Aashti
{{Short description|Television series}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Aashti.jpg
| caption = Title screen
| alt_name =
| genre = Romance
Family drama
| writer = Seema Ghazal
| based_on =
| director = Adnan Wai Qureshi
| starring = Resham
Faisal Qureshi
Humayun Saeed
Madiha Iftikhar
Sajid Hasan
Fahad Mustafa
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
| composer =
| country = Pakistan
| language = Urdu
| num_episodes = 27
| producer = Mehroz Karim
| executive_producer =
| editor =
| location = Karachi, Pakistan
| cinematography =
| camera =
| runtime = 45 minutes
| company =
| channel = Hum TV
| first_aired = {{Start date|df=yes|2009|03|22}}
| last_aired = {{End date|df=yes|2009|09|27}}
}}
Aashti ({{langx|ur| آشتى}}) is a Pakistani drama television series that was aired on Hum TV. The producer is Mehroz Karim; it is written by Seema Ghazal and directed by Adnan Wai Qureshi.{{cite web|title=Adnan Wai Qureshi |url=http://urduwire.com/people/Adnan-Wai-Qureshi_571.aspx |work=Urdu Wire |access-date=25 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522052551/http://urduwire.com/people/Adnan-Wai-Qureshi_571.aspx |archive-date=22 May 2012 }} Aashti depicts the lives of Bengalis settled in Pakistan, showcasing their lifestyle.{{cite web|title=Pakistani dramas that once appealed to every group have now glued themselves to feminist issues only|url=https://nation.com.pk/22-May-2017/pakistani-dramas-that-once-appealed-to-every-age-group-have-now-glued-themselves-to-feminist-issues-only|work=The Nation|accessdate=2021-01-15| author = Muhammad Ali | date = May 22, 2017}}
Plot
Aashti is a Bengali girl working as a maid for a wealthy family. Despite being engaged to Nazr-ul-Islam, Aashti has secret feelings for the family's son, Abrash, who supports her dreams and encourages her to pursue education.
However, Aashti's world is turned upside down when she discovers Abrash's impending marriage to Zarnish. After their marriage, their relationship faces challenges, Zarnish departs for London, with Abrash following close behind to resolve their issues once and for all.
Due to some circumstances, Aashti also travelles to London, where Abrash's father Ali Alam, also arrives who complicates the matter further.
Cast
- Resham as Aashti{{cite web| url=https://niche.com.pk/resham-s-classic-tv-dramas-to-binge-watch/ | title=Resham 's Classic Tv Dramas to Binge-watch!! | access-date=February 5, 2021 | work=Niche | date = April 19, 2020| author= Ifra Abbas |archive-date= March 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309010058/https://niche.com.pk/resham-s-classic-tv-dramas-to-binge-watch/ }}
- Faysal Quraishi{{Cite news|url=https://reviewit.pk/resham-and-faysal-qureshi-in-an-upcoming-drama/|title=Resham and Faysal Qureshi in an upcoming drama|work=reviewit.pk|accessdate=2021-01-15|language=en}} as Nazar ul Islam
- Humayun Saeed as Abrash
- Sajid Hasan as Ali Alam; Abrash's father
- Seemi Pasha as Sherry; Abrash's mother
- Angeline Malik as Zarnish; Abrash's father
- Madiha Iftikhar as Aqeela; Saeed's wife
- Fahad Mustafa{{Cite news|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/162453-these-pakistani-celebrities-transformations-will-leave-you|title=These Pakistani celebrity transformations will leave you speechless|access-date=2018-10-01|language=en-US}} as Saeed ul Islam; Aqeela's husband
- Salma Zafar as Zamani, Nazar and Saeed's mother
- Parveen Akbar as Jameela, Aashti's mother
- Sohail Asghar as Aashti's father
- Waqar Kayani as Saeed and Nazar's father
- Rashid Farooqui
- Farah Nadir as Khala
Production
Mustafa describes the role as his "filthiest role and also the best experience of his career". Playing Saeed ul Islam, a Karachi-based Bengali poor worker, he became deeply immersed in the character, often adopting Bangla undertones in his speech even after filming.{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/518704/firstperson-fabulously-fahad |title=Firstperson: Fabulously Fahad |date=February 7, 2010 |work=Dawn.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217132338/https://www.dawn.com/news/518704/firstperson-fabulously-fahad |archive-date=17 December 2024 |url-status=live}}
Reception
=Critical reception=
In a review by Herald, the reviewer praised the series for its authentic portrayal of Bengali culture and attention to detail, but criticizes the script for relying on clichés and unnecessary plot complications.{{cite journal |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date=January 2010 |title= DRAMA Aashti - review |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rfDuQQI3ml4C&q=aashti |journal=The Herald |volume=41 |issue=1-2 |pages=1 |doi= |access-date= 23 December 2024 |quote=Among the plethora of dramas offered by Hum TV, "Aashti" caught the viewers' attention for its unusual theme - the Bengali community in Pakistan, providing a rare insight into the lives of an immigrant people who usually do not register on the radar of society because of their illegal status and relative poverty. But an unusual theme and good intentions do not make for an equally good play. So the scriptwriter's inability to avoid the usual pitfalls (or shall we say the essential masala) meant that the main storyline was-ho-hum- a love triangle. Aashti (Resham) who works as a maid in Ali Alam's house (Sajid Hasan) is smitten by her employer's son Abraazh (Humayun Saeed) who in turn adores and marries his fiancée Zernish (Angeline Malik). But a few twists of fate later, Aashti becomes Abraazh's stepmother- apparently in the world of scriptwriters, complicated is good. Nonetheless, the play's strength lay in its effort to offer an authentic depiction of immigrant Bengali culture and language; the attention to make-up and wardrobe was meticulous. And just for that the relatively unknown director Adnan Wai Qureshi and producer Mehroz Karim have to be given credit. Maybe next time, they could also work equally hard at the storyline.}}
= Accolades =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! Year ! Award ! Category ! Recipient(s) / nominee(s) ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
| rowspan="4"|2010
! scope="row" rowspan="4"|Lux Style Awards | Best Television Play - Satellite | Aashti | {{Nom}} |
| Best Television Writer
| {{Nom}} |
| Best Television Director
| Adnan Wai Qureshi | {{Nom}} |
| Best Television Actress - Satellite
| Resham | {{Nom}} |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}