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    Udaari: A Bold Tale of Triumph and Survival

    Written by: Syed Abbas Hussain
    Posted on: October 03, 2016 | | 中文

    Ahsan Khan's brilliant portrayal of a pedophile

     

    With Udaari's outspoken portrayal, the issue of child abuse is finally out of the closet; it is a topic that can no longer be hidden behind stoic faces and disapproving eyes.

     

    A television play that has become a topic of discussion across the country owing to its contentious theme, Udaari truly has left a resounding impact. This is by no means a quintessential television serial with a sappy romance or an extramarital affair as its plot hook.  Nor are its protagonists bejeweled conspiratorial women caught in a love triangle. Udaari is stuff that thought-provoking art films are made of. Its jarring content often leaves you shell shocked and uncomfortable to the core. It is not always the visual imagery that evokes the visceral reactions; the grotesqueness lies in the unspoken words, the subliminal messages, and the gut wrenching moments that gnaw at your insides. Moreover, with a dash of humour and a tight screenplay, it manages to grip the viewer’s attention without becoming overbearing. KASHF Foundation in collaboration with Momina Duraid (MD) productions of Hum TV has produced this path-breaking TV serial that highlights the issues of child abuse and gender empowerment.

    Television dramas, as opposed to films, are more conservative in terms of the issues that they touch upon, given that families predominantly constitute their target audience. Udaari on the other hand, pushes boundaries of what has traditionally been considered “permissible viewing” for Pakistani television. It was hitherto perhaps unthinkable for terms such as ‘pedophilia’ and ‘child rape’ to be used in television drama, and there were certainly consequences to Udaari’s shattering of conventional sensibilities. Complaints from a certain section of viewers translated into a showcase notice issued by PEMRA. However, better sense soon prevailed, and a social media backlash led to PEMRA rescinding its decision.

    Drama Serial Udaari

    Zebo (Areesha Ahsan) with Imtiaz (Ahsan Khan), the pedophile stepfather (photo: Sameer Ahmed)

    Drama Serial Udaari

    Sajjo (Samiya Mumtaz) with her daughter Zebo (photo: Sameer Ahmed)

    The story of Udaari begins in the dusty plains of interior Punjab in a decrepit but bustling village, with the introduction of two families, who are next-door neighbours. They live in humble mud houses lined with low-lying boundary walls bathed in pastel colours, and open courtyards resonating with the sound of birds chirping. They draw water out of wells with hens fluttering around, and start their day with a simple meal of roti smothered in desi ghee, cooked over a log fire on an earthen stove. One of the families is headed by a lady called Sajida who is endearingly referred to as Sajjo (played by Samia Mumtaz), a widow who works as a cook for a well-to-do family in the city and looks after her 10-year-old daughter Zebo. In the house across them resides a family of musicians who, like Sajjo, struggle to make ends meet. Their day to day struggle is shown through simple, yet powerful interactions, such as when a child complains to his elder sister about consuming milk as a substitute to his meals, as there are times when the family can’t afford to purchase food items. However, the portrayal of their poverty doesn’t end up becoming a morbid tale of tragedy that is chronicled through a morose sounding orchestra as background music. The characters are resilient, many of them strong women who face the perils of life head-on. Bushra Ansari as Sheedan is a feisty singer and a matriarch of her family, who in spite of the social stigma that hounds her Miraasi family is fiercely proud of her roots and considers herself a hardworking professional. Her daughter Meera is played by Urwa Hocane.

    Drama Serial Udaari

    Bushra Ansari as Sheedan, the supportive neighbour

    The village setting is contrasted with Lahore’s urban ambience, marked by exquisitely furnished upper middle class homes, laid out with embroidered carpets on glinting marbled flooring and neatly manicured lawns. A young group of college students, who play music as an amateurish band and harbour aspirations of becoming overnight celebrities, carry the story forward in the subplot. Farhan Saeed, from the famous band Jal, plays the brooding and spoilt Arsh. The sub-narratives are entwined beautifully before a scathing tension in the plot is brought in by the character of Ahsan Khan, which forms the cornerstone of Udaari’s storyline.

    Drama Serial Udaari

    Farhan Saeed as Arsh and Urwa Hocane as Meera

    The strength of Udaari’s writing and direction lies in its ability to depict the lives of its characters with realism. With a majority of Pakistani television showing myopic characters placed into stereotypically demarcated slots, Udaari stands out for having a narrative endowed with depth and nuance. It is refreshing to see poor people in a village shown to not lead a life of abject misery and oppressive patriarchy, and city dwellers not being showcased as emblems of debauchery. For instance, the NGO worker in Lahore enacted by Laila Zuberi, contrary to the evil Fareeda from the popular serial Humsafar, is genuinely compassionate and works for the emancipation of the underprivileged. Writer Farhat Ishtiaq, after penning some of the most commercial plays, has delved into a totally different genre and in the process, delivered a masterstroke. Mohammed Ehteshamuddin on his part deserves praise for directing this ambitious project with finesse, as well as fleshing out the sensitive story in an impactful and engaging manner.

    Drama Serial Udaari

    Sajjo confronts Imtiaz

    Udaari’s cast members deliver commendable performances, completely sinking their teeth into their complex characters. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that all of them perfectly capture the village dialect and maintain it flawlessly throughout their scenes. Samia Mumtaz shows an intense and gritty side in the latter episodes, exposing her formidable talent – the kind that is seen in her theatre performances. The legendary Bushra Ansari is a chameleon who can embody any character with ease. Udaari is yet another feather in her cap. With her Kohl-smudged eyes, candy coloured laacha, chunky earrings and coarse tone, she is every bit of her character. Urwa Hocane and Farhan, too, are supremely natural, and emote with a tactful restraint. Areesha Ahsan and Hina Altaf as the young and older Zebo show adeptness at their craft, and tug at the heart’s strings as they embody the painful journey of a child who has been violated. The person who steals the show, however, is Ahsan Khan. He transitions comfortably from a visibly benign, immaculately dressed man into probably the most hateful character to have ever graced television screens in the country. His lecherous stare while biting onto his golden chain, the twitch on his face, his menacing gait and voice modulation, all result in a chilling effect. He has an overpowering presence that allows him to deliver the performance of a lifetime.

    Drama Serial Udaari

    Imtiaz at his trial

    Udaari raises some very important issues, such as victim shaming in the context of rape. In a memorable sequence, the rape victim is emphatically told, “You have no reason to feel embarrassed or ashamed. It is the rapist who ought to be ashamed and not you. You are a survivor, not a victim!” This message effectively captures the core problem that relates to pedophilia. Much like the pedophile, a victim’s family and the society as a whole, generally shames victims into silence, thereby allowing the perpetrator to roam scot free and emboldened to commit the heinous act again.

    There was one questionable instance in the play, though. In reference to the rape victim, it is said, “Uskee izzat loot lee gayee’’ (She was robbed of her honour) – a statement that is not contested later. The idea that rape or molestation can purge a person of his or her dignity stands in contradiction to the ethos of the serial.

    It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that Udaari is a groundbreaking television play, for it has dared to bring the topic of pedophilia to mainstream television. While the play has come to an end, its powerful message will resonate with the audience for a long time, and hopefully alter public discourse in Pakistan around child abuse.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021