Time and time again, the Pakistani drama industry has been often called out for promoting problematic tropes such as promoting domestic violence. This time, the drama serial Mere Humsafar has been slammed for doing so.
Once again, the depiction of domestic violence on-screen raised the matter of drama serials being a mirror to reality or a promoter of ideals. It really boils down to the manner in which something is depicted.
Throwing in violence and other forms of torture on women in a scene depicting a dispute is a means of normalizing such behavior. However, a drama serial particularly breaking down the matter such as Raqeeb Se highlight it as a problem.
So when drama serial Mere Humsafar first garnered a lot of praise for showing a supportive husband, a promo with domestic violence irked fans.
Associating such behavior with a supportive husband is again condoning and normalizing such behavior.
Mere Humsafar casts Farhan Saeed and Hania Saeed, as husband and wife, Hamza and Hala. Fans love the drama serial for its onscreen dynamics.
Till now we saw Hamza being a husband was seen being a supportive husband and helping his wife become confident and financially independent.
However, last week’s promo showed Hamza about to strike Hala. So Netizens pointed out how we’re desensitizing people to the problematic nature of domestic violence.
yup, it is the same with Mere Humsafar, the kind of abuse they show is not fixed by getting a loving husband. It gets scarring after a point and basically you are numbing your society to such acts of violence. Rather than shocking, it is routine.
— meghabarse (@RadhaSangBlues) June 3, 2022
Others called out how the problem starts with the writing. Additionally, we see the mother-in-law playing the antagonist here. Yet again, another age-old problematic trope.
and it is a choice of writing,, you don't see Mehreen's mom fight for her,, even Aswad's mom only ever so utters words in complete tehzeeb, how are these women not going crazy???
— meghabarse (@RadhaSangBlues) June 3, 2022
Also Umera Ahmed's writing, from what I have seen on TV is always about women in patriarchal setups and also how women eventually giving in to such setups, and in a way glorifies that. The problem is always the subversive misogyny and its display with such fanfare
— meghabarse (@RadhaSangBlues) June 3, 2022
People called out how based on how typical the direction of the drama srial seems to be they hope their predictions aren’t right.
Mere Humsafar is killing me So much violence and abuse Sad part is this does happen I wish Hala could escape instead of staying with her abusers
— Sadaf Haider صدف حیدر (@tomtomatoe) April 9, 2022
I hope they don’t show Humza as a typical husband who would become suspicious & leave Hala.
— priyamvada (@priyamvadami) April 9, 2022
What do you think Let us know in the comments below.
