Barzakh: Why is Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed's Indian series being removed from YouTube in Pakistan?

 

Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed together again after ten years!

The headlines were enough for TV drama fans in Pakistan to wait for 'Barzakh', but the series, a joint production of Pakistan and India, was mired in such controversies after its release that the Indian channel 'Zee', which aired it, Zindagi' has announced to remove it from YouTube in Pakistan.

The last episode of this six-episode series was released on YouTube on August 6, but on the same day, Zee Zindagi has said in a statement that after August 9, access to this drama on YouTube will not be possible in Pakistan.

A statement on the channel's social media accounts said, 'In light of the current public sentiment in Pakistan, we have decided to voluntarily remove Barzakh from YouTube Pakistan.'

It should be noted that since the first episode of this drama series was aired, there was a strong reaction from the Pakistani fans who called the themes of this series obscene, provocative and against Islamic values.

Stories never die

Barzakh is an Arabic word that means obstacle, while religiously it refers to the period after the death of an individual until the Day of Resurrection. The story of the drama series Barzakh is written by Asim Abbasi, who is also the director of this series.

Asim Abbasi on the social media platform 'X' described Zee Zindagi's decision to remove Barzakh from YouTube in Pakistan as the best and wrote that 'None of my stories is more valuable than the protection of all these beautiful and talented artists who were assembled to make it.'

"This decision is really great for all the people who showered us with love. I hope you enjoy the final episode! And remember, stories never die.'
 actors involved in the series, including Asim Abbasi, but they refused to comment on the series or its removal from YouTube.

What is the story of Barzakh?

This web series depicts complex relationships between various characters and social issues. The story of Barzakh revolves around Jafar, a 76-year-old man who invites his sons to marry his first love in the world of Barzakh.

On the one hand, Jafar is preparing to go to the world of Barzakh for his marriage, while on the other hand, the people of the same town are in fear of the destruction of the world due to this union of people from two worlds.

The story employs the modern literary technique of 'magical realism' in which the worlds of the past and present are intertwined and at the center of the story are people struggling with their identities and emotions. are victims.

The series also highlights issues such as life after death, mental health, postpartum depression, forced marriage, and the problems of caregivers of psychiatric patients, but most of the Pakistani fans are critical of some of the scenes and themes of the series. There have been objections and they claim that it is promoting adultery, homosexuality and witchcraft.

The first scene of the first episode of Barzakh was accused of spreading obscenity by the audience, then the accusation of promoting homosexuality came out in the third episode when two male characters were seen kissing each other in a scene of this episode. Appeared close.

Delete your Netflix, put on a blindfold

After the release of the series, be it journalists or YouTubers, everyone on social media in Pakistan reacted to it and it was also seen that a lot of information was presented which further fueled the opposition about the drama. The air

Even after the last episode of Barzakh aired on Tuesday, the name of the series continued to trend on social media and campaigners against Barzakh continued to claim it as their success after the series was announced to be removed from YouTube in Pakistan.

Before the airing of Barzakh, the fans were eager to see Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed, the popular duo of the drama serial 'Zandagi Gulzar Hai', together on screen after 10 years, but now this actor is under the most criticism and on social media. Users are also demanding a ban on these two actors.

A user Bilal wrote on X that 'after this drama I have come to the conclusion that if India gives enough money to Pakistani actors, they will also record pornography for them.'

Nausheen Irfan Khan wrote that 'LGBT, Shirk, Pedophilia, Necrophilia, Black Magic, Illuminati, Homosexuality. All in one place. You know where. It is in a Pakistani director and actors drama serial released by Zee Five called Barzakh.

However, while there was no shortage of critics, the Barzakh team was praised by both Indian and Pakistani users and the hypocritical behavior was also discussed.

In her commentary on X, journalist Absa Komal pointed to adult content trending on Netflix in Pakistan and criticized the double standards of local viewers, saying 'delete your Netflix too, put a blindfold on, say Don't get your feelings hurt.'

Another user Komal Bukhari wrote, 'Why do we have a problem with everything that brings some progress and evolution? How long will we continue to suffer at the hands of people who are completely ignorant of the reality of sexuality?'

It should be noted that after the first episode aired, Asim Abbasi, the director of the series, wrote on 'X' in response to a user's criticism that 'If you don't like unconventional stories, please don't watch my content.'

He added that he will always support human rights and tell stories that he believes in.

Burying your head in the sand won't make it go away'

Due to the severe criticism and trolling of this drama series and the actors working in it on social media, the prominent people of the country's drama industry and most of the artists also remained silent, but a few celebrities were part of the same campaign. Be too

Fashion designer Maria B released a video against Barzakh in which she said, "It seems that this director made a list of the biggest sins from the Quran and made a drama out of them."

Pakistani singer Aima Baig wrote on Instagram after the news of Barzakh being removed from YouTube in Pakistan, "Sorry it was not the kind of movie our generation wanted to see, maybe it was the worst way to get attention." '

In this situation, there were some artists who suggested the critics to look into their necks while talking about the series and its themes.

Senior actress Rubina Ashraf appeared on a morning show to defend the themes of Barzakh and advised the public to use the power of social media in a positive way

He said that if people have objection to homosexuality in the society, they should 'talk about where this kind of practice is happening in the society. Expose them. A play has reflected the society and burying your head in the sand will not end that thing.'

Actress and TV host Nadia Khan, in a private channel show, praised the series, which was shot in the valleys of Hunza, including Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed in the cast of Barzakh, and called it a big relief for people who were married. , tired of divorce, mother-in-law and family drama.

The writer's job is to show a mirror to the society'

Critics of Barzakh argue that issues such as homosexuality should not be 'normalised' on screen.

Playwright B Gill, creator of successful and bold stories like 'Dar Se Jaati Hai Salla', 'Raqeeb Se' and 'Working Women', says that accurate and honest art is a reflection of its society.

he said, "Barzakh is the whole journey of a gay man. The emptiness of his childhood and the complexities of his relationships are shown very sensitively." Whatever is shown in Barzakh does not happen here. Banning such content means that you close your eyes like a pigeon and make false pieties.'

He further said that 'if the author writes with the concern of pleasing his audience, he will write a lie. The author's job is to show a mirror to the society, not to mount a pulpit and call for reform. If we hide our faces from our problems, then the thought of their removal should also be removed from our hearts.'

Playwright Amna Mufti, though reluctant to give her opinion on the issue of Barzakh, was of the opinion that no content should be banned.

On the creation of themes and characters, he opined that 'we create characters to entertain and when we are working as commercial writers and if our target audience is housewives aged 15 to 45, whose morals If we get an idea, we try not to give them a cultural shock.

Sabahat Zakaria, a prolific columnist on digital platform Feministani, wrote on X that she wanted to test Barzakh on its merits, but censorship in Pakistan made it impossible.

He wrote that 'the liberal man inevitably has to stand up against the maddened crowd, the rest is left behind. First it happened with Joyland, now Barzakh.'

It should be noted that in recent years, Pakistani films 'Joyland' and 'Zindagi Tamasha' have also been victims of public backlash and bans due to their unique themes