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Writer Nemrah Ahmad calls out Pakistani dramas for 'toxic hero culture', glorifying narcissistic men

Writer Nemrah Ahmad calls out Pakistani dramas for 'toxic hero culture', glorifying narcissistic men

She questioned the drama industry for making serials like Ishq Hai and Aye Musht-e-Khaak.
27 Jan, 2022

The Pakistani drama industry may be slowly evolving but it's still clinging to the portrayal of abusive relationships and toxic male leads. Writer Nemrah Ahmad Niazi called out show creators and writers for this '"toxic hero culture" and said it needs to stop.

On Wednesday, the writer, known for her Urdu language novel Jannat Ke Pattay, took to Instagram and spoke about currently airing dramas with "toxic hero culture" and questioned "what is wrong with Pakistani dramas".

"A wealthy and handsome playboy keeps pursuing a middle class girl. He kidnaps her, stalks her, abuses her, he shouts at her, physically assaults her but he is still the hero In the end the hero wins over the girl. That is where these dramas end. Love wins. They call it Ishq," wrote the Namal author.

She also wrote that in real life, these toxic abusive partners "become Zahir Jaffar. They pursue Noor Mukaddam and they don't let go of them." Ahmad alluded that this was the case in drama serials Deewangi and Ishq Hai, both starring Danish Taimoor. She said the "actor could have thought twice before accepting" these plays.

She also pointed out the drama that has caught everyone's attention for its cringe-worthy storyline and display of abuse — Aye Musht-e-Khaak. Even meme-makers are having a go at it online as the drama has one of the most toxic heroes we've seen on screen — Bobby aka Mustajab, played by Feroze Khan.

"He only plays one kind of roles and in the end he is just glorified as a lover. He needs to be responsible enough to choose roles wisely," suggested Ahmad.

The writer even pointed towards telefilm Ruposh that has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. "Now this new kid in this silly telefilm Ruposh. He literally pulls the heroine with her hair. Yes he did. And they showed it on national television. Yet he is a hero," she said.

The author emphasised that we need to "stop teaching women that they need to settle for such men because it is love. This is NOT love. This is obsession and psychopathic behaviour."

The writer ended her Instagram story with a suggestion that if there is a need to show such characters, then they should be the villains. "Teach girls how to come out of such relationships. Educate people about narcissistic behaviours. Tell girls that it is NOT okay to settle for such a man. But do not misguide a whole generation who consumes TV shows on daily basis, please."

Comments

Nabeel Jan 27, 2022 05:35pm
Unnecessary personal attack on the male actor. If the writer thinks the male actor should have been responsible enough to choose roles wisely, the same holds true for female actors - they could have rejected the script.
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Ahmed Jan 27, 2022 05:35pm
She is spot on.
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Malz Jan 27, 2022 05:36pm
True!
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I love u Pakistan Jan 27, 2022 05:59pm
Of course the public has been programmed to glorify evil by foolish writers.
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jaredlee007 Jan 27, 2022 06:26pm
The dramas show what our society promotes--narcissism, ego, insecurity, and chauvinism. In general, all UNdesirable behaviors are shown in dramas. But then there are dramas like Kun Faya Kun (renamed as: Tu Jo Chahay) that showed basic human values, kindness, respect for elders, patience, humbleness and humility. Our drama writers must show a balance b/w undesirable and desirable behaviors. Hope they learn some lessons from Waris, Choti Si Dunya, Khuda Ki Basti, Ankahi, Dhoop Kinaray and (the real good one) Suraj Kay Saath Saath.
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well-wisher Jan 27, 2022 06:53pm
Nemrah is 100% right. Public should avoid watching such dramas.
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Ali Jan 27, 2022 07:03pm
I can not agree more with Nemrah and, yes, I am a man . The showbiz industry collectively and individually needs to assume responsibility for its actions and it would help if the individuals start to act as adults.
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Mazhar Ali Khan Jan 27, 2022 07:04pm
If he Don't choose then sure someone else would!
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Feroze Khan Jan 27, 2022 07:10pm
The writer is 100% correct. They need to stop producing such filth.
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Maya Jan 27, 2022 07:15pm
Who will explain this to the production houses and these lead actors who just care about ratings and money
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VoiceOfReason Jan 27, 2022 07:22pm
Unfortunately our dramas reflect the current mentality and the culture that exists in our society. Writers who write have the same mentality. This wasnt the case in the glory days of Pakistani darams back in the 70s till the 90s.
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Facts Jan 27, 2022 07:36pm
Yes she is 100% right.i Stopped watching Pak dramas long time ago. Last drama i saw was hamsafar. .
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A. Khattak Jan 27, 2022 07:57pm
She's right. I started watching "Aye Musht e Khaak" and couldn't bear it. The same was true of the latest iteration of "Khuda Aur Muhabbat".
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Jo Original Jan 27, 2022 08:07pm
It will be good if we addressed social issues, friendships, learning behaviours and educating people. The dramas are a powerful medium of influencing society.
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Hamid Jan 27, 2022 08:35pm
I am sorry but it seems that Nemra watches these kind of dramas because she likes it and the stories do attract her attention. There are other kinds of dramas too, please look into them as well.
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Syed Mansoor Ali Tirmizi Jan 27, 2022 08:48pm
Somewhat good and somewhat bad comments by Nimrah Ahmad.
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N_Saq Jan 27, 2022 08:51pm
Sorry but that is the mentality in Pak and it is called Waderaism. Since Feudals are treated as above the law i.e., police, judiciary army, government etc all bows to Feudals, so it is every Pakistanis dream to become a Wadera and whoever and wherever they get a chance they act like one. A good example is Shah Rukh Jatoi, he killed a man in cold blood and instead of hanging him, he is treated as a VIP/hero. If Pak wants to change the mentality then Pak needs to eliminate Feudalism and make the law supreme plus punish anyone and everyone who dare breaks the law i.e. Generals, PM, Judges, politicians, Mullahs, Feudals etc etc.
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Just a Wanderer Jan 27, 2022 09:24pm
Stopped Watching Pakistani dramas from many years . They are recycling the same story , same genre again and again. Foreign dramas are giving us more unique and original stories than pakistani ones , better to watch there dubbed version..............
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Alih Kazmi Jan 27, 2022 09:26pm
Our intellectual capacity has been lowered by Bollywood. It doesn't take any intellect to appreciate a good looking person, especially of the opposite gender. Our dramas are increasingly looking like multi-episode Bollywood movies.
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ambreen Jan 27, 2022 09:41pm
That is why only a couple of the hundreds of dramas aired are worth watching. Quality of content matters not quantity but blaming actors is not right bec its their bread and butter- u should blame producers , writers and of course channel heads!
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Texan Jan 27, 2022 11:06pm
Same old same old helpless crying girls, poor vs rich, and triangle of love. Teaching kids garbage emotional meaningless subjects.
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Vikas Jan 27, 2022 11:09pm
Pakistanis dramas are very realistic. They represent the truth. Narcissist Pakistani men. What is wrong in showing reality?
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Irfan Huq Jan 27, 2022 11:23pm
Don't blame the actors they have to work. It is the producers along with the writers that should be totally blamed. To name a few dramas recently dobara and Ishq e laa has some elements of female where they come out positively. The producers blame the public that they want it like that which is not true. A pigeon is going to Pick on the rice grain if you give him rice grain or wheat or any other kind of food if that's all he supplied he has to eat them to fulfill his needs.
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Iqbal Qamar Jan 27, 2022 11:30pm
such behavior needs an unequivocal message : to stop it, and to face justifiable legal consequences, immediately!
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Syed Qutub Jan 28, 2022 02:49am
This portrayal of a machismo male is a stark reflection of our patriarchal society. This is why we have failed to progress in the human development index.
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Dawn Jan 28, 2022 08:41am
Current Pakistani dramas are setting the stage for what is to come.....Bollywood style.
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Nasir Askar Jan 28, 2022 09:06am
What about the galore of toxic female characters in the drama. All Pakistani dramas baring a few are full of them.
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Maria Jan 28, 2022 10:27am
Strongly agreed! The glorification of toxic love does not stand in line with reality.
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Junaid Jan 28, 2022 05:03pm
Mere paas tum ho had dialog " do taka ki aurat" which was super hit dialog and drama..says a lot about our soceity
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Sunshine Jan 28, 2022 05:15pm
@Facts Me too. In fact I research the story first and then watch a drama, there is enough crime and dysfunctional behaviors without watching its glorification on TV.
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Sunshine Jan 28, 2022 05:18pm
@A. Khattak Not to mention Ishqiya. Feroz Khan is being stereotyped as the spoilt-brat narcissist when in reality he is so fresh faced, witty and friendly. Mbe he shd be choosy on what he projects .
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Adnan Jan 29, 2022 11:12am
The day Pakistan stops copying Bollywood is when Pakistani Entertainment industry will rise… we are a spiritual nation… use that in this art form… we are nothing like India… so understand that!
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Iftikhar Yusoof Jan 30, 2022 03:31am
Very true on the one side and if all male actors refused such stupid not real world roles than drama writers should be where they should be at the end of the unemployed line. This is so far from societal norms. Shame to those who write this garbage.
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