Pakistani Shows Representing Queer Love Before Fawad Khan’s ‘Barzakh’

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Barzakh: Fawad Khan and Sana Saeed starrer supernatural drama, ‘Barzakh’ is gaining a massive backlash online for depicting queer love on screen. Show’s viewers in Pakistan expressed their rage over the “shameful” and “trash” content compelling the show producers Zindagi to remove the series from the YouTube channel of Pakistan effective 9 August. 

Barzakh aired on Zindagi’s YouTube channel and Zee5 on 19 July marking the return of Fawad Khan on Indian screen after 8 years. 

The controversy stemmed from a scene in the show where the two male leads almost share a kiss. Despite the public retaliation towards queer identities, the maker of the show Asim Abbasi ensured that the show would still air on 6 August. 

Notably, Barzakh is not the first Pakistani show to deal with queer themes on air. Prior to Barzakh, several shows have braved to depict the challenges, isolations and feelings the LGBTQ community expresses in the society. Let’s take a look at some such shows.    

Humnasheen

A Pakistani serial by the popular and progressive Hum TV aired the show ‘Hum Nasheen’. The show too received major backlash from the audience for showing two male characters in an intimate scene in bed. Though the scene was heavily blurred the regressive viewers were quick to file complaints against the show. 

Veena

Starring a renowned actor of Pakistani TV industry, Fahad Khan in the character of a eunuch, ‘Veena’ became a breakthrough TV series for its courageous depiction of the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in the society where queerness is deemed as a sin. 

Mrs. and Mr. Shameen 

Not a queer show in concept, Mrs. and Mr. Shameen aired on Zee5 with Saba Qamar and Naumaan Ijaz in lead cast. The show delves into the society’s perception and behavior towards effeminate men exploring the facets of gender inclusivity, and rigid gender norms. 

Khuda Mera Bhi Hai 

Starring Furqan Qureshi as an intersex child Noor who is unaccepted by his father and family since birth. The show chronicled the society’s intolerance towards the third gender and their life of hardships amidst such a society.       

A veteran Pakistani actress, Rubina Ashraf in conversation with a Pakistani channel said that television reflects what is happening in the society; it does not create it. While her ambiguous comment was uncertain to incline in favor of Barzakh, it does leave much for the food of thought on the current backlash.   

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