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The strangest trends from this year's Ramazan transmissions

The strangest trends from this year's Ramazan transmissions

From fat shaming to poverty porn to misogynistic remarks, our Ramazan shows air inappropriate content again.
Updated 18 Dec, 2019

Each year the month of Ramazan is accompanied by special transmissions and game shows on TV. And each year these shows are called out for airing problematic content, ranging from force-feeding mangoes to the audience or spewing sectarian hatred.

While this year's transmissions have seen some improvement, much work is left to be done. From fat-shaming to poverty porn to misogynistic remarks, we have had to bear with all sorts of inappropriate content again.

It's disappointing to see that under the guise of 'helping people in Ramazan' and 'providing entertainment', people's insecurities, religion and poverty are being exploited. It is understandable that shows must provide entertainment to the viewers, but do mockery and crude jokes really qualify as 'entertainment'?

Some examples of content on this year's Ramazan transmissions that was unnecessary, unfair or just plain wrong.

1. Poverty porn on Ramazan Pakistan

A rickshaw driver is encouraged to explain how difficult his life is on Ramazan Pakistan
A rickshaw driver is encouraged to explain how difficult his life is on Ramazan Pakistan

A number of episodes of Ramazan Pakistan (hosted by Ahsan Khan and Bushra Amir) regularly feature people from low-income backgrounds who are in need of financial aid. The aim is to try and raise money for them, which is obviously a noble idea. However, its execution leaves much to be desired.

The segments in question focus on people from the audience having to convince the hosts about how needy and helpless they are by narrating their issues in front of the camera. Then the hosts get to decide who is the 'most destitute' out of all of them and therefore, the most deserving of a gift.

In one episode, a rickshaw driver from the audience was made to give a detailed explanation of how tough his life was and was asked personal questions like where and how he spent his money. Then, he was deemed 'poor enough' to be given a bike.

If the purpose really is to help those in need, why not adopt an approach that is respectful and sensitive... instead of forcing people to reveal personal details about their lives and practically beg for gifts on national TV?

The way this segment is set up is almost akin to fetishising poverty for our consumption, and that is definitely not ok.

2. Zero regard for children's physical boundaries

Child celebrity Ahmed Shah chooses who looks the best on Jeeto Pakistan.
Child celebrity Ahmed Shah chooses who looks the best on Jeeto Pakistan.

Ahmad Shah, an eight-year-old boy, has become a sensation this Ramazan. He is regularly featured on Fahad Mustafa’s game show Jeeto Pakistan and has developed a huge fan following.

However, some of the things he is made to do on the show are highly problematic. From having to hug and kiss all the celebrities who visit the show, to being made to choose the most “good-looking” person on set, Ahmad is made to participate in activities not necessarily appropriate for a child his age.

Personal space, especially that of young children who might not be able to speak for themselves, should be respected. By exhibiting ignorance of such a sensitive topic, these game show producers are being extremely irresponsible.

3. Absurd 'games'

A competition in which women have to stick cotton balls to their faces using butter and run across the room.
A competition in which women have to stick cotton balls to their faces using butter and run across the room.

Fahad Mustafa’s Jeeto Pakistan is full of energy, with lots of jumping, laughing and joking around.

However, the show comes up with extremely absurd games for its audience. One of the games involves women having to stick cotton balls to their noses using butter and running across the room before depositing them in a box. The one who manages to carry the most cotton balls across the room is supposed to win a bike.

Another game requires people to stuff food into their mouths while blindfolded. Safe to say it’s all incredibly messy. While we are all for creative games, we found these extremely weird and a waste of food as well.

3. Crass, unfunny jokes

Danish Taimoor on his show Game Show Aisay Chalay Ga
Danish Taimoor on his show Game Show Aisay Chalay Ga

Making inappropriate jokes and comments has been another trend this Ramzan. Sometimes it’s Fahad Mustafa telling a man who was participating in a competition with his wife, “You asked your wife to eat the cream to shut her up, right?”

Sometimes it's Aamir Liaquat dissing his first wife on his Ramazan show (that happened). Sometimes it's Aamir Liaquat (again!) cracking a highly inappropriate joke about circumcisions on his show Hamara Ramazan which left the audience visibly uncomfortable.

4. Blatant fat shaming

A competiton of "Who weighs the most?" on Jeeto Pakistan
A competiton of "Who weighs the most?" on Jeeto Pakistan

Making humiliating comments at the expense of people from the audience and organising activities which make fun of insecurities have been quite common this Ramzan.

For example, Jeeto Pakistan has a “Who weighs the most?” competition in which plus-sized people from the audience are called onstage and... weighed. The person who weighs the most gets to go home with gifts.

It seems like no one stops to think what messages such activities and comments are giving to the viewers and how distasteful they are.

Similarly, Danish Taimoor constantly fat shamed a woman playing musical chairs in one of the episodes of his show. He told other participants “You probably weigh the same as one of her arms” and made comments like “Be careful not to run in to her, she might cause an explosion”. He later apologised by saying people shouldn’t take his jokes seriously, and the show can’t run without some comedy. We find it quite disgusting that he thinks fat shaming is comedy.

Our TV shows need to do better.

Comments

Chacha Jun 04, 2019 08:19am
Very shameful, these people should be taught some ethics, also some sickening adds of TV programs are shown on a regular basis
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Shampee Jun 04, 2019 08:26am
where is PEMRA?
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Ahsan Jun 04, 2019 09:54am
Every year we as a nation hitting new low in ramazan. Putting aside all the reasons why we do fast. We get into the journey of exposing our lows. Hopefully these transmissions get banned.
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Hashim Jun 04, 2019 10:15am
The problem of the content on these shows is secondary. The primary problem that needs to be addressed is that these celebrities and media houses have reduced Ramazan to stupid games, which make a mockery of the sanctity of the holy month.
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Abbas Jun 04, 2019 10:54am
What has a game show like Jeeto Pakistan, got to do with Ramazan ?
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Salim Jun 04, 2019 11:43am
I do not condone these antics, but the audience should also have some self respect. Just to get some prizes they will do anything under the sun.
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Tj Khan Jun 04, 2019 12:14pm
Spirit of Ramzan has been torned apart.. BUT people watch these programs and to me blame lies on the masses
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Wasif Bokhari Jun 04, 2019 12:49pm
Poverty porn is freedom of speech. Parents know what are the boundaries for their children not an amateur writer. These games are just for the sake of fun no one is compelling/forcing the participants. Circumcision is a medical procedure nothing wrong with it, someone must be really myopic to raise objection against circumcision. Being fat is disastorus for health just like being skinny, joking is a form of awareness.
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Insaafian Jun 04, 2019 12:56pm
tv wont change until culture changes - Pakistanis are rude about appearances and personal space
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usman Jun 04, 2019 01:01pm
Poor quality programmes
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A Jun 04, 2019 01:28pm
Nothing new, happens in every part of the world, this is selling now a day, like it or not.
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Nisar ul Sammi Jun 04, 2019 02:05pm
Fahad Mustafa's show is very fast paced, and I am surprised how he finds the physical and mental stamina to do such a hectic show for 30 days straight. I think the mental fatigue of doing a show like this sometimes slips through when Fahad starts cracking stingy jokes and summarily dismisses people who have lost some game, back to their seats. جائو جاکر بیٹھ جائو۔ چِل کرو چِل۔ Overall, Jeeto Pakistan, which is the show my family does watches every night, is quite entertaining. Nobody can be perfect, but Fahad is pretty damn good.
Recommend
Hasan Jun 04, 2019 02:05pm
Utter demeaning of our religious values and sanctity of the holy month of ramadan and this is the shameful legacy we are giving to future generation by transmitting artificially injected mindset through these substandard shows.
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Asad Hamza Jun 04, 2019 04:17pm
So where is people's self respect. Down the drain for a motorcycle, I think!
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alsm khan Jun 04, 2019 05:33pm
TV reflextas our national character.
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Naxalite Jun 04, 2019 07:00pm
White people problems. Otherwise we really enjoy these shows
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Jam Jun 04, 2019 07:14pm
Why were these transmissions allowed in Ramadan? Weren't celebrities banned from hosting such shows in Ramadan?
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saeeds Jun 05, 2019 08:22am
They are representing Pakistani. Culture and mentality.People like it. Run the decent thing it will not last for 5 second.
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Ali asim Jun 05, 2019 07:35pm
In essence if education could not reform these bigots and self centered thoughtless people , nothing ever will.
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Ali asim Jun 05, 2019 07:40pm
@Hashim any religion is only as good as the people who follow it. I know this remark is not going to go down well but cool down and have a reflective thinking. Nothing personal so please do not take any offence.
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Faisal Jun 05, 2019 10:01pm
We are very immature as a nation.
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Laila Jun 06, 2019 04:28am
I personally think these Ramadan shows should be banned. It's making a mockery of religion. Just do your own ibadah at home or the masjid and don't watch these pointless shows hosted by actors.
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SHAHID SATTAR Jun 06, 2019 01:22pm
@Laila It is mockery at the cost of money making which is intended through these programs. Religion is no bar for some to make fun of. And the champions of all things holy have gone into slumber permanently or perhaps they have no say in the matter of things.
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