''Durr-e-Shehwar'' is an

Urdu Urdu (;"Urdu"
''

Umera Ahmad Umera Ahmed ( Punjabi, ur, ) is a Pakistani writer, author and screenwriter. She is best known for her novels and plays ''Shehr-e-Zaat'', ''Pir-e-Kamil'', ''Zindagi Gulzar Hai'', '' Alif'', ''Durr-e-Shehwar'', ''Daam'', '' Man-o-Salwa'', ''Qa ...

and directed by

Haissam Hussain Haissam Hussain is a Pakistani television and film director known for directed a number of critically acclaimed television serials such as ''Noorpur Ki Rani'' (2009), ''Akbari Asghari'' (2011), ''Durr-e-Shehwar'' (2012) and ''Aunn Zara'' (2013). H ...

. First broadcast in Pakistan by

Hum TV Hum TV is a 24-hour Urdu General Entertainment TV channel based in Karachi, Pakistan. It was founded by Sultana Siddiqui and Duraid Qureshi. It is owned by Hum Network Limited and traded on Pakistan Stock Exchange as (HUMNL). Hum Network Limi ...

, ''Durr-e-Shehwar'' premiered on 10 March 2012 and has been produced by

Momina Duraid Momina Duraid ( ur, ) is a Pakistani director and producer. She is a senior producer and creative head of television network Hum TV and CEO of her own production company MD Productions. She has produced and created several series including '' ...

and Six Sigma Entertainment. Serial featured an ensemble cast of

Sanam Baloch Sanam Baloch Hisbani or Jatoi ( ur, , ) (born 14 July 1986) credited as Sanam Baloch is a Pakistani actress and television presenter. She has hosted various television shows such as; ''Sanam Small Room'' on KTN and the morning show on Samaa TV ...

Samina Peerzada Samina Peerzada (, Punjabi, ) is a film and television actress, producer and director from Pakistan. Personal life Samina was born into an educated Kashmiri Butt family in Lahore, but was raised in Karachi, Sindh Pakistan. After graduating in ...

Qavi Khan Muhammad Qavi Khan ( ur, ) is a Pakistani film and television actor. He has also worked in Radio Pakistan and on stage. Though now largely working in television, he has acted in over 200 films. The Government of Pakistan honoured Khan with the ...

Meekal Zulfiqar Mian Mikaal Patras Zulfiqar (born 5 September 1981), commonly known as Mikaal Zulfiqar ( ur, ), is a British-Pakistani actor and former model. He has appeared in a number of Pakistani television series. He has also acted in a few Indian films ...

Noman Ejaz Nauman Ijaz (Punjabi and ur, ) is a Pakistani television and film actor, TV anchorperson, and TV show presenter. He is the recipient of several accolades including 10 Lux Style Awards, 7 Hum Awards and a President's Pride of Performance, whic ...

, and

Nadia Jamil Nadia Jamil ( ur, نادیہ جمیل) (Born: October 19, 1975) (also known as Nadia Fazal Jamil) is a Pakistani actress and host who is known for ''Balu Mahi'', ''Behadd'' and ''Damsa'', a story about child trafficking. Early life and educat ...

in lead roles. It ended its run on 16 June 2012, after airing 15 episodes. It marked the debut of actress

Maya Ali Maryam Tanveer, known by her stage name Maya Ali ( ur, ; born ), is a Pakistani actress. She made her debut with a brief role in telenovela ''Durr-e-Shehwar'' and later received praise for portraying the titular characters in ''Aik Nayee Cin ...

. The show was written and produced by the makers of '' Man-o-Salwa'', ''

Qaid-e-Tanhai ''Qaid-e-Tanhai'' ( ur, ) is a Pakistani drama serial that aired on Hum TV from 22 October 2010 to 18 March 2011. It was written by Umera Ahmad and directed by Babar Javed. The drama serial was produced by A & B Productions. Plot Qaid-e-Ta ...

'', ''

Malaal ''Malaal'' ( ur, , lit=Regret) is a Pakistani drama television series which premiered on Hum TV on 9 October 2009. Produced by Momina Duraid, ''Malaal'' is the story that shows how wrong decisions can affect everyone’s lives and also focuse ...

'', ''

Maat Maat or Maʽat ( Egyptian: mꜣꜥt /ˈmuʀʕat/, Coptic: ⲙⲉⲓ) refers to the ancient Egyptian concepts of truth, balance, order, harmony, law, morality, and justice. Ma'at was also the goddess who personified these concepts, and regul ...

'' and ''

Zindagi Gulzar Hai ''Zindagi Gulzar Hai'' is a Pakistani television series directed by Sultana Siddiqui, produced by Momina Duraid under banner Moomal Productions, which was first broadcast on Hum TV. Based on the novel of the same name by Umera Ahmad who also wro ...

''. The story entails the complexities of married lives be it in today’s urban setting or yesterday’s traditional times, showed how certain issues are common in every relationship. The strong protagonist gives her martial life much patience and resolve possible. ''Durr-e-Shehwar'' was one of the most popular program of the year, it was released. The series received huge acclaim due to Hussain's direction and received praise for the performances of the lead cast and storyline.

Plot

Durr-e-Shehwar's daughter, Shandana, and her husband, Mansoor's nephew, Haider have been married to each other for the last eight years. But recently there has been a breach in their relationship due to which Shandana decides to spend some time at her maternal home in Murree along with her young daughter, Sophia. Both Durr-e-Shehwar and Mansoor love Shandana and Sophia a lot. But Shandana envies her mother thinking that she led a comfortable and happy life with a loving husband and nothing to worry about. And thus, she often compares Haider with her father. Shandana also undergoes a stage of semi-depression and evens thinks of divorcing Haider. When Mansoor gets to know this, he gets angry with Haider. He reports this matter to his sister i.e. Haider's mother, thus, further complicating the matter. Unable to see Shandana in such a devastated condition, finally one day Durr-e-Shehwar decides to narrate her own life story to Shandana and explain that life for her wasn't as easy as Shandana thinks it to be. When Durr-e-Shehwar had got married and moved to Mansoor's house, she faced many problems and lost all her comforts and respect that she took for granted in her father’s house. Durr E Shahwar, who’d thought that after her marriage, she’d move with Mansoor to his army allotted house, had to stay with her in-laws, away from him. Mansoor's mother was cold towards her and did not appreciate her for her good qualities. Mansoor also saw her through the eyes of his mother, and therefore disregarded all her efforts. Durr-e-Shehwar had to struggle for years to gain her mother-in-law's acceptance and also the true love of Mansoor, who had earlier neglected her on the words of his mother. Once or twice she even considered moving to her father’s house but she persisited. Through these hardships, what gave her strength was her father’s letters and advice. The greatest advice he gave her when she told him she didn’t love Mansoor, was to pretend until she did. Soon, Mansoor’s attitude changed and he took her away with her, and her in-laws realised her worth. And when Shahwar saw that the average husband and man, Mansoor was a great father, she forgave him, although she never forgot. Hearing this story, Shandana realised the difficulty of her mother's life. This decreased Shandana's respect for her father but it calmed her and gave her morale to start a new life with Haider, with the letters of her grandfather, which she inherited from her mother.

Cast

as Durr-e-Shehwar *

Mikaal Zulfiqar Mian Mikaal Patras Zulfiqar (born 5 September 1981), commonly known as Mikaal Zulfiqar ( ur, ), is a British-Pakistani actor and former model. He has appeared in a number of Pakistani television series. He has also acted in a few Indian films ...

as Mansoor *

as Shandana; Durr-e-Shehwar and Mansoor's daughter *

as Haider; Shandana's husband * Sophia Syed as Sophia; Shandana and Haider's daughter *

Umer Naru Umer Naru is a Pakistani television and theatre actor. Filmography Theatre * The Taming of the Shrew, Globe Theatre The Globe Theatre was a theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 by Shakespeare ...

as Saud; Mansoor's brother *

Syed Mohammad Ahmed Syed Mohammad Ahmed credited as Mohammad Ahmed is a Pakistani screenwriter, lyricist, actor, and director. He is best known for ''Mystery Theater'', ''Badtameez'', '' Tum Se Kehna tha'', ''Shaista Shaista'', ''Azar Ki Ayegi Baraat'', ''Annie Ki A ...

as Sami; Durr-e-Shehwar's father *

Saba Faisal Saba Faisal ( Punjabi, ur, ) is a Pakistani actress and former news anchor. In her career more than a decade, she has appeared in several acclaimed television serials, theatre, plays and films mainly in Urdu language. Film Television Award ...

as Safia; Mansoor's mother * Khalid Butt as Mansoor's father *

Kiran Haq Kiran Haq ( pa, ) is a Pakistani television actress. Haq had a supporting role in 2011 series ''Akbari Asghari''. She has appeared as lead in several television serials including ''Shehr-e-Ajnabi'', '' Maan'', ''Tum Mere Kya Ho'', ''Sangdil'', '' ...

as Fazeelat; Mansoor's sister * Shazde Sheikh as Hafsa; Mansoor's younger sister *

as Mahnoor Sami; Durr-e-Shehwar's sister * Nasreen Qureshi as matchmaker of Durr-e-Shehwar and Mansoor * Sumbal Jamil as Farwa; Durr-e-Shehwar's neighbor in

Murree Murree ( Punjabi, Urdu: مری) is a mountain resort city, located in the Galyat region of the Pir Panjal Range, within the Muree District of Punjab, Pakistan. It forms the outskirts of the Islamabad-Rawalpindi metropolitan area, and is about ...

Osman Khalid Butt Osman Khalid Butt ( ur, ; born 9 February 1986) is a Pakistani film, television and theatre actor, writer and choreographer. He is best known for his role as Wali Sohaib Khan in Diyar-E-Dil , Faaz Ibrahim in Chupke Chupke and Malik Shahzain in E ...

as Hassan; Farwa's husband *

Laila Zuberi Laila Zuberi is a Pakistani TV actress who has worked in many Pakistani drama series and has also appeared in the 2016 film Teri Meri Love Story. Personal life Laila Zuberi was born on August 18, 1957 in Karachi. She is married to her cousin, ''T ...

as Mrs. Habib; Durr-e-Shehwar's friend * Sonia Nazir as Nazia; Durr-e-Shehwar's friend

Broadcast and release

It aired in India on Zindagi under the title ''Dhoop Chhaon'', premiering on 21 October 2014. Since mid 2020, it is available for online streaming on

ZEE5 ZEE5 is an Indian subscription video on-demand and over-the-top streaming service, run by Zee Entertainment Enterprises. It was launched in India on 14 February 2018 with content in 12 languages. The ZEE5 mobile app is available on Web, Androi ...

under the title ''Dhoop Chhaon''.

Reception

''Durr-e-Shehwar'' received mostly positive reviews throughout its broadcast; gathered praise for its storyline, direction and performances (especially of the female leads, Peerzada and Baloch). Critics praised the storyline regarding the struggles of women towards the marital relations and criticised the same for the depiction of working women as a "selfish" and constant sufferings of a girl. Hussain's direction was widely praised, with ''

DAWN Images ''Dawn'' is a Pakistani English-language newspaper that was launched in British India in 1941. It is the largest English newspaper in Pakistan, and also serves as the country's newspaper of record. ''Dawn'' is the flagship publication of the Da ...

'' praised it in the words, "Using a clever balance of past, present and near past, director Haissam Hussain kept the momentum going in what might have been just another mazloom aurat (helpless woman) story."

Accolades

References

External links

* {{Programmes broadcast by Zindagi Urdu-language telenovelas Pakistani telenovelas 2012 telenovelas 2012 Pakistani television series debuts 2012 Pakistani television series endings Hum TV original programming Zee Zindagi original programming