Daily Times

The drama intensifies with the ambulance scene as Mannat and Wajih take the bleeding Nayab to the hospital. To make the plot even more interesting, Yawar and the driver are both shown to be acting suspicious

‘Cheekh’ is a brilliant new drama serial that airs on ARY Digital every Saturday starring veteran actress Saba Qamar as Mannat, Usha Shah playing the role of Nayab, while Bilal Abbas is essaying the character of Wajih. The drama so far has been very well scripted; and the credit goes to Zanjabeel Shah Asim. It is a Big Bang Entertainment project, directed by Badar Mehmood and produced by the duo of Fahad Mustafa and Dr Ali Kazmi. The second episode begins with a recap of Mannat realising that Nayab would be perfect for Wajih. Meanwhile, Nayab’s step mother is insisting on marrying her to an elderly divorced man just because he is wealthy. The recap ends with Nayab falling off the roof. So the entire plot is placed crucially in the first episode and the second episode continues with hammering the plot in the audience’s minds. Usha as Nayab does a remarkable acting job as she lays down on the floor with utter shock in her eyes and blood dripping down her nose.

The drama intensifies with the ambulance scene as Mannat and Wajih take the bleeding Nayab to the hospital. To make the plot even more interesting, Yawar and the driver are both shown to be acting suspicious

Her acting in this specific scene is definitely praise worthy because it puts us all into an immediate thought as to what has happened to her. Who is her blank shocked eyes looking at? Is she looking at Wajih for sympathy and care or is she looking at him because he has something to do with her fall. Bilal as Wajih is also doing justice to his character. As everyone in the wedding house screams for help, Wajih ably portrays both shock and confusion. The drama intensifies with the ambulance scene as Mannat and Wajih take the bleeding Nayab to the hospital. To make the plot even more interesting, Yawar and the driver are both acting suspiciously and the story could lead to either one of them being the prime suspect. With many repeated scenes of all characters trying to analyse whether Nayab jumped or was pushed, the drama is building an atmosphere of suspicion which is heightened when police officer Amir walks in. Amir is shown as a highly capable officer who interrogates Mannat, Yawar, Wajih and Ramzan. Even though the family is troubled by his interrogation, Amir continues to find clues which could build a proper case. Again, we see Yawar trying to insist the officer to close the matter as soon as possible but Amir is not buying any of it.

The suspense, the emotions and the confusion has all been built. The characters are playing true to their roles and the trio of Saba, Usha and Bilal are leading the drama to a great start.

If ‘Cheekh’ continues in the same direction without veering off, we are in for a great series ahead.

Published in Daily Times, January 15^th 2019.