With all the awareness surrounding domestic violence, Sheheryar Munawar is reminding everyone men can be victims of violence too.
The 7 Din Mohabbat In actor also opened up about personal experiences, recalling a bad relationship.
While Pakistani drama serials and soap operas often glorify domestic abuse, they don’t even begin to address violence against men. In conversation with Fuchsia, the writer and director talked about working on a short surrounding the same issue.
After asking Mahira Khan to star in his directorial debut Prince Charming, the diva asked him to do a project for her as well.
“After a few months of Prince Charming, Mahira called me and said she wanted me to do this project for her, … The theme which was explored this year was domestic abuse following Noor Mukaddam’s case. And mind you, I also had to keep in mind that I was creating a third episode for it, and it had to stay in the original story’s world.”
For the actor-cum-writer, three things were important given the time constraint.
“Real depictions of characters, functional dialogues, and symbolic gestures.”
The 34-year-old filmmaker shared how he wanted to show the cyclical nature of abuse.
“Abuse isn’t a one-time thing, and is often followed by a grand apology, each one grander than the last one and it melts you, absorbs you with time. So to show the pattern, I repeated the same line that Mahira’s to-be-husband says in the beginning. The ‘Maheen, have you lost your mind?’ was a set pattern and the person who rewatches the film will understand that layer. They’ll understand how Maheen did not lose her mind, but actually found it when she finally says no.”
Additionally he highlighted how escaping abuse is a gradual process that requires gradual effort.
“The switch doesn’t come in one day ever. You can say no, show courage, but the abused will break. My character is more realistic that way, she doesn’t become emotionless. Why do women continue to stay in abusive relationships? It’s not like women are only scared of the consequences. They’re also in love with their abusers, that’s why it’s a toxic relationship. You can have a courageous moment to stand up for yourself but you’ll end up breaking the next minute because you don’t know life without that man. That is why you’ve been tolerating the violence. It doesn’t take a brave woman to stand up for herself, it just takes momentary courage.”
He also addressed how domestic abuse or partner abuse isn’t limited to just men. Violence isn’t gendered.
“Men get abused too. I’ve been in a bad relationship too. But Pakistani men aren’t allowed to cry and when they’re not allowed to feel pain and cry, then the man becomes an animal and then beats the women up. I’m not justifying it but it happens this way. We need to endorse sensitivity amongst all genders.”
Abay oh Hijrey!