:Barzakh (TV series)
{{Undisclosed paid|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Barzakh poster.jpg
| image_alt =
| caption =
| alt_name = برزخ
| genre = {{plainlist|
}}
| creator = Asim Abbasi
| showrunner =
| writer = Asim Abbasi
| screenplay =
| teleplay =
| story =
| director = Asim Abbasi
| presenter =
| starring = {{ubl|Fawad Khan|Sanam Saeed|Salman Shahid}}
| executive_producer = Shailja Kejriwal
| producer = {{ubl|Shailja Kejriwal|Waqas Hassan}}
| cinematography = Mo Azmi
| theme_music_composer =
| music =
| open_theme =
| end_theme =
| composer =
| country = Pakistan
| language = Urdu
| num_seasons = 1
| num_series =
| num_episodes = 6
| list_episodes =
| runtime =
| company =
| network = Zindagi
| first_aired = {{Start date|2024|07|19|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2024|08|06|df=y}}
}}
Barzakh is a 2024 Pakistani fantasy drama television series directed and written by Asim Abbasi. 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.{{cite news |last1=Ramachandran |first1=Naman |title=Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed's 'Barzakh' Unveils Trailer (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/global/asia/fawad-khan-sanam-saeed-barzakh-trailer-1236057535/ |access-date=12 July 2024 |work=Variety |date=1 July 2024}}
Cast
- Fawad Khan as Shehryar
- Sanam Saeed as Scheherezade
- Salman Shahid as Jafar Khanzada; Afroz and Firdaus husband; Mahtab lover
- Khushhal Khan as young Jafar Khanzada
- Faiza Gillani as Tasleem
- Eman Suleman as Leena
- Anika Zulfikar as Mahtab
- Sajid Hassan as Jabbar
- Muhammad Fawad Khan as Saifullah
- Uzma Beg as Afroz; Jafar second wife; Shehryar mother
- Nighat Chaudhary as Firdaus; Jafar first wife; Saifullah mother
Production
The Pakistani and Indian co-produced series was first announced in December 2021. 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.{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=Alizee Ali |title=Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed about to star in upcoming series 'Barzakh' |url=https://english.aaj.tv/news/330365974/fawad-khan-and-sanam-saeed-about-to-star-in-upcoming-series-barzakh |access-date=12 July 2024 |work=Aaj English TV |date=19 June 2024 |language=en}}
On 16 June 2024, the network ZEE5 announced the release date of the series.{{cite news |last1=Ramachandran |first1=Naman |title=Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed's 'Barzakh' Sets Streaming Date (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/fawad-khan-sanam-saeed-barzakh-streaming-1236039309/ |access-date=12 July 2024 |work=Variety |date=17 June 2024}}
Release
Its first episode premiered on 19 July 2024 on Zee5 and the YouTube channel of Zee Zindagi.{{cite news |last1=Chakraborty |first1=Debdutta |title=Pakistanis can't get enough of Barzakh's 1st episode—Fawad Khan show hailed as 'dark, stunning' |url=https://theprint.in/go-to-pakistan/pakistanis-cant-get-enough-of-barzakhs-1st-episode-fawad-khan-show-hailed-as-dark-stunning/2183081/ |access-date=21 July 2024 |work=ThePrint |date=20 July 2024}}
Reception
= Critical response =
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.{{cite news |last1=Mitra |first1=Shilajit |title='Barzakh' series review: Fawad Khan grounds a bewitching, overblown saga |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/barzakh-series-review-fawad-khan-grounds-a-bewitching-overblown-saga/article68424866.ece |access-date=21 July 2024 |work=The Hindu |date=20 July 2024 |language=en-IN}}
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."{{cite news |last1=Sarfraz |first1=Hafsah |title=Profound, dark and visually stunning — Barzakh begins on a strong note |url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1192589 |access-date=21 July 2024 |work=DAWN Images |date=20 July 2024 |language=en}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Ajaz |first1=Mahwash |title=Barzakh Review: Pakistani actor Fawad Khan stands out in a puzzling tale of love and longing |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/reviews/movie-reviews/barzakh-review-fawad-khan-stands-out-in-a-puzzling-tale-of-love-and-loss |access-date=21 July 2024 |work=Khaleej Times |language=en}}
= Backlash =
Within two weeks of its release, Barzakh received severe criticism over its LGBTQ-themed content from its viewers in Pakistan.{{Cite web |last=Style |first=BR Life & |date=2024-08-06 |title=Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed's 'Barzakh' to be pulled from YouTube Pakistan over public backlash |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40316164 |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=Brecorder |language=en}} The homosexual love angle was not taken lightly by the audience and it was decided by the production to remove the series from YouTube. An official statement was issued to remove Barzakh from YouTube Pakistan on 9 August 2024.{{Cite web |last1=ProximateSolutions.com |first1=Design and Code by |last2=Alex |first2=Daniel |date=2024-08-12 |title=The Barzakh Backlash and Withdrawal from YouTube Among Fans' Furious Response |url=https://voguevocal.com/the-barzakh-backlash-and-withdrawal-from-youtube-among-fans-furious-response/ |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=Vogue Vocal |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |author=News Desk |date=2024-08-06 |title='Barzakh' to be pulled from YouTube Pakistan after backlash |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2486043/barzakh-to-be-pulled-from-youtube-pakistan-after-backlash |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}