''Raqeeb Se'' () is a Pakistani

romantic drama Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typically their journey ...

television series 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 '' ...

, written by

Bee Gul Bee Gul ( ur, ) is a Pakistani screenwriter and director. She wrote Films and TV plays like ''Talkhiyaan'', '' Pehchaan'', ''Kaun Qamar Ara'', '' Firdous ki Dozakh'', most notably ''Dar Si Jaati Hai Sila'' and '' Raqeeb Se'' for HUM TV. Bee Gu ...

and directed by

Kashif Nisar Kashif Nisar ( ur, ) is a Pakistani television director, producer and screenwriter, and the nephew of Pakistani TV Director Tariq Mairaj. He is known for directing artistic drama serials. Kashif's most notable works are '' Dumpukht - Aatish ...

. It aired on

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 ...

from 20 January 2021 to 26 May 2021 all under

MD Productions MD Productions is a Pakistani television and film production company based in Karachi, Pakistan. It is founded by Momina Duraid and Duraid Qureshi, son of Sultana Siddiqui. History The company has produced television serials such as ''Zindagi Gu ...

. ''Raqeeb Se'' revolves around the repercussions of a love story stretched around one's entire life. It features an

ensemble cast In a dramatic production, an ensemble cast is one that is composed of multiple principal actors and performers who are typically assigned roughly equal amounts of screen time.Random House: ensemble acting Linked 2013-07-17 Structure In contrast to ...

Hadiqa Kiani Hadiqa Kiani (in Punjabi and ur, ) is a Pakistani singer, Songwriter, Guitarist, composer, actress, and philanthropist. She has received numerous local and international awards and also has performed at the Royal Albert Hall and The Kennedy ...

Nauman Ijaz 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 ...

Sania Saeed Sania Saeed (born 28 August 1972) is a Pakistani actress and television host. Works mainly in television and theatre, Saeed is the recipient of numerous accolades including two PTV Awards, three Hum Awards and four Lux Style Awards. She first ...

Iqra Aziz Iqra Aziz Hussain (born 24 November 1997) is a Pakistani actress who primarily works in Urdu television. She made her acting debut in 2014 with a supporting role shanzey in ''Kissey Apna Kahein''. Aziz is widely recognized for portraying the r ...

Faryal Mehmood Faryal Mehmood is a Pakistani model and actress. She has played the role of Mehwish in Geo Entertainment's '' Baba Jani'' (2018). Mehmood has been profiled and featured in ''Gulf News'', ''The News International'', and ''MangoBaaz''. Her mother i ...

and

Saqib Sumeer Saqib Sumeer is a Pakistani actor, director and writer who performs mostly in theatre and also works in television and films. He made his cinematic debut in 2017 with Yasir Nawaz's ''Mehrunisa V Lub U''. He is also known for his roles, as Dilawar ...

. The series received critical acclaim due to its storyline and performances of the cast. At 21st Lux Style Awards, it got most number of nominations, and won Best TV Director and two awards for Kiani; Best Emerging Talent in TV and Best TV Actress-Critics' choice.

Plot

The television series is centered around four women and the men around them. Sakina takes her daughter and flees from her abusive husband. She seeks shelter at her former lover Maqsood Sahab's house and their love story is so tragic and interesting that his wife, Hajra and daughter, Insha, know it by heart. Hajra consoles Sakina and takes care of her and her daughter while Insha considers it an injustice to her mother.

Cast

as Sakina *

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, whi ...

as Maqsood *

as Hajra *

as Ameera, Sakina's daughter *

as Insha, Hajra and Maqsood's daughter *

Saqib Sameer Saqib Sumeer is a Pakistani actor, director and writer who performs mostly in theatre and also works in television and films. He made his cinematic debut in 2017 with Yasir Nawaz's ''Mehrunisa V Lub U''. He is also known for his roles, as Dilawar ...

as Rafique, Sakina's husband, later divorced * Hamza Sohail as Abdul Rahman a.k.a. Abdul, Insha's love interest *

Salman Shahid Salman Shahid ( ur, ) is a Pakistani film, theatre, television and voice actor. The son of producer Saleem Shahid and veteran actress Khursheed Shahid, he has worked in Lollywood, Bollywood as well as in theatre and television.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 Aatka, Masood's wife and Maqsood's sister-in-law *

Hassan Mir Hassan, Hasan, Hassane, Haasana, Hassaan, Asan, Hassun, Hasun, Hassen, Hasson or Hasani may refer to: People * Hassan (given name), Arabic given name and a list of people with that given name *Hassan (surname), Arabic, Jewish, Irish, and Scotti ...

as Kashif, Masood and Aatka's son, Ameera's love interest *

Ismat Iqbal Ismat Iqbal ( ur, ) is a Pakistani television actress. She has appeared as child and later lead actress in classic serials aired on PTV Home during 1970-1990. Currently, she is active in television industry playing role of mother on different ...

as Maasi Anaraan, Sakina and Rafique's neighbor

Music

The

title song A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...

of ''Raqeeb Se'' is composed and performed by

who played one of the lead role in the serial, while lyrics were penned by Khawar Kiani. It marks the return of the singer to the channel, since she performed the OST of channel's hit drama series ''

Yaqeen Ka Safar ''Yaqeen Ka Safar'' ( ur, , lit=The Journey of(/to) Trust) is a Pakistani television drama series produced by Momina Duraid through MD Productions for Hum TV. It aired from 19 April 2017 to 1 November 2017, with a total of 29 episodes. It was ...

in 2016.

Track listing

Production

Background and development

, writer of the drama serial said; “It was a deliberate thought-out decision... I convinced myself that I do not have to write another issue-based serial, for we seem to have amplified and unwillingly exploited social issues by presenting them inconsistently for ratings. The subjects have lost their sensitivity as a result and do not come as hard-hitting narratives anymore. Therefore, I decided to go for something that is equally important, equally meaningful and maybe equally ignored as well, and the sentiment of love came to my mind. This is how ''Raqeeb Se'' happened.”

Casting

Singer and vocalist Hadiq Kiani was selected to portray the Sakina, one of the leading role, thus series marked her acting debut. Veteran actors Naumaan Ijaz and Sania Saeed were selected to portray the roles of Maqsood and Hajra, previously acted together in ''Jhumka Jaan'' (2009) ''Khamoshiyan'' (2010), ''Aao Kahani Buntay Hain'' (2011) and ''

Sang-e-Mar Mar ''Sang-e-Mar Mar'' ( ur, , ), previously titled ''Daasi'', is a Pakistani drama serial that aired on Hum TV from 1 September 2016 to 9 March 2017. It stars Nauman Ijaz, Sania Saeed, Mikaal Zulfiqar, Kubra Khan in leading roles with Omair Ra ...

'' (2016). Young actors such as Iqra Aziz, Faryal Mehmood and Hamza Sohail, son of veteran actor and comedian

Sohail Ahmed Sohail Ahmed ( pa, ), (born 1 May 1963), also known as Azizi ( ur, ), is a Pakistani comedian, stage and TV actor. He appears in comedy stage and TV dramas based in Lahore. Theater actor

was selected to play the role of Rafique Ali, previously offered to Sohail Ahmed. Likewise, Saba Faisal and Salam Shahid were cast in supporting roles of Aatka and Masood respectively.

Reception

The series received critical acclaim due to performances and storyline. Hrithik Sharma of ''El Viaje Reviews'' included it into his select list of "Pakistani Gems" and says that "''Raqeeb Se'' is a masterfully written show powered by extraordinary performances, meticulous direction, and euphonious background score". He adds, "The performances are breathtaking. Especially of the three principal characters. Maqsud Saab, played by Nauman Ijaaz brings in exactly the right amounts of charm and helplessness. Hajra, played by

, keeps you wondering whether she is too good to be true, or is she actually happily devoted to Maqsud and Sakeena’s love story. And then, my personal favorite,

Hadiqa Kiyani Hadiqa Kiani (in Punjabi and ur, ) is a Pakistani singer, Songwriter, Guitarist, composer, actress, and philanthropist. She has received numerous local and international awards and also has performed at the Royal Albert Hall and The Kenn ...

, who towers over every scene and magically dominates every frame that she is part of". ''

The News International ''The News International'', published in broadsheet size, is one of the largest English language newspapers in Pakistan. It is published daily from Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi/Islamabad. An overseas edition is published from London that cater ...

'' praised the storyline of the serial and said it "A Breath of Fresh Air". The newspaper also praised the performance of debutants Hadiqa Kiani and Hamza Sohail.

Awards and nominations

References

{{reflist

External links

Official website
Pakistani television series Hum TV original programming 2021 Pakistani television series debuts Hum TV Hum Network Limited Pakistani romantic drama television series Television series by MD Productions MD Productions Television series created by Momina Duraid 2021 Pakistani television series endings Urdu-language telenovelas Pakistani telenovelas