Pakistani television has not seen a better drama than Udaari in recent years. Starring an ensemble cast featuring Ahsan Khan, Bushra Ansari, Samiya Mumtaz, Urwa Hocane and Farhan Saeed, it tackled the taboo and sensitive subject of child abuse that many shy away from. It received critical as well as commercial acclaim in Pakistan and beyond. The drama, directed by Mohammad Ehteshamuddin, now has another feather in its cap as it gets recognition on a global front.
“Pakistani television industry receives global prize for tackling controversial issues through its dramas despite the country’s media regulation calling some content too bold,” BBC News reported.
Reporter Haroon Rashid stated, “Gender discrimination is not the only controversial thing that television produces. Udaari receives global acclaim for covering the sensitive issue of child abuse. Not everyone is convinced that these taboo subjects should be reflected in dramas. PEMRA recently published a letter addressing satellite TV channels that content was becoming too bold to which several actors disagree.”
One of the lead actors of Udaari, Ahsan Khan spoke to BBC News and stressed the need for such TV plays that aim to educate people without sensationalizing the subject in question.
“To make a statement, you have to touch such subjects which people do not want to talk about,” the actor noted. Khan went on to explain that without being exploitative, if you take a “certain taboo subject”, you do and should educate people and that “it is very important to make a drama or a film on that.”
