Barzakh (TV series)
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| Barzakh | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Written by | Asim Abbasi |
| Directed by | Asim Abbasi |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | Pakistan |
| Original language | Urdu |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Shailja Kejriwal |
| Producers |
|
| Cinematography | Mo Azmi |
| Original release | |
| Network | Zindagi |
| Release | 19 July 2024 |
Barzakh is a 2024 Pakistani fantasy drama television series directed and written by Asim Abbasi.[1] The series stars Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed in lead roles. The six-episode series which premiered on 19 July 2024 was produced by Waqas Hassan and Shailja Kejriwal for Zindagi, the Indian subcontinent focused programming block on streamer ZEE5 Global.[2][3]
Cast
[edit]- Fawad Khan as Shehryar
- Sanam Saeed as Scheherezade
- Khushhal Khan (actor)/ Salman Shahid as Jafar Khanzada
- Faiza Gillani as Tasleem
- Eman Suleman as Leena
- Anika Zulfikar as Mahtab
- Sajid Hassan as Jabbar
- Fawad Khan as Saifullah
- Uzma Beg as Afroz
- Nighat Chaudhary as Saifullahs's Mom
Production
[edit]The Pakistani and Indian co-produced series was first announced in December 2021.[4] After the 2013 series Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed were announced as the leads under Asim Abbasi's directorial to mark their second on-screen appearance.[5] The principal photography began in November 2021 and ended in March 2022, taking place in Karachi and Hunza Valley.[6][4]
On 16 June 2024, the network ZEE5 announced the release date of the series.[7][8] The trailer was released by Zee Zindagi on 1 July on YouTube.[9]
Episodes
[edit]| Episode | Title | Directed by | Written by | Date of Broadcast | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Mad King & The Crumbling Castle" | Asim Abbasi | Asim Abbasi | 19 July 2024 | |
|
The teenage Jafar Khanzada goes to the city to earn a lot of money to buy a better gold necklace for his beloved Mahtab. But when he returns after earning a fortune, he learns about her death. She was buried near her ancestors under a tree. Jafar builds a resort there and prospers day and night. In his seventies, Jafar, now the father of two men, Shehryar and Saifullah, from his two marriages, invites them to their wedding, which will take place at the top of a mountain during the full moon, with the only beloved one of his life, Mahtab, who had died years ago. | |||||
| 2 | "The Lost Boy & The Pink Past" | Asim Abbasi | Asim Abbasi | 23 July 2024 | |
| 3 | "The Mountain Baby & The Divine Call" | Asim Abbasi | Asim Abbasi | 26 July 2024 | |
| 4 | "The Prodigal Son & Cosmic Womb" | Asim Abbasi | Asim Abbasi | 30 July 2024 | |
| 5 | "The False Messiah & The Final Siege" | Asim Abbasi | Asim Abbasi | 2 August 2024 | |
| 6 | "The Eternal Hopefulness Of The Blank Canvas" | Asim Abbasi | Asim Abbasi | 6 August 2024 | |
Release
[edit]In February 2023, the series premiered world-wide in Series Mania, France.[10] Its first episode premiered on 19 July 2024 on Zee5 and the YouTube channel of Zee Zindagi.[11]
Reception
[edit]Critical response
[edit]Shilajit Mitra of The Hindu praised Barzakh for its "achingly, unabashedly artful" approach, noting how it intertwines past and present through its characters' stories. He highlighted Fawad Khan’s portrayal of Shehryar, mentioning his "wintry handsomeness with a comic cynicism." However, Mitra criticized the series for losing its "sustained mysticism" in a "psychedelic freak-out" sequence.[12]
Hafsah Sarfraz of DAWN Images commended the series' high production value and storytelling, highlighting the stunning visuals of the Hunza Valley and the strong performances of Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed, and Salman Shahid. She described the series as having "the right levels of lighting, colours and hues to such perfection."[13] Conversely, Mahwash Ajaz of Khaleej Times appreciated the artistic ambition and beautiful cinematography, describing the frames as "like Renaissance paintings coming alive." She praised Fawad Khan's performance but criticized the pacing and overuse of allegories, noting the series' slow pace akin to "live theater" and hoping for more cohesion in future episodes.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Barzakh trailer: Magical realism meets supernatural drama in Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed's new series". The Indian Express. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (1 July 2024). "Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed's 'Barzakh' Unveils Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed starrer 'Barzakh' released". Dunya News. 21 July 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Zindagi Gulzar Hai costars Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed to reunite for a web series". DAWN Images. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ Khan, Alizee Ali (19 June 2024). "Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed about to star in upcoming series 'Barzakh'". Aaj English TV. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "First look out for Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed starrer upcoming series 'Barzakh'". The Express Tribune. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (17 June 2024). "Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed's 'Barzakh' Sets Streaming Date (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "'Barzakh' starring Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed release date revealed". The Express Tribune. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Barzakh Trailer: Fawad Khan And Sanam Saeed Explore Love, Loss, And The Afterlife". NDTV. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "'Barzakh' to premiere in France on Mar 18 at Series Mania Festival". Business Recorder. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ Chakraborty, Debdutta (20 July 2024). "Pakistanis can't get enough of Barzakh's 1st episode—Fawad Khan show hailed as 'dark, stunning'". ThePrint. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ Mitra, Shilajit (20 July 2024). "'Barzakh' series review: Fawad Khan grounds a bewitching, overblown saga". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ Sarfraz, Hafsah (20 July 2024). "Profound, dark and visually stunning — Barzakh begins on a strong note". DAWN Images. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ Ajaz, Mahwash. "Barzakh Review: Pakistani actor Fawad Khan stands out in a puzzling tale of love and longing". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 21 July 2024.