Khaani


Khaani is a 2017 Pakistani drama television series premiered on 6 November 2017 on Geo Entertainment. It is directed by Anjum Shahzad, produced by Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi under 7th Sky Entertainment and written by Asma Nabeel. It stars Feroze Khan as Mir Hadi and Sana Javed as Sanam Ali Khan.
Later in mid 2019, series also released on Netflix due to its immense popularity.

Plot

The story opens with Sanam Khan, nicknamed Khaani because she is timid and cowardly unlike a Khan, and her family, who are busy preparing for Khaani and her twin brother Sarim's upcoming birthday. Meanwhile, Sarim is about to graduate when he angers a rich, spoilt son of a politician named Mir Hadi. A fight ensues, and Sarim is killed by Hadi.
Devastated over the murder of Sarim, Khaani's family file a court case against Hadi, whose family counters by threatening, harassing and beguiling the Khans to make them retract the complaint. However, Khaani, who has matured and grown a backbone since her brother's death, is steadfast even when her parents waver in the situation. Nonetheless, Hadi's family succeeds and Hadi is released from his temporary imprisonment. Seeing Khaani's courage, Hadi is surprised and gradually grows fascinated and obsessed with her. He sends her gifts and tries to get closer to her without her knowing his identity. Khaani starts to like her mysterious admirer, but when she realizes that “H” is really Hadi, she lets go of her feelings.
Hadi's parents are very against his unrelenting interest in Khaani and plan an 'accident' to kill her. Khaani ends up in the hospital, and when Hadi learns it was planned by his father, he confronts him and openly declares his love for Khaani, threatening to take his own life if she dies. Khaani survives with just minor injuries, and Hadi is then determined to marry her. He tries to persuade her but is unsuccessful. Seeing their son's marriage to Khaani as an opportunity to gain a favorable impression and votes in the upcoming election, Hadi's parents agree to help him get Khaani but ask him to be patient while they convince her parents. However, Hadi grows impatient and forcefully betroths her to himself when his father is away on a business trip. This leads to Khaani and her family making the decision to escape during the night and go into hiding. Hadi obsessively tries to search for her, and his relationship with his father worsens when he refuses to help Hadi find Khaani with his resources.
Meanwhile, Khaani gets a well-paid job in an office and makes fast friends with her boss's great-granddaughter, Raima, who misses her late mother. Arham, Raima's father and the boss's grandson, starts to fall for Khaani and confesses his love to her, to which she refuses because she hasn’t recovered emotionally from the scars left by Mir Hadi. Eventually, she gives in to her feelings and accepts Arham's proposal.
Hadi learns from his best friend, Ali, of Khaani's location, and defies his parents' wish by setting out to find her. To his shock and hurt, he arrives at her home just in time to see her in her bridal gown, preparing for her wedding. He kidnaps her but later returns her to her home when she tells him she'll never love him. Resigned, he returns home in a dejected and depressed manner. Khaani's family keep her kidnapping a secret from the groom's family and proceed to take her to the wedding hall.
Hadi is overcome by the true essence of love and starts seeking the meaning behind his feelings. Meanwhile, Khaani is happily married and living with Arham’s family. However, Arham's family is informed by Hadi's mother, who wants revenge, about Khaani's kidnapping and her family's lies about the past and her brother’s cause of death, calling her virtue and character into question, thus resulting in her humiliation. She abruptly leaves the house without informing anyone, and Arham feels lonely in her absence. He decides to bring her back, even though his mother is against it.
Hadi, in contrast, is achieving high levels of love and spirituality. Despite his friend and family’s requests, he decides to make a Sufi shrine his humble abode and stays there from then onwards, finding that his old home reminds him too much of all his guilty deeds and regrets. He also starts experiencing spiritual visions in the form of a woman during his stay in the shrine. This spirit assists him in recognising true love. Hadi questions the spirit on how to achieve the ultimate love, to which she replies that it is a lifelong, never-ending process.
After returning to her husband Arham's home, both Khaani and Arham decide to reopen Khaani's brother Sarim's murder case file in an attempt to prosecute Mir Shah, Hadi's father, and Hadi himself, who shot Sarim.
Unaware that Hadi is a completely changed man now, who only wants to spread love and practice spirituality, both Arham and Khaani press on with the case reopening. Hadi's father tries many ways to stop his son from being punished but fails each time. Hadi himself declares he is guilty and the court gives him the death penalty. Mir Shah is afraid to face the world and commits suicide, whereas Hadi is given a last wish, to which he says he wishes to meet Khaani. Hadi's mother begs Khaani's mother to save her son from death, and Khaani's parents in turn request Khaani to forgive Hadi. Khaani is first reluctant but then decides to forgive Hadi. She visits him an hour before his execution and tells him that he does not need to die, as she has forgiven him. Hadi begs Khaani to let him die, but she leaves, telling him that dying will be his easy way out and living will be the hard way. In the ending, Hadi is shown teaching other prisoners love and how to practise spiritually. The show ends with Hadi saying 'This is not my doing but it is all thanks to God.'

Cast

Main

Khaani had been on hiatus since April 2, 2018 due to the ban of Geo Entertainment Network but resumed again on April 23, 2018.

Soundtrack

The OST was sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan which has more than 39 Million views on YouTube.

Reception

The serial has created a few new records of popularity and has soon become viral especially on social media. Khaani's OST has been appreciated with millions of views. Moreover, the episodes uploaded on the official channel page on YouTube has garnered millions of views and keeps trending on the top 3 positions. Khaani has been winning hearts nationally and internationally. IMDb gave 8.1 out of 10, according to the TRP charts Khaani first episode gained 4.8 TRP ratings. Its second episode gained 4.1 TRP. Its third episode received 4.9 TRP ratings. Its fourth episode received 5.1 TRP ratings. Khaani's fifth episode gained 4.7 TRP ratings. Its sixth episode received 5.4 TRP ratings and seventh episode with 6.82 TRP and eighth episode got 7.4 TRP. The 9th episode of khaani on the first day of new year got 8.2.On its 11th episode it got 8.9 TRPs and a peak rating of 10.1 leaving behind Hum TV's serials Alif Allah Aur Insaan and Humsafar. Its 12th episode received rating with 9.1 TRPs. On its 13th episode got 8.3 TRPs. Khaani's 14th episode peak rating was 7.1 TRPs. Its 15th episode received rating with 9.0 TRPs. its 17th episode received 7.4 TRPs. Khaani 18th episode got 8.0 TRPs and until highest rating with 10.00 TRPs on its 20th episode. Second last episode of the serial got more than 5 million views on YouTube and gain 8.9 TRP ratings. The last episode of the serial had 10.1 TRP.
Before the telecast of last episode, a campaign was started by Geo Entertainment about the end of Mir Haadi’s story and was largely appreciated by the Khaani viewers.

Accolades

International Broadcast

Due to its immense popularity serial is broadcast by MBC Bollywood in Middle East.