Shehr-e-Zaat

Shehr-e-Zaat () is a 2012 Pakistani spiritual romantic drama serial based on the novella of the same name by Umera Ahmad. It is directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, and produced by Momina Duraid and Abdullah Kadwani. It stars Mahira Khan, Mikaal Zulfiqar and Mohib Mirza in the leads. .
Shehr-e-Zaat is a story of young woman's journey as she strives to make up for all the time she has lost in worldly pursuits and finally give in to Allah's will, after learning harsh realities of life she traveled from "Self to Subsistence", It premiered on 29 June 2012 in Pakistan, with the prime slot of 8:00 pm every Friday on the channel Hum TV, the serial aired its final episode on 2 November 2012, and was extremely praised. The final episode of serial left an unforgettable effect on audience, despite the usual revenge ending. "Shehr-e-Zaat" received widespread critical acclaim and is widely regarded to be one of the greatest television series of all time. Due to the Islamic serial trend and minimum cult philosophy cliché dialogues, the serial was a major hit and was praised heavily.
The serial won three Hum Awards at its first ceremony, including Best Drama Serial, and was nominated for seven categories. The serial was nominated for the Lux Style Awards in 2013 but did not win. Mohib Mirza was nominated for best supporting actor at the Pakistan Media Awards in 2013. Due to widespread acclaim and owing to its popularity, a special transmission was held in Karachi and broadcast on Hum TV at the conclusion of the drama.
Plot.
Shehrezaat revolves around a beautiful day-dreamer Falak Sher Afgan (Mahira Khan); an only child to very rich parents. Falak is a student of fine arts who makes the sculpture of the man of her dreams and falls head over heels in love when she finds the breathing manifestation of it in Salman Ansar (Mikaal Zulfiqar). But the more Falak tries to get close to Salman, the more he ignores her. Hamza (Mohib Mirza) is a close friend of Falak and he adores her dearly. Falak is oblivious to his love for her for a long time. Belonging to the elite class she has always been the centre of attention and never been deprived of anything. She never came across through religious brightness and divinity. Falak's mother, Mehr-un-Nisa (Hina Khawaja Bayat) built her subsistence according to the worldly life. Finally, Falak manages to get married to Salman. They live happily together and Salman initially proves to be a good husband despite his father in law, Sher Afgan's reservations. Life was luxurious and full of joy but destiny decides doom for Falak when Salman falls in love with an uneducated an crass employee Tabinda (Nadia Afgan) at his factory with whom he begins an extramarital relationship. Falak decides to meet Tabinda and confront her. Upon seeing her unattractive physical appearance and crassness, she goes in a state of shock and eventually suffers from a major nervous breakdown. She comes back to consciousness with a broken heart and for the first time in life looks at her tragedy from a different perspective. Instead of craving for Salman's lost love she ponders over the power of destiny. The fact that Salman preferred Tabinda, an ugly looking woman with a loose character over her, forces her to go through a journey of self-discovery. She comes across bitter realities and learns the true purpose of life while receiving Islamic perceptions from her Nani (Samina Peerzada). Falak adapts simplicity, patience and humbleness, she brought quietness in her life and manages to get rid of unnecessary worldly and hollow pursuits. She eventually accepts Salman back in her life after Tabinda leaves him but without her previous obsession.
Cast.
Guest Appearances
Original soundtrack.
The Theme song of "Shehr-e-Zaat" is taken from the 2000s enormous hit album "Raqs-e-Bismil" also known as "Dance of Wounded" of Sufi singer Abida Parveen, written or poetry by 18th century most famous Sufi poet Shah Niaz and originally composed by "Muzaffar Ali" for Parveen's album. Director Sultan Khoosat requested Abida Parveen to give the song for the show, as the song was perfectly fitted for the serial with its spiritualism cliché storyline and manner. Despite its original release of almost above decade, Serial OST goes hit once again and highly appreciated by listeners of this song selection for "Shehr-e-Zaat" genre style serial. Abida's song "Zahid ne Mera" was also used when Falak finds out the relationship between Tabinda and Salman.
Difference from the Novel.
Prior to adaptation "Shehr-e-Zaat" was a story of comprises no more than 70 to 88 pages and was published in Ahmad's book "Meri Zaat Zara-e-Benishan" along with two more stories in first edition. Moreover, it was also published in Umeras another book "Main Ne Khwabon Ka Shajar Dekha Hai" with five other stories, but as for 2010s editions of Umera's work all adapted work is printed separately. To give the strength to story, Umera add two new characters "Hamza" (portrayed by Mohib Mirza) and Nani (portrayed by Samina Peerzada). Changes into story were positively accepted, although script for Drama serial settled with different opening and ended with not a same but similar ending. Umera mentions the story plot set in Lahore and Karachi, but more than 85% of shoot was completed only in Karachi.
Broadcast and availability.
Zindagi Channel began broadcasting this series in India starting 13 August 2015. It was initially available on Hum TV's official YouTube channel but later all the episodes were deleted. The show was reuploaded by the channel in June 2019 with all music muted. It was also available on iflix app till 2019.
Reception.
Critical reception.
Shehr-e-Zaat received a rating of 7.9 trp, owing to its popularity, a special transmission was held in Karachi and broadcast on Hum TV at the conclusion of the drama. Hum TV. Shehr-e-Zaat was ranked No. 4. Due to story Sufism and Islamization touch it draws orthodox reviews commented that "Shehr-e-Zaat and its misplaced knowledge of Islam". It is the third highest-rated Pakistani television series. In a blog on The Tribune, a writer wrote about "misplaced knowledge of Islam" due to the way the story presented Sufism and Islamization. Dawn declared the series as one of the highlights of 2012. It received universal acclaim all around the world. Indian TV channel Star Plus wanted to telecast it in India but Hum TV refused it. Mahira Khan was praised for her acting many called her the heart of show also saying that she outclassed her co-actors with her acting. Shehr-e-zaat was named the best drama serial by CNN. Shehr e Zaat won best drama serial at Hum Awards 2013. The show rose Mahira Khan to a limelight once again after "Humsafar" and Yash Chopra also said in an interview that after seeing the serial he decided to launch Mahira Khan. She also won Best Actress award. Many called her the new face of Pakistani Cinema.
Controversies.
Shehr-e-Zaat was the most talked about show when it went on air, people talked about everything from the inspirational message it contained to whether Falak should or should not be wearing a dupatta. Shehr-e-Zaat is still the most talked about drama, not because people are still impressed by it but because of the rift it caused between the writer Umera Ahmed, the channel on which it was being aired and the director Sarmad Khoosat. Umera wrote the script of serial for only 16 episodes but it went on to 19 episodes due to positively received reception, Hum TV apologizes for doing that because the last three episodes which were unnecessarily stretched.
The last episodes lost the charm of the serial. In the final episode of serial, the director wrote an ending monologue; "cheezain behaya nahi hoti, jo kuch un se mansoob kya jata hay woh behaya hota hai..." which was actually neither the part of Novel nor the script and was written against the will of writer.