Iltija (transl. Imploration) is a Pakistani television physiological drama series produced by Sana Shahnawaz and Samina Humayun Saeed under banner Next Level Entertainment. It is written by Saji Gul and directed by Mazhar Moin. Iltija focuses on the struggle of families who bring up children with abnormalities such as Down Syndrome and Quadriplegia. It features a leading cast of Affan Waheed, Tooba Siddiqui, Rubina Ashraf, Imran Ashraf and child star Caitlyn Espinherio who is actually a Down Syndrome's victim.[2]
| Iltija | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Saji Gul |
| Directed by | Mazhar Moin |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | Pakistan |
| Original language | Urdu |
| No. of episodes | 29 |
| Production | |
| Producers |
|
| Production company | Next Level Entertainment |
| Original release | |
| Network | ARY Digital |
| Release | 8 April – 4 November 2017 |
Plot summary
editThe story revolves around Hina and Sameer who love each other and marry. After their marriage, the test of their relationship starts when Hina births a girl with Down Syndrome. Due to the birth of a child who is not as normal as others, Sameer's mother does not like Hina and due to her interference she has to leave Sameer's house. Hina than starts living in her mother's house where she brings up her daughter Khushi, alone.
Cast
edit- Tooba Siddiqui as Hina
- Affan Waheed as Sameer
- Caitlyn Espinherio as Khushi
- Rubina Ashraf as Sameer's mother
- Laila Wasti as Adeela
- Ali Tahir as Saqib
- Yashma Gill as Tayyaba
- Yasir Shah as Razi
- Imran Ashraf[3] as Hadi
- Seemi Pasha as Hina's mother
- Mariam Mirza as doctor (special appearance)
- Akbar Subhani (special appearance)
Production
editIn October 2016, it reported that Tooba Siddiqui will make her television comeback with Saji Gul's script about Down's Syndrome. She shared to DAWN Images that "My character's a woman who has a child suffering from Down's sundrome. Different events in her life have strained her relationship with her family and friends."[4][5] Director Mazhar Moin said in an interview that many of the actors rejected the serial due to not being a mainstream media project.[6]
Reception
editAlong with a few television series of the series, DAWN Images said it as a serial of the year with different story from the others.[7]
References
edit- ^ "'Mann Mayal' producer Sana Shahnawaz on making it in a male-dominated industry". 7 November 2017.
- ^ Saeed, Hafsa (13 October 2016). "Ilteja: Another step towards Pakistani dramas breaking stereotypes". HIP.
- ^ "I'm lucky I have worked with Khalilur Rehman. His dialogues are the best: Imran Ashraf". 14 December 2017.
- ^ Haq, Irfan Ul (11 October 2016). "Tooba Siddiqui to star in drama about Down syndrome". Images.
- ^ "Tooba Siddiqui returns to small screen with Iltija". www.thenews.com.pk.
- ^ Ahmad, Fouzia Nasir (2 June 2017). "Difficult to find actors for a TV serial about Down's Syndrome, says Ilteja director Mazhar Moin". Images.
- ^ Ahmad, Fouzia Nasir (10 September 2018). "Why don't we have hit TV serials like Ankahi anymore? Writers weigh in". Images.
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/221895084488402/posts/1742886269055935/?app=fbl [user-generated source]
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/221895084488402/posts/1821965654481329/?app=fbl [user-generated source]
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/221895084488402/posts/1726673047343924/?app=fbl [user-generated source]
- ^ "ARY Digital - Intense Feelings.... Watch Iltija - ARY Digital Wed at 9:00 pm on ARY Digital | Facebook". www.facebook.com.