Jo Bichar Gaye

Jo Bichar Gaye
Jo Bichar Gaye
Soundtrack album by Sibte Hassan
Released	29 January 2022
Recorded	2021
Length	5:50
Language	Urdu
Label	Geo

*Jo Bichar Gaye*
Jo Bichar Gaye
Urdu	جو بچھڑ گئے
Genre	Period drama
Based on	Bichar Gaye; by Col. Z.I.Farrukh
Written by	Ali Moeen
Screenplay by	Haissam Hussain; Mehreen Alam
Directed by	Haissam Hussain
Starring	Wahaj Ali; Maya Ali; Talha Chahour; Nadia Jamil; Adnan Jaffar; Sajid Shah;
Composer	Sibte Hassan
Country of origin	Pakistan
Original languages	Urdu; Bengali;
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	14
Production
Executive producer	Haissam Hussain
Production location	Lahore;
Editors	Liaqat Baltee; Ghayoor Hussain
Running time	36 - 38 minutes
Production company	H2 Films Productions
Original release
Network	Geo Entertainment
Release	12 December 2021 –; 13 March 2022
Related
	Sunn Mere Dil; Khaab Toot Jaatay Hain

Jo Bichar Gaye (Urdu: جو بچھڑ گئے, lit. 'Those Who Were Split') is a Pakistani historical drama television series based on the book "Bichar Gaye" by Col. Z. I. Farrukh. The series is directed and produced by Haissam Hussain under his banner H2 Films, Mehreen Alam as co-writer for screenplay and written by Ali Moeen. It features Wahaj Ali, Maya Ali and Talha Chahour in leading roles. Set in 1970 and 1971, Jo Bichar Gaye is based on Bangladesh Liberation War, including the liberation of Dhaka.^[1]^[2] It premiered on Geo Entertainment on 12 December 2021 and aired weekly.^[3]^[4] The show ended on 13 March 2022 with 14 episodes.

Plot

The plot revolves around the political conflict between West Pakistan and modern day, Bangladesh at the time of Liberation of Bangladesh, and deals with fictional events from 1970 to 1971.

Cast

Wahaj Ali as Romi. A character based on Shafi Imam Rumi
Maya Ali as Sonia Anwar
Talha Chahour as Capt. Z.I. Farrukh
Adnan Jaffar as Col A.Fakhruddin
Nadia Jamil as Shabnam Anwar
Sajid Shah as Anwarul Haq
Fazal Hussain as Haroon Anwar
Rana Majid as Capt. Salahuddin Baig
Aurangzaib Mirza as Col Aurangzeb
Ahmed Abbas as Capt. Kabeer Alam
Umer Darr as Capt. Siddiqui
Omar Cheema as Shil
Shizza Khan as Koko Aftab
Zaheer Taj as Maj. Ghayas ud Din
Usman Zia as Professor Ajeet
Fahad Hashmi as Union Leader
Usama Rehan as Tameez ud Fin
Shahrule Ali As Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Fahad Sokhta as Professor
Shah Fahad as Politician
Arsalan Dultana as Politician
Major Omer Shabbir as Maj. Omer
Ghulam Hussain as Mohammad Ruhul Amin
Muneeb Qadir as Jawaharlal Nehru

Episodes

*Jo Bichar Gaye*, episodes
No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original air date
1	1	"The Oath"	12 December 2021 (2021-12-12)
Captain Farrukh reaches Dhaka after being posted there, and feels that the circumstances are not good, favoring some major disaster. He is introduced to Brig. A. Fakhruddin, and updates him about the conditions. In Dhaka University, Professor Ajeet addresses the students, telling them that they suffered a lot because of West Pakistan's unfairness, and now they want freedom. Sonia condemns it, and asks "what kind of freedom?". On invitation, Farrukh goes to an event of Dhaka University's dramatic club society, where he encounters Sonia.
2	2	"The Last Toast"	19 December 2021 (2021-12-19)
Students from West Pakistan go to Professor Ajeet to save their lives when some Bengali students try to kill them. He does not help them, and instead talks about his ideology. The next day, Sonia goes to the police station with some West Pakistani students to register a missing persons complaint. There she encounters Farrukh, who asks her what he can do to help her; she says he should find the students. At night, Farrukh goes to the university, where he sees Maj. Ghayas ud Din involved in anti-government activities and informs about it to Brig. A. Fakhruddin. On the other hand, Rumi comes to know about Sonia's support for the government and he complains to his paternal aunt, Shabnam, however, she supports her daughter. Farrukh meets her and tells Sonia there is still no information regarding the missing students. She invites him to the new years party at her house.
3	3	"Future Prime Minister of Pakistan"	26 December 2021 (2021-12-26)
4	4	"Agartala Conspiracy"	2 January 2022 (2022-01-02)
5	5	"Peaceful Protest"	9 January 2022 (2022-01-09)
6	6	"Writ of the Government"	16 January 2022 (2022-01-16)
7	7	"Dead Reckoning"	23 January 2022 (2022-01-23)
8	8	"Ghazipur"	30 January 2022 (2022-01-30)
9	9	"Dead Before Dawn"	6 February 2022 (2022-02-06)
10	10	"Operation Searchlight"	13 February 2022 (2022-02-13)
11	11	"Uncivil War"	20 February 2022 (2022-02-20)
12	12	"The Last Prayer"	27 February 2022 (2022-02-27)
13	13	"The War"	6 March 2022 (2022-03-06)
14	14	"The Fall"	13 March 2022 (2022-03-13)

Production

Casting and development

Wahaj revealed in an interview about his upcoming project with Maya.^[1] Talha Chahour, a theatre actor makes his television debut with this serial. The serial marks comeback of Nadia Jamil after her cancer recovery.

Filming

Shooting locations: Clockwise from upper left: Government College, Lahore (upper two), Governor's house and Chamba House

The shooting of the series took place within Lahore at several locations, mainly Government College University, Punjab University Old Campus, National College of Arts (NCA) and Chamba House, Lahore. A few scenes were filmed in Governor's House, Lahore too.

Release

The series was originally produced to be release on Green Entertainment, however due to the delayed launch of the network it could not happen and consequently the series aired on Geo Entertainment.^[1] The first and second teasers were released on 8 December 2021. The series premiered on 12 December 2021.

Reception

The series received acclaim due to its execution and script.^[5]^[6]

In a review for Dawn the reviewer praised its unbiased approach comparing it with Hussain's previous historical-period drama stating, "Like Haissam Hussain’s previous work Dastan, which centred on Partition, Jo Bichar Gaye does not indulge in triumphalist patriotism or demonisation."^[7] A review for The Express Tribune noted Wahaj Ali's performance as Rumi.^[8] However, the show did not succeed in television ratings or digital ratings but proclaimed a good number of appreciation from the people.

In a review published by The Daily Star, series was heavily criticized for distorting historical events, depicting Dhaka University students as "uncouth bullies" and Pakistani soldiers as "righteous gentlemen." The show also attempts to undermine the Awami League's victory in the 1970 election with derogatory comments. The reviewer expressed frustration over the series' portrayal of the Bangla language, describing the actors' accents, particularly those of Usman Zia and Wahaj Ali, as "disrespectful," comparing their pronunciation to that of people speaking with "paan" in their mouths. The review asserts that Jo Bichar Gaye offers a misleading narrative of history that only the ignorant will believe, completely ignoring the atrocities committed by the Pakistani army against Bengalis.^[9]

Awards

Year	Ceremony	Categories	Recipient	Result	Ref.
2022	21st Lux Style Awards	Best Emerging Talent in TV	Talha Chahour	Nominated	^[10]

Soundtrack

All lyrics are written by Mubashir Hasan; all music is composed by Sibte Hassan

No.	Title	Singer	Length
1.	"Raste Kathin" (Female version^[11])	Beena Khan	1:37
2.	"Raste Kathin" (Male version^[12])	Sibte Hassan	1:37
3.	"Tanhai" (co-written by Sibte Hassan^[13])	Sibte Hassan	2:46
Total length:			5:50