Daily Times

Starring Pakistani artists and background music by Qurram Hussain of Josh fame, ‘Mangoes’ has become the first Pakistani drama to air during primetime in Canada.

Started as web series by two brothers, Adeel and Khurram Suharwardy, ‘Mangoes’ portrays Pakistanis living in North America in a positive and thoughtful light.

Due to its increasing popularity, the third season of the web series is picked by Canada’s Rogers Media for the primetime slot of its Omni Television. It is the first time in North America that a Pakistani play with English subtitles is being broadcasted during primetime.

Qurram Hussain has done the background score for ‘Mangoes’ which highlights problems and challenges faced by first generation South Asian immigrants coming to Canada.

The drama serial revolves around the adventures, emotions and experiences of three unlikely friends, including Asha, a fiercely independent woman and psychology student from India, Sami, a sensitive, well-educated immigrant from Pakistan struggling to find a job in his field and Rakay, a hopeless romantic – and often irresponsible – MBA student from Pakistan.

The first two seasons of the drama serial had already received overwhelming response from South Asian audiences throughout the world and the OST for Season 1, ‘Keh Dena’ by Alamgir and Kristie Yung, is still one of biggest international hits of this decade

The first two seasons of ‘Mangoes’ had already received overwhelming response from South Asian audiences throughout the world. And, the OST for Season 1, “Keh Dena” by legendary pop singer Alamgir and Canadian singer Kristie Yung, is still one of the biggest international hits of this decade.

Picking up two years after the web series dropped off, the new episodes see dramatic developments as Asha gets engaged to be married, Sami lands a job at a corporate firm and Rakay settles down from his sedentary lifestyle. Through unrelated events, the trio connect in Toronto and navigate the unfamiliar challenges of being a young immigrant in a new country.

Adeel Suharwardy is playing the lead role of Sami. Sami is a Pakistani who comes to Canada to seek greener pastures but struggles to land a job where he can reach his full potential. He has a flirty boss and an irritating colleague to keep him on his toes. Yet Sami listens to his heart and sponsors a refugee family with a promise to start a new life in Canada.

Adeel has worked closely with the film and television industry and garnered multi-platform international credits and syndicated television and digital content for international broadcast in South Asia, Middle East, Europe and North America. As a business graduate from England, Adeel has consulted and produced for clients such as Canada, British Columbia, Dubai Bank, Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, Malaysian Tourism Board, Canadian Diabetes Association, China Airlines and Indian Film Academy Awards amongst others.

While talking exclusively to Daily Times, Adeel said that the third season of ‘Mangoes’ was bolder than before and portrayed a strong identity of Sami, Asha and Rakay.

Talking about the project, Hussain said he was really impressed with how the Suhrwardy brothers wrote the story of ‘Mangoes’ that jumped from being funny and light-hearted to taking some serious issues and bringing them to light.

“It’s not easy to juggle moods like that, but they did it very well and that also gave me a chance to do music that ranges through various emotions,” he added.

Furthermore, Hussain said, that taking some big issues head-on was very brave and necessary at a time like this.

“Women are showing their strength everywhere and tackling problems they have been facing for a very long time and shows like ‘Mangoes’ gives them a chance to have highlighted some of these issues so that people can have open conversations about them and learn about the problems they have been dealing with. It always great to work with people that you’re in sync with,” the Toronto-based singer concluded.

Published in Daily Times, November 28^th 2018.