Shaheer Ahmed
The first episode of Sar-e-Rah aired on Saturday on ARY Digital and the audience were left stunned. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the episode was simply pure genius. From the first scene to the last, the drama wasn’t just meaningful but also gripping. The cinematography, direction, and treatment given to the script couldn’t have been more ideal.
Even though the promos of Sar-e-Rah promised meaningful entertainment but the opening episode completely blew the audience away. Perfectly delivering the essence of women empowerment, Sar-e-Rah looks to be the blockbuster drama of the year.
First episode review:
Since the first episode of Sar-e-Rah was fast-paced, it would be incorrect to suggest that it only introduced the characters to the viewers. We were introduced to so many exciting and well-drawn characters, and their tales also took off from this episode. Rania, the primary protagonist, was the show’s star, played powerfully onscreen by Saba Qamar. This first episode covered the first crucial step in Rania’s journey while admirably displaying many aspects of her character.
The first few scenes showed a young woman who was in love, others showed a strong woman who was determined, responsible, intelligent, and articulate, and most importantly there were so many scenes that highlighted the ‘human’ element of this character which stood out more than any other.
Rania’s first ride was one of many sequences that demonstrated that the writer was more interested in depicting her story as one of optimism than as one of victimisation.Also, unlike many other such stories, it was not a case of Rania against the world. Starting from this first customer who gave her a valuable piece of advice as a token of his support to the lady who runs the NGO, Rania met quite a few people who were supportive. This variation in characters and the kind of people Rania met along the way made this first episode more interesting.
Rania’s household and the way it was run reflected the usual mindset found in many low-income households. Because their sons are expected to be breadwinners, the parents invest all of their savings in their education. However, the story’s twist was refreshing in so many ways. It was also nice to see the parents realise their error, and while though the father, played brilliantly by the very talented Rashid Farooqui, was not happy with his daughter taking on the role that the males in the house were expected to do, he was proud of her.
Last but not least, Rania’s affection for her younger brother despite the fact that it was not returned, her care for her parents, and the way she honoured and respected her father’s work (wearing the wristwatch being my favourite). The scene in which she gave her mother the money she earned and asked her to keep on giving Hatim (Junaid Jamshed) his pocket money was one of the many subtle yet powerful scenes that showed she was not bitter towards her brother even though he had been anything but supportive.
The first episode not only demonstrates the difficulties that a woman experiences when she decides to take up a job that society has historically given to men, but it also demonstrates that a woman can make it on her own.
If you haven’t watched this first episode, you are missing out!
