Sang-e-Mah, a Pakistani drama TV series, marks the acting debut of renowned pop star Atif Aslam. This series is a spiritual continuation of the saga introduced in the Hum TV drama Sang-e-Mar Mar (2016). Directed by Saife Hassan and penned by Mustafa Afridi, Sang-e-Mah is a production of Momina Duraid.

Crew Details

• Director: Saife Hassan
• Writer: Mustafa Afridi
• Producer: Momina Duraid Productions

About the Drama

Sang-e-Mah serves as a spiritual sequel to the show Sang-e-Mar Mar (2016). The drama explores life in the Pakhtoon region of Pakistan, delving into hard-hitting topics like forced marriages and intricate family relationships. According to the director, Sang-e-Mah follows similar themes as its predecessor, forming part of a three-part trilogy, with the next planned show being Sang-e-Siyah.

Main Cast

• Atif Aslam as Hilmand Khan
• Nauman Ijaz as Haji Marjaan Khan
• Kubra Khan as Sheherzaad
• Hania Amir as Gul Meena
• Zaviyar Nauman Ijaz as Hikmat Khan
• Sania Saeed as Zarghuna
• Samiya Mumtaz as Zarsanga
• Omair Rana as Mastaan Singh
• Najiba Faiz as Harshaali Kaur
• Hassan Noman as Badam Gul

Plot Summary

Sang-e-Mah narrates the story of a dysfunctional Pakhtoon family in the tribal regions of Pakistan, where pride and honour often triumph over empathy and forgiveness. The show addresses issues such as young love and feuding families engaged in a tribal battle.

Spoiler Alert!

High Points

1. The final episode delivered a credible, thought-provoking, and entertaining finale to the Khan family saga from Laspiran. The conclusion was immensely satisfying, leaving viewers pondering long after the last image of the episode left the screen.
2. The final appearance of Marjaan Khan and his wife Zarsanga together was a highlight, with their on-screen chemistry and performances reaching another level.
3. The climactic scene at the Jirga was brilliantly presented and directed by Saife Hassan. The dialogues were mostly pitch perfect, including the “little white lie” by Hilmand to drive Masha’Allah Khan out of Laspiran once and for all.
4. Sang-e-Mah dared to leave its viewers with a tragic ending that would leave anyone cold with a lingering, haunting image of the two aged lovers, found leaning on one another and waiting for their reunion in the afterlife.

Sang-e-Mah Low Points

1. The Jirga and the impending problem of Gak were oversimplified, with the solution coming rather quickly with no real thought behind it.
2. Masa’Allah Khan should have been used more in the show. He was barely in a couple of episodes and even then, he showed more grit and tenacity than any antagonist in Sang-e-Mah.

Conclusion

Sang-e-Mah was engaging and at times, thought-provoking but with such a stellar cast of actors like Nauman Ijaz, Sania Saeed, Atif Aslam, Kubra Khan; it never reached the level of quality that it had every right to be. The production of the show was yet another home run for Momina Duraid productions as they prove time and time again that you do not need constant overbearing music in the background to provoke emotions out of your audience.

Great framing, excellent cinematography made Sang-e-Mah such a pleasant viewing. In conclusion, Sang-e-Mah was a show that had the potential to be a modern classic but sadly, settled to being just better than most current Pakistani shows. Lesser episodes, more sharper writing could have done wonders but that is not the show that we got to witness. What worked for the show, worked to its highest potential; what did not, left a permanent stain on its legacy.