''Shehr-e-Zaat'' (English: ''City of Existence'') is a 2012 Pakistani
spiritual romantic drama serial based on
the novella of the same name by
Umera Ahmad. It is directed by
Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, and produced by
Momina Duraid and
Abdullah Kadwani
Abdullah Kadwani (Urdu: ) is a Pakistani actor, producer and director.
As of 2019, he holds the position of group managing director at Geo Entertainment, a leading television network in Pakistan. He is currently responsible for "Geo Entertain ...
. It stars
Mahira Khan,
Mikaal Zulfiqar and
Mohib Mirza
Mohib Mirza ( ur, ) (born 18 August 1979) is a Pakistani actor, director, television host and comedian. He is known for his work in film and television industry of Pakistan for which he has been nominated for various awards.
Career
Mirza st ...
in the leads. .
Shehr-e-Zaat is a story of young woman's journey as she strives to make up for all the time she has lost in worldly pursuits and finally give in to
Allah
Allah (; ar, الله, translit=Allāh, ) is the common Arabic word for God. In the English language, the word generally refers to God in Islam. The word is thought to be derived by contraction from '' al- ilāh'', which means "the god", a ...
's will, after learning harsh realities of life she traveled from ''Self to Subsistence'', It premiered on 29 June 2012 in
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
, with the prime slot of 8:00 pm every Friday on the channel
Hum TV
Hum TV is a 24-hour Urdu General Entertainment TV channel based in Karachi, Pakistan. It was founded by Sultana Siddiqui and Duraid Qureshi. It is owned by Hum Network Limited and traded on Pakistan Stock Exchange as (HUMNL).
Hum Network L ...
, the serial aired its final episode on 2 November 2012, and was extremely praised. The final episode of serial left an unforgettable effect on audience, despite the usual revenge ending. ''Shehr-e-Zaat'' received widespread critical acclaim and is widely regarded to be one of the greatest Pakistani television series of all time. Despite its focus on spirituality and aversion from romance, the serial was a major hit and emerged a ratings success.
The serial won three
Hum Awards
Hum Awards are annual Pakistani accolades bestowed by the Hum Network Limited in recognition of excellence in programming of television, fashion and music industry of Pakistan. Winners are awarded the Hum Award of Merit. The awards were first ...
at its first ceremony, including
Best Drama Serial, and was nominated for seven categories. The serial was nominated for the
Lux Style Awards in 2013 but did not win.
Mohib Mirza
Mohib Mirza ( ur, ) (born 18 August 1979) is a Pakistani actor, director, television host and comedian. He is known for his work in film and television industry of Pakistan for which he has been nominated for various awards.
Career
Mirza st ...
was nominated for best supporting actor at the
Pakistan Media Awards in 2013.
Due to widespread acclaim and owing to its popularity, a special transmission was held in Karachi and broadcast on Hum TV at the conclusion of the drama.
Plot
Shehr-e-zaat revolves around a beautiful daydreamer Falak Sher Afgan, an only child to wealthy parents. Falak is a student of fine arts who makes the sculpture of the man of her dreams and falls head over heels in love when she finds the breathing manifestation of it in Salman Ansar. But the more Falak tries to get close to Salman, the more he ignores her. Hamza, Falak's close friend, adores her dearly. Falak had been oblivious to his love for her for a long time. Falak has always been the centre of attention and has never been deprived of anything.
Falak's mother, Mehr-un-Nisa, built her subsistence according to worldly life. Falak and Salman get married, and during the initial days, Salman proves to be a good husband despite his father-in-law, Sher Afgan's reservations. Falak's happiness is short-lived as Salman falls in love with an uneducated and crass employee Tabinda, at his factory, with whom he begins an extramarital relationship. Falak decides to meet Tabinda and confront her. Falak is shocked seeing Tabinda's unattractive physical appearance and eventually suffers from a major nervous breakdown. She comes back to consciousness with a broken heart and, for the first time in her life, looks at her tragedy from a different perspective.
Instead of craving Salman's lost love, she ponders over the power of destiny. The fact that Salman prefers Tabinda, an ugly-looking woman with a loose character, over her forces her to go through a journey of self-discovery. She comes across bitter realities and learns the true purpose of life while getting lessons from her grandmother. Falak adapts to simplicity, patience and humbleness. She brings quietness to her life and gets rid of unnecessary worldly pursuits. She accepts Salman back into her life after Tabinda leaves him without her previous obsession.
Cast
*
Mahira Khan as
Falak Sher Afghan/Fifi
*
Mohib Mirza
Mohib Mirza ( ur, ) (born 18 August 1979) is a Pakistani actor, director, television host and comedian. He is known for his work in film and television industry of Pakistan for which he has been nominated for various awards.
Career
Mirza st ...
as Hamza Malik
*
Mikaal Zulfiqar as
Salman Ansar
*
Samina Peerzada
Samina Peerzada (, Punjabi, ) is a film and television actress, producer and director from Pakistan.
Personal life
Samina was born into an educated Kashmiri Butt family in Lahore, but was raised in Karachi, Sindh Pakistan. After graduating in ...
as Falak's Nani (grandmother)
*
Mansha Pasha as
Rashna
* Sohail Hashmi as
Sheir Afghan
*
Sana Javed as
Arifa
*
Tariq Niazi
Tariq Masood Niazi (15 March 1940 – 20 April 2008) was a Pakistani field hockey player between 1961 and 1969 and member of the Olympic team. Niazi was part of the 1964 games in Tokyo where they won a silver medal and the 1968 games in Mexico ...
as Jameel
*
Hina Khawaja Bayat
Hina Khawaja Bayat ( ur, ) is a Pakistani actress whose appearances include ''Uraan, Ishq Gumshuda, Aunn Zara, Humsafar, Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Muqaddas'' and '' Shehr-e-Zaat'' and '' Baaghi''.
Early life
Hina is ethnically Kashmiri and lives ...
as
Mehr-un-Nisa Afghan
* Rifat Humera Channa as Hadiqa
Guest appearances
*
Nadia Afghan
Nadia Afgan is a Pakistani actress who appears in Urdu films and television and films. She is known for her work in theatre and television. Her numerous work in television includes a series of plays in both Urdu and Punjabi. She rose to promin ...
as
Tabinda
* Munawar Saeed as
Baba
Original soundtrack
The
Theme song
Theme music is a musical composition that is often written specifically for radio programming, television shows, video games, or films and is usually played during the title sequence, opening credits, closing credits, and in some instances at ...
of ''Shehr-e-Zaat'' is taken from the 2000s enormous hit album ''Raqs-e-Bismil'' also known as ''Dance of Wounded'' of
Sufi
Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, r ...
singer
Abida Parveen, written or poetry by 18th century most famous
Sufi
Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, r ...
poet
Shah Niaz and originally composed by ''Muzaffar Ali'' for Parveen's album. Director Sultan Khoosat requested Abida Parveen to give the song for the show, as the song was perfectly fitted for the serial with its spiritualism cliché storyline and manner. Despite its original release of almost above decade, Serial OST goes hit once again and highly appreciated by listeners of this song selection for ''Shehr-e-Zaat'' genre style serial. Abida's song ''Zahid ne Mera'' was also used when Falak finds out the relationship between Tabinda and Salman.
Track listing
Difference from the Novel
Prior to adaptation ''Shehr-e-Zaat'' was a story of comprises no more than 70 to 88 pages and was published in Ahmad's book ''Meri Zaat Zara-e-Benishan'' along with two more stories in first edition. Moreover, it was also published in Umeras another book ''Main Ne Khwabon Ka Shajar Dekha Hai'' with five other stories, but as for 2010s editions of Umera's work all adapted work is printed separately. To give the strength to story, Umera add two new characters ''Hamza'' (portrayed by
Mohib Mirza
Mohib Mirza ( ur, ) (born 18 August 1979) is a Pakistani actor, director, television host and comedian. He is known for his work in film and television industry of Pakistan for which he has been nominated for various awards.
Career
Mirza st ...
) and Nani (portrayed by
Samina Peerzada
Samina Peerzada (, Punjabi, ) is a film and television actress, producer and director from Pakistan.
Personal life
Samina was born into an educated Kashmiri Butt family in Lahore, but was raised in Karachi, Sindh Pakistan. After graduating in ...
). Changes into story were positively accepted, although script for Drama serial settled with different opening and ended with not a same but similar ending. Umera mentions the story plot set in Lahore and Karachi, but more than 85% of shoot was completed only in Karachi.
Broadcast and availability
Zindagi Channel began broadcasting this series in India starting 13 August 2015.
Reception
Critical reception
Shehr-e-Zaat received a rating of 7.9 trp, owing to its popularity, a special transmission was held in Karachi and broadcast on Hum TV at the conclusion of the drama.
Hum TV
Hum TV is a 24-hour Urdu General Entertainment TV channel based in Karachi, Pakistan. It was founded by Sultana Siddiqui and Duraid Qureshi. It is owned by Hum Network Limited and traded on Pakistan Stock Exchange as (HUMNL).
Hum Network L ...
.
Shehr-e-Zaat was ranked No. 4. Due to story Sufism and Islamization touch it draws orthodox reviews commented that ''Shehr-e-Zaat and its misplaced knowledge of Islam''. It is the
third highest-rated Pakistani television series. In a blog on The Tribune, a writer wrote about "misplaced knowledge of Islam" due to the way the story presented
Sufi
Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, r ...
sm and Islamization.
Dawn
Dawn is the time that marks the beginning of twilight before sunrise. It is recognized by the appearance of indirect sunlight being scattered in Earth's atmosphere, when the centre of the Sun's disc has reached 18° below the observer's ...
declared the series as one of the highlights of 2012. It received universal acclaim all around the world. Indian TV channel
Star Plus
StarPlus is an Indian Hindi language general entertainment pay television channel owned by Disney Star (formerly ''Star India''), a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company India. The network's programming consists of family dramas, comedi ...
wanted to telecast it in India but Hum TV refused it. Mahira Khan was praised for her acting many called her the heart of show also saying that she outclassed her co-actors with her acting. Shehr-e-zaat was named the best drama serial by
CNN. Shehr e Zaat won best drama serial at
Hum Awards
Hum Awards are annual Pakistani accolades bestowed by the Hum Network Limited in recognition of excellence in programming of television, fashion and music industry of Pakistan. Winners are awarded the Hum Award of Merit. The awards were first ...
2013. The show rose
Mahira Khan to a limelight once again after ''
Humsafar
''Humsafar'' ( ur, , lit=Companion or Life Partner) is a 2011 Pakistani drama telenovela based on the novel of the same name by Farhat Ishtiaq (who also wrote the screenplay), and directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat. It stars Fawad Khan, Ma ...
'' and
Yash Chopra
Yash Raj Chopra (27 September 1932 21 October 2012) was an Indian film director and film producer who worked in Hindi cinema. The founding chairman of the film production and distribution company Yash Raj Films, Chopra was the recipient of ...
also said in an interview that after seeing the serial he decided to launch Mahira Khan. She also won Best Actress award. Many called her the new face of Pakistani Cinema.
Controversies
Shehr-e-Zaat was the most talked about show when it went on air, people talked about everything from the inspirational message it contained to whether Falak should or should not be wearing a dupatta. Shehr-e-Zaat is still the most talked about drama, not because people are still impressed by it but because of the rift it caused between the writer Umera Ahmed, the channel on which it was being aired and the director Sarmad Khoosat. Umera wrote the script of serial for only 16 episodes but it went on to 19 episodes due to positively received reception,
Hum TV
Hum TV is a 24-hour Urdu General Entertainment TV channel based in Karachi, Pakistan. It was founded by Sultana Siddiqui and Duraid Qureshi. It is owned by Hum Network Limited and traded on Pakistan Stock Exchange as (HUMNL).
Hum Network L ...
apologizes for doing that because the last three episodes which were unnecessarily stretched. The final episodes lost the charm of the serial. In the final episode of serial, the director wrote an ending monologue; "cheezain behaya nahi hoti, jo kuch un se mansoob kya jata hay woh behaya hota hai..." which was actually neither the part of Novel nor the script and was written against the will of writer.
Awards and nominations
See also
*
List of Pakistani actresses
This is an alphabetical list of notable Pakistani actresses related to the film and television industry.
A
* Aasia
*Armeena Khan
* Aaminah Haq
* Aamina Sheikh
* Aiman Khan
* Ainy Jaffri
* Alishba Yousuf ...
*
List of Pakistani actors
Lists of Pakistani actors are split by gender.
* List of Pakistani actresses
* List of Pakistani male actors
This is an alphabetical list of notable Pakistani male film and television actors:
A
* Aagha Ali
* Abdullah Ejaz
* Abdullah Kad ...
*
List of Pakistani television serials
This is a List of Pakistani dramas. The programs are organised alphabetically.
A
* '' Aahista Aahista'' (2014, Hum TV)
* '' AajKa TV'' (2018, AajKaTV)
* '' Aanchal'' ( PTV)
* ''Aangan Terha'' (1980s, PTV)
* '' Aangan'' (2018, Hum TV)
*'' ...
References
External links
;Official website
Official Website*
*
Hum TV's official Video channelHum TV's official Dailymotion
;Other Sources
Official WebsiteShehr-e-Zaaton DramasOnline
;Reviews
Shehr-e-Zaaton Review It!
{{Hum Award Best Drama Serial
2010s Pakistani television series
Hum Awards
Hum Award winners
2012 Pakistani television series debuts
2012 Pakistani television series endings
Pakistani drama television series