A prologue teaser for the web series based on the life of mother of the nation, Fatima Jinnah, is out now and it depicts her story as it it unfolds through three different eras, as a sister, a revolutionist and later a stateswoman.

As Pakistanis we have read about Fatima Jinnah and her indomitable spirit with which she supported her brother, Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. However, some of us know little to nothing about the woman behind one of the biggest revolutions in the world’s history.

Danial K Afzal’s upcoming web series Fatima Jinnah aims to tell a riveting visual and historical piece based on one of the first female politicians of Pakistan. The series is divided into three distinct eras of her life; Sundas Farhan, Sajal Aly, and Samiya Mumtaz will be seen playing one of history’s least credited revolutionists in each era respectively.

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The 14-minute long teaser begins with a scene from 1929 as we see Sundus Farhan as Fatima Jinnah in her 30s, draped in an ivory sari, sitting in her Dental Clinic, as she looks at a newspaper announcing the death of Jinnah’s wife Rattanbai. She is now looking for a caretaker for her niece Dina Wadia and simultaneously has a “Notice of Cessation” on her desk. She is discussing undisclosed matters with her confidant, Jospeh, while there is a unopened letter from Harindarnath Chattopadahyay on her desk too.

Year 1947

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The visuals then take us to 1947 at the Northwest Railway Junction in Lahore, where a refugee train set to take passengers to Pakistan has been attacked. Sajal Aly can be seen as Fatima Jinnah in her 50s here as she steps into the bogies one by one and witness death in front of her eyes. She finds a baby crying in the lap of a dead mother.

Joseph moves on to the next carriage after they hear the sound of something breaking, only to discover a traumatized girl with eyes wide open, crumpled under dead bodies. She starts screaming for her life as Fatima stands numb in front of her. As the screams echo, so is the pain that comes with the realization that this is the price of freedom, this is the prize of an independent state.

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The story then moves to Katrak Parsi Colony Karachi, which was Pakistan’s then Federal Capital. Samiya Mumtaz plays Fatima in her 70s. She stands silently observing as Azaan echoes in the background. We hear an announcement that “Fatima Jinnah has decided to make her return to politics.” She is still reading the mysterious, now worn out letter, that she had received in 1929. Later, she moves out of her house to address the public.

The series looks engrossing and the performances are quite impressive, however, how enlightening it would be for the nation can only be gauged once it airs. It also stars Dananeer Mobeen as journalist Anita Poonamwala and Omer Abdullah Khan as a confidant Jospeh. The series is created and produced by Aur Digital and will release in 2023.

Watch the prologue here: