Pakistan’s entertainment has gradually but surely started touching upon social taboos in storylines, primarily on television dramas and web shows but the trend can be seen catching on in films as well. Wajahat Rauf’s next offering — Parde Mein Rehnde Do — appears to be based upon a subject which breaks the stereotypical depiction of a male lead. Until now we only know of male leads as Alpha Males, completely in control of their loves and having zero issues or weaknesses. Parde Mein Rehne Do’s hero, though, seems to be dealing with “mardana kamzori“.

At a packed venue brimming with stars, Wajahat Rauf unveiled the trailer and music of his fourth film — Parde Mein Rehne Do — on Friday night in Karachi. As always, Wajahat has created a colourful world, but this time, he has touched upon a very sensitive subject: male impotency or erectile dysfunction in medical terms.

From the get go, the trailer dives into the deeper end of the societal taboo. It abruptly opens with a conversation that is not expected from a married couple in a Pakistani film. The female lead (played by Hania Aamir) wants her husband, Shani (played by Ali Rehman Khan) to get tested for impotency. What leads to the discourse is cleverly not revealed and thus manages to hook the audience with an interesting opening. One hopes that the whole film pans out to be as strong and refined as the trailer projects it to be.

The trailer hints at the very real impact of society’s interference in a young couple’s life. Despite his wife being supportive, our hero – Shani – is weighed down by external factors or pressures. He is discouraged from admitting to a weak side, from getting tested for impotency and ultimately, for taking the punch for a problem that mostly women are held responsible for. The pressures are all genuine and relatable for people who might have faced a similar problem. This includes expectations of parents to become grandparents, pressure of being an only child and not able to carry the family bloodline forward, the perpetual expectation of a khushkhabri [good news], threat of a second marriage, random prejudices that will challenge your manhood, constant comparisons with other married couples who have children and the list goes on.

Shani has only one close friend/confidante, who becomes his accomplice in solving the problem discreetly. They resist consulting a doctor and resort to all desi extremes, from following YouTube totkas to visiting quacks promoted through wall chalking on streets. It’s an entertaining roller coaster of incidents that rotate around a seriously unfortunate issue.

It appears that Parde Mein Rehne Do will show how married couples struggle with these conflicts and how it adversely affects an otherwise happy marriage. Hania’s friend in the film also points out a lingering fear that what are the chances that a childless marriage will survive? The trailer barely touches upon the ordeal women have to go through in such circumstances, but maybe the writer/ director only meant it to focus on the male perspective. The complete film will probably offer a more nuanced reflection on the issue.

Unfortunately, in the end, we see society at its very worst, blaming the woman for being unable to bear a child. And that is precisely when Shani will realize that things have hit rock bottom and has to face the music.

Featuring Ali Rehman Khan and Hania Aamir in the lead, Parde Mein Rehne Do does appear promising. Wajahat Rauf has a knack for producing films high on the masala and entertainment quotient; it’s commendable how he’s tucked in a socially sensitive subject here. The subject is also a bold choice for Ali Rehman Khan to take on and Hania Aamir is always a pleasure to watch. Though it is yet to be seen if the film justifies the heavy premise, it does leave one intrigued enough to look forward to it.

That said, the trailer leaves a lot to be desired. It’s not too sharply-cut and seems to giveaway most of the storyline.

Read: Teaser Review: Does Parde Mein Rehne Do starring Ali Rehman Khan and Hania Aamir look impressive?

Written by Mohsin Ali and produced by Wajahat Rauf and Wajahat Ali Abbasi with Shazia Wajahat as the executive producer, the film also stars Javed Sheikh, Munazza Arif, Hasan Raza, Noor ul Hassan, Sadia Faisal, Shafqat Khan, Saife Hasan amongst others. Music directors are Aashir Wajahat and Hassan Ali.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkF4SWpmaxc