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Ehd-e-Wafa is a rare drama about friendship

That's exactly what makes it a refreshing change from the usual sob fests on tv (don't worry, there's some romance too).
Updated 03 Oct, 2019

Described as a story about "true friends on their journey of hardships and hustle, willing to sacrifice for their country", Hum TV’s new serial, Ehd-e-Wafa looked as if it might just save the many drama fans exhausted by the usual female-oriented sob fests that haunt our television screens.

Two episodes down and we can see that Ehd-e-Wafa is a rare male-oriented drama, focusing on the lives of four friends who meet at Cadet College in Murree.

Before its first episode, Ehd-e-Wafa had garnered a significant fan following because of the fun teasers showing us boyish escapades, a little light romance and more than the average amount of eye candy.

Looks aside, the cast includes proven actors like Osman Khalid Butt, Ahad Raza Mir, Ahmad Ali Akbar, Wahaj Ali and Zara Noor Abbas. With a good budget, ISPR backing, a strong director like Hassan, this should have made an instant hit.

However, in spite of the fairly low-key roll out for the serial, the weight of expectations from previous ISPR sponsored serials like Sunheray Din and the iconic Alpha Bravo Charlie did hit hard, plus a slow and unfocused first episode left some disappointed.

First impressions

Instead of giving the audience an introduction to the characters and story, the first episode seemed like an endless roll of overly self-aware skits.

Then there was the lack of attention paid to styling, an oversight which only emphasised the fact that all these actors are well beyond the usual age for a college cadet.

Part of any actor’s skill set is to use styling techniques such has hair, makeup and wardrobe to project their characters most authentic image. Both actors and the director seem to have ignored this important aspect of storytelling, leaving behind the jarring impression of men playing at being boys.

The styling needed work
The styling needed work

This is director Saife Hassan and writer Mustafa Afridi’s latest collaboration after the brilliant Sang-e-Mar Mar, which gave a surprisingly thrilling edge to a simple story about life in Swat.

Despite the recent run of dramas authored by Afridi, he isn’t known as a prolific writer, choosing to concentrate his undoubted skills on one project at a time and it shows.


Part of any actor’s skill set is to use styling techniques such has hair, makeup and wardrobe to project their characters most authentic image. Both actors and the director seem to have ignored this important aspect of storytelling, leaving behind the jarring impression of men playing at being boys.


His projects show a meticulous attention to detailed plotting, character motivation and nuanced personalities for each of his protagonists. How well that translates onto our television screens is firmly in the director’s control.

His recent drama Angan (based on Khadija Mastoor’s novel) is prime example of an exceptionally well-made serial that didn’t win the ratings war because it was slower, more melancholy and more contemplative than audiences expected. So, let’s see how audiences have received his newest offering, Ehd-e-Wafa.

A breath of fresh air on television

Happily, the serial has picked up a lot of the slack in episode 2. Although the styling didn’t change, the show this week was much better edited and actually funny, with enough serious moments to draw each protagonists character out. While nothing is known for sure, the rumours are that the story will show these four friends going in very different careers like politics, army, journalism and business.

The way their choices and lives change and intersect again will be the focus as the show progresses, so the actors will look more at home in their characters as the narrative moves forward

Rumour has it, as the story unfolds, all four friends will go into very different career paths
Rumour has it, as the story unfolds, all four friends will go into very different career paths

Osman Khalid Butt is one of our most versatile performers but it’s no surprise that he really excels at comedy: his Shahzain is manipulative, woefully ignorant and a liar of some skill, but his antics are the life of the show.

Episode 2 gave him some memorable lines about Newton leaving his country a message about proof of guilt before conviction making a laugh out loud fruit salad of historical facts.

OKB does comedy best
OKB does comedy best

Playing the straight man to Shahzain is Ahad Raza Mir, as Saad, who is the typical beeba bacha (good kid) kind who somehow always end up friends with the roguish Shahzains of this world.

Ahad makes good use of those Raza Mir good looks and expressive eyes, which manage to convince what might have been a skeptical audience into easily believing that he really might have fallen for Dua at first sight.


A young cast, making their way through life and the positive friendships they share is a side of Pakistani culture that is too often ignored by our dramas. Ehd-e-Wafa is solid family viewing, with something for everyone, so long as the director keeps up the pace.


Ahmed Ali Akbar’s wonderfully deadpan dialogue delivery marks him as the cynic, while Wahaj Ali’s sweetly naïve Shariq rounds out a well-blended cast. It has only been a couple of episodes but we really need more dialogues and many more scenes of these two talented actors.

Akber in particular makes an impression with just a few words so it will be a crying shame if Mustafa Afridi’s script doesn’t give them the opportunity to contribute more .The fluid chemistry and well-timed, easy banter between these four young actors is a delight and one of the biggest strengths of this show.

Need to see more of Ahmad and Wahaj!
Need to see more of Ahmad and Wahaj!

So far, the female leads include Zara Noor as the impish Rani and Alizeh Shah as Dua, another army brat, like Saad. Zara Noor has come a long way in the last two years and is very much at home on the big and small screen.

Her role in this year's Eid release, Parey Hut Love was a pleasure to watch and she has perfected the kind of fun, frothy mischief maker kind of personality that audiences love.

Zara Noor plays the OTT Rani to a tee
Zara Noor plays the OTT Rani to a tee

Rani is a drama queen who knows how to lie her way out of anything and seems like more than a match for Shahzain. Any other actress would have looked forced and annoying while cheating some mohallay waley bachay at a cricket match but she glides through with the kind of charm and confidence very few other actors possess.

Meanwhile Alizeh Shah’s Dua seems to be our typical drama heroine, a little rich girl with nothing to mark her personality except a few over reactions to perfectly normal situations.

We can only hope her character will show more nuance and complexity over the course of the story. Shah’s dialogue delivery needs some work but otherwise playing everyone’s spoiled little girl is well within her range of abilities.

Here's hoping Dua's character is given some substance
Here's hoping Dua's character is given some substance

While the rest of prime-time drama viewing is overwhelmed with scheming sisters, shaqi shohars (suspicious husbands), extra marital affairs and the usual who marries who favoured by our producers, Ehd-e-Wafa makes for a refreshing change.

A young cast, making their way through life and the positive friendships they share is a side of Pakistani culture that is too often ignored by our dramas. Ehd-e-Wafa is solid family viewing, with something for everyone, so long as the director keeps up the pace.

As the characters grow, we will see them face the more complicated dilemmas of adult life but so far, it’s a thoroughly entertaining way to spend a Sunday evening .

Comments

SHOAIB Oct 03, 2019 12:31pm
Its very boring and waste of time and resources. Its seems to have copied lots of indian movie stuff. Shame on such a poor production.
Recommend
Nationalist Oct 03, 2019 12:31pm
I tried to watch the show but couldn't help cring at every other dialogue, who put these 30 year olds in high school? Couldn't have made a worse sequel to brilliant dramas like Sonahray Din and Alpha Bravo Charlie
Recommend
Kainth Oct 03, 2019 01:28pm
No it's a rare drama of lame jokes and pathetic acting so far.
Recommend
No one Oct 03, 2019 02:50pm
Its a weirdo drama. Acting is below par, UKB does not look like a school/college going guy. Overall very poor standard of acting. Its got coverage just because its not another romantic serial
Recommend
Anon Oct 03, 2019 03:43pm
Good except vulgar dialogue and OKB.
Recommend
isha Oct 03, 2019 05:36pm
its a cringe fest compared to abc
Recommend
Ehsan Oct 03, 2019 06:46pm
A lot of over acting by all these young actors, guys look much older and didn’t even care to cut their hair as per requirement. The story looks so far, dialogues delivery seems very fake.
Recommend
Nadeem Oct 03, 2019 07:00pm
Only overacting! Poor theme & everything artificial.
Recommend
zane Oct 03, 2019 08:07pm
ISPR could've used some real YOUNG guys from its own cadet college instead of these mature men who acts like boys.
Recommend
Mahvesh Oct 03, 2019 11:00pm
Trying to like it but failing so far. Poor dialogues. Static acting.
Recommend
Humayun Majid Oct 04, 2019 02:38am
I was terribly disappointed after watching the first episode. It was supposed to be the next Alpha, Brovo and Charlie however it is nothing but a cheap sitcom.
Recommend
Ainy Oct 04, 2019 05:36am
totally overrated...no story and over acting for 4 guys who doesn't look college boys
Recommend
Neo Oct 04, 2019 06:41am
Many films and tv shows struggle with the setting of story and characters. Granted that a better job could have been done with showing the actors as youngsters. However, its still early days and this can only get better.
Recommend
Jigar Oct 04, 2019 06:43am
OKB and friends look like the guys who turn up for high school cricket matches for the other team.
Recommend
Anon Oct 04, 2019 09:21am
@Nationalist Agreed.
Recommend
Amna Oct 04, 2019 12:08pm
It is really a brilliant drama! The full drama, or not even the most of drama is about College life. So this college is life is going to be wrap up in next 3-4 episodes! And then the most of drama will revolve around the professionals grown up men! Therefore, these roles are given to these experienced actors! To those who think OKB, Ahad, Ahmed and Wahaj are not the right choices, which actors do you think have been casted??? Besides, the dialogues are quite catchy! Those people who had mischievious and full of funs college life are enjoying the show! The new generation who hasn't seen Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Sunheiray Din, for it this drama is definitely a 'blessing'. I am enjoying this drama a lot. I really do believe that all those people who are fun-loving must be enjoying this drama.
Recommend
Amna Oct 04, 2019 12:11pm
@SHOAIB I don't agree with you! These kind of stuffs are common in colleges! I too, despite being a girl, have done some of these things with my friends too! So this is not Bollywood stuff! It is just our regular College stuff!!!!
Recommend
isha Oct 04, 2019 01:25pm
ISPR could have saved a lot of money by digitally remastering sunheray din and ABC and getting it released netflix and tv than to waste it on this. Also there are women amry officers when are we planning to include them as a active part of these dramas.
Recommend
F Oct 06, 2019 12:18am
Overacting
Recommend
Mona Oct 06, 2019 06:12am
Wonderful article, thanks I loved the 2nd episode much more than the 1st one. So far it’s up to a good start with something different to watch on our screen than the usual rona thona. I’m enjoying the acting of the cast. They’re doing a good job so far & the bond between the boys is refreshing to see on our tv & do look like real friends.
Recommend
ReshMa Oct 08, 2019 04:36am
Excellent article...when I watched the first episode I was disappointed exactly for the reasons that the writer astutely pointed out and decided to give it a second chance after reading Sadaf’s article and I have not been disappointed. She pointed out the drama’s flaws but also it’s strengths.
Recommend