Women equity and their pre-defined roles have been an intriguing issue in Pakistan. It is often said that there are two kind of mindsets in the country. There’s one part that has progressed beautifully and has accepted the idea of gender equality to a great extent. But there’s another huge part that still thrives on a regressive mindset and has no qualms about denying women their basic rights. ‘Razia’ from the promos promises to take a dig at the patriarchal way of thinking with some funny and hard-hitting moments. So does the miniseries manage to show a mirror to society and make an impact? Let’s analyze…
‘Razia’: The Plot
Saleem (Mohib Mirza) isn’t happy embracing fatherhood with the arrival of a daughter. Her mother played by Parveen Akbar is shocked to hear this news and cancels all the celebrations. She feels that a daughter is a burden for life and a son serves as arms to fathers. As Razia turns older, Saleem welcomes a baby boy Ali.
Things turn difficult for Razia as she can’t play with his brother’s toys and cannot ride a bicycle. Adding more to the horror is that her mother Zehra (Momal Sheikh) doesn’t let her eat the chicken drumsticks. She secures top position in matric in the entire province. Instead of praise and encouragement, Saleem halts her education and tells him to sit at home.
Fine Writing & Directions Makes ‘Razia’ Highly Watchable
The challenges and situations in ‘Razia’ are overlayed with smart and humorous writing. Mohsin Ali’s dialogues are sure to be noticed and appreciated. It is creatively written, especially the ones narrated by Mahira Khan. The story is unique and worth being showcased on prime time. Mohsin Ali’s direction is neat. He deserves kudos for picking up such a fresh and challenging subject. It’s highly different from what the entertainment fraternity is producing these days and that’s a very big plus for the miniseries. Also, he keeps the goings-on entertaining for the most part and doesn’t get preachy at any point.
Spectacular Performers Of ‘Razia’
‘Razia’ rests on some brilliant performances. Mahira Khan has delivered several powerful roles but this one is sure to surprise a lot of viewers. Not many actresses will attempt such a risqué character. Khan not only takes up the challenge but also comes out with flying colors.
Momal Sheikh is an absolute delight to watch. She plays her part with full conviction. Mohib Mirza stuns with yet another powerful performance. Over the years, the actor has been consistently delivering some great performances from Deedan, Dushman-e-Jaan to Neeli Zinda Hai. With ‘Razia’, he proves that he’s an all-rounder who’s capable of handling any kind of role.
Shaheera Jalil Albasit is the biggest surprise of ‘Razia’. She gives a highly confident performance. It was a challenge to make this a convincing performance but this young actor does it effortlessly.
Summing It Up
On the whole, ‘Razia’ deserves praise for its brave premise, characters and storytelling. The miniseries cuts the biases by raising questions, aim to break patriarchal norms in strong and subtle ways highlighting the misogyny in our society. Highly recommended.
