Golden Hours: My favourite Drama ''Daam''

Have you been noticing how our dramas have become regressive and downright irritating? Personally, I think television is releasing the same old repetitive junk. However, a drama serial released in 2010 named "Daam" defied all norms. How? You may ask. It features a simple yet moralistic storyline and developed characters who are going to win your hearts for sure.

Directed by Mehreen Jabbar and penned down by Umera Ahmed, I think this drama is a model for drama makers today. People like you and me have no interest in the annoying and archaic "mother-in-law against daughter in law" drama. We wish to see something we can connect with. Am I right? The drama revolves around two friends named Zara and Maliha from entirely different social backgrounds. They are supportive and have each other's back. But conflict arises when Zara falls in love with Maliha's brother. You might be thinking that what is so unique about this plot. It is the same old story about broken hearts after all. Well, I am here to tell you that there are several layers to the story which cannot be described in mere words. Every character has a nuance. No character is completely angelic nor is someone completely a devil. Talk about representing actual humans rather than caricatures.

Moving on to the performances, everyone has nailed their portrayal. Zara played by Sanam Baloch is a headstrong yet introverted girl who wishes to support her family. I think Sanam Baloch is one of the finest actors we have in Pakistan. I think no one is as refined as her in terms of acting.

 
We normally see many damsels in distresses in dramas nowadays but Zara prioritized self-respect above everything. Strong women in Pakistani dramas??? I was also as surprised as you when I saw the nuances of this character. Maliha played by Aamina Sheikh has nailed it by playing a grey character. Though she is a supportive and encouraging friend, jealousy took hold of her when she found out about her best friend and brother. Relatable right? Jealousy is a powerful emotion which kills every logic. I think this is Amina's best performance as she delved into the character. I want her to return to the industry because she has so much to offer in terms of acting abilities. Adeel Hussain played Junaid who is the typical boy next door in love with his sister's best friend. I love how restrained his acting was. Even he was shouting and had an outburst, it did not seem too over the top. You and I would agree on the fact that actors tend to emote a bit too much which makes their acting lose its purpose. Sanam Saeed played Fiza who was the antagonist of the drama and a product of a broken family. I want Sanam Saeed to do more negative roles because she just excels in them. The anger, the frustration, and the sarcasm were perfect. All the actors did an excellent job.

I think I talked a bit too much about the performances. Let us move onto the plot. The plot is so developed and in depth that not a single scene is dragged. You all know how irritating it is when dramas are dragged incessantly. This was not the case in Daam and every single scene and dialogue had a purpose. I was in awe with the use of metaphors such as the locket which stated how we put a "price" on relationships. Daam is a story about the intricacies of friendship. It talks about how we do not tend to listen to the other perspective and form our own judgements. I am not going to give away spoilers since I do not want to give it away to you all. Trust me I am restraining myself. The side tracks are also not baseless and do align with the central plot such as the track of Zara's sister. With only 18 episodes, Daam is a beautifully concocted plot. You do get a bit teary eyed when the story moves to "7 years later" but that is just the beauty of it.

I can talk for days about the OST. It is pleasant and soothing. The groovy vibe of the song makes you vibe with it. The tune is so nostalgic it transfers you back to 2010, when times were simpler. The lyrics written by Muhammad Ahmed are so deep they make you think twice. The vocals by Zeb and Haniya were so youthful and soft.

 
I understand that our dramas are not everyone's cup of tea. But I assure you, you would not regret seeing this drama and it would remain with you for eternity. It is definitely worth watching. I think it is one of those drama classics which needs to be preserved. People tend to talk a lot about the dramas of the 1980s and although they were excellent, I personally think that dramas of the early 2010s are also magical to say the least.