half minute of the total run-time of the episode. Irfani’s acting also leaves a lot to be desired as did of some other supporting characters, including Aijaz Aslam (Yawer) and Maira Khan (Shehwar.)
Even the veteran Shabbir Jan was disappointing as the mustache twirling big bad lawyer. His confrontation with Mannat, which had all the potential to be a powerful scene was ruined by badly written, overly dramatic and cringe worthy dialogue.
The only standout of the episode was Bilal Abbas Khan, whose portrayal of the entitled brat Wajih continues to make us hate him and stick with the serial to see him get the justice he so richly deserves.
It’s not that Cheekh has a weak plot, it’s just that a story that should have been told in two hours has been stretched over fourteen 45 minute-long episodes, leaving the audience with unnecessary suspenseful scenes.
Take the latest installment, the long rambling scene where Mannat’s (Qamar) husband Shayan played by Emaad Irfani drives her to her mother’s house, while the former cries quietly was utterly pointless. Anyone who has been watching the serial knows that Shayan believes Mannat is telling the truth about Wajih, so why try to make us believe that he is leaving her? Of course in the very next scene any confusion is cleared when Shyaan says to Mannat’s mother, ‘’yeh meri amanat hai apkay pass, iska khayal rakhe mei isko jald lai jao ga.”
These two unnecessarily stretched opening scenes ate way a good five and a half minute of the total run-time of the episode. Irfani’s acting also leaves a lot to be desired as did of some other supporting characters, including Aijaz Aslam (Yawer) and Maira Khan (Shehwar.)
Even the veteran Shabbir Jan was disappointing as the mustache twirling big bad lawyer. His confrontation with Mannat, which had all the potential to be a powerful scene was ruined by badly written, overly dramatic and cringe worthy dialogue.
The only standout of the episode was Bilal Abbas Khan, whose portrayal of the entitled brat Wajih continues to make us hate him and stick with the serial to see him get the justice he so richly deserves.