Child marriage in Pakistan is connected with tradition, culture, and customary practices. It sometimes involves the transfer of money, settlement of debts or exchange of daughters
drama
Child marriage in Pakistan is connected with tradition, culture, and customary practices. It sometimes involves the transfer of money, settlement of debts or exchange of daughters (Vani / Swara or Watta Satta) sanctioned by a Jirga or Panchayat (council of elders from the community). Even though, in Pakistan Child Marriage Restraint Act has been proposed and altered many times, but unfortunately the nuisance still prevails in some parts of the country. Catering to the same issue of Child Marriage, Producer and Director Angeline Malik has recently launched her drama serial ‘Mujhay Jeenay Doh’ (MJD) in Karachi.
MJD has a diverse ensemble cast that includes Gohar Rasheed, Hania Amir, Nadia Jamil, Salman Shahid, Mehreen Raheal, Iffat Omar, Sarmad Khoosat, Ali Tahir, Raeed Mohammad Alam, Umair Rana, Sabeena Syed, Rashid Mehmood and Khalid Butt. The drama is already on air and along with child marriage, it highlights the topic of domestic violence.
Regarding her project, Angeline Malik says, “It is based on a very sensitive issue of child marriage. The drama is about a little girl, married off to a man thrice of her age. Sadly, there is no big deal for the families who still practice this. When I started my research before making this drama, I was told that there are certain laws passed against child marriage but there is no use of it as there is no implementation by the people. Through this, we want to convey that such families and such parents can’t ruin a girl’s childhood. She has a right to live and that is why, we have named it as ‘Mujhay Jeenay Doh’.
On will this project be able to convey what she perceives, Malik states, “Well hopefully... I have a very good cast. The child artist is very impressive. You will be seeing her life journey and her psychological problems in it. Apart from her, numerous other actors have done justice to their roles and I am sure by the help of them, the story will be able to win people’s hearts.”
The drama serial incorporates all the dramatic elements, and at the same time sets out to educate the audiences on social issues that are embedded in our culture. We hope that the project garners much attention and such social nuisances come to an end.
— Iqra Sarfaraz
