We’ve all know that Zee Entertainment is collaborating with Pakistani artists to create five web series. One of these series includes Asim Abbasi’s web series ‘Churails‘.
Female-centered web series ‘Churails‘ is a story of four women who rebel against the prevailing atmosphere of feminism in society. The series cast Yasra Rizvi, Sarwat Gillani, Nimra Bucha, and Mehar Bano.
Life seems perfect for 'Unapologetic' Sara until she is denied the one thing that's truly hers. Find out in #ChurailsOnZEE5 on 11th Aug.#UnveilTheVeil#MainChurailHoon #ZindagiOnZEE5@realsyedasarwat@MeharBanoJ@nimrabucha@YasraRizvi @Zindagi pic.twitter.com/9fsqM28yV6
— ZEE5 Shows (@ZEE5Shows) August 2, 2020
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Other cast members include Adnan Malik, Anoushey Abbasi, and the legendary Sania Saeed.
The trailer has garnered a lot of attention. Let’s get into whether its the good kind or bad kind.
The #Churails are coming to make a bold statement & to make you question all stereotypes. It’s time to #UnveilTheVeil. #ChurailsOnZEE5 Trailer Out Tomorrow #ZindagiOnZEE5 @sarwatgilani @MeharBanoJ @nimrabucha @YasraRizvi @ZindagiOfficial @ZEE5Premium pic.twitter.com/JdzC3RKs6e
— ZEE5 Shows (@ZEE5Shows) July 30, 2020
Some people liked what they saw
There are netizens that genuinely like the trailer. There’s plenty of good bits – from Yasra Rizvi’s acting, to the female-centered plot.
https://twitter.com/KarachiWalay75/status/1289172612661166080
seeing pakistani men lose their shit after watching #Churails trailer is a sight worth seeing 🤣
— . (@eresuninutil_) July 31, 2020
#churails just showed the middle finger to Pakistan's esteemed censor board and relics sitting in privileged positions, approving only archaic content that belongs in the 1920s. #showtimemotherfuckers! I didn't say it!
— AHI (@aamnaisani) July 31, 2020
Kudos to @ZEE5Global on the launch of its first Pakistani original #Churails – Trailer looks intriguing. Breaking the barriers & norms of Pakistani content. Completely unconventional! 👊🏼 https://t.co/IX4SKN8arN
— Raj Baddhan (@RajBaddhan) August 1, 2020
Pakistani art hitting new milestones, The trailer was epic, exceeds my expectations. I knew this was gonna be good but the plot meri soch se zyada interesting he. My type. Crime: incestigation: thriller!#Churails https://t.co/25FWC3b6Bq
— D. (@themarauderssss) August 2, 2020
SUPPORT PAKISTANI CONTENT, IT IS A PAKISTANI ORIGINAL AND IT IS FIRE!!!!! #Churails https://t.co/TFgGDsAaJ9
— KFChoe (@WaqarAliAhsan) July 31, 2020
And some hate it
While some people are loving the trailer, others not so much. So what did people have to say about the apparent plotline, story, and subject matter?
No hate please…but the Churail trailer didn’t really do it for me. Looks like an OTT attempt at selling a certain commercialised form of feminism. It’s another side of the same Pakistani drama coin: hit em on the head with what you want to say. Subtlety is not our thang.
— Sabahat Zakariya (@sabizak) August 3, 2020
Also from this event the dialogues & characters are almost identical. The only diff we made was one Pakistani roti aurat to make it more Pakistani bersion. pic.twitter.com/z1sAfo4qs8
— fariha ijaz (@IjazFariha) August 3, 2020
Most of the criticism towards the web series was the female-centered plot and hard-hitting feminist rhetoric. The trailer itself doesn’t showcase any radical feminist ideas. Some things are clearly exaggerated for the story, whether that’s over the top or not, we will have to wait to see when the series launches.
#Churails trailer looks a bit different let's see if Pakistani society accepts it.
— Hisban Memon (@hisbanspeaks) August 2, 2020
https://twitter.com/81mk__/status/1289960812862255106
After watching trailer of #Churails men be like#ChurailsOnZEE5 pic.twitter.com/RCkUeBV4kO
— sharialendous._ (@shariat_hosayn) July 31, 2020
I watched #Churails trailer. First, Don't compare this with Ertugrul. Ertugrul is historical series & churails is related to today's society women abuse. It'll be interesting to watch, if it doesn't promote, "Sasti feminism" & I hope it's not an idea copied from veeray di wedding
— Hassan 🇵🇸 (@iHassanDastgir) July 31, 2020
Saw the trailer of #Churails . Must say it looks good from consumers point of view but then what msg are you giving here ? Like beating men , abusing and smoking cigarettes is a way to become a strong woman ?
— Shaz (@ali_shazore) August 1, 2020
https://twitter.com/vicysin/status/1289477203990904832
Some objected to the use of burkas and niqabs for a statement.
Is this content about so-called feminism, liberalism or they are showing women who wear burqa have any purpose to wear it???
Or then they are giving idea that one can also wear burqa for secret purposes.
Nonetheless, I did not get the point of showing veil here. #Churails pic.twitter.com/mUyrqWJZlr— Asma Khan (@ImAsmakhan) July 31, 2020
https://twitter.com/Ghamhour_/status/1290013094207295488
Then there were the conspiracy theories.
#Churails@reportpemra
Should take notice against this liberalism series. Which is promoting and supporting Homosexuality. And the part of 5th generation war.
You can notice abusive material on HIJAB in this poster. And using CLIP ART for bad things.
If you are agree RT please. pic.twitter.com/h7ZJ7uFSQL— 𝐙𝐚𝐞𝐞𝐦 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 (𝙾𝚏𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚕)👑🇵🇰 (@TruthWriter0) July 31, 2020
There were even arguments that ‘real depiction of empowered women‘ is in the Turkish series Dirilis Ertugrul. While sure the characters in the period drama are empowered given the historical context, it doesn’t address the issues of contemporary women and how society hinders their empowerment.
https://twitter.com/waqasluqman/status/1289175775871025153?s=21
Just watched the trailer of #Churails as an entertainment serial its good but if you think it's about women empowerment and representing Pakistani women then think again and if you want to see a serial about women empowerment do watch #ErtugrulGhazi 🙇 #ChurailsOnZEE5
— Meshal (@MisSidique) July 31, 2020
The ertugal fan brigade ki dimag kay to loray lag gay ..hahah….wether good or bad definitely worth watching… sick of love story content produced.. #Churails #ChurailsOnZEE5 https://t.co/lHBN4SVhHA
— aam admi (@danyaal89) August 1, 2020
https://twitter.com/abdullah_umar5/status/1289236242932969474
Meanwhile, Churails touches on subjects like the social acceptance of male infidelity, domestic violence, like the rest of modern humanity women need to follow their calling,
These are subjects we’ve seen breached in feminist films like First Wives Club, Legally Blonde, Kramer vs. Kramer.
Some folks defended Churails, stating that while it doesn’t claim to be an artistic masterpiece, its exaggerated characters might actually help sell the plot better.
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Some folks point out how it exposes some hypocritical attitudes in society.
https://twitter.com/regularpeach/status/1289254168914354176
The breakdown and anger of Pakistani men over #Churails trailer is crazy! They praise the abusive language of Sacred games' characters but have a problem with this trailer. Aghhh Hypocrisy!
PS: Will definitely watch Churails on 11th August 😍— …. (@iamPachkali) July 31, 2020
Not everyone can understand English, web series provide creators with a little bit more freedom than traditional media so lotsa potential there. Also even if you aren't gonna watch, just sit back and enjoy Pakistanis boiling over the apparent "begairti"; trust me it's fun.
— soz-e-sarishk (@PaabaJaulaan) July 31, 2020
Is #Churails going to give us #cultureshock ? Ive already had people tweeting at me saying the Trailer is ‘Vulgar’ but with most of Prime Time Pakistani is Tv filled with Adulterous affairs making Churails looks kind of old fashioned ( sarcasm alert) pic.twitter.com/n5ySMHOIRh
— Sadaf Haider صدف حیدر (@tomtomatoe) August 3, 2020
Churails will be available for streaming on Zee5 on August 11th.
Is the criticism towards the web series warranted? And that too from a mere trailer? Or do we give the series a shot and decide after watching it?
What do you think?
