Pakistanis are divided this weekend, not over cricket or the Taliban, but a slap. A slap on a TV serial.
Whether it’s Do Bol, Ishqiya, Humsafar, O Rangreza or countless other dramas, Pakistani television has not shied away from depicting tense family dynamics and subjugation of women. While some shows have attempted to be progressive by touching on topics like mental health, scenes of domestic violence, in particular, are common. And these shows are watched by many in India too. This week, however, a ‘slap scene’ from a newly aired TV show ‘Laapata‘ went viral with one section of fans praising the show and another criticising it for its lack of sensitivity in dealing with topics like domestic violence.
On Twitter, fans praised the show for depicting a woman fighting back after being slapped. “This is such queen behaviour,” said a Twitter user. Other fans offered backhanded compliments by pointing out that the show depicts strong women, but it “took a man to write it” — a dig at writer-director Khizar Idrees.
My Queen #laapata but It took a man to write it #Khizaridrees https://t.co/oIFGPta6Ld
— Sadaf Haider صدف حیدر (@tomtomatoe) September 9, 2021
Pakistani media sites like Niche Lifestyle, however, called for trigger warnings in Pakistani dramas. “Do we need to glamourise abuse to depict strong women?” asked Mahnoor Jalal, sub-editor at Niche Lifestyle, in an op-ed Friday. Instagram is divided too. And actor Mirza Gohar Rasheed, who is one of the leads in the show, has confused people even more with his response to the whole controversy.
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‘Don’t you dare’
The ‘slap scene’ was part of episode 12 of ‘Laapata‘, which aired on HUM TV Thursday. In it, actor Mirza Gohar Rasheed plays the role of Daniyal, an aggressive husband who accuses his wife Falak, played by Sarah Khan, of being intimate with her cousin. In previous episodes, we see Daniyal commit murder before his wedding day, and it is insinuated that he has anger management issues.
When the confrontation escalates, Daniyal slaps Falak across the face. She pauses for a second, before slapping him back and saying: “Don’t you dare! I will break your hands”.
Last night’s episode #Laapata showcased a scene between the main leads, which featured a slap sequence.
While many appreciated Falak for fighting back others called out the drama for glorification of abuse.
How did you feel about the scene? ?
Full scene: https://t.co/r9biC8UYrh pic.twitter.com/gOFCAPgV19
— MediaSpring PK (@MediaSpringPk) September 10, 2021
“Wow. It was so relieving watching Falak slapping back that psycho murderer!!! Can’t wait for the next episode! (sic),” said one YouTube comment.
‘Laapata’ first aired on 28 July on Urdu channel HUM TV. It previously courted controversy when its first episode showed a female character falsely accusing a shopkeeper of harassment.
The female character falsely accuses a shopkeeper of harassment after he rightfully asks for his money when she purchases goods from him.
Scene from Pak TV series #lapata #FakeCases pic.twitter.com/erUlR5Y0Cl
— Pankaj (@pankajcgupta) July 30, 2021
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‘Oppression is a choice’
Further complicating the controversy, Mirza Gohar Rasheed defended the scene Friday by calling it an example of a woman taking back power.
“To prove that oppression is a choice, if any insecure man with his fragile ego tries his ‘so called’ muscles on you, make the choice that #Falak did without any fear! One tight slap back from a brave woman to such a weak man in our society would be a giant leap for womankind (sic),” he tweeted.
To prove that oppression is a choice If any insecure man with his fragile ego tries his “so called” muscles on you,Make the choice that #Falak did, Without any fear! One tight slap back from a brave woman to such weak man in our society would be a giant leap for women kind (3/4)
— Mirza Gohar (@GoharRsd) September 10, 2021
Though Rasheed began his statement by saying he hates the frequent display of physical abuse on television, he concluded by saying it was this scene that prompted him to take up the role of Daniyal.
Some disagreed with Rasheed, saying violence is never the way. “Violence coming from any gender is a big NO,” replied one Twitter user.
In a report Friday, Pakistani paper Dawn remarked: “While we appreciate the intention behind the scene — to empower women to stand against abuse — we do not condone violence in any shape or form. Just like the infamous false harassment scene, we wish the drama had tackled this issue in a slightly different way.”
Domestic violence is a common topic for Pakistan’s show creators. Female characters in mainstream soap operas are often shown as stoic, sacrificing and pious. Their ‘strength’ in their ability to sacrifice for the family at the cost of their own agency.
Take Mehwish from Meray Paas Tum Ho (2019) and Khirad from Humsafar (2011) who are “caricatures of the good woman”.
Mehwish is a married woman who falls in love with another married man, but in the end, returns to her husband who eventually dies at the end of the series. Meanwhile, Khirad is an educated woman forced to marry her first cousin and the relationship turns toxic. Despite being falsely accused of an affair and being constantly berated by her husband, Khirad reunites with him in the end.
But this isn’t the first time a show has depicted a woman being hit. Mere Bewafa (2018) shows a wife slapped by her husband and in serials like Ek Tamanna La Haasil Si, Yahan Pyar Nahi Hai, Nikhar Gaye Gulaab Saray and Mere Harjaai, female characters get slapped multiple times by both men and women.
In July 2019, Lahore-based Gourmet News Network also caused a stir by airing a sketch that mocked domestic violence victims. In the sketch, a woman, with a bandage and bruises all over her face, complains about her husband beating her after she found pictures of other women on his phone. When the husband justifies the violence by saying he works in the entertainment industry, the studio audience breaks into laughter.
This is disgusting. GNN is mocking domestic abuse. Media has gone out of control. pic.twitter.com/zcrk9bb9ZO
— Ali Raza (@AliRazaTweets) July 27, 2019
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Justice for Noor, Quratulain & Saima
The viral scene comes at a time when the conversation around the safety of women in Pakistan is growing as more and more stories of horrific domestic abuse — some ending in death — have come to light.
Responding to Rasheed, one Twitter user accused him of being “tone deaf” in light of recent domestic violence victims like Noor Mukadam, Quratulain Baloch and Saima Ali. Mukadam, the 27-year-old daughter of an ex-diplomat, was shot at and beheaded on 23 July after a quarrel with a male companion. On 15 July, Baloch, a mother of four, was tortured to death by her husband in Hyderabad. Earlier, on 3 July, Ali was shot dead by her husband after he allegedly opened fire on her and her children.