Electronic media is the fastest way of communicating with large masses and taking advantage of this technology many producers, filmmakers and directors have been trying to convey their thoughts through films, dramas for many years. Movies, TV shows, plays, documentaries and interviews are being highly watched throughout the world including Pakistan.
The Pakistani showbiz industry is a mixture of people belonging to different backgrounds and thus we have seen many classic plays ingulfing various domestic, social and societal issues. Most of the producers claim it openly of promoting women empowerment through their drama serials but we somehow don’t totally agree to it.
The Pakistani entertainment industry is not only popular in the country but people from all over the world watch the dramas, movies with interest. But in recent time the dramas are taking a shift and similar sort of storylines are being observed. Women in mostly Pakistani dramas are now being showcased as oppressed, sobbing throughout the series, dull and poor.
Basically, In Pakistani dramas, majority lead roles played by women don’t have goals apart from getting married or coping up with things after getting married. Why being Married is so glamorized by the mostly drama writers?
In the current wave, Most of the Pakistani dramas are bluntly showing social taboos, economic crisis, marital affairs and women suffering domestic violence throughout the serial. Mostly a female is being shown belonging to a poor family and how he then sacrifices her inner self and marries for her family’s dignity like in the currently on-aired drama Ranjha Ranjha Kardi.
Making dramas on social issues is a good thing but the characters should not be in so ‘Black or White’ form. Somehow, same patterns (oppressed women) dramas are being on-aired on local channels and we think it is time that our industry should change the women representation.
We have also seen many women-centric dramas like Baaghi, Dastaan, Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Meri Zaat Zara E Benishaan, Besharam, Yakeen Ka Safar and many more. These dramas give the viewers a strong message of how to fight all the odds around oneself and how the lead roles played by the women help us in coping with life struggles.
Another newly released drama released on local TV channel ‘Geo Tv’ is Yaariyan featuring Ayeza Khan and Momal Sheikh in the lead roles. As seen in the teaser, we can say that the drama is based on two sisters, but they have separate stories. One accepts her married life and is happy. The other is unhappily married and refuses to let others be happy either, eventually, she turns evil.
Here is the OST for Yaariyan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-TsvYLaYO8
Ayeza Khan is playing the of an unhappy married woman whose family didn’t let her marry the man she actually loves and the drama showcases how it affects Zubi (Ayeza Khan) life after marriage. The main focus of the drama is “you fall for many people but you love only one.” but it does not mean one should leave in past, Life never stops ending. We all have to go through thick and thin and should learn to stay calm and relax in every phase of life.
While sharing her reason for signing the drama Yaariyan, Ayeza Khan had shared with daily publication ‘Dawn Images’ that she signed the script because she feels the story is highly relatable. “I feel there are a lot of dramas at the moment that contains violence, divo, ce and conflict between sisters and though this one contains some of these, it’s an interesting story which shows that there are stories like this around us.”
Responding to the detailed story of Ayeza Khan starrer, comedian Ali Gul Pir had sarcastically praised the drama in his latest tweet:
https://twitter.com/Aligulpir/status/1119194268088905728
What he meant was that the producers and directors should show things which would help women in fighting all the odds rather than showcasing the similar storylines that revolve around a woman trying to please a male character.
Women are usually shown as meek, emotional, or submissive. Female characters are usually shown standing by the window, looking out wistfully, crying buckets while the viewers are tortured by a never-ending much-too-loud soundtrack.
The entertainment industry should stop showcasing family fights, domestic violence, negativity which engage viewers for years. Instead should represent the Pakistani women who are contributing to the country’s economy significantly.
It is high time we let go of these age-old conventions and stereotypes. The aim should be to create more timeless masterpieces like Dhoop Kinare, Taanhayian, Aangan. There is a lot more to Pakistani culture and traditions. It will be a grave injustice to pomp the rainbow with one shade unless we deliberately want to blur half of the truth.
What are your thoughts on it? Share with us in the comments box below.
