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Sehar Abdul Majeed 25090005

TW: Domestic Violence in Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay


Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay is a new drama starring Mahira Khan, Kubra Khan and Usman Mukhtar. Written by Umera Ahmad, one aspect of this drama explores the problematic marriage of Mahira Khan (Mehreen) and Usman Mukhtar (Aswad). Although this drama is written by a highly proclaimed and established writer, and featuring a star-studded cast, it is absurd to see the quality of the script and the actual content brought forward in this drama.

Firstly, when everything else seems to be getting banned by PEMRA, why is it when dramas such as these are airing on television, showing domestic abuse and suicide without even displaying trigger warnings, it is accepted and even lauded by audiences?

Although Aswad may not have directly hit Mehreen in the drama, there were several instances where Aswad spilled burning hot chai on Mehreen's hand, or forcefully blocked her way not letting her go, screaming at her, wishing she was dead, in every episode.

Is that not violence? Is violence only physical and one that can be seen from blood and gore? There are several forms of violence including verbal and emotional violence which is never banned by PEMRA.

This drama has received lots of criticism but also acceptance and fascination from the Pakistani audience, which is mind-boggling to say the least. On top of that, Mehreen choosing to stay with her abusive husband when she has the opportunity to leave simply because she "loves" him so much is unbelievable. Escaping toxic relationships is hard, but a different message should have been sent here because this drama definitely could have empowered people who are stuck in toxic, abusive marriages or relationships, with the right direction.




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I am so happy Pakistani audience is finally saying no to such content where all the lead woman do is "Rona dhona". The idea of a man with high ego, unapproachable persona, and toxic behavior has been glorified enough by drama and novels especially. This is a similar example where the woman is choosing to stay in a toxic relationship just because she "loves" her husband. The storyline where a man do all the injustices he can and say sorry in the end just because it was a misunderstanding is old enough. We need some better content and storylines which can inspire the mass of people watching it rather than misguiding the youth about such relationships

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my thoughts exactly!

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The topic brought into discussion is important yet can’t be dealt on grounds of what’s right or wrong.


Saying that not to stay in a toxic relation is right to major extent but a slight feeling of loyalty or love embedded in women’s heart for her partner, makes it extremely difficult to decide for letting go with that relation.

Not imposing the continuity of such relationship and enabling the women to decide solely would rather be a reasonable outcome of the situation.

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Yes, i agree with you that we should go for a positive approach that can probably set up the pace for the right mindset.

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Ubaid B
Dec 12, 2021

In my opinion, the play is a well crafted satire on certian male and female identities in our society. Mahira Khan is shown to be a mild tempered girl who is bearing the violence of his husband, Usman Mukhtar. It is very common that in real life as well, this is what happens. A wife bears the violence of his husband without taking out a moment to speak for herself. Similarly, men are often regarded as "short tempered" personalities as compared to their wives. In their anger, they do not take out a moment and investigate the real cause of problem and they prefer to blame women and in most of cases their wives.


This is exactly what happens in…


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25090011
Dec 12, 2021

I'm glad that someone picked this drama and talked about it. When this drama was going to be aired, I was hoping that it will have a different storyline because the cast seemed good but I was wrong. How can a Pakistani drama just not show domestic violence and women being ill-treated. You are so right that we actually need to understand that violence is not just physical, emotional abuse is also a major part of it which is shown in this drama. I stopped watching the drama after just a few episodes because the idea that a women is suffering so much without a reason infuriated me. What is even more sad is that Mehreen's character played by Mahira…

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Thank you for sharing your insight! Especially about how you think Aswad will probably be forgiven for all the pain he has inflicted on Mehreen. This is the typical "maarta tou he lekin pyaar bhi kerta he na" mindset, meaning that whatever the man has done, he will still be forgiven by the woman by giving her one small gift or one apology. In the end, the cycle repeats itself and victim is usually not able to leave this toxic cycle since the woman is conditioned to forgive and move on for the sake of her marriage and her family, and loug kya kahein ge.

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25090054
Dec 12, 2021

Mahira Khan recently responded to the criticism and according to her mehreen is a strong character. She said she liked that mehreen was tough enough to argue with her grand mother and still iron her clothes. According to her, mehreen was a strong character just because she talked back a few times in the whole series, which is so absurd because at the end of day she is tolerating the abuse, she is not leaving her husband which i know is easier said than done, but she had the option. After a few episodes her character became that cliche where the female lead is crying and tolerating all the time and is waiting for time to bring her justice.

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Thank you for sharing this! I was hoping to see how these actors would respond to the criticism of this drama. I agree, this drama has become a cliche in which the female lead is portrayed as a helpless, poor soul waiting for a knight in shining armour to come save her. Our media industry needs to rethink what they are creating and how they are reproducing these norms in society. I think Mahira's response is just in line of what a compromising, obedient woman should be.

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