Qarz e Jaan: A game-changer for Pakistan’s TV industry

Pakistani show Qarz e Jaan seems to be the sleeper hit of the season.

This Hum TV drama serial arrived without making a lot of noise. Though, with Yumna Zaidi and Usama Khan in the lead, it was expected to open well, the viewing public was slow to embrace the show’s no-nonsense, realistic tone and layered narrative, amplified by director Saqib Khan’s stylistic use of handheld shots and soft lighting.

TRPs soared in the weeks that followed, with critics raving about the show’s powerful storyline and compelling performances.

Qarz e Jaan is Rabia Razzaq’s most character-driven script. At its centre is the young, upright lawyer Nashwa (Zaidi) who is raised by a single parent (Tazeen Hussain as the quietly submissive Bisma) in the posh Barkat Villa whose owners are the meanspirited Bakhtiar (Deepak Perwani), Nashwa’s paternal uncle, and her self-righteous grandmother (Sakina Samo).

It’s a deeply patriarchal household with many dark, uncomfortable truths buried inside. As the story progresses, it becomes obvious that Nashwa and her mother are privy to these. Why they have chosen to remain silent is a mystery waiting to untangle. Nashwa eventually faces up to the family traumas, in her fight for her mother’s “azadi,” knowing full well the price she’ll have to pay. She’s made a pact with the devil, and consented to marry her cousin, the impulsive Ammar Bakhtiar (Nameer Khan) who has a violent streak and a criminal past. She has crushed her feelings for Burhan (Usama Khan), the suave lawyer with a heart of gold.

The play was originally titled Khoon Bahaa, which loosely translates as ‘blood money.’ The makers changed it, perhaps, because they thought it would give a lot of story away. Qarz e Jaan aces the Bechdel Test in its depiction of the mother-daughter relationship.

The scenes between Nashwa and Bisma have such raw, emotional intensity that they will move you to tears. Zaidi’s portrayal of Nashwa is achingly real, while Hussain proves to be a subtle performer.

As the foul-tempered patriarch who has his mysterious ways, Perwani is pitch-perfect. Usama Khan lends immense grace and credibility to his otherwise one-dimensional character. Nameer Khan, the glamorous fashion model turned actor, has to be the find of Qarz e Jaan.

The dynamics of his character are such that he evokes both pathos and disgust, alternately. To his credit, Khan catches the nuances perfectly every time. It would be fair to say that Qarz e Jaan has raised the bar for Pakistan TV drama — not just in terms of its high production values and modern storytelling, but also in the director’s ability to extract memorable performances from all his actors.