..~Ek Nayi Cindrella(ROMISHA FANS)Discussion Forum - Page 2

Aik Nayee Cinderella is A n B Production's new drama serial which is airing on Geo Entertainment. Noted director Haissam Hussain (of Dastaan and Durre-Shehwar fame) who is synonymous with a style of presentation laced with beauty and grandeur is the man orchestrating the creative vision of this magnum opus.

He really sinks his teeth into the execution of this epic saga, directing it in a cinematic fashion. He has shot it across a glossy canvas, composing each frame with the meticulousness of a dexterous painter.

His trademark style of using smoke in indoor sequences makes the light in the frames refract in a mystical manner giving the scenes a sublime appearance.

Murree appears to be a backdrop tailor-made for this adaptation and its picturesque valleys infuse the presentation with exuberance. The floating mist, luminous beams of sunlight funneling through the majestic trees, old houses and shots of horseback riding through the haunting wilderness of the mountainous area add a distinct old-school feel to it. Some of the scenes shot in Kashmir are again a sight for sore eyes. The cinematographer Ilyas Kasmiri makes the visuals look breathtaking, especially the outdoor shots of the lush green, tranquil landscape which have been captured in a magical way.

The drama serial does not conservatively stick to the original text but takes many a liberties with the plot. The writer Faiza Iftikhar, has tweaked up the basic story of Cinderella through a generous doze of twists and sub-plots to keep the viewers gripped through its 18 episodes. She has also incorporated additional characters who manage to swirl this romantic comedy cum period drama with flare.

The narrative of Aik Nayee Cinderella is set in the 1930's and centres around Meesha, an orphan girl living with her stepmother, stepsisters and a doting grandmother. After years of languishing in a repressive environment fostered by an unkind family, the gloom of Meesha's desolate existence is permeated with a ray of hope when a handsome aristocrat by the name of Mayer moves to her town. He is a distant cousin of hers and has a mother who is eager to find him a suitable wife. His brief encounter with a partially masked Meesha at a party leaves him smitten and she too develops feelings for him. The two are sitting on a boat, gazing at each other under the celestial, starry night sky as the silvery moonlight dances along the pond's rippling water. But Meesha abruptly takes off and Mayer is unable to track her down thereafter. Meesha's opportunistic step-sister Zaini who harbours a desire to settle down with a rich and attractive man, tries to convince Mayer into thinking that she is the girl who had him besotted at the party. Meesha on the other hand pines to win Mayer over and seeks the assistance of 'Romaan' a boy living in her neighbourhood who masquerades as a fairy man. He soon finds himself falling for Meesha and the plot continues to unfold.

It is perhaps the first time that Haissam Hussain has cast newcomers as protagonists in his project. He has in the process though pulled a casting coup of sorts. The bubbling energy of the young actors and the chemistry they share brings a spark of freshness onscreen.

Maya Ali who was earlier cast as a supporting character in Haissam's last venture Durre Shehwar, takes on the role of Meesha, the "Nayee Cinderella''. She is effervescent and spontaneous as an innocent yet haughty girl and lights up the screen with her histrionics, transitioning between different emotions seamlessly.

The heartthrob of the social media, Osman Khalid Butt who is popular for his comedy sketches on YouTube, as well as a series of power-packed theatre and film performances, makes his debut on TV as Cinderella's 'prince'. With his Hollywood-esque features, he fits the bill for this role perfectly and slips into the shoes of 'Mayer' most comfortably.

Mayer is an immaculately dressed, suave aristocrat who is stiff, shy but inherently sensitive. Osman has a complex character at hand but rises to the occasion, proving his credentials as a strong and versatile actor. He emotes with subtlety and poise, delivering a nuanced and poignant performance.

Faizan Khawaja, a graduate of the Whistling Woods institute in India, has been a part of a couple of TV serials prior to this project. He enacts the role of Meesha's loveable confidante Roman with a brooding intensity that makes his character enigmatic and charming. Eshita Syed, who plays Meesha's cunning stepsister Zaini, does the conniving stepsister bit to a tee and cements herself as a skilled actor who enjoys mastery over her expressions. Warda Butt plays Zainee's sister Amy, a humorous caricature of a stubborn and ditsy girl. She is bound to leave you in splits through her bizarre appearance and antics. The very talented Saba Hamid as a caustic stepmother does a fine job while the gorgeous Hina Bayat who plays Mayer's mother is as charismatic as ever. The latter shares a bond with Osman's character that comes across beautifully and also happens to bear a striking resemblance to him which makes the two look quite convincing in their respective roles.

Many notable actors from the television fraternity are a part of the play's ensemble including veterans such as Nasreen Qureshi, Qavi Khan and Laila Zubairi.

What strikes you immensely about this adaptation is that the character of Cinderella has come of age and is not regressive like many of the female protagonists of Pakistani television drama. It is refreshing to see that contrary to the traditional Cinderella, Meesha isn't relegated to being a damsel in distress who perpetually wallows in self pity. She is in fact a witty and feisty girl who is adept at the art of putting up a fight in her own humorous and endearing manner. She pushes the buttons of her step mother and step-sisters and much to their dismay gets her way by hook or by crook.

This is also one of those plays that do not drag on through jarring background music, dramatic close-ups or needless pregnant pauses and hence each episode breezes through without becoming a taxing watch. Its soulful music sits in well with the majestic theme of Cinderella and the haunting rendition of 'Raag Darbari' by noted classical vocalist Javed Bashir has tremendous gut.

It must be underscored that taking Aik Nayee Cinderella on its face value to be a children's programme would be a grave miscalculation. For is it is not a show which caters to children only but is well calibrated to appeal to audiences from all age groups, treading through various shades of human emotion with maturity.

A sense of complacency seems to have set in regarding the production of TV plays these days and makers tend to be wary of experimentation. Many shows fall victim to banal concepts based on morbid portrayals of scheming in laws and dejected daughter in laws. This play in contrast, dares to break the mould in terms of its script and characterization. It has a feel good charm about it and carries elements of romance, comedy and drama which make it multilayered and engrossing. Aik Nayee Cinderella hence taps on a relatively unexplored genre and entertains immensely through its sharp screenplay, solid acting and entrancing visual splendour.

The drama serial can be viewed on Geo Entertainment at 8pm on Saturdays.