Dushman (TV series)

Pakistani television series, 2022–2023

Dushman

Original title| دشمن
Written by| Ali Moeen
Directed by| Abdullah Badini
Starring|

* Nadia Afgan
* Saman Ansari
* Feroza Muhammad
* Naila Jaffri
* Sabeeka Imam
* Hassan Niazi
* Hadi bin Arshad

Country of origin| Pakistan
Original language| Urdu
No. of episodes| 32
Production
Producer| Zeeshan Ahmed
Cinematography| Sarfaraz Ahmed
Production company| Mont Blanc Entertainment
Original release
Network| PTV Home
Release| 26 May 2022 (2022-05-26) –
23 January 2023 (2023-01-23)

Dushman (transl. Enemy) is a 2022 Pakistani drama television series first broadcast on PTV Home as a part of night primetime programming. It is written by Ali Moeen, directed by Abdullah Badini, and produced by Zeeshan Ahmed under banner Mont Blanc Entertainment. The series has an ensemble cast of Nadia Afgan, Saman Ansari, Feroza Muhammad, Nayyar Ejaz, Hassan Niazi, Sabeeka Imam, Ayub Khoso and Naila Jaffri in her last on-screen appearance.[1]

## Plot

[edit]

There is a generation of adversity between the states of Rajkot and Malikgar. In this bloodshed game, all the male heirs have been murdered and then the feuding matriarchs fight for revenge. Waris and Sassi, the children of these matriarchs fall for each other and marry secretly. However, when Mai Lali of Rajkot learns of this, he murders Waris. Waris's pregnant wife and Mai's daughter, Sassi seeks shelter with the Maliks as she wants to hand over her unborn to Waris' family. Enraged by her brother's murder, Sohni returns from abroad and sets a trap for the last heir of the enemies, Mai Laali's son Zain.

## Cast

[edit]

* Nadia Afgan as Malkani Bibi
* Saman Ansari as Mai Laali
* Naila Jaffri as Durri
* Sabeeka Imam as Sassi
* Hassan Niazi as Waris
* Nayyar Ejaz as Ranjha
* Ayub Khoso as Billa "Munshi"
* Mohsin Gillani as Malhar
* Hadi Bin Arshad as Zain[2]
* Feroza Mohammad as Sohni

## Production

[edit]

The project was first announced by Afgan in an interview where she revealed that one of her upcoming series is titled Dushman which is directed by Abdullah Badini and written by Ali Moeen, and she will play the role of Malkani Bibi, a powerful Saraiki head of the clan.[3] The role was earlier offered to Shagufta Ijaz and Sania Saeed, who both rejected it.[4] The principal photography started in Bahawalpur in 2020. In a conservation with DAWN Images, Afgan told that the series is developed by Fawad Chaudhry, who worked hard for the PTV's revival. An accident on the set led to the death of the series' cinematographer Sarfaraz Ahmed.[5] It marked actress Naila Jaffri's last on-screen appearance before her death due to Ovarian cancer in July 2021.[6] According to Mohammad, the series took 3 years to complete.[7]

## Reception

[edit]

The acting performances of the actors was especially praised by the critics.[8][9] Youlin Magazine praised the Moeen's writing and performances of the actors, except of Ansari. The reviewer criticised her nasal voice and her badly delivered dialogues.[10]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "PTV Makes Grand Comeback With An Intriguingly Promising Show". galaxylollywood.com. 28 April 2022.
2. ^ "In conversation with Hadi bin Arshad". www.thenews.com.pk. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
3. ^ "Sunday conversation: 12 questions with Nadia Afgan". 31 October 2021. Archived from the original on 19 February 2022.
4. ^ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ0BK_zxcGE
5. ^ Irfan Ul Haq (30 April 2022). "PTV's new drama starring the late Naila Jaffri, Nadia Afgan and Saman Ansari looks promising". Dawn Images.
6. ^ "Late Naila Jaffri's last drama serial to release posthumously this year". Minute Mirror. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
7. ^ https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/you/1023359-2022-a-year-full-of-surprises
8. ^ "Dushman Kicks Off On A Powerfully Stellar Note". 17 May 2022.
9. ^ "Dushman Gets Things Started On A Strong Note". Bol News. 21 May 2022.
10. ^ Hurmat Majid (6 July 2022). "Drama Review: Dushman has Audiences Hooked". Youlin Magazine. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

*[No.]: Number
*[transl.]: translation