{{short description|Pakistani television series}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Use Pakistani English|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox television | image = | caption = | alt_name = | native_name = | genre = {{plainlist| * Drama * Crime }} | creator = | based_on = | developer = | writer = Asma Nabeel | screenplay = | story = | director = Shahid Shafaat | creative_director = | starring = {{plainlist| * Sohai Ali Abro * Asad Siddiqui * Osman Khalid Butt * Mansha Pasha }} | narrator = | theme_music_composer = | open_theme = | end_theme = | composer = | country = Pakistan | language = Urdu | num_episodes = | executive_producer = | location = | cinematography = | editor = | camera = Multi-camera setup | runtime = 40 minutes | producer = {{plainlist| * Humayun Saeed * Shahzad Nasib * Samina Humayun Saeed * Sana Shahnawaz }} | company = {{plainlist| * Six Sigma Plus * Next Level Entertainment }} | budget = | network = ARY Digital | first_aired = {{Start date|2019|06|12|df=y}} | last_aired = {{end date|2019|9|24|df=y}} | image_alt = | num_seasons = | list_episodes = | channel = | released = }} '''''Surkh Chandni''''' ({{langx|ur|{{nq|سرخ چاندنی}}|lit=Red moonlight}}) is a 2019 Pakistani crime-drama television series produced by Humayun Saeed, Shahzad Nasib, Samina Humayun Saeed, and Sana Shahnawaz under the production banners Six Sigma Plus and Next Level Entertainment. It is directed by Shahid Shafaat and written by Asma Nabeel. The series originally started airing on ARY Digital on 11 June 2019, and the last episode was shown on 24 September 2019.

The story focuses on the subject of acid violence, with Sohai Ali Abro as Aida, an acid attack survivor, and Asad Siddiqui as the perpetrator. It also has Osman Khalid Butt as Aida's love interest and Mansha Pasha as Aida's sister-in-law (antagonist).<ref name=lubna>{{Cite web|url=https://nation.com.pk/30-Jan-2019/mansha-pasha-to-star-in-surkh-chandni|title=Mansha Pasha to star in 'Surkh Chandni'|last=|first=|date=2019-01-29|website=The Nation|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-04-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1900050/4-mansha-pasha-takes-role-acid-attack-perpetrator/?amp=1|title=Mansha Pasha takes on role of acid attack perpetrator|last=|first=|date=30 January 2019|newspaper=The Express Tribune|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2022-11-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1181776|title=Mansha Pasha takes on a villainous role for drama Surkh Chandni|last=Haq|first=Irfan Ul|date=2019-02-01|website=DAWN|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-04-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/349438/we-have-seen-stories-where-the-rapist-has-been-highlighted-mansha-pasha/|title=We have seen stories where the rapist has been highlighted: Mansha Pasha|last=|first=|date=2019-01-30|website=Daily Times|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-04-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1985943/4-surkh-chandni-dedicated-indomitable-spirit-acid-attack-survivors-osman-khalid-butt/|title='Surkh Chandni' is dedicated to the indomitable spirit of acid attack survivors: Osman Khalid Butt|last=Tribune.com.pk|date=2019-06-03|website=The Express Tribune|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-06-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/406377/osman-khalid-butt-shares-beautiful-poetry-as-tribute-to-acid-attack-victims/|title=Osman Khalid Butt shares beautiful poetry as tribute to acid attack victims|last=|first=|date=2019-06-03|website=Daily Times|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-06-29}}</ref>

== Plot ==

The story starts with Aida, who loves her cousin Amaan, and he also loves her. They both want to marry each other. However, Jawad, a guy from Aida's neighbourhood, sends his proposal for marriage to Adia's home, which she rejects. Amaan comes with his mother, who decides to marry earlier due to this incident, to which the family agrees. On the other hand, Jawad, in a fit of fury, doesn't accept that Aida has rejected his proposal and decides to take revenge. He makes a plan and incorporates Aida's sister-in-law, Shumaila, into it. He asks Shumaila to bring her to the beauty parlour on her wedding day and throws acid on her.

One side of her face burns completely and is admitted to the hospital. Amaan and his mother take full care of her and support her. Jawad worries his name will be revealed as a preparator but pulls Shumaila on his side as she is the only one who has seen the attacker. He fulfills her desires, which she couldn't due to poverty.

After getting discharged from the hospital, Aida returns home. Everyone in her neighbourhood blames her, and her brother Mukhtar doesn't believe her when her people question her character. She tells her mother that Jawad has done this and forbids her to tell it to anyone. Her mother tells it to Amaan, who decides to bring his end but fails. They lose the case in court due to a lack of preparation and Shumaila's deception. Shumails goes against Aida, which undermines her honour further.

==Cast== * Sohai Ali Abro<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/instep-today/397214-osman-khalid-butt-and-sohai-ali-abro-come-together-for-surkh-chandni|title=Osman Khalid Butt and Sohai Ali Abro come together for Surkh Chandni|last=NewsBytes|date=|website=The News International|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-04-14}}</ref> as Aida * Osman Khalid Butt<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1181438|title=What's a guy like Osman Khalid Butt doing in an industry like this?|last=Ajaz|first=Mahwash|date=2018-12-12|website=DAWN|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-04-14}}</ref> as Amaan * Hassan Ahmed as Mukhtar * Mansha Pasha<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/357328/mansha-pasha-says-surkh-chandi-shows-men-and-women-both-can-trigger-acid-attacks/|title=Mansha Pasha says 'Surkh Chandi' shows men and women both can trigger acid attacks|last=|first=|date=2019-02-21|website=Daily Times|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-04-14}}</ref> as Shumaila * Asad Siddiqui<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/lifestyle/empathy-not-pity-asad-siddiqui-hopes-surkh-chandni-will-change-how-acid-victims-are-perceived/|title=Empathy, not pity; Asad Siddiqui hopes 'Surkh Chandni' will change how acid victims are perceived|last=|first=|date=|website=Daily Pakistan|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-04-14}}</ref> as Jawad * Huma Nawab as Safina; Amaan's mother * Rashid Farooqui as Badar; Aida's father * Lubna Aslam<ref name=lubna/> as Rukhsana; Aida's mother * Gul-e-Rana<ref name=lubna/> as Humaira; Jawad's mother * Rashida Tabbasum as Rehana, a social worker * Hajra Khan as Aida's lawyer * Saleem Mairaj as Jawad's lawyer

== Reception ==

In an article by ''Dawn Images'', the reviewer praised powerful moments, the chemistry of the lead couple and the finale for sensitively dealing with the issue of acid attacks but criticised the pace.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1183457|title=What Surkh Chandni gets right about acid attack survivors|date=8 August 2019|author=Maria Kari|work=Dawn Images|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1183733|title=Revenge, redemption and romance — the Surkh Chandni finale had it all|date=26 September 2019|access-date=}}</ref> ''Express Tribune'' lauded the direction of Shafaat for portraying the realistic journey of the survivor, the performances of the cast members and Nabeel's script.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/article/86295/five-reasons-why-surkh-chandni-is-a-milestone-of-our-drama-industry?|title=Five reasons why Surkh Chandni is a milestone of our drama industry|date=12 August 2019|access-date=|work=Express Tribune|author=Afshan Zahra}}</ref> Hareem Zafar of ''Youlin Magazine'' praised Abro and Butt's performances and raw and realistic depiction of the household.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youlinmagazine.com/article/drama-review-surkh-chandni/MTQ5OQ==|title=Drama Review: Surkh Chandni|date=25 June 2019|work=Youline Magazine|author=Hareem Zafar|access-date=}}</ref>

== Accolades == {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col"|Year ! scope="col"|Awards ! scope="col"|Category ! scope="col"|Recipient ! scope="col"|Result ! {{Tooltip|Ref.|References}} |- | February 7, 2020 ! scope="row" | Pakistan International Screen Awards | Best Television Writer | Asma Nabeel | {{Nom}} | <ref>{{Cite web |author=Images Staff |date=8 February 2020|title=Nominations for the first ever Pakistan International Screen Awards are out |url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1184279 |access-date=11 September 2022|work=Images |language=en}}</ref> |}

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{IMDb title}}

{{ARY Digital Programs}}

Category:2019 Pakistani television series debuts Category:Pakistani drama television series Category:Urdu-language television shows Category:ARY Digital original programming