Suno Chanda


Suno Chanda is a 2018 Pakistani Ramadan romantic comedy series developed by Shahzad Javed, directed by Ahson Talish, and written by Saima Akram Chaudhry. The series celebrates Pakistani wedding traditions and narrates the story of a couple who are cousins in Nikaah, living separately as the Rukhsati is yet to happen, and the relationship between their families. It was aired every night during Ramadan 2018 on Hum TV.
It features Iqra Aziz and Farhan Saeed as Jiya and Arsalan, respectively, in the leading roles, while Samina Ahmad, Syed Mohammed Ahmed, Sami Khan, Nadia Afgan, Farah Shah, Sohail Sameer, Farhan Ali Agha, Mizna Waqas, Ali Safina, Tara Mahmood, Adnan Shah Tipu Mashal Khan, and Nabeel Zuberi are in recurring roles. The series is produced by Momina Duraid under their production banner, MD Productions.
The series received five nominations at the 18th Lux Style Awards, including Best TV Play, Best Writer for Choudhary, Best Actress for Aziz, and Best Emerging Talent for Zuberi. It won three awards, including Best TV Play and Best Actress.
The series received the highest ratings and positive reviews on its premiere and was the slot leader for the entire time it was on air. Its sequel, Suno Chanda 2, was released on May 7, 2019 and ended on June 5, 2019 after completely airing 30 episodes on Hum TV.

Series overview

Plot

Arsalan Jamshed Ali and Ajiya Nazakat Ali are cousins and live in a joint family. Their family got them married when they were kids due to the last wish of their grandfather, but the rukhsati is yet to happen. Bi Jaan, their grandmother and head of the family, has two sons, Jamshed Ali and Nazakat Ali, and a daughter, Masooma, who is married to Jalal Khan. They live in Karachi. Jamshed Ali is married to Shahana, and Nazakat Ali is married to Naeema. Jiya has a younger brother, Daniyal Nazakat Ali, who is an aspiring news reporter. Jiya dreams of joining the London School of Economics for higher studies after her BBA.
Arsal and Jiya are childhood companions who play pranks on each other. Bi Jaan decides to get Arsal and Jiya's formal wedding and rukhsati done to honour her husband's last wish. Arsal and Jiya are against the marriage plan and team up with Kinza, Masooma's daughter, to stop the wedding.
Shah Jahan, Bi Jaan's brother-in-law, and his grandson Shehryar, who lives in London, visit Pakistan for Arsal and Jiya's planned wedding after Eid. Sherry is close to his cousins and a co-conspirator in their plots to stop the marriage. Sherry asks Arsal and Jiya to resolve their problem amicably. Sherry also helps Jiya fulfil her dream of joining the London School of Economics, and they plan to study together. Sherry eventually develops feelings for Jiya, which makes Arsal jealous.
Arsal and Jiya create misunderstandings between their parents. Meanwhile, Sherry falls in love with Jiya. Arsal and Jiya's parents want Arsal to divorce Jiya, but Arsal denies it. Jiya's father sends a divorce notice to Arsal, who then confesses his feelings to Jiya.
Jiya initially rejects Arsal but eventually realises her love for him.
Later, the family discovers that Arsal and Jiya have fallen in love. Arsal and Jiya's parents eventually give in to their love, and the wedding preparations begin. Sherry and Kinza also start liking each other.
Jiya and Arsal argue again on their wedding night, but later realise their foolishness and say sorry to each other. They promise not to repeat the same mistakes and to confess their love for each other.

Cast

Soundtrack

Music is composed by Naveed Nashad, lyrics were by Ahson Talish.

Production

The idea of the comic Ramadan special play was conceived by Saira Ghulam Nabi, and the writer Saima Akram Chaudhry was tasked to penned the script. MD Productions approved the idea, and Shehzad Javed provided significant input. Chaudhry developed the story and characters, and the production was completed rapidly, with episodes being written, shot, and aired in quick succession. Chaudhry took the idea of writing a story that depicts the entire family from the Baraat Series and Indian Punjabi cinema. The teasers of the series were released in early May 2018 revealing Iqraz Aziz and Farhan Saeed as leads. Zara Noor Abbas was earlier offered the lead female role, who turned down it.

Release

Broadcast

The series was broadcast on the channel's international versions in the UK, USA, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. Dubbed versions of the series including the Arabic version, which aired on MBC Bollywood under the title "زفاف بلا زوجين" and the Persian dubbed version which aired on MBC Persia under the title عروسی بی عروسی. It aired in the UK on Zee TV UK also.
It was rebroadcast on national television, PTV Home. It started airing on August 21, 2019, and both seasons were broadcast without a break between them.

Digital release

Alongside the series release on YouTube, it also released on Starzplay and ZEE5.

Reception

The series broke previous records for Hum TV and is one of the most successful and watched dramas during Ramadan. It is praised for its blend of reality and culture mixed with humour and was applauded with positive reviews. The last episode of the drama aired on the first day of Eid-ul-Fitr. Aziz and Saeed are praised for their on-screen chemistry.Speaking to The Express Tribune, Aziz said that she is overwhelming and did not expect the series to be a massive hit. She further said about the character she played, "Jiya made me feel happy, and I was really intrigued by the fact that these two people, married to each other, know each other inside and out, but still don't want to live their lives together. Then, when I found out about their Tom & Jerry dynamic, and absolutely loved it!"

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
2019Lux Style AwardsBest TV PlaySuno ChandaWon
2019Lux Style AwardsBest DirectorAhsan Talish
2019Lux Style AwardsBest Emerging TalentNabeel ZuberiNomitated
2019Lux Style AwardsBest Actress Viewers ChoiceIqra Aziz
2019Lux Style AwardsBest Actress CriticsIqra Aziz
2019Hum AwardsBest ActressIqra Aziz
2019Hum AwardsBest WriterSaima Akram ChaudharyWon
2019Hum AwardsBest Television PlaySuno ChandaNomitated
2019Hum AwardsBest on-screen coupleIqra Aziz & Farhan Saeed
2019Hum AwardsBest Supporting ActorAdnan Shah Tipu
2019Hum AwardsBest Supporting ActressNadia Afgan
2019Hum AwardsMost Impactful CharacterNadia AfganNomitated
2019Hum AwardsBest Male ActorFarhan Saeed
2019Hum AwardsBest Child ActorSami Khan
2019IPPA AwardsBest Television series- Viewer's choiceSuno ChandaWon
2019IPPA AwardsBest DirectorAhson TalishWon
2019IPPA AwardsBest Actor-JuryFarhan SaeedWon
2019IPPA AwardsBest Actor-Viewer's choiceFarhan SaeedNomitated
2019IPPA AwardsBest Actress-JuryIqra AzizWon
2019IPPA AwardsBest Actress-Viewer's choiceIqra AzizNomitated
2019IPPA AwardsBest Supporting ActressNadia AfganWon
2019IPPA AwardsBest On-screen coupleIqra Aziz & Farhan SaeedWon
2019Pakistan International Screen AwardsBest ActorFarhan SaeedWon
2019Pakistan International Screen AwardsBest Original SoundtrackSuno ChandaNomitated
2019Pakistan International Screen AwardsBest Actor in a comic RoleAli SafinaWon
2019Pakistan International Screen AwardsBest Actor in a comic RoleAdnan Shah TipuNomitated
2019Pakistan International Screen AwardsBest Actress in a comic roleNadia AfganWon
2019Pakistan International Screen AwardsBest Actress in a comic roleFarah ShahNomitated
2020Pakistan International Screen AwardsBest Television ActorFarhan SaeedWon
2020Pakistan International Screen AwardsBest Television Actor in Comedy roleAli SafinaNomitated
2020Pakistan International Screen AwardsBest Television Actor in Comedy roleAdnan Shah TipuNomitated
2020Pakistan International Screen AwardsBest Television Actress in Comedy roleNadia AfganWon
2020Pakistan International Screen AwardsBest Television Actress in Comedy roleFarah ShahNomitated
2020Pakistan International Screen AwardsBest Original SoundtrackFarhan Saeed, Damia Farooq & Rimsha KhanNomitated