This wasn’t a drama, this was an indictment, where society was on trial.
A revelation which exposed the truth people could not ignore. A mirror that exposes the bitter truth of reality and a testimony that carries truth, real life experiences of women and moral weight.
Shahzeb Khanzada, deserves standing ovation for writing a masterpiece that not only brought the truth of many suffering women to light but, he also, very meticulously, portrayed the irony of our society.
What he did with “Case No.9” is truly remarkable. He didn’t just write a story: he created a place where the survivor’s struggles for justice felt deeply real. It is a piece that deals with a very sensitive and painful subject with complete honesty and respect and perhaps that is the reason why it resonated with people on a level that goes beyond fiction. This clearly wasn’t crafted just for drama – it was crafted for truth and that is solely why it is a genuine masterpiece.
Truth was made visible through context, story, narrative and strong dialogues. Right from when the main protagonist is violated to the point when she finally decides to seek justice, everything was carefully constructed.
The courtroom drama, the language used by the criminal’s lawyer (Noor ul Hasan) was sharp without being theatrical. All the legal arguments were written and framed with utmost precision, but what stood out in the court scenes was how language becomes a weapon. The drama gave clarity and was reflective of how real legal spaces operate when power and vulnerability collide.
The focus on the plight and concerns of families of the victims and the way they have to deal with the harsh opposition of society was well played out. All the cast members did a fantastic job of portraying their roles with emotions that would shake the audience to their inner core.
Be it the mother (Hina Khwaja Bayat), the father (Shahnawaz Zaidi) and the brother (Ahmed Randhawa), all deserve accolades as their characters were shaped by real pain, and the performances honored that truth.
All the star cast from Beenish (Aamina Sheikh) being the dedicated lawyer committed to bringing justice to the victim, to Manisha (Naveen Waqar) the loyal anchor and support, Rohit (Junaid Khan) displaying a man conflicted between his friendship, loyalty to partner and truth, to every other character that made this drama what it is.
The protagonists outdid themselves. Saba Qamar and Faysal Quraishi, what a dynamic duo! They made each scene so compelling to watch. Saba carried each and every emotion within her eyes. She spoke volumes with her body language when she wasn’t emoting. She showed how trauma lives quietly in the body. Saba brought a rare dignity to the character. Her character’s resilience, stillness, and that balance is incredibly hard to achieve. The pain, the rawness was so real, it gave the audience literal goosebumps.
Faysal, as the rich, ruthless, unapologetic and disturbing man, carried his character and owned it. His portrayal was frighteningly precise as it felt so real. He displayed the character’s cruelty to the point. He carefully exposed the mindset of someone who feels incredibly entitled and untouchable with absolutely no speck of remorse. Well done to both of them.
The director deserves applause for dealing with such a sensitive subject with restraint. Every scene was paced with confidence, allowing moments to breathe. Nothing felt forced.
This drama exposes how justice is negotiated, delayed and sometimes denied. It wasn’t just well made, It was meaningful with a purpose.
Hats off to all involved with this landmark drama!
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