'Most of the things being shown in TV plays are happening around us'.

Byline: Shazia Hasan

KARACHI -- Unpacking gender imbalances in television dramas was what the Uks Research, Resource and Publication Centre on Women and Media has set out to do through its new initiative 'Hopscotch'. As the director Uks explained, viewers these days are pretty much pushed into playing hopscotch over what is laid out before them in the name of content.

It is a balancing act, trying to hop, skip and jump over the violence, sexism, commodification, patriarchy, arranged marriages, low self-esteem that the faithful, obedient and timid characters of mother, sister, daughter or wife are shown dealing with in scripts.

Wondering about the kind of portrayals and characterisation in our plays and trying to understand the viewers' role in bringing about a positive change in all this, Hopscotch asked well-known actors, drama writers and journalists about what they think. An interesting discussion ensued.

Senior actor Noman Ijaz said that the plays and serials being aired on our channels are influenced by society. 'Perhaps they are exaggerating things but most of the things being shown in our plays are happening around us,' he pointed out.

Journalist Lubna Jerar observed that even though Pakistani plays are strong and have a wide audience here and abroad, they weren't very positive. 'We understand that certain things are included in the content in order to be able to sell the product but there is also a need to focus on reality and give the whole story or background. For instance, many here don't know the real stories behind the 'Me Too' movement or the 'Mera jism meri marzi' slogan, which I wish could have been done through our plays,' she said.

Mehmal Sarfaraz, another journalist, also said that many of our plays are problematic because masala (spiced content) sells.

Director Uks also added that the plays are not inspiring women.

Screenwriter and director Bee Gul, who has penned many hit plays and who has a new serial Raqueeb Se currently being aired, said that...