Sang-e-Mah

Sang-e-Mah (Urdu: سنگِ ماہ, transl. Moonstone) is a Pakistani television series, and second series in the trilogy preceded by Sang-e-Mar Mar. Having central plot line inspired from William Shakespeare's Hamlet, it is written by Mustafa Afridi, directed by Saife Hassan and produced by Momina Duraid under her banner production MD Productions. The series revolves around the mysteries that unfold when a young man Hilmand decides to avenge the murder of his father. It focuses on the oppression of women in the form of 'ghag'[lower-alpha 1] in tribal areas and also deals with interreligious harmony. It features an ensemble cast of Nauman Ijaz, Atif Aslam, Sania Saeed, Samiya Mumtaz and Omair Rana with Kubra Khan, Zaviyar Nauman Ijaz and Hania Aamir in supporting roles. This marks the television acting debut of Aslam who played the main role of Hilmand Khan, and sung the soundtrack of the series as well.[2][3]

Sang-e-Mah
Official Title card
سنگِ ماہ
Genre
Inspired byHamlet by William Shakespeare
Written byMustafa Afridi
Directed bySaife Hassan
Opening themeAtif Aslam
ComposerSahir Ali Bagga
Country of originPakistan
Original languageUrdu
No. of episodes26
Production
Executive producerMomina Duraid
Production locationsBhogarmang Valley, Balakot
Camera setupMulti-camera setup
Running time36–41 minutes approx.
Production companyMD Productions
Release
Original networkHum TV
Original release9 January (2022-01-09) –
3 July 2022 (2022-07-03)
Related
Sang-e-Mar Mar

The series had a cinematic launch on 8 January 2022, while it premiere on Hum TV on 9 January.[4] The series received praise from critics due to its script but was faulted for stereotypical portrayals of Pakhtoons. At 22nd Lux Style Awards, it won Best TV Writer and Best TV Director out of seven nominations.

Premise

A transcendent tale of love and retribution.

Sang-e-Mah follows the story of a family who belong to the tribal regions of Pakistan. The drama will reveal how people have to sacrifice their lives and love because of an untruthful tradition.[5]

Plot

The story is set in the fictional town of 'Laspiraan'. Hilmand (Atif Aslam) usually spends time at the grave of his father, Nasrullah Khan. Hilmand wants to get revenge on Haji Marjaan Khan (Nauman Ijaz) because Hilmand believes Marjaan killed Nasrullah to marry Hilmand's mother Zarsanga (Samiya Mumtaz). Zarsanga and Marjaan's son and Hilmand's half-brother, Hikmat (Zaviyar Nauman Ijaz), is in love with his cousin Gul Meena (Hania Amir), daughter of Zarsanga's sister Zarghuna (Sania Saeed).

Zarghuna hates Mastan Singh (Omair Rana), since Mastan killed Zarghuna's husband Asadullah Khan. Zarghuna rejects Hikmat and Gul Meena's relationship, so Hikmat goes to do "Ghag", where he will go to Gul Meena's house and make an announcement that Gul Meena can only be Hikmat's bride. But, Zarghuna discovers that Hilmand did the Ghag instead. Mastan goes to kill Hilmand, but is stopped due to his father's death. It is revealed that Mastan's father, Hakeem Guru Baksh, gave Marjaan poison to kill Nasrullah.

Meanwhile, Sheherzaad (Kubra Khan) learns about the Ghag and comes to Laspiraan to gather research, since Sheherzaad is a reporter. When she comes to Laspiraan, she and Marjaan start bonding and she meets Hilmand, who gives Sheherzaad his blanket. Sheherzaad then remembers being harassed by her cousin Haider (Shamil Khan) when she was young. Mastan finds Hilmand and stabs him, but at the hospital, Haider and Sheherzaad reunite since Haider is now a doctor.

After seeing Haider, Sheherzaad uses the nurse's help to move Hilmand somewhere else for safety. It is also revealed that Marjaan got Zarghuna married to his servant, Awal Khan (Syed Muntazim Shah). But when he was abusive towards her, she divorced him and married Asadullah, who was Awal Khan's younger brother. Seeing Sheherzaad as his daughter, Marjaan goes to Haider's house and tells his wife the truth about Sheherzaad's past with Haider. The nurse leaks this to the hospital and Haider is arrested.

After Hilmand recovers, he calls a "jirga" (meeting) for Hikmat being responsible for the attack on Hilmand, even though Hilmand knows Mastan did the attack. Hilmand threatens Mastan to testify against Marjaan so Hilmand can get his revenge against Marjaan, but if Mastan doesn't, Hilmand won't let Mastan get married. So, Mastan's fiancée Harshaali Kaur (Najiba Faiz) convinces Mastan to do what Hilmand says.

At the jirga, Hilmand says Hikmat didn't do anything and Mastan says when his father was dying, he didn't say anything about giving Marjaan poison to kill Nasrullah, but he said for Mastan to get married. Mastan also reveals that he attacked Hilmand. Zarsanga decides to go the jirga herself and decides to tell the truth there, with Sheherzaad running after her.

At the jirga, after failing to produce evidence against Marjaan, Hilmand asks Marjaan to say under oath on the hand of Shah Sab that he did not kill Nasrullah. Marjaan proceeds to do so but the moment he was to say the words, Zarsanga appears and stops Marjaan. Marjaan asks Zarsanga to go but she refuses to leave. Hilmand goes to meet her mother and tells her that Marjaan killed his father and her husband. At that moment Zarsanga reveals that she killed Nasrullah. Hilmand runs into the forests after listening that and everyone in the jirga are shocked.

Hilmand goes to his father's village to verify what his mother has revealed as he feels that she had lied to save Marjaan. But after meeting Mashallah Khan (Asif Khan), his grandfather, the true character of his father is revealed and he is broken. Mashallah Khan on the other hand, intrigued at Hilmand's coming to meet him after all these years, send his sons to Laspiraan to know the reason. He gets to know about the confession of Zarsanga and now starts plotting to extract hefty amounts from Marjaan. On the other hand, Sheherzaad is looking frantically looking for Hilmand. She implores him to accompany her to the city but he is completely broken and leaves the place.

Mashallah then calls another jirga on Zarsanga for killing his son Nasrullah. Zarsanga tells Sheherzaad she doesn't want to attend the jirga. The day before the jirga, Marjaan gives his turban to Hikmat, saying he should make a decision which can give everyone justice and which can save Zarsanga's respect and also making Hikmat the new Haji and the new leader of Laspiraan. At the jirga, Hikmat comes wearing the turban in Marjaan's place. Then, Zarghuna, Sheherzaad, Gul Meena, and all the other women in Laspiraan suffering Ghag arrive at the jirga.

Gul Meena then shares her Ghag story, when Hilmand arrives. Mashallah Khan says he wants a share in some money for Zarsanga's death because he wants blood for blood. But, Hilmand reveals papers for some land so he asks for a whole share and all the money from Mashallah, so he and his sons leave in silence, and the elders decide to put an end to Ghag immediately, and whoever does Ghag after this will be punished immediately. Hilmand reveals to Hikmat that the papers were fake.

Hilmand and Sheherzaad come home to find Marjaan and Zarsanga lying dead together. The night before, Marjaan and Zarsanga both decided to kill themselves to save themselves from embarrassment. Hilmand comforts a crying Sheherzaad.

A few years later, an elderly Awal Khan asks a young kid named Marjaan Khan where his father is. The young Marjaan points Awal Khan to where his father is and Awal Khan tells him that Mashallah Khan's sons have done Ghag again. The father is revealed to be Hilmand, who is now Haji Hilmand Khan, and he turns around and looks at Awal Khan, implying that Hilmand will give his uncles a good punishment.

Cast
Frome left to right: Gul Meena (Hania Aamir), Hikmat Khan (Zaviyar Nauman Ijaz), Sheherzaad (Kubra Khan), Hilmand (Atif Aslam), Haji Marjaan Khan (Nauman Ijaz), Zarsanga (Samiya Mumtaz), Zarghuna (Sania Saeed), Mastaan Singh (Omair Rana), Harshaali Kaur (Najiba Faiz).
Name Role Note
Atif Aslam Hilmand Khan [2] He is strong-willed and lives in cemetery with his friends whose only aim to avenge the murder of his father; based on Prince Hamlet of William Shakespeare. The letter "H" stands for both Hamlet and Hilmand.
Nauman Ijaz Haji Marjaan Khan Step-father of Hilmand and father of Hikmat; based on Claudius
Sania Saeed Zarghuna Zarsanga's sister, Gul Meena's mother and widow of Asad Ullah Khan
Samiya Mumtaz Zarsanga Mother of Hilmand and Hikmat and second wife of Haji Marjaan Khan; based on Gertrude
Omair Rana Mastaan Singh A sikh servant of Zarghuna who looks after her lands when he is accused of the murder of her husband
Kubra Khan Sheherzaad A newspaper journalist who comes to Laspeeran to cover the practice of 'Ghag'; based on Ophelia
Zaviyar Nauman Ijaz Hikmat Khan Zarsanga and Haji Marjaan Khan's son who loves Gul Meena and wants to marry her
Hania Aamir Gul Meena Zarghuna's daughter who loves Hikmat Khan
Najiba Faiz Harshaali Kaur Mastaan Singh's fiancé
Hassan Noman Badam Gul Servant of Zarghuna
Nadia Afgan Sheherzaad's boss
Shamil Khan Dr. Haider Sheherzaad's cousin who raped her in her teenage
Muhammad Hunbal Sabz Ali A coward person who is a chamcha of Hilmand
Syed Muntazim Shah Awal Khan Haji's body guard and informer and ex-husband of Zarghuna
Pir Yousuf Shah “Shah Sahab” A Saint of Laspiran who lives in Dargah and Masjid. Who knows everything about the people's of Laspiran.
Asif Khan Masha'Allah Khan Hilmand's grandfather
Adeel Afzal Saifullah Hilmand's Friend

Production

In July 2021, Saife Hassan announced in an exclusive interview that he is going to revamp the Sang-e-Mar Mar with a new season.[6] He revealed the Sania Saeed, Nauman Ijaz, Kubra Khan and Samiya Mumtaz as leading actors. Hassan also announced that it will be a trilogy and after Sang-e-Mah, he will make Sang-e-Siyah.[6]

Sania Saeed, Nauman Ijaz and Kubra Khan respire their roles from Sang-e-Mar Mar while Nadia Afgan, Hania Amir and Samiya Mumtaz joined for second season. There were also rumours of the singer Atif Aslam to be part of the series; his casting confirmed in late August 2021.[7] Before Aslam, film actor Bilal Ashraf has been cast for the lead role of "Hilmamd" however, he turned down the project due to date conflicts.[8] Previously, the role has been rejected by Ali Zafar and Fawad Khan due to unknown reasons.[9] While discussing about the story, Hassan revealed that the first part of the trilogy will focus on Pakhtoon family issues and will also tackle problematic traditions such as forced marriages.[10]

The first teaser of the series was released on 10 December 2021.[11]

Although, the production location of the series is Bhogarmang Valley located near Balakot where shooting was done extensively, some of the initial sequences were filmed in the Gurdwara of Nankana Sahib.[12]

Soundtrack
"Sang-e-Mah"
Song by Atif Aslam
Released7 January 2022
Recorded2021
Length5:19
LabelHum
Composer(s)Sahir Ali Bagga[13]
Lyricist(s)Fatima Najeeb
Producer(s)Moomal Shunaid
Music video
"Sang e Mah" Lyrical OST on YouTube

The official soundtrack of the series is performed by Atif Aslam on the lyrics of Fatima Najeeb with music composition by Sahir Ali Bagga.

Reception

In late December 2021, the series received appraisal for its teasers which, promising a powerful story with larger than life characters and touch of Shakespearean tragedy. The serial had views of all teasers and trailers were as high as 8.3 Million.[14][15][16] The News while reviewing the first episode praised the storyline and characterisation stating that, series features an intriguing storyline and convincing characterisation.[17] In another article, the newspaper praised the dialogues of the series by describing them as, "powerful and impactful."[18] On premiere, the series received mixed reviews with criticism towards the stereotypical portrayal of Pakhtoons but in later episodes it disappeared.[19][20][21] Mehreen Odho of DAWN Images compared it with Shakespeare's Hamlet and praised its writing and characterisation.[22] The on-screen chemistry of Aslam and Khan was also praised.[23][24][25]

Television ratings
EP Date TRP(s) ref
1 9 January 2022 9.3 [26]
2 16 January 2022 8.0 [27]
3 23 January 2022 7.5 [28]
4 30 January 2022 5.6 [29]
5 6 February 2022 7.0 [30]
6 13 February 2022 5.9 [31]
7 20 February 2022 6.3 [32]
8 27 February 2022 5.2 [33]
9 6 March 2022 5.2 [34]
10 13 March 2022 6.9 [35]
11 12 March 2022 6.0 [36]
12 27 March 2022 5.2 [37]
13 3 April 2022 6.1 [38]
14 17 April 2022 5.1 [39]
18 8 May 2022 5.0 [40]
22 5 June 2022 5.2 [41]
23 12 June 2022 4.4 [42]
24 19 June 2022 5.7 [43]
25 26 June 2022 7.0 [44]
26 3 July 2022 6.9 [45]

YouTube Views

As of 23 August 2023, the first episode generated 28 Million+ views and last episode had generated 12 Million+ views on YouTube.The total views of all Episodes on YouTube are 299 million+ as of 23 August 2023.[46]

Accolades
Year Ceremony Category Recipient Result Ref(s).
2023 Lux Style Awards Best TV Play Sang-e-Mah Nominated [47]
Best TV Actor (Viewers' Choice) Atif Aslam Nominated
Best Emerging Talent in TV Nominated
Best TV Director Saife Hassan Won [48]
Best TV Writer Mustafa Afridi Won
Best TV OST Sang-e-Mah Nominated [47]
Best Ensemble Play Nominated

Broadcast

The show is distributed worldwide by the following TV channels:

  • HUM TV (South Asia)
  • HUM TV Mena
  • HUM World

Notes
  1. a custom practiced in the tribal areas of Pakistan in which a man lays claims to a woman to marry her by force.[1]

References
  1. Images Staff (25 December 2021). "Hania Aamir's upcoming drama Sang-e-Mah highlights the 'social evil' of 'ghag'". images dawn.com. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  2. "Atif Aslam to debut in drama serial 'Sang-e-Mah'". Daily Times. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  3. Rameeza Nasim (14 July 2021). "Sang e Mar Mar trilogy on cards". Oyeyeah. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  4. Irfan ul Haq (3 January 2022). "Atif Aslam, Hania Aamir and Kubra Khan's drama Sang-e-Mah to premiere first episode in cinemas". Dawn Images. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  5. "Sang e Mah Drama Cast, Review, Episodes, Hum Tv". Download Free Apps & Games APK. 29 November 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  6. "A Sang-e-Mar Mar trilogy is in the works". Cutacut. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  7. Irfan Ul Haq (23 August 2021). "Atif Aslam is starring in drama Sang-e-Mah, reveals Naumaan Ijaz". Dawn Images. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  8. Maliha Rehman (14 September 2021). "Saife Hassan — from teaching ninth graders to directing superstars". Dawn Images. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  9. "Fawad Khan, Ali Zafar rejected Atif's Hilmand in 'Sang-e-Mah'". Express Tribune. 26 April 2022.
  10. Aliya Zuberi (24 November 2021). "Hania Aamir to star in Sang e Mah". Cutacut. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  11. "The first teaser of Sang-e-Mah is out and it's got fans buzzing with excitement". Dawn Images. 11 December 2021.
  12. Entertainment Desk (8 February 2022). "My character in 'Sang-e-Mah' isn't as unconventional as people think: Sania Saeed". Express Tribune. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  13. Sahir Ali Bagga [@thesahiralibagga_official] (21 December 2021). "OST Sange mah, Sung By Atif Aslam, Music Composer Sahir Ali Bagga, Lyrics Fatima Najeeb, Produce by Momal productions HUM TV". Retrieved 23 December 2021 – via Instagram.
  14. "Sang-e-Mah hit a huge digital number". 7 January 2022 – via Salam Lollywood.
  15. "'Sang-e-Mah' new teaser promises a tale of suspense, love, blood feuds and much more". Daily Times. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  16. Gaitee Ara Siddiqi (10 December 2021). "Sang-i-Mah - an intriguing concoction". The News. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  17. Ameera Mehmood (16 January 2022). "A tale of revenge and redemption". The News.
  18. Gaitee Ara Siddiqi. "Treachery and murder unfold". Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  19. "New Drama 'Sang-e-Mah' Criticised For Stereotypical Portrayal Of Pashtuns". The Friday Times. 11 January 2022.
  20. "Sang-e-Mah's first episode may have won hearts but some Pashtuns aren't happy with their representation". Dawn Images. 10 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  21. "In Sang e Mah, Sania Saeed discusses Pashtun Stereotyping". Bol News. 20 May 2022.
  22. "Is Sang-e-Mah an adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet?". 5 April 2022.
  23. "Atif Aslam and Kubra Khan: The new onscreen couple in town". Express Tribune. 2 February 2022.
  24. Syeda Zehra (22 December 2022). "Best of 2022: On screen couples that won our hearts". Archived from the original on 22 December 2022.
  25. "Pakistani media industry: people are falling in Love with these 4 Onscreen Jodis". Bol News. 8 August 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  26. "Glorious Opening!". 10 January 2022 – via Instagram.
  27. "An Ultimate Hit!". 17 January 2022 – via Instagram.
  28. "Simply Remarkable". Retrieved 26 January 2022 – via Instagram.
  29. "An Ultimate Hit!". 1 February 2022.
  30. "Champion!". 7 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022 – via instagram.
  31. "Truly A Masterpiece!". Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  32. "Continuously Winning Hearts". Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  33. "Treat To Watch!". 28 February 2022.
  34. "Remains The Best!". 7 March 2022.
  35. "Winning Content!". 14 March 2022.
  36. "HIGHLY APPRECIATED DRAMA!" – via instagram.
  37. "Captivating Emotions (Sang-e-Mah, Episode 12 Ratings)". 28 March 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022 – via instagram.
  38. "Leading the slot!". 5 April 2022 – via instagram.
  39. "An Outclass Performer!". Retrieved 18 May 2022 – via Instagram.
  40. "Continuously winning hearts!". 10 May 2022.
  41. "An Outclass Performer!". 7 June 2022.
  42. "Continuously Winning Hearts!". 14 June 2022 – via Instagram.
  43. "Outclass Performer". 21 June 2022 – via Instagram.
  44. "Champion!". 29 June 2022 – via Instagram.
  45. "Thank You For All The Love That You Have Shown To #SangEMah! To The Cast, Characters, Story! ❤️". 5 July 2022. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022 – via Instagram.
  46. HUM TV YouTube asset record
  47. "Lux Style Awards 2023 nominations out now: Pasoori, Joyland, Mere Humsafar reign supreme". The Express Tribune. 27 September 2023.
  48. "And the winners are: Yumna Zaidi becomes LSA's most award winning female actor for TV". The Express Tribune. 7 October 2023.
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