In the present day and age, dramas have gone beyond the boundaries of entertainment by highlighting socially relevant causes. Writers and directors are actively pursuing themes which not only address societal taboos but also give a reality check to the viewers. Recent dramas like Akhri Station and Meri Guriya were very well-received by local and international populace and their success has certainly encouraged other to follow suit.
Upcoming drama serial Haiwan is one such example and yet another step in the right direction.
Written by Sara Sadain Syed, the play is an attempt to educate the masses about our negligent behavior towards children which often goes disregarded. It aims to create awareness on the potential dangers lurking within our safety nets i.e. relatives, friends and neighbours. By the looks of the teasers, Haiwan is the story of a family comprising Faysal Quraishi and Savera Nadeem living with their two daughters — one of whom is played by Sanam Chaudhary. The father asks his daughters to be aware of their surroundings and keeps blaming his wife for not staying cautious. Misery soon dawns upon them and few unfortunate occurrences ruin the fabric of their life leading to hue and cry.
Teaser of Haiwan
Read: Will ‘Meri Guriya’ become the new ‘Udaari’
Talking to Something Haute, CEO of ARY Digital network Jerjees Seja said, “We first started portraying taboo subjects with drama serial Roag [back in 2012] and since then our motto is to provide quality entertainment which also creates social awareness, especially after what has been happening to the children in our country.â€
He asserts that it is a regular practice in our country (both in big cities and villages alike) that children roam freely in neighborhoods. “Our campaign is about #MyChildMyResponsibility which basically means that parents should be protective and vigilant about their child’s safety. We somehow assume that our family members, relatives or neighbours will take good care of them, but it is the parents’ responsibility first and foremost to be watchful,†Jerjees emphasized.
Keeping the theme of the play ambiguous, he added that “mishap can be of any type; it is not limited to abuse. It can be an accident or anything else.†One of the posters of the play mentions that “12 cases of child abuse are reported every day in Pakistan,†as accounted by Cruel Numbers 2018.
There have been times when a segment of the audience has not encouraged such plays airing on prime time. Jerjees’ stance on it is very clear: “We ensure to not show anything blatantly discomforting or graphical, keeping in mind local sensibilities. The policy is to show a social evil or reasons behind it and how we can safeguard ourselves from it,†he said.
Directed by Syed Mazhar Moin, Haiwan’s first episode will go on-air on 10th October at 8 pm on ARY Digital.
