Latest news with #TanManNeeloNeel
Al-Ahram Weekly
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Pakistani drama breaks silence on blasphemy killings - Screens - Arts & Culture
An axe-wielding mob chases a terrified group; a daring Pakistani television drama has for the first time tackled the deeply sensitive issue of the dozens murdered for alleged blasphemy. Islam is the official religion in Muslim-majority Pakistan, and accusations of insulting religious sentiments can easily incite mob violence. Blasphemy is an incendiary charge, and the issue is rarely discussed by major media broadcasters due to security concerns. But producer Sultana Siddiqui challenged that with an 11-part television drama, which has earned praise since it began airing in December for handling a taboo topic with sensitivity. "This issue has not been raised before because of fear," Siddiqui, founder of the Hum Network media company, told AFP. Her drama "Tan Man Neelo Neel", or "Bruises on Body and Soul", tells the stories of people in a small Pakistani town, and has generated millions of views and widespread praise on social media. "I took the risk in a careful manner," she said. "That's why people appreciated it." - 'Malicious disinformation' - In the drama, the case of blasphemy centres around a character who falsely claims a dance performance takes place in a mosque, rather than the abandoned mansion it happened in. That storyline of false allegations is an echo of reality. Pakistan's independent Human Rights Commission, in a report last month, described the "impunity for perpetrators of hate and violence". It detailed cases of people killed, and followers and places of worship of Pakistan's minority religions, including Christians and Hindus, being attacked over false claims. "Law enforcement... have often failed to rescue blasphemy suspects from vigilante violence," the commission said. "A careful examination of various blasphemy allegations shows that these are invariably based on fabrications, malicious disinformation and fake news." Siddiqui said she was motivated by a 2017 case in the city of Mardan when a mob beat 23-year-old journalism student Mashal Khan to death after accusing him of posting blasphemous content online. "I couldn't sleep after hearing Mashal's mother say that 'not a single bone in his body was left unbroken -- even his finger bones were fractured'," she said. "I kept wondering: How brutally must they have beaten him?" Mohammad Iqbal, the murdered student's father, said that the producer had chosen the "right topic" and had "honoured his son". "We, those most affected, have rarely spoken about it publicly," he told AFP. "At last, this conversation is happening on television". - 'Raise awareness' - Siddiqui said she had long wanted to address the issue and had been carefully collaborating with fellow directors and writers to address the subject matter appropriately. "I, too, fear extremists who might not like me and could harm me," she said. "However, I believe we should address these issues with them in a respectful manner." Siddiqui said it was her "duty to educate people" and "raise awareness about crucial social issues" that impact society. Pakistani dramas boast a massive viewership and their popularity serves as a powerful vehicle for social change. A Gallup survey conducted in October 2023 suggested that two-fifths of the country watch dramas. "We should have spoken about such issues much earlier," said Mustafa Afridi, the writer of the show. "If we had, perhaps we wouldn't be in this situation today, perhaps our children wouldn't be dying." - 'Viral critique' - Pakistan's media industry has been wary of the topic -- and fallen foul in the past of accusations of creating blasphemous content. The release of the 2019 award-winning film "Zindagi Tamasha", or "Circus of Life", was halted after the Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) objected to its portrayal of a cleric they deemed "blasphemous". In 2020, a music video shot at Lahore's Wazir Khan mosque sparked furious protests after singer Bilal Saeed was filmed dancing with actor Saba Qamar. Police filed a case against them, and they apologised -- and were eventually acquitted two years later. Arafat Mazhar, the director of the Alliance Against Blasphemy Politics group, said Siddiqui's show had "sparked a viral critique of blasphemy-related mob violence". He called the reaction "unprecedented". "It wasn't just that people were watching a drama about mob violence -- it was that the conversation centred on mob violence at such a large scale for the first time," he told AFP. "The battle against blasphemy violence is not just about speaking out against mob killings. It is about challenging the structures that create and sustain them". Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Khaleej Times
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Pakistani drama breaks silence on blasphemy killings
An axe-wielding mob chases a terrified group; a daring Pakistani television drama has for the first time tackled the deeply sensitive issue of the dozens murdered for alleged blasphemy. Blasphemy is rarely discussed by major media broadcasters due to security concerns. But producer Sultana Siddiqui challenged that with an 11-part television drama, which has earned praise since it began airing in December for handling a taboo topic with sensitivity. "This issue has not been raised before because of fear," Siddiqui, founder of the Hum Network media company, said. Her drama Tan Man Neelo Neel, or "Bruises on Body and Soul", tells the stories of people in a small Pakistani town, and has generated millions of views and widespread praise on social media. "I took the risk in a careful manner," she said. "That's why people appreciated it." 'Malicious disinformation' In the drama, the case of blasphemy centres around a character who falsely claims a dance performance takes place in a mosque, rather than the abandoned mansion it happened in. That storyline of false allegations is an echo of reality. Pakistan's independent Human Rights Commission, in a report last month, described the "impunity for perpetrators of hate and violence". "Law enforcement... have often failed to rescue blasphemy suspects from vigilante violence," the commission said. "A careful examination of various blasphemy allegations shows that these are invariably based on fabrications, malicious disinformation and fake news." Siddiqui said she was motivated by a 2017 case in the city of Mardan when a mob beat 23-year-old journalism student Mashal Khan to death after accusing him of posting blasphemous content online. "I couldn't sleep after hearing Mashal's mother say that 'not a single bone in his body was left unbroken — even his finger bones were fractured'," she said. "I kept wondering: How brutally must they have beaten him?" Mohammad Iqbal, the murdered student's father, said that the producer had chosen the "right topic" and had "honoured his son". "We, those most affected, have rarely spoken about it publicly," he said. "At last, this conversation is happening on television". 'Raise awareness' Siddiqui said she had long wanted to address the issue and had been carefully collaborating with fellow directors and writers to address the subject matter appropriately. "I, too, fear radicals who might not like me and could harm me," she said. "However, I believe we should address these issues with them in a respectful manner." Siddiqui said it was her "duty to educate people" and "raise awareness about crucial social issues" that impact society. Pakistani dramas boast a massive viewership and their popularity serves as a powerful vehicle for social change. A Gallup survey conducted in October 2023 suggested that two-fifths of the country watch dramas. "We should have spoken about such issues much earlier," said Mustafa Afridi, the writer of the show. "If we had, perhaps we wouldn't be in this situation today, perhaps our children wouldn't be dying." 'Viral critique' Pakistan's media industry has been wary of the topic — and fallen foul in the past of accusations of creating blasphemous content. The release of the 2019 award-winning film Zindagi Tamasha, or "Circus of Life", was halted after the radical party Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) objected to its portrayal of a cleric they deemed "blasphemous". In 2020, a music video shot at Lahore's Wazir Khan mosque sparked furious protests after singer Bilal Saeed was filmed dancing with actor Saba Qamar. Police filed a case against them, and they apologised — and were eventually acquitted two years later. Arafat Mazhar, the director of the Alliance Against Blasphemy Politics group, said Siddiqui's show had "sparked a viral critique of blasphemy-related mob violence". He called the reaction "unprecedented". "It wasn't just that people were watching a drama about mob violence — it was that the conversation centred on mob violence at such a large scale for the first time," he said. "The battle against blasphemy violence is not just about speaking out against mob killings. It is about challenging the structures that create and sustain them".
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pakistani drama breaks silence on blasphemy killings
An axe-wielding mob chases a terrified group; a daring Pakistani television drama has for the first time tackled the deeply sensitive issue of the dozens murdered for alleged blasphemy. Islam is the official religion in Muslim-majority Pakistan, and accusations of insulting religious sentiments can easily incite mob violence. Blasphemy is an incendiary charge, and the issue is rarely discussed by major media broadcasters due to security concerns. But producer Sultana Siddiqui challenged that with an 11-part television drama, which has earned praise since it began airing in December for handling a taboo topic with sensitivity. "This issue has not been raised before because of fear," Siddiqui, founder of the Hum Network media company, told AFP. Her drama "Tan Man Neelo Neel", or "Bruises on Body and Soul", tells the stories of people in a small Pakistani town, and has generated millions of views and widespread praise on social media. "I took the risk in a careful manner," she said. "That's why people appreciated it." - 'Malicious disinformation' - In the drama, the case of blasphemy centres around a character who falsely claims a dance performance takes place in a mosque, rather than the abandoned mansion it happened in. That storyline of false allegations is an echo of reality. Pakistan's independent Human Rights Commission, in a report last month, described the "impunity for perpetrators of hate and violence". It detailed cases of people killed, and followers and places of worship of Pakistan's minority religions, including Christians and Hindus, being attacked over false claims. "Law enforcement... have often failed to rescue blasphemy suspects from vigilante violence," the commission said. "A careful examination of various blasphemy allegations shows that these are invariably based on fabrications, malicious disinformation and fake news." Siddiqui said she was motivated by a 2017 case in the city of Mardan when a mob beat 23-year-old journalism student Mashal Khan to death after accusing him of posting blasphemous content online. "I couldn't sleep after hearing Mashal's mother say that 'not a single bone in his body was left unbroken -- even his finger bones were fractured'," she said. "I kept wondering: How brutally must they have beaten him?" Mohammad Iqbal, the murdered student's father, said that the producer had chosen the "right topic" and had "honoured his son". "We, those most affected, have rarely spoken about it publicly," he told AFP. "At last, this conversation is happening on television". - 'Raise awareness' - Siddiqui said she had long wanted to address the issue and had been carefully collaborating with fellow directors and writers to address the subject matter appropriately. "I, too, fear extremists who might not like me and could harm me," she said. "However, I believe we should address these issues with them in a respectful manner." Siddiqui said it was her "duty to educate people" and "raise awareness about crucial social issues" that impact society. Pakistani dramas boast a massive viewership and their popularity serves as a powerful vehicle for social change. A Gallup survey conducted in October 2023 suggested that two-fifths of the country watch dramas. "We should have spoken about such issues much earlier," said Mustafa Afridi, the writer of the show. "If we had, perhaps we wouldn't be in this situation today, perhaps our children wouldn't be dying." - 'Viral critique' - Pakistan's media industry has been wary of the topic -- and fallen foul in the past of accusations of creating blasphemous content. The release of the 2019 award-winning film "Zindagi Tamasha", or "Circus of Life", was halted after the Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) objected to its portrayal of a cleric they deemed "blasphemous". In 2020, a music video shot at Lahore's Wazir Khan mosque sparked furious protests after singer Bilal Saeed was filmed dancing with actor Saba Qamar. Police filed a case against them, and they apologised -- and were eventually acquitted two years later. Arafat Mazhar, the director of the Alliance Against Blasphemy Politics group, said Siddiqui's show had "sparked a viral critique of blasphemy-related mob violence". He called the reaction "unprecedented". "It wasn't just that people were watching a drama about mob violence -- it was that the conversation centred on mob violence at such a large scale for the first time," he told AFP. "The battle against blasphemy violence is not just about speaking out against mob killings. It is about challenging the structures that create and sustain them". zz/pjm/sco
Express Tribune
22-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
8 Pakistani Dramas That Delivered Endings We Can't Forget
Pakistani dramas have always had a way of pulling viewers into their world, but let's be honest—nothing sticks with an audience quite like a powerful ending. Whether it's a tearjerker that leaves you emotional for days or a satisfying conclusion that ties everything together, a great finale can turn a good drama into an unforgettable one. In the past few years, we've seen a shift in storytelling, with dramas tackling social issues, exploring nuanced characters, and giving us narratives that feel fresh and engaging. And when done right, a well-crafted ending can elevate a drama beyond just entertainment—it can spark conversations, leave a lasting impact, and even redefine expectations for future shows. Here are eight Pakistani dramas that absolutely nailed their endings. 1. Khaie Writer: Saqlain Abbas | Director: Syed Wajahat Hussain | Cast: Faysal Qureshi, Dur-e-Fishan Saleem Taking a bold step away from traditional family sagas, Khaie delivered a gripping tale of tribal rivalry, honor, and generational revenge. It was violent, unpredictable, and different from anything we had seen on our screens in a while. The finale was chilling. Zamda, played by Dur-e-Fishan Saleem, executed Chinar Khan as per tribal tradition. But instead of continuing the endless cycle of violence, he made a groundbreaking decision—to raise Chinar's young son with love and education rather than vengeance. This powerful ending flipped the script on revenge-based narratives, making Khaie stand out as one of the most impactful dramas of recent times. 2. Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum Writer: Farhat Ishtiaq | Director: Badar Mehmood | Cast: Fahad Mustafa, Hania Aamir When a drama is so massive that its final episode gets a cinema release, you know it's a cultural phenomenon. Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum was one of the biggest TV hits of the year, and its ending was everything fans had hoped for. Fahad Mustafa's emotional performance and Hania Aamir's incredible portrayal of Sharjeena had audiences hooked from day one. The moment their characters embraced in the finale, tears flowed in cinemas and homes alike. The final episode was pure magic—an emotionally charged, beautifully shot conclusion that made sure this drama will be remembered for years to come. 3. Noor Jahan Writer: Zanjabeel Asim Shah | Director: Musaddeq Malik | Cast: Saba Hameed, Kubra Khan No one saw Noor Jahan coming. What started as a seemingly ordinary saas-bahu drama quickly turned into a power play filled with layered emotions, mind games, and generational trauma. Saba Hameed's Noor Jahan became one of the most iconic characters in recent Pakistani drama history, and Kubra Khan's Noor Bano held her own against her. The final scene—where an unspoken understanding passed between the two—was a masterclass in storytelling. It was subtle yet powerful, proving that sometimes, a glance can say more than words ever could. 4. Tan Man Neelo Neel Writer: Mustafa Afridi | Director: Saife Hassan | Cast: Sehar Khan, Shuja Asad This 11-episode mini-series packed a punch, tackling dark themes like mob violence, murder, and even male rape—all while keeping a light, engaging tone throughout most of its run. But nothing could have prepared audiences for its ending. The final 10 minutes delivered one of the most unforgettable moments in recent TV history. The gut-wrenching depiction of mob violence, false blasphemy accusations, and the destruction of innocent lives left viewers stunned. Social media erupted with praise, calling the show's creators brave for shedding light on such a critical issue. 5. Mann Jogi Writer: Zafar Mairaj | Director: Kashif Nisar | Cast: Bilal Abbas Khan, Gohar Rasheed, Sabeena Farooq A drama that tackled the complexities of wrongful Halala and mob justice, Mann Jogi was part of a trilogy exploring mob violence in Pakistan. Its finale stood out because of its hopeful message—showing how the intervention of religious scholars could protect people from unjust punishment. In a world where misinformation often fuels dangerous consequences, this drama dared to imagine a different path. 6. Zard Patton Ka Bunn Writer: Mustafa Afridi | Director: Saife Hassan | Cast: Sajal Aly, Hamza Sohail At its heart, Zard Patton Ka Bunn was about resilience. Covering themes like women's education, rural healthcare, and child labor, it told the story of Maimoona, played brilliantly by Sajal Aly. The final scene was nothing short of inspiring. Watching Maimoona proudly don her graduation cap and thank the supportive men in her life—her father, husband, and nephew—was a beautiful moment of triumph. It was an emotional, well-earned conclusion that made audiences fall in love with the show all over again. 7. Jaan-e-Jahan Writer: Rida Bilal | Director: Qasim Ali Mureed | Cast: Hamza Ali Abbasi, Ayeza Khan For Pyare Afzal fans, this one was personal. Hamza Ali Abbasi and Ayeza Khan had already given us one unforgettable on-screen love story, only for it to end in heartbreak. But with Jaan-e-Jahan, they finally got the happy ending they deserved. The show itself was a strong performer, but its ending was the cherry on top. The moment Hamza and Ayeza's characters found their way back to each other, fans sighed in relief. This wasn't just a well-executed finale—it was long-awaited redemption. 8. Nadaan Writer: Saji Gul | Director: Mehreen Jabbar | Cast: Ahmed Ali Akbar, Ramsha Khan Exploring themes of drug abuse, social decay, and mob mentality, Nadaan was a gripping watch from start to finish. But it was the final episode that left the strongest impression. The show highlighted the importance of proper policing and law enforcement in preventing mob violence. The ending wasn't just emotional—it was a call to action, making audiences question the structures that enable injustice. With stellar performances and thought-provoking storytelling, Nadaan delivered a finale that still lingers in the minds of viewers. A drama can have stellar performances and an engaging plot, but if the ending falls flat, it risks being forgotten. These shows proved that a well-executed finale can turn a great story into an unforgettable one. Which of these endings stayed with you the most? Let's talk about it!
Express Tribune
17-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Tan Man Neelo Neel' packs a powerful punch
Spoiler alert! The following text references the final episode of 'Tan Man Neelo Neel'. Tan Man Neelo Neel has gripped the internet with a gruesome ending that no one saw coming. Fostering a tale of love with a message catered to the influence of social media, the drama serial ended with a harrowing display of the consequences of mob mentality. Directed by Saife Hassan, the serial stars Sehar Khan and Shuja Asad in leading roles. While its finale begins with the usual quirks and expected offering of romance, it quickly transforms into a cautionary tale culminating in a mob lynching. Many lauded the tragic ending for its powerful message and relevance in the current digital age, especially with how often matters get misconstrued on social media. "I was deeply moved by this project. I want to praise the writer for highlighting such heart-shattering problems. These are the genuine issues plaguing our society, unlike the clichéd love triangles or unrealistic love stories," wrote one user on YouTube. "I appreciate how the project maintained a realistic tone throughout, from the portrayal of the victim's helplessness to the attitude of law enforcement and society." The commenter also penned the hope that audiences would continue to appreciate the harrowing reality of the raw problems depicted on screen in Tan Man Neelo Neel. "I hope all drama viewers will support projects like this, as they highlight problems rather than perpetuating unrealistic expectations," the user added. Regarding the drama's mob lynching depicted during its closing moments, another user drew comparisons with spine-chilling stories from real life that make the show all the more gruesome. "What a heart-wrenching ending to this series that brought us back to the harsh realities of our society," the fan penned, highlighting just how impactful fictional stories rooted in societal issues can be. While noting their appreciation, others also couldn't help but lament the tragedy that struck their favourite characters. "How many times will they make us cry? Really wanted a happy ending for the characters, but this is reality," reflected a viewer. "Paying homage to the countless victims of mob violence was sad to see, but it was nonetheless an important reminder that we must do better as a society." However, the drama didn't depart without its criticisms. "I wish the mob lynching scene had been more intense, vividly showing the victims' dread and the mob's madness," mused another fan. "This could have etched the tragedy so deeply into our collective memory that next time, we could easily predict such endings." Despite this shortcoming, the commenter concluded, "Thank you for finally telling a story that needed to be told long ago."
