‘Parwarish’ is a drama that beautifully expresses the complexities of parenting and the generational gap between parents and their children. The story is set in Karachi, drawing a contrast between two families, their mindsets, and their relationships with their families. 

The first family is Suleman’s, who lives with his wife Panah, their two children Amal and Sameer, and his parents. His family is shown as a family of tradition, compassion, a family that makes mistakes but rectifies them in a healthy way. This family is taken as a reference with which our second, and main family is compared; The family of Jahangir. 

To recap the main events of the show briefly, Jahangir is Suleman’s brother, who moves back to his family home with Suleman from America, after his daughter Aania is caught doing drugs. He believes the stricter environment will reform them, but as we see later, this only makes things worse. Jahangir’s son Wali is shown to be very passionate about music, but is forced into medicine by his father. 

Alongside them is the household of Shaheer, his oppressed wife, and their daughters Maya and Mashal, whom he considers a burden. He forces Maya into an engagement to which she reluctantly agrees on the condition of being allowed to continue her education. Coincidentally, she ends up joining the same medical university as Wali, where the two meet and begin to form a friendship that later blossoms into love. However, soon after, the truth about Maya’s engagement is revealed in an unfavourable way, leaving behind a heartbroken and betrayed Wali. As the situation escalates, Maya’s father creates more chaos by confronting Wali's family, which in turn humiliates Wali. Jahangir makes it known to Wali that he is only succeeding because of Jahangir’s influence and connections. Wali leaves home to prove himself, where he meets a man named Aamir Naqvi, who helps him build his music career. Naqvi dies of cancer soon after. Later on, Wali finds out that Jahangir remained in constant contact with Naqvi to make sure of his well-being. Although disheartened, this reduces some of the bitterness for his father. Wali returns home later, where he confronts his father, being very emotional and vulnerable to him. We see a gradual improvement in Jahangir’s behaviour as he ends up apologising to his son.

This drama does not just narrate events but also asks deep questions about cultural norms and parenting. One of the biggest differences is how families abroad tend to live more freely than those who still carry old customs in Pakistan. A simple example is Jahangir’s wife, Manhoor's, attempt to use a roti-maker, which her mother-in-law disregarded as nutritionless. This made us reflect on how women's hard work is praised while convenience is shamed. Another powerful moment was when Mahnoor refused to excuse Jahangir's ego-driven choices. She counters her mother-in-law’s remark of “men will be men” with the idea that the only reason men keep acting this way is because women keep forgiving them, without ever holding them accountable for their actions. These dialogues challenge the foundation of gender roles and show how society's forgiveness of men's flaws creates husbands and fathers who are not emotionally mature enough to handle their relationships.

The show also compares the striking differences in the parenting styles of Suleman and Jahangir. A really good example of this is after seeing Jahangir’s reaction to Aania, Suleman, although strict, shows balance and trust in dealing with Sameer after he is caught doing drugs at a party. He does punish him briefly, but later also supports his passion for gaming. This delivers the message that discipline should correct, not crush. In contrast, Jahangir's controlling nature left his children feeling suffocated; Aania's guilt and depression got worse, while Wali lost his sense of self. The drama wonderfully depicts how children process their parents’ mistakes, often blaming themselves for conflicts, and carrying scars from harsh words and rigid expectations. Moreover, the drama also depicts how important emotionally available partners are. Suleman and Pana's healthy relationship fosters understanding and trust in their children, while Jahangir and Mahnoor's constant clashes burden and emotionally decapitate their children.

The love story of Wali and Maya serves as another layer to the story.  Their relationship shows the struggles of men who are never taught emotional openness. Even though Maya stands by Wali and supports him when he has nothing, Wali dismisses Maya's struggles, thinking they don't matter as much as his. It is a crucial reminder that love needs empathy, not just logic. Amal's one-sided love for Wali also shows the beauty and pain of silent emotions, and yet she processes them healthily and maturely, choosing to just pray for his happiness instead. When Wali left his house, and Sameer asked Amal about him, she broke down crying in his arms. That moment not only showed the tenderness of unspoken love but also the beautiful bond of trust between siblings. Similarly, the closeness between Wali and his sister Aania stood out despite his struggles with Wali being protective and supportive of her, proving that sibling relationships in this drama were as significant and heartfelt as the romantic ones.

What makes Parwarish special is how it ties all these storylines together. It acknowledges that parents are learning too; they often make choices out of care that backfire in the long run. Jahangir thought he was protecting his children instead he crushed their individuality. Suleman understood the importance of letting children learn from mistakes without long-term guilt. It reminds us that parents must not only love but also respect their children's choices, whether in career or feelings, and they must realise that words are just as important as actions. Moreover, it also shows that parental love has no boundary and is unconditional. Jahangir's hidden care for Wali through Naqvi proved that parental love, though flawed, is something that cannot be replaced.

We also see Mahnoor and Jahangir going to couples therapy by the end. It’s such an important step because when two people are stuck in an unhappy marriage, getting help from a professional can really make a difference, yet sadly, it’s still treated like a taboo. We also see Mahnoor sending Aania to therapy after finding suicidal videos on her phone. For Aania, that decision was a real turning point, helping her let go of guilt and heal. Both moments remind us how important it is to take care of our mental health, and it isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign of courage, and it's what ultimately makes your life worth living again.

In the end, the drama leaves a lasting lesson. Parenting is not about control, but about guidance, trust, and emotional availability. Children need to feel seen, not held back. They need love, not ego. Most of all, the freedom to make mistakes without fear of losing their parents' support is what forms a person’s individuality and mentality. Parwarish is a mirror held up to society. It reminds us that while family conflicts, favouritism, and generational gaps are real, love and understanding can heal even the deepest divides if ego is set aside.