Written by: Hareem Zafar
Posted on: March 16, 2020 | 
| 中文
Sanam Saeed as Kashaf and Fawad Khan as Zaroon in Zindagi Gulzar Hai
Umera Ahmed is a name known to every Urdu fiction reader and drama viewer in Pakistan. Her captivating dramas, gripping storylines and moving dialogues have made her the Queen of millions of hearts. Over the years, she has not only remained a critically acclaimed novelist, but also a screenwriter and a script consultant, who has touched an array of themes and feelings which resonate with the everyday Pakistani.
Ahmed was born in the city of Sialkot in 1976 and dream of being a writer from a very young age. She attended Murray College there and acquired a master’s degree in English Literature. For a brief period after graduation, Ahmed worked at Army Public School as a teacher. But her love for teaching was overpowered by her passion and prowess of writing; she quit her job to focus on her writing career.
She began her professional career as an author and novelist in 1998, by sending short stories to digests and magazines. In fact, the internationally acclaimed Pakistani Drama Serial, ‘Zindagi Gulzar Hai (Life is Like a Garden)’ was the first short story she sent to a monthly digest, almost 20 years ago. The rich and deeply moving plot inspired many, and Umera was urged to write a full-length novel on her short story, which, unbeknownst to her, would become a super-hit drama serial.
Zindagi Gulzar Hai, like most of her stories, revolve around the complexities and obstacles that come with male-female relationships, romantic or otherwise. It showed how Zaroon, the main character’s chauvinist and egotistical mindset is challenged by a headstrong and independent woman, Kashaf. Kashaf has a difficult life but does not give up her principles in the face of Zaroon’s sense of privilege and entitlement, which causes him to fall in love with her. Ahmed has also explored similar themes of societal pressure and interactions between men and women in ‘Doraha (Repeat)’ (2008) and ‘Daam (The Price)’ (2010).
Kashaf’s strong female character defied all stereotypes of meekness and submissiveness otherwise portrayed about daughters in dramas. Sanam Saeed’s multi-faceted performance still stands out, unlike the more common one-dimensional female leads, whose lives revolve around their male counterparts. In an interview, Umera Ahmed confessed that Kashaf’s character is similar to her personal temperament and social circumstances.
Saba Qamar in Digest Writer
One of the reasons that Ahmed’s writing resonates with so many, is that it revolves around realistic experiences and social problems, with the women taking a central place. Ahmed’s female characters have become more evolved over time, and now Ahmed makes it a point to promote and uplift the image of Pakistani women everywhere. She portrays them as enlightened females who can serve as role models for women who aspire for personal and professional fulfilment, and not just content with romantic pursuits. Examples of this can be found in Saba Qamar’s character in ‘Digest Writer’ and Sajal Aly’s Momina in ‘Alif’. Daam, directed by Mehreen Jabbar, highlighted Zara and Maliha’s friendship, and the strains placed on their relationship, given their different financial and social backgrounds.
Zara (Sanam Baloch) and Maliha (Amna Sheikh) in Daam
Another one of her notable works include ‘Meri Zaat Zarra-e-Benishan (Unknown Origins)’, for which Ahmed has won the ‘Best Writer’ Award at the 10th Lux Style Awards. The plot focuses on Saba and her daughter Sara, as Saba is pelted with accusations of infidelity and depravity, while also showing Saba’s struggle to forgive those who wronged her. It shows how easy it is to tarnish a woman’s reputation for the rest of her life. Meri Zaat Zarra-e-Benishan also gained international recognition, as it was also aired in India in 2014, with the name ‘Kesi Yeh Qayamat’.
Samiya Mumtaz in Meri Zaat Zarra-e-Benishan
Apart from addressing social topics, she also tackles religious and spiritual themes in her novels. Peer-e-Kamil (2004), Shehr-e-Zaat (2012) and Alif (2019), are three notable examples of her exploration into the struggle of spiritual enlightenment in modern day society. Peer-e-Kamil (The Perfect Mentor), particularly, has held a special place in people’s hearts. The powerful love story of Salar and Imamah, along with Imamah’s unconditional faith in God and her religion, has been lauded for its relatable yet mystical elements. Her latest drama ‘Alif’ is similar to Peer-e-Kamil, as it also revolves around spirituality and romance (read the review here). Alif traces the spiritual transformation of Momin (Hamza Ali Abbasi) from a spiritually lost person, to one of faith and dedication, just like Salar.
Sajal Aly as Momina and Hamza Ali Abbasi as Momin in Alif
Overall, Ahmed has written 30-50 books in her career, and over 22 of them have been adapted in serials for various television networks. She writes two dramas and one novel each year, and her books have been translated to English and Arabic. Some of her other famous books and television dramas include, Main Nay Khabon Kaa Shajar Daikha Hai (The Tree of Dreams), Mutthi Bhar Mitti (Fist Full of Dirt), Kankar (Stones), Qaid-e-Tanhai (Prison of Lonliness), Durr-e-Shehwar etc.
Mahira Khan in a Scene from Shehr-e-Zaat
Ahmed’s writings sensitively capture the subtle social issues with the help of characters that are relatable and whose struggles find resonance with the audience. It takes a true master to feel the pulse of society and find the extraordinary and the insightful everyday stories. Umera Ahmed has done that consistently in her writing and has gained recognition for her unmatched talent.
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