From genre tozanaana: Urdu television drama serials and women's culture in Pakistan

Abstract

Since the introduction of television to Pakistan in 1964, Urdu drama serials have enjoyed widespread popularity. This essay explores the ways in which the zanaana, or women's sphere, was negotiated by these serials, particularly during the years of General Zia ul-Haq's regime and its immediate aftermath in the 1980s and 1990s. Legislation aimed at policing women's visibility and participation in the public sphere was one of the key elements of his regime's 'Islamisation' project that continues to exert widespread political, social and cultural influence. However, television's domestic address and viewing context intensifies and complicates the relationship between the private and public; the very fault-line that causes patriarchal Islamism so much anxiety in relation to women. This essay focuses on the production, consumption and textuality of Urdu drama serials in the 1980s and 1990s. These narratives deal primarily with women's lives, are written mostly by women and, invariably, are viewed by a large female audience. They contribute to the development of women's culture in both private and public spaces. The essay develops the concept of zanaana to examine how these serials open up discursive sites where women resist, transgress and negotiate their prescribed limits in an Islamist patriarchal society.

Through the Lens of Television: Progression in Portrayal of Pakistani Trans* Community (A study of TV shows from 2010 to 2018)

“…Although TV drama is considered closer to reality, presentation of real issues of the society is a very challenging task in an unfavorable political environment. For the most part, Pakistani dramas are influenced by the political regimes (Kothari, 2005). Generally, the medium of drama is used for entertainment and controversial issues are avoided purposely.…”

Transnational Feminist Edutainment Television in Pakistan: Udaari as Case Study

“…The accessibility of the serial drama within the confines of the home ensured its popularity among women from the outset. In her seminal study of Pakistani serial dramas from 1980s, Shuchi Kothari (2005) puts forward the argument that Urdu serial dramas create a sociable feminised space that allows women to not only interact with each other but also negotiate various identities. Kothari acknowledges that Pakistan’s patriarchal religiosity confines women to the home but notes that the Islamic framework also privileges the idea of the Zanaana , defined as a separate primary space for collectivities of women where they might be kept away from certain forms of public life.…”

Talk Shows in Pakistan TV Culture: Engaging Women as Cultural Citizens

“…In regional literature, the study has overlaps with Suleman (1999), Kothari (2005), Talib and Idrees (2012), Hashmi (2012) and Naqvi (2011). While analysing the Late Night Show (aired on private TV), Hashmi (2012) notes how content pushes the boundaries of mediated discourse on sexuality and gender.…”

“…Suleman (1999), looks at drama serials as a site for challenging dominant ideologies. Likewise, Kothari's (2005) also studies drama serial as a crucial genre that is targeted towards women as audiences. She notes that dramas emphasise on 'home' as an essential sphere for Pakistani women.…”