Cast: Sarwat Gilani Mirza, Omair Rana, Yasra Rizvi, Mehar Bano, Nimra Bucha
Director: Asim Abbasi
BLUF
Churails is the first Pakistani series that has been specially contracted by an Indian streaming platform, created by Pakistani-British writer-director Asim Abbasi for an international audience by a combined Indian- Pakistani team.
Churails is an impenitent, nonconformist, audacious story of feisty women vigilantes in Karachi who take it upon themselves to teach abusive men in a profoundly patriarchal society lessons that they will be unable to forget in haste.
MEAT AND THE POTATOES
Rich, attractive, glitterati and former lawyer Sara (Sarwat Gilani Mirza) lives life as the trophy wife of an aspiring-politician husband Jameel (Omair Rana), doing all the trophy wifey things expected of her like hosting terrific dinner parties, looking a million dollars, breeding and grooming oh so perfect kids, interviewing gardeners , warding off nosey media persons, stapling off fingers of sexually forward school principals and looking enchanting while doing so. Her facade collapses as soon as she discovers Jameel’s infidelities from “Larkana to LA”
But instead of taking the formulaic rulai- dhulai route, she banishes Jameel to the guest bedroom incessantly, drives to her loony friend Jugnu’s place, smokes some weed and decides to team up with some unlikely accomplices (a murderer, a closeted school girl boxer with a tinder pickup hacker boyfriend ) and embarks upon a very improbable venture – starts a clandestine vigilante service for bringing other wayward men to justice. Joining in passionately is Sara’s longtime associate and childhood buddy — rich, sultry,single marriage planner, Jugnu (Yasra Rizvi), who is unapologetically attracted to the objective by the financial potential of offering the service to rich society women for a substantial cost.
The other two women are from a different societal stratum and present a different perspective to the mission – Zubeida (Mehar Bano), a closet boxer with an obnoxious father; and murder convict Batool (Nimra Bucha), who wears her murder verdict like a badge of honor. The team calls themselves ‘Churails’ — a frequently-applied epithet to women who refuse to conform, otherwise meaning -witches. ‘Mard Ko Dard Hoga’ is their war-cry cum tagline which means that “The Men will get Hurt”
More like- minded team members soon join the group fueled by the desire to be portents of transformation in the society and of course money. The bunch consists of a diverse mix of women – a pair of car-jackers, a multi-tasking trans person, a hacker, and several others.
Assisting the Churails in their mission are two men – Zubeida’s boyfriend Shams (Kashif Hussain) also called Biceps, who, in his own words, is the best hacker they can get; and Jugnu’s Man Friday in her wedding planning business, Dilbar (Sarmed Aftab Jadraan). Oh, and also a eccentric police officer who has the hots for Batool. WE bet you did not see that one come.
The storyline takes extraordinary twists and turns in the lead-up to the finale, uncloaking unsettling surprises and a massive scam in the process.
FWAR
The execution of the entire cast of Churails is absolutely awesome. Sarwat Gilani Mirza is elegant, delightful and in total control of her act. Yasra Rizvi is a thrill to watch. She is sassy, spirited and feisty. And she has got the best lines to gush. She leaves no stone unturned in giving all of herself to that character. You walk out of the series with Jugnu’s sassiness with you.
Nimra Bucha is mesmeric and enticing. Those eyes and that intensity. That jawline and high cheekbones. Why isnt this woman on the ramp betches?
Each character has been given a good arc and holds their own. Indeed, very beautifully written.
None of the actors overplay their way through their roles. The camera work, the background score, the choice of music and rap is just phenomenal. Zee must release the OST of this series separately. Essential.
IN THE KNOW
Told in a very inspiring narrative, in a very subtextual manner, with layered story telling – this is writing at its best. Churails is a masterpiece. You realize as each episode unfolds more sub layer, and adds more enigma to the story, it never turns preachy or, expositive or in-your-face.
The Churails turn the very thing intended to quash the personalities of women into a means of exercising subtle influence – their burqa. The gang run a Burqa boutique called Halal Designs, ( whatta mean word) which is but a veneer for their clandestine venture. Similarly, hidden behind the obscurity lent by their burqas, the Churails strike dread in the hearts of those menfolk that exploit the women in their lives for their own benefit.
WHAT WE LOVED
Clever Writing
Some sassy dialogues we know we will use in everyday life. Thank you, Phoolan
Terrific OST
Brilliant colors and backdrops
Cinematography Tops
WHAT WE MISSED
Some editing in length of the epis and narrative
Some less graphic gore
