Web series are all the rage today and Pakistan is preparing to enter the arena. Churails from ZEE5 seems to be the latest entry that has been made completely by Pakistani actors, directors and cinematographers. However, it may be the first that will be released.
The trailer dropped yesterday and the response has largely been positive. The plot of the series centers on 4 women who have been oppressed by the patriarchy in our society in one way or the other. They are described as a “Lawyer”, a “Wedding Planner”, a “Boxer” and a “Murderer”. They decide to take matters into their own hands and begin a service to confront cheating husbands, using a clothing shop called “Halaal Designs” as a front. Using colourful Burqas, hockey sticks, flashlights and guns, they create an army of “Churails” with other women that feel the same way.
Asim Abbasi, the director of “Cake”, and Mo Azmi, the cinematographer of “Laal Kabootar”, have come together to make something different again. More importantly, Sarwat Gillani, Nimra Bucha, Mehar Bano, and Yasra Rizvi are the main leads. With talent like that on screen, it looks like it may catch fire.
The series deals with sexism and patriarchy first and foremost and that’s sure to ruffle some feathers in Pakistan. The fact that it’s being released on ZEE5, an Indian streaming platform, may cause even further ruffling.
For those wondering why ZEE5 is releasing a Pakistani series, it’s because of the Zindagi project that ZEE TV initiated with ARY a few years ago. ZEE Zindagi showed Pakistani dramas to Indian audiences and ARY Zindagi showed Indian shows to Pakistani audiences. The experiment was successful as Indian audiences lauded Pakistan’s dramas as superior to their own soaps. However, as relations between the two countries worsened, this exchange was stopped. With “Churails”, it looks like it’s back on.
“Churails” releases on ZEE5 on 11th of August.
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