Dunk (Urdu: ڈنک, lit. 'Sting') is a Pakistani drama serial that premiered on 23 December 2020 on ARY Digital. It deals with the false allegations of harassment and stars Bilal Abbas Khan as Haider, Sana Javed as Amal, Yasra Rizvi as Saira and Noman Ijaz as Professor Humayun.[1] The serial has been written by Mohsin Ali and directed by Badar Mehmood, the duo who previously collaborated for mega-hits, Aisi Hai Tanhai and Ishqiya.[2][3] According to producer Fahad Mustafa, the series is based on a real incident in Lahore. The story is inspired by an incident that took place in MAO college, Lahore, where a professor committed suicide over false harassment allegations by a student.[4]
| Dunk | |
|---|---|
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| Written by | Mohsin Ali |
| Directed by | Badar Mehmood |
| Starring | |
| Theme music composer | Background Score: Salmaan Khan Deniss Tanveer Sk Studio |
| Country of origin | Pakistan |
| Original language | Urdu |
| No. of episodes | 32 |
| Production | |
| Producers | Dr. Ali Kazmi Fahad Mustafa |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera setup |
| Production company | Big Bang Entertainment |
| Original release | |
| Network | ARY Digital |
| Release | 23 December 2020 – 7 August 2021 |
The series has received mixed reviews from critics who called the story drag and annoying and also criticised the director for using very loud sound sequences. Most praise the performances of Yasra Rizvi and Bilal Abbas Khan.[5][2][6]
Plot edit
The story revolves around a university where a student Amal Faraz accuses her Professor Humayun for harassing her, and everyone supports her to fight back, including her fiancée Haider Nawaz. After a while, it is revealed that Amal made a false accusation on her Professor as in to save her fiance Haider as he had accidentally sent some inappropriate photos and videos to a female professor, Professor Anjum, the real scene that took place was that Amal asked Professor Humayun to forgive Haider. When he declines, she locks the door and harasses him and tells him she will ruin his life by accusing him of harassment and she scatters the things in the room and leaves.
Professor Humayun and Amal have one last conversation before the innocent professor walks out of the inquiry committee and leaves the university. Having no proof of his innocence and as he has mentally lost the war, he commits suicide. The news disheartens Haider as it is revealed that he heard the last conversation between Professor Humayun and Amal and he found out Amal's truth. On Haider and Amal's wedding evening, Haider decides not to marry Amal because of her false accusations against Professor Humayun. He is kicked out of his house by his father Nawaz.
Amal marries Safeer Nawaz, Haider's elder brother on one condition that is to bring Haider back to the house. After a while, Haider marries Minal, Amal's friend, and gets kicked out of the house again after Amal accuses him of raping her. Haider then tells Minal the truth about Professor Humayun. Safeer also finds out the truth and divorces Amal in court.
Haider takes Amal to an abandoned place and keeps her there in isolation until morning to collect some proofs, when Haider shows Amal's father Faraz a video of Amal confessing the truth to Haider which was recorded by Sultan, Haider's friend. Heartbroken after learning the truth about his daughter's actions, Faraz commits suicide and his wife goes to court and slaps Amal in front of everyone.
Amal then confesses to her crimes and is sentenced to ten years in prison, 5 years for the falsely accusing Professor Humayun and another five for false accusations against Haider. She goes to jail after Faraz's funeral. Haider, Nawaz, Safeer, Nawaz's wife Saba, and Minal reconcile. The show ends with Saira, Professor Humayun's wife, putting flowers on his grave.
Cast edit
- Bilal Abbas Khan as Haider Nawaz, Minal's husband
- Sana Javed as Amal Faraz, Safeer's wife
- Azekah Daniel as Minal Nawaz, Haider's wife
- Yasra Rizvi as Saira, Humayun's wife
- Nauman Ijaz as Professor Humayun (Dead)
- Laila Wasti as Saba Nawaz, Haider and Safeer's mother
- Saife Hassan as Faraz (Dead)
- Fahad Shaikh as Safeer Nawaz
- Salma Hassan as Mahnoor Faraz
- Kanwal Khan as Maha Faraz
- Gul-e-Rana as Aapa Bi
- Zarmeena Ikram as Ayesha
- Shahood Alvi as Nawaz, Haider and Safeer's father
- Annie Zaidi as Ms. VC (Vice-Chancellor)
- Tara Mahmood as Professor Anjum
- Khalid Zafar as Professor
- Fahima Awan as Saman, (Minal's sister-in-law)
- Rashid Farooqui as Amal's lawyer
- Usman Bashir as Judge
Awards and nominations edit
Lux Style Awards edit
| Ceremony | Categories | Recipients | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21st Lux Style Awards[7] | Best TV Actor-Viewers' Choice | Bilal Abbas Khan | Nominated |
| Best TV Actor-Critics' Choice |
Fuchsia Awards edit
| Date of Ceremony | Award | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2, 2022 | Fuchsia Magazine Awards | Best Negative Character (Female) | Sana Javed | Won | [8] |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Noman Ijaz chooses to keep mum about backlash on 'Dunk'". Daily Times Pakistan. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Episode One: Dunk is a multi-layered drama full of powerful performances". Something Haute. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
- ^ Waqas, Maliha (23 July 2020). "Sana Javed & Bilal Abbas are coming together in drama 'Dunk'". The Nation (Pakistan). Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (25 October 2019). "Lecturer's suicide over sexual harassment allegations: HED probe finds college principal negligent". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "Teaser review: Dunk has blockbuster written all over it". Something Haute. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ "5 dramas that are ruling our TV screens". Cutacut. 26 February 2021.
- ^ "LSA 2022: And the nominees are..." The Express Tribune. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ FUCHSIA, Team (31 December 2021). "FUCHSIA Awards 2021 – And The Award Goes To…". Fuchsia Magazine. Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.