Images

Does Samina Peerzada's talk show normalise the dark side of celebrity culture?

In an effort to present sanitised images of Pakistani celebrities, Rewind might be doing a disservice to its viewers.
22 Jul, 2019


Kabhi darakht pay charhi ho? Kabhi chai main biscuit dooba hay? Kabhi kisi nay poocha ke roza kahan rakha?

Memes will tell you that no one thinks to ask... except Samina Peerzada.

Samina Peerzada’s YouTube web-show channel features video titles that are often provocative and make bold claims: “We Bet You Have Never Seen Nabila Like This Before”, “Ali Noor’s Most Shocking Interview”, “Noor Khan Breaks Down”, “Hina Altaf in Tears”, “An Interview That Will Make You Cry”.

With over 160,000 subscribers, and over 400,000 views on its most popular uploads, the channel is dedicated to broadcasting the show Rewind by Samina Peerzada.

The web show host went viral recently, as the Pakistani web-world had a couple of field days making memes out Samina Peerzada’s tendency to ask strangely intimate details about her guests’ lives. The format of the meme implies that there is a conversation happening between no one (absolutely no one) and Samina Peerzada.

As hilarious as these memes are, they also beg the question: why does Samina Peerzada ask what no one else seems to ask? Why does her web show feature these strange details about a celebrity’s life? And to what effect?

The stand-out feature of this web-show is that it is often a public display of vulnerability on a celebrity’s part – Samina Peerzada gently excavates life stories and experiences, and as one moves through the episodes, the pattern to each interview becomes familiar: the host asks unusual questions about childhood toys, habits, dreams (both literal and metaphorical), upbringing and most importantly, personal trauma that instantly becomes public through this web-show.

Each interview is an intense journey, hinges on both joy and pain, and often involves a celebrity breaking down and crying as they recount their memories.

Rewind provides a complex portrait of each Pakistani celebrity – one of the results of this public exploration of trauma is that Pakistani women in the media industry come forward with their struggles with family, domesticity, abuse and hardship.

Maya Ali, for example, tears up on the show as she remembers her family’s opposition to her career choices. Juggun Kazim’s interview is a gut-wrenching tale of a survivor of domestic abuse.

Qurratulain Baloch’s interview is a thought-provoking exploration of how language and loyalty becomes turbulent when moving families, homes and countries. Hina Altaf’s story is a fascinating narrative of a struggling, young woman who has made it in the Pakistani media industry against all odds.

But does vulnerability always create conditions for empathy? And how are we invited to empathize with some of the most powerful people in Pakistan?

When efforts to 'humanise' celebrities become a blanket acceptance of questionable behavior

When Hira Mani appeared on Rewind, she was, as is customary on the show, invited to share her life with the audience.

Hira Mani detailed how she became romantically involved with Mani, which involved lying to both Hira and Mani’s respective partners at the time. There was no exploration of remorse.

Instead, the interview maintained the “motherly” tone Samina Peerzada has become known for, and allowed Hira Mani to tell her story without any repercussions. In the same interview, Hira Mani also says, “Mard ko ham bura khud banatay hain. Mard bari pyari cheez hay.”

Hira Mani was on the receiving end of much criticism after this interview, as the complete lack of self-reflection on Hira Mani’s part was pointed out: how there was no understanding of how toxic masculinity has less to do about making men “look bad”, and more to do with the different forms of violence that are a result of toxic masculinities.

These tone-deaf statements and narratives are allowed screen-time in the pursuit of presenting “humanizing” portraits of celebrities – both the host and the guest can consider these statements acceptable for the web-screen in the guise of exploring their life for public consumption.

Ali Zafar was also invited as a guest on Samina Peerzada’s show. Despite having harassment allegations to his name, his work, words, thoughts and life were given space on Rewind, and yet again, as audience, we were invited to consume this public figure through his vulnerability.

Ali Zafar has repeatedly used his image as a “family man” in an attempt to dispel harassment allegations to his name by multiple women, and his interview also emphasised his belief in family values. The harassment allegations were not discussed on the show, meaning that while the show believes in an exploration of life, it also seems to skirt around other kinds of explorations that although controversial, are essential to think about vulnerability.

Because when vulnerability is a tool to reinforce the societal power that these celebrities hold, and present them in a light in which we can better ‘understand’ them, there is not much room left for the hard-hitting questions that matter.

Asking questions is a huge responsibility. Is Samina Peerzada asking the right ones?

Consider an interview in which a celebrity with sexual harassment and violence allegations to his name is held accountable: when Gayle King interviewed R. Kelly, who was accused of sexual harassment, and openly discussed the harassment allegations, the interview was remembered as “explosive” – a striking contrast to the mellow, emotional tone of Samina Peerzada’s show.

Is Samina Peerzada actually going easy on her guests?
Is Samina Peerzada actually going easy on her guests?

Rewind seems to deliberately avoid such explosions, and relies instead on ‘sellable’ images of Pakistani celebrities. As a consequence, celebrities like Ali Zafar are invited to talk about their life philosophies, childhood memories, and ‘success stories’ – without any expectation of accountability.

When one’s vulnerability is used to present their goodness and humanity to a large public, it can be an immense source and form of privilege. Asking questions no one has asked before, and answering them, then, is a great responsibility that the show takes on.

While Rewind features incredibly powerful interviews that yield insight on how the Pakistani media, sports and music industry function, and the struggles of those who are relatively marginalized within these industries, it must also be careful in over-empathizing with these big names.

There is, absolutely, value in asking questions no-one asks, because, for one, they make for good television, and for another, they give us access to information and perspectives that might potentially change the way we see things.

But when rewinding as Samina Peerzada does serve to tap at public attention through an interview format that is unique, it ends up ‘playing safe’. Playing safe avoids explosions, controversies, and most importantly, discomfort, which is a function of holding talk show guests accountable.

There is value in asking questions no-one asks, provided they are the right questions.

Comments

joe Jul 22, 2019 08:52am
The way she conducts the interview in a non judgmental and supported way reminds me of Oprah. It is up to the audience to do their own inferences. She has never commended bad attitude or behavior. It's one of the best shows I have come across. But that's my view on it.
Recommend (0)
Fatima Mehmood Jul 22, 2019 09:05am
If somebody asks explosive questions to their guests, then you will publish article on how a host should respect the guest and not be judgmental about them.
Recommend (0)
Ali Jul 22, 2019 10:07am
Rarely agree with Dawn opinions..but this one is on point.
Recommend (0)
Nadeem mazhar Jul 22, 2019 11:24am
Awkwardly intimate questions give a unique insight into the lives of the celebrities larger than life. But what is the point of the author? Too intimate to the point of being uncomfortable or not bold to ask the questions that need answers. I am confused.
Recommend (0)
Baig Jul 22, 2019 11:32am
Author took some time to come to the point...AZ should not have been invited to the show.
Recommend (0)
Shahzad Jul 22, 2019 11:40am
She is really good actress
Recommend (0)
Fayez Jul 22, 2019 01:23pm
I saw two episodes and in both episodes our female stars were bad mouthing their parents. Nothing more than it.
Recommend (0)
truth Jul 22, 2019 01:25pm
The writer has totally missed the point despite starting the article with it. She asks questions that no one else asks. The show is about exploring the other sides of the celebrities that don't get reflected on in other interviews. Thats what makes this series different from others. Don't you get enough controversies, burning questions and analysis from other outlets?
Recommend (0)
Abs uk Jul 22, 2019 02:39pm
There is absolutely nothing wrong with these interviews.
Recommend (0)
MM Jul 22, 2019 03:15pm
Content issues aside, she also has this habit of constantly interupting celeb which ruins their train of thought.
Recommend (0)
Moth Jul 22, 2019 05:23pm
The best interviews I have ever seen on you tube. Mrs. Peerzada -- very kind and humble woman -- I love the way she respects the guests -- and the way she opens up discussion. soft spoken and respectful woman. Let me pick another english word for Mrs. Peerzada Gracefull
Recommend (0)
Sana Jul 22, 2019 07:33pm
While agreeing on point that there should be some accountability, The show does pretty good Job when there are more wins-QB, Hina Altaf, Sanam Saeed, Maya Ali & many more- as pointed out by author than the fails AZ + Hira Mani (debatable if it was a fail as a whole.
Recommend (0)
Ayesha Jul 22, 2019 08:24pm
Why do we have a habit of criticizing anything and everything? Its a good show and she has the right to ask whatever questions she like, whats wrong with that?
Recommend (0)
Omeraoo Jul 22, 2019 09:48pm
Her show is one of the best shows.. i dont know what u want to say in this article...
Recommend (0)
Critic Jul 22, 2019 10:09pm
"Playing safe avoids explosions, controversies, and most importantly, discomfort, which is a function of holding talk show guests accountable." Really? Since when did the anchors take the role of judge and jury? Why does every talk show have to be 'explosive', dramatic and filmi? There is a clear difference between entertainment and infotainment. Rewind falls in the category of the former. Please don't confuse showbiz with journalism.
Recommend (0)
Salik Jul 22, 2019 10:19pm
Ali Azmat recalled his college days and mentioned how he used to get in fights just like every other college youth. But he also included even 'fighting and beating his teachers'. I had to pause the video and think for a moment what he just said but Samina let it slide as just another innocent memory from olden days. Now, i am not expecting her to confront Ali on this one but at least take that part out in post-edit or do something appropriate about it.
Recommend (0)
Zeena Jul 23, 2019 05:08pm
Doesn't Pakistani TV have enough 'explosive' shows? Here is a woman calmly asking about what experiences made the celebrity who they are today, without any judgment, and that's a bad thing? Not everyone can fit into a perfect mold. Everyone has different personalities, experiences and lifestyles, and that's what she is trying to present. Only Ali Zafar is a bad example, but other than that her show is pretty inspiring. Please learn to respect all.
Recommend (0)
N abidai Jul 23, 2019 05:24pm
Her interviews gives lots of respect to pak artists, sports people's,musicians ,make them real, they do the talking,and share what they wants, no other interview shows on pak tv does this !
Recommend (0)
Jap Jul 24, 2019 09:31am
If Samina's show would have been more confrontational, then the write would have complained about Samina being rude towards the guests. Hira Mani's statement about pointless vilification of all men is completely spot on. Similarly, Ali Zafar's appearance was also crucial because Meesha has not produced a semblance of evidence/witness against Ali till date.
Recommend (0)
Mehran Khan Jul 24, 2019 12:20pm
Ali Zafar's case is already a sub-judice matter. How do you expect an entertainment show host to play the role of a Judge?
Recommend (0)