Barzakh Show Review: I needed a few hours of soaking in before I could dive into reviewing Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed’s new show, Barzakh. Although I got to watch only two episodes of Asim Abbasi’s show, it was enough to help me learn that the filmmaker — behind the outstanding film Cake and impressive series Churails — has an insane artistic vision board in front of him and is ready to take us on a mesmerising yet haunting tale. However, fair warning, Abbasi asks you to surrender to his vision, otherwise, you might just get lost in its valley.
Let’s begin with what Barzakh is. To start off, Barzakh means Limboland (as shown in the subtitles of the show) is a Pakistani supernatural television series. Set in the ‘Land of Nowhere’, the show follows the journey of an old man, Jafar Khanzada (played by Salman Shahid) who is preparing to marry the ghost of his first true love. As he prepares for his third wedding, which he proudly declares is his ‘final’ wedding, his sons from his first two marriages — Shehryar (Fawad Khan) and Saifullah (M Fawad Khan) — join him to witness the ceremony.
As the episodes play out, we learn that the sons also come with their own share of baggage, each explored in an episode. While the family tackles their issues, we also witness a suspicious Scheherezade (Sanam Saeed) doubling up as a Mahtab Mahal manager (the lavish property that has a questionable past behind it) who doesn’t seem like just another caretaker. Asim, who has also written the show, sprinkles some pink magic powder that adds souls wandering, the mountains holding secrets and mysterious events into the mix of the show, making it a haunting experience.
While I cannot get into the details of the show to avoid spoilers, I can tell you that Barzakh is a refreshing take on supernatural shows from South Asia. Asim Abbasi intertwines the mystery of the mountains with dysfunctional family issues to give us a delicious slice of cake. Barzakh shines in its writing, Asim carefully layered the show, presenting several sub-texts that fully make sense when you finish an episode. There were scenes, especially in the second episode, that had me rewinding and watching it again once the whole episode ended.
The characters are also explored like onions, with Asim peeling their past, present and possible future one layer at a time. This not only gives the episode the much-needed depth but also enriches the viewing experience. What I enjoyed the most about this writing style is that instead of overlapping everyone’s story in an episode, especially since there are four core subjects of the show, Asim dedicated each episode to one character, letting you see the subject from every perspective.
With so much open to unpack, it could feel like the show is heavy but Asim seamlessly packs it all in within 50 minutes. The pace works brilliantly in the storytelling. Asim is supported well by the cinematography, editing and music. Barzakh is shot in the Hunza Valley and cinematographer Mo Azmi has captured it beautifully. The show lets the valley shine in all its glory while using the emptiness of the night to add the uneasiness required to give the show a spooky touch. To top it off, the VFX are done smoothly, making you want to watch the show on the big screen.
Barzakh wouldn’t be what it is if it weren’t for its cast. Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed are undoubtedly one of the most drawing factors of the show. However, the first two episodes merely teased the big potential they have in the upcoming episodes. Fawad’s scenes with his on-screen son, especially the one in the second episode’s climax, are my favourite. On the other hand, Sanam casts a magical spell on you with her presence and performance in the show.
However, for those who are watching the show just for Fawad and Sanam are in for a disappointment because the first two episodes do not give them enough screen time together. While Fawad and Sanam have their moments to shine, the first two episodes belong to Fawad’s namesake, M Fawad Khan (who plays the older brother in the show) and Salman Shahid (who plays the father). Given that the two episodes are dedicated to their characters, their performances shine out and out. Fawad’s subtle yet powerful performance lingers long after the show ends while Salman gets under your skin with his portrayal.
Bottomline: Barzakh is a poetic of art, beautifully told supernatural story. However, it might not suit everyone’s palette. If you enjoy your share of Pakistani shows and are ready to give it some time, Barzakh might grow on you.
Barzakh is a six-episode long series that will air each episode on Tuesdays and Fridays on ZEE5 and Zindagi YouTube.
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