New Delhi: A Pakistani web series on a cross-border romance between an Indian boy and a Pakistani girl has found itself in the eye of a storm, with social media users in Pakistan labelling it as “unpatriotic” and calling for a ban.
The trailer of the series Dhoop Ki Deewar was released Wednesday and tells the tale of the children of rival soldiers who were killed in Kashmir.
The series stars Sajal Aly and Ahad Raza Mir and will release on Indian streaming platform Zee5 on 25 June
However, soon after the trailer’s release, the hashtag #Bandhoopkideewar began trending in Pakistan. According to Twitter users, the series monetises “blood of Kashmiris” and undermines the ‘Two Nation Theory’.
#BanDhoopKiDeewar because Kashmiri blood is not for sale. pic.twitter.com/u3wlWJbDSW
— Maria Saeed Ch (@UmeHareemLhr) June 18, 2021
We will not allow the blood of Kashmiri martyrs to be wasted nor will we allow the blood of Pakistani martyrs to be wasted
There are some traitors in Kashmir and Pakistan who have traded their faith for some money it is a shame for them#BanDhoopKiDeewar #MuslimFreedomMovement pic.twitter.com/evcgN39vsn— speacher (Konuşmacı) ??????✌️ (@speacher4) June 19, 2021
The makers of the web series, meanwhile, said that the show was approved by the Inter-Services Public Relations — the media and public relations wing of the Pakistani army.
“When I started working on Dhoop Ki Deewar in 2019, I sent the story to the Inter-Services Public Relations. I asked the team for its evaluation so that I would edit out anything objectionable in the story,” said writer Umera Ahmed in a statement on Facebook. Ahmed also wrote the popular Pakistani series Zindagi Gulzar Hai.
She said that the story was her own, which she had been writing as a novel but was later hired by a Pakistani firm, Group M, to make into a drama.
Answer to all the misconceptions and questions raised upon the Umera Ahmed's upcoming Dhoop ki Deewar! A thread??
.#NoBanOnDhoopKiDeewar pic.twitter.com/3jsdHgK75s
— Areeba? (@sahadfanatics) June 18, 2021
The writer also said that it is her right to initiate debate on contentious matters.
“I am thankful to all of you for supporting my principled stance, that it is the basic right of a writer to initiate debate on any important matter in their work,” she said in her statement.
Also read: Banned Pakistan journalist Hamid Mir apologises & Imran Khan wants all his govt events in Urdu
‘Anti-Pakistani, undermines Two Nation Theory’
However, several social media users have severely criticised the series, calling it “anti-Pakistani” and dubbing the actors and makers as traitors.
Not only #BanDhoopKiDeewar but also Ban Umaira Ahmed The traitor. pic.twitter.com/gthy3nnvox
— Safia_Afaqi.?? (@Safia_Afaqii) June 18, 2021
Twitter users also said that the web series undermines the ‘Two Nation Theory’, which led to the birth of Pakistan, by implying that India and Pakistan are divided by war.
The creation of Pakistan was based on the ideology of Islam. There is no power on earth that can undo Pakistan and Kashmir is the juglar vein of Pakistan. Pakistan always stand with Kashmiris. Such dramas are undermining The Two Nation Theory. @DifaeyPakistan #BanDhoopKiDeewar pic.twitter.com/iVtG5uBwxn
— Hafiz Usama Abubakar (@AmUsamaCh) June 18, 2021
India and Pakistan came into being on the ideology of two nation theory. Hindus and Muslims cannot live at the same place without conflicts. We need to understand this fact and should condemn this serial.#BanDhoopKiDeewar#جون19_شب_خون pic.twitter.com/RunMFrDaqW
— Ahmed Ali Awan (@ahmed_awan07) June 19, 2021
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