Great Expectations

Pinjra, a new TV serial currently on air, addresses the challenges associated with children’s socio-psychological and educational upbringing in relation to parental aspirations

As things take place in today’s fast-paced world, parents often desire to see their children excel in their academic and professional lives and rightly so. However, the ways to achieve such great expectations are replete with a host of challenges and are not straightforward, thus reflecting a dilemma between an earnest desire and the road to its fulfilment.

Addressing the challenges associated with children’s socio-psychological and educational upbringing, Pinjra, a new TV serial currently on air, is primarily based on parental issues that are otherwise glorified in the name of love in a society like ours.

The TV serial Pinjra is also a tribute to late playwright Asma Nabeel who succumbed to cancer in July 2021. In her splendid writing career, Asma Nabeel penned down many hit TV serials such as Khaani, Khuda Mera Bhi Hai, Baandi, Damsa and Surkh Chandni as well as Pinjra with an overarching social theme laced with a lesson for everyone. A co-production of Wajahat Rauf and Shazia Wajahat, Pinjra is directed by Najaf Bilgrami who has previously worked on Damsa, written by Asma Nabeel.

A refreshing addition to primetime TV shows, Pinjra boasts of close-to-reality characters that are relatable and can easily be found in every family. The serial features helicopter parents who are over-involved in their children’s lives to the extent of sacrificing their individual needs. The young teenagers, in marked contrast, have a different way to cope with their challenges and achieve their dreams. Because of its unique storyline, the TV serial is exceptional since it beautifully highlights the emotional, behavioural and social struggle of young children from the prism of their own experiences.

Omair Rana as Javed seems to have done justice to his character as whenever he is on the screen, there is an obvious tension prevailing around. Javed, as a stubborn father, regards his way of parenting as the best way to help his children grow. However, his children, especially his youngest son Aaban, despise him because of his strict parenting style.

Aaban, unlike his other siblings, is not the apple of his parents’ eye since he loves music and art in place of fully dedicating himself to studies. The verbal and physical torture at the hands of his parents leads him down into darkness, which is evident through his paintings. The way Pinjra has highlighted the mental struggle of a talented child is nothing short of brilliance.

Hadiqa Kiani as Khadeeja is winning the audience’s hearts with her adorable performance as a progressively forlorn hope and the feeling of desperate uneasiness in her character shows her relentless pursuit of raising her children along with the well-established social norms characterized by better-paid jobs, sound career growth and a lavish life.

The spectacular screenplay by Najaf Bilgrami is visually pleasing and the script lines are well-written. Highlighting a stark contrast between two families applying different parenting approaches, the main theme of Pinjra revolves around ‘trust,’ an essential element in any relationship.

The writer did a commendable job in making the youth more aware of themselves and of their prevailing surroundings that lead to teenage tantrums and associated outbursts as well as some unavoidable rivalries among siblings.

-Ends