Yasir Hussain, a Pakistani film and television actor, believes that the prevalence of drama serials depicting women being slapped, abused, and humiliated has become a disturbing norm, in part due to the censor board’s preoccupation with films.
He claims that the portrayal of women in Pakistani dramas is harmful because these dramas are unrestricted and air for long periods of time. As a result, these dramas have a significant impact on viewers’ perceptions of women.
The Javed Iqbal actor discussed how television biases women based on their clothing options during an appearance on the FWhy Podcast. He observed that short hair and Western clothing are frequently used to represent modernity, despite the fact that many women who dress traditionally are equally progressive in their thinking and actions.
Hussain used Lahore Se Lahore female characters to criticise the portrayal of women in Pakistani dramas. Dramas, he argued, normalise such behaviour by portraying women as submissive and enduring physical abuse without protest. He questioned the necessity of such shows, which are designed primarily for higher TRP ratings.
He expressed concern that such depictions of women might influence men’s attitudes towards women, leading them to believe that they will be loved even if they use violence. He found it disturbing that some films’ heroes are portrayed in this manner. He contrasted this with the fact that people watch dramas, which are widely available and free, for months at a time, resulting in a long-term impact on their perception.
Hussain also criticised the depiction of forced marriages, in which a man can kidnap a woman from the road and marry her against her will. He found it disturbing that such shows promote a dangerous and harmful message by implying that a woman can fall in love with her abuser.
Yasir Hussain compared the film to the Indian film Kabir Singh, which had relevant content but was restricted by an age limit. In contrast to films, which have restrictions and guidelines, he noted that Pakistani dramas are free and available to anyone, including children. Hussain criticised the lack of censorship for TV shows, implying that anything could be shown on TV without consequence.
Hussain discussed the negative impact of these depictions, in which women are frequently beaten and humiliated but still love their abuser. He noted that such depictions can influence real-life behaviour and that some men may emulate these actions and believe that hitting their wives is acceptable. He emphasised the importance of responsible content creation and the censor board in ensuring that such shows do not propagate harmful messages.
Shadi Mubarak Ho, Baaghi, The After, Moon Show, Baandi, Jhooti, Koyal, and Badshah Begum are among Hussain’s most popular releases. Recently, at Umar Mukhtar’s wedding, Iqra Aziz and Yasir Hussain set the dance floor on fire.
