Mazhar Moin
Pakistani television director

Mazhar Moin is a Pakistani television director who has worked in a number of genres, often exploring themes of the lower-middle class, disability, and marginalized communities with social commentary. He has been described as a "new wave" director, because of his departure from the melodramatic portrayals of wealthy characters prevalent in Pakistani television, by focusing on low-middle class stories.[1][2]  Moin has worked with a range of sensitive subjects such as homosexuality and transgender issues; as well as the concerns and experiences of minorities and marginalized communities in Karachi, such as Christians and Hindus.[1]

Career

Quddusi Sahab Ki Bewah

Quddusi Sahab Ki Bewah is based on the tele-film "Raunaq Jehan ka Nafsiyati Gharana" by the same Moin and Fasih Bari Khan team.[3] It is a social commentary on the middle class and lower middle classes, their changing social spaces, and their engagement with the traditional models of culture and language.[3]

The 'sharif' (respectable) but lower middle-class family headed by Shakooran, the Bewah (widow) of Quddusi Sahab, lives as an illegal occupant of the downstairs portion of their landlord's house. The Bihari landlord Aleemuddin's family lives upstairs and consists of his 2 wives, a son and daughter, and his "Pashto, Urdu and wannabe-English-speaking" daughter-in-law, Rooh Afza.[4]

It is language and the social conflicts between the two households that drives the various plots in the drama.[3]

Hina Dilpazir plays multiple characters - Shakooran, Badraka Jahan, Rooh Afza, Bengali baji, Nazima Khatoon (Aleemuddin's sister), Nazeer Khan (the ill-mannered street rat), Tina Gul (Rooh Afza's mother), Elaichi (the transgender servant) and Tamizini.[5]

Sirf Tum

The 2023 serial Sirf Tum is a love story of two cousins Hannan (played by Hamza Sohail) and Abeer (played by Anmol Baloch). It was criticized for 2 scenes; the first for the depiction of drinking alcohol and the second relating to a bedroom scene.[6][7]

Meem Kahani

The Meem Kahani channel on YouTube is where Moin's short-form and more controversial content is released. This consists of a number of short plays, up to 18 minutes in length, and allows for the exploration of "taboo subjects" that the Pakistani regulators would not allow on television.[1][8] For example, Plum Cake is a short film about Rosie a Christian lady, her son Robert and their friendship with Usman who lives with them as a paying guest. Rosie is looking for the perfect bride for her son, but is unaware that the two boys are having an affair.

Professional collaborations

Moin's career has seen several collaborations.

His oldest artistic partnership is with writer Fasih Bari Khan,[9] with whom he has worked on numerous projects, including "Quddusi Sahab Ki Bewah", "Burns Road Ki Nilofer", "Saraye Ghat Ki Farzana", "Faltu Larki", "Behkawa" and "Kitna Satatay Ho". [10] Fasih Bari Khan is known for his exploration of social issues, and their collaborations often explore these themes with a blend of comedy and realism.[9][11] Khan explains that "Mazhar and l are child­hood friends. Our proj­ects are born over a ran­dom cup of tea".[12] Moin has directed many of Bari's screenplays,[11] to critical approval, with Burns Road ki Nilofer being described in 2012 as a "zenith of their collaboration".[13]

Hina Dilpazeer is an character actress who has worked with Moin in "Quddusi Sahab Ki Bewah"[14] and "Burns Road Ki Nilofer". Dilpazeer's versatility and comedic talents have combined successfully with Moin's style.[15] She gained recognition for portraying more than 12 different characters in Moin's directed play "Quddusi Sahab Ki Bewah", where she also contributed to costume and make-up design.[16]

Moin has established a strong professional relationship with the production house 7th Sky Entertainment, led by Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi. He has directed several commercially successful series under their banner, including "Dil Awaiz" "Shahrukh Ki Saliyan," "Bajjo," "Nisa," and "Thori Sazish Thori Mudakhlat". Moin has said that working with 7th Sky Entertainment allowed him to "work openly".[17][18] However, despite this close working relationship, Moin has had to release his more controversial work independently on his YouTube channel, 'Meem Kahani'.

Filmography

Title Year Notes
Burns Road Ki Nilofer 2006/2008 Comedy-drama[13]
Raunaq Jehan ka Nafsiyati Gharana 2010 Comedy/Drama[19]
Behkawa 2012 LGBT life[20]
Quddusi Sahab Ki Bewah[21] 2012-2014 Black comedy
Mithu Aur Aapa 2014 Comedy
Aik Aur Aurat 2010 Drama[2]
Taare Ankaboot 2014 Drama[22]
Saraye Ghat Ki Farzana 2014 Comedy
Kitna Satatay Ho 2015 Romantic drama
Chhappar Phaar Kay 2016 Family drama
Iss Khamoshi Ka Matlab 2016 Family/Romantic drama
Faltu Larki 2016 Family drama[23]
Iltija 2017 Drama about disability[24]
Piyari Bittu 2017-2018 Family drama about Alzheimer's
Haiwan 2018 Social awareness drama about child abuse
Shahrukh Ki Saliyan 2019-2020 Romantic comedy
Meherposh 2020 Romantic drama
Dour 2021 Drama[25]
Romantic Razia 2021 Romantic comedy telefilm[26]
Dil Awaiz 2022 Drama[27]
Kanpain Tang Rahi Hain 2022 Comedy telefilm[28][29]
Nisa 2022 Drama about women's rights
Thori Sazish Thori Mudakhlat 2022 Independence Day telefilm/Historical drama
Sirf Tum 2023 Drama
Jimmy Ki Ayegi Baraat 2023 Comedy telefilm
Plum Cake 2023 LGBTQ+ short film/Drama[30][31]
Bajjo 2024 Family drama
Mehroom 2024 Drama
Bahar Nagar 2025 Light entertainment[32]

References

  1. ^ a b c Tahir, Nabil (2022-12-03). "Stories that need to be told | The Express Tribune". tribune.com.pk. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  2. ^ a b Ahmad, Fouzia Nasir (2014-05-04). "Bringing Roohi Bano back". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  3. ^ a b c Khan, Razak (2023-05-04). "Muslim Household, Nation and Urdu in Television Dramas of Pakistan". South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies. 46 (3): 521–538. doi:10.1080/00856401.2023.2193922. ISSN 0085-6401. Archived from the original on 2023-05-30. Alt URL
  4. ^ Arshad, Ali (2013-02-17). "Quddusi Saheb Ki Bewah ARY Full Drama Review". TV Kahani. Archived from the original on 2013-05-08.
  5. ^ Mujeeb, Rakshinda (2013-04-06). "Quddusi Sahab Ki Bewah will have you in fits of laughter". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  6. ^ "In Issue Two Of Its Urdu-Language Magazine 'Banat-e-Khadijah,' Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Criticizes Pakistani Women's Participation In 'Miss Pakistan' Beauty Pageant: 'Dear Pakistani Sisters! Stay Vigilant And Play A Role In Protecting Your Future Generations From These Evils'". MEMRI. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  7. ^ TV, Brit Asia (2023-07-28). "Pakistani Drama Criticised Over Bedroom Scene". BritAsia TV. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  8. ^ "'Bheetar': First teaser of Pakistani short film on lesbian relationship unveiled". Daily Pakistan English News. 2023-01-02. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  9. ^ a b "In Conversation with Faseeh Bari Khan". The Friday Times. 2020-08-14. Archived from the original on 2022-12-02. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
  10. ^ Ali, Muhammad (2022-02-02). "Celebrating popular Pakistani director Mazhar Moin". Minute Mirror. Archived from the original on 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
  11. ^ a b "As a young man, I wanted to write short stories, not dramas and films: Faseeh Bari Khan". Daily Times (Pakistan). 2018-05-12. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  12. ^ Ahmad, Fouzia Nasir (2014-05-18). "First person: The world according to Bari". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  13. ^ a b Naqvi, Ahmer (2012-12-05). "Burns Road ki Nilofer and the YouTube ban". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 2024-12-22. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  14. ^ Salamat, Sajid (2021-04-10). "Hina Dilpazeer's performance in 'Quddusi Sahab Ki Bewah' gets viral trend treatment". Daily Times. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  15. ^ Haider, Sadaf; Siddique, Sadaf (2014-12-30). "Drama Poll 2014 results: 'Pyaray Afzal' dominates Pakistani television". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 2024-12-03. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
  16. ^ Jahan, Kaukab. ""I should be able to enjoy my characters before conveying them to the audience" - Hina Dilpazeer". The News International. Archived from the original on 2024-08-04. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  17. ^ "ہدایت کار مظہر معین کا شاہ کار ڈراما دِل آویز" [Director Mazhar Moin's masterpiece drama "Dil Awaiz"]. Daily Jang (in Urdu). Pakistan. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  18. ^ "7th Sky | Director Mazhar Moin's masterpiece drama "Dil Awaiz"– English translation of the JANG article in Urdu". Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  19. ^ "7th Sky | Ronaq Jahan Ka Nafsiyati Gharana". Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  20. ^ Ali, Asad; Ali, Kamran Asdar, eds. (2023-05-04). Towards Peoples' Histories in Pakistan: (In)audible Voices, Forgotten Pasts. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 141. ISBN 978-1-350-26120-4.
  21. ^ "11 Iconic Pakistani Comedy Dramas That Will Keep You Laughing". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
  22. ^ "7th Sky | Taare Ankboot". Retrieved 2025-06-27.
  23. ^ "New drama Faltu Larki aims to unveil society's sinister manipulation of women". Images. 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  24. ^ Ahmad, Fouzia Nasir (2017-06-02). "Difficult to find actors for a TV serial about Down's Syndrome, says Ilteja director Mazhar Moin". Images. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  25. ^ "The dynamic duo Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi release 'Dour'". Daily Times (Pakistan). 2021-06-29. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  26. ^ Romantic Razia (2021). Retrieved 2025-12-29 – via letterboxd.com.
  27. ^ "ڈرامہ سیریل "دِل آویز" کی آج آخری قسط". jang.com.pk (in Urdu). Archived from the original on 2025-06-12. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
  28. ^ "WATCH: Bilawal Bhutto owns, explains 'Kanpain Tang Rahi Hain'". Global Village Space. 2022-03-18. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
  29. ^ ""Kaanpain Taang Rahi Hain," an upcoming Eid movie, with the following storyline: | NEXT TV". 2022-04-18. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
  30. ^ "Plum Cake". cgiii.com. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
  31. ^ Meem Kahani (2024-01-05). Plum Cake [Short Film] || Meem Kahani || Mazhar Moin || Fouzia Nasir Ahmed ||. Retrieved 2025-06-30 – via YouTube.
  32. ^ Haider, Sadaf (2025-08-31). "THE TUBE". Dawn. Archived from the original on 25 Dec 2025. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
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