A story of struggle against the feudal system, the first episode of Jhok Sarkar was interesting, kept us engaged and on the edge of our seats, introduced all characters, and swiftly established the grounds for the story to move forward
The Cast
Written by Hashim Nadeem, and directed by Saife Hasan, the drama features Farhan Saeed as Arsalan and Hiba Bukhari as Sassi in lead roles, along with Asif Raza Mir as Peeral Saeen, Faiza Gillani as Zulekha and Sakina Samo. Appreciation for director Saife Hasan for introducing two new faces; namely Usman Javed as Meeral, the feudal son, and Asad Khan as Shaukat, along with giving screen space to a few recent entrants into the industry, from which Maham Shahid shines brightly as Noori.
It was good to see Asif Raza Meer in a formidable role. His persona embodied terror, power, and an ominous kind of foreboding even at first glance. Farhan Saeed threw shades of an honest police officer; young, able, and upright – Farhan manages to imprint a new character in our minds from the get-go, and his mustache look added to the changeover.
Hiba Bukhari as Sassi still has a story to tell and we look forward to more into her character. The episode was all about Noori and Shaukat with every other cast member facilitating their story – well played by both Maham Shahid and Asad Khan for making as fully invested in their journey from the very start!
Sharp Direction
Despite the fact that from the first episode, the story seemed to be about the feudal system that we are very familiar with, the execution was such that, it didn’t lose audiences and kept them engaged in the narrative.
The director executed the Shaukat and Noori runaway track superbly in a manner that made us feel terrified for their safety throughout the episode, and at every turn, we wondered if they would be caught.
Set against the imposing background of the Cholistan desert, with traces of spoken Seraiki, Jhok Sarkar also treated viewers to outdoor scenes and local landscape, which made for a refreshing change. In addition, the drama also featured glimpses into the lifestyle of the area in aesthetically angled shots, which definitely added to the viewing experience.
Story
Arsalan has recently joined the police force, and will probably be posted to Jhok Sial. Sassi lives with her father and brother in Jhok Sial, her friend Noori elopes with her lover Shaukat from the same village, causing a huge hangama.
We look forward to following the journey of Arsalan and Sassi long with Noori. Give Jhok Sarkar a watch if you haven’t checked it out yet.
