Our staff reporter
KARACHI
‘Uddari’ a new drama serial that is ready to go on air highlights important yet taboo topic of child abuse in a sugar-coated message. The play will shed light on and narrate the ordeal of victims of abuse.
Every year thousands of children both boys and girls become victims of child sexual abuse, but nobody is ready to talk about the issue that continues in our society. In 2005 alone around 5,000 children were sexually abused of which half of them were girls. ‘And the worst thing is that 97 of them were murdered after being brutally abused’.
This was stated by cast of the drama serial ‘Udaari’ produced by Momina Duraid (MD Productions Hum TV) and Kashf Foundation in collaboration with the Canadian Government in a sitting at a local hotel. The play has been written by Farhat Ishtiaq and directed by Ehteshamuddin. The serial has a stellar cast including industry veteran Bushra Ansari, Farhan Sayeed, Ahsan Khan, Samiya Mumtaz, Laila Zuberi and Urwa Hocane. On the occasion, a show-reel followed after which the stakeholders were invited to share their views about their involvement with the play and what it was like dealing with such a complex and serious issue. Momina shared that some of the actors had to really come out of their comfort zones for the roles that they played in the drama. Explaining what prompted the decision to create the drama on such a complex subject.
Roshaneh Zafar of Kashf Foundation told The Nation that Kasur tragic incident become catalyst which pushed both Kashf Foundation and MD Productions towards bringing the issue onto mainstream television. ‘The government has done legislation but there is dire need to make laws strict and mark the inhumane activity as crime,’ she added. While, Ehteshamuddin, the director explained how it had been challenging to get the writer, Farhat Ishtiaq to write the script, as not only was the subject a difficult one to portray on screen but it also needed a script that was very close to reality.
Bushra Ansari said her character, which is that of a woman who is extremely confident but unrefined, and embodies the real culture of Pakistan’s rural areas. She also shared media stories painted about the time on set in Mirpur Khas. She said after all and eventually we have to talk on the issues which become sidelined and marginalized but on the same time it was the graphic reality of our society. The play will be on aired from April 10 on HUM TV.