Farar (transl. Escape) is a Pakistani television film directed by Mehreen Jabbar. It starred Marina Khan, Sania Saeed and Huma Nawab in leading roles. The film first broadcast on Pakistan Television Corporation in 1996, and later on Indus Vision. The film entails the journey of three friends from Karachi as they try to navigate love and their city.[1]

Farar
Original titleفرار
Screenplay byAzra Babar
Story by
Directed byMehreen Jabbar
Starring
Country of originPakistan
Original languageUrdu
Production
ProducerMehreen Jabbar
CinematographyAnu Malik
EditorPervaiz Piyar Ali
Production companyTasveer Productions
Original release
NetworkPakistan Television Corporation
Release1997 (1997)

Plot

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The telefilm revolves around three friends who are different from each other but are misfit in their respective places. Amber, a divorcee who lives with her mother and tries to earn some money to go abroad. She keeps working on different plans again and again but gets nothing. Natasha, lives in Amber house as her family is settled in London and works in an office. She loves Ali (who is already married) since her college days, who was his class-fellow then, and now his colleague. Tania, lives with her parents and often wants escape from her house as her parents are not happy with her artistic nature. She is fond of music and learns Kathak.

In her Kathak class, Tania gets impressed by Asad, a new guy in the class who is not shy about his hobbies. After days, they become familiar to each other and share a great bond as they are similar in nature. Tania decides to marry him but her parents are not willing for it just because of his love of dance.

Amber, who wants escape from her city due to her unpleasant memories for which she requires money, tries different businesses including carpet selling and real estate but gets deceived every time.

She along with Tania tries to explain Natasha that she is being used by Ali just for time pass but she doesn't care it due to fear of losing him. Ali too spends time with her and leads her on but didn't do any commitment about their relationship. Due to the pressure of her friends, Natasha one day questions him about her position in his life upon which he tries to satisfy her. She then realises herself after noticing him with his wife in a restaurant on the occasion of his marriage anniversary.

Tania's parents want Asad to give up his passion of Kathak to marry their daughter but she denies him to do so because she wants him to continue his passion.

Natasha decides to go London to her family, and her friends go to drop her at airport where Tania says her to comeback in Pakistan at her wedding and Amber tells them about her next plan of animal farming.

Cast

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Remake

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In April 2022, it was revealed that Jabbar has directed a web-series based on telefilm, and will be released on ZEE5. The web-series features Sarwat Gillani, Mariam Saleem and Maha Hassan in leading roles.[2][3]

Reception

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Critical reception

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The telefilm is often praised due to its feminist approach and unconventional female characters.[4][5]

A reviewer from The Nation praised the writer's approach to present the classical dance respectfully.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Web Desk (3 July 2020). "Do you remember watching this telefilm by Mehreen Jabbar?". Samaa TV.
  2. ^ "Mehreen Jabbar's 90s telefilm Farar is making a comeback 25 years later". DAWN Images. 2 April 2022.
  3. ^ "It's a wrap for Mehreen Jabbar's upcoming series 'Farar'". Something Haute. 12 October 2021. Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  4. ^ Muhammad Ali (17 November 2017). "Eleven ignored dramas of Marina Khan". nation.com.pk.
  5. ^ Afreen Seher (28 August 2022). "The golden age of television". The News. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  6. ^ Muhammad Ali (8 September 2017). "Mehreen Jabbar's Farar and the 7th episode of Farrukh Faiz's Dhund". nation.com.pk. Archived from the original on 12 November 2022.