OTT PLATFORMS; A NEW EVOLUTION IN MEDIA

OTT (Over-The-Top)platform has been introduced a new form of entertainment that provides television and original content globally and can be streamed by using the internet without the need for traditional broadcasts, cable, and satellites. Simply, anyone can get a subscription by paying a specific amount without the need for a cable. Around the globe presently, it has been the simplest way for the public to watch their favorite genre at the same time, the same place with a wide range of collections. Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Zee5, Disney+,and Hotstar are among the prominent examples of it.

PAKISTAN STEPS INTO THE DIGITAL WORLD

Urdu Flix

As to fulfill the requirements of the current digital age, and the rise of on-demand streaming culture across the world, Nashpati Prime and See Prime takes initiative to enhance the digital sight and promote the nation’s original streaming content. Recently, Emax media came forward and launched Pakistan’s first-ever Urdu OTT platform “Urdu Flix” which gave users access to the original and foreign content which is dubbed in Urdu. Though in the digital market, producers of Pakistan already have competitors who have strong content and thought-provoking ideas so, to serve the contemporary audience, the content creators have to work out of the box

SUBJECT MATTERS THAT GET CONTROVERSIAL

As it is just the beginning, the entertainment industry of Pakistan has to work more to reach higher standards on the digital ground. Undoubtedly, in OTT, a writer has a vast range to cover all genres without any sort of barriers. Sensitive social issues which are difficult to address on television can be discussed openly on a digital medium, leverage has been given to make a difference between the two main mediums, but it is unwarrantedly being used. Having no boundaries doesn’t mean that anyone has the license to say, to ask, or to do anything one’s wants. In a society that gives priority to moral, cultural, and ethical values before anything else is a bit tough to talk about social taboos. What creates a problem among the public is the way it has been shown, severe criticism always diverted the attention of the audience from the main subject writer wants to shed light on. There are several ways to convey the central idea or intent to break the taboos without having a below-the-belt approach.

WEB SERIES THAT BECAME TALK OF THE TOWN

LIFAFA DAAYAN (AN URDUFLIX ORIGINAL)

It has tried to openly talk about the black sheep of the news industry and uncover the next side of the mirror. This web series is based on journalists who take bribes under the table.

Lifafa daayan featured, Mashal Khan who played the character of an anchor Alina Ali, became popular and got fame by grilling the political workers on her current affairs show the things went wrong when Soniya Khan (Hina Chaudhry)challenges her in an event and within a short span of time she became the new sensation of the news industry. The sudden downfall made Alinaa a drug and alcohol addict. Through the dirty game of politics, she tried her best to get the position. The show only attempts to unfold the lies, illegal influence of politicians, and revenge game in the news industry. The series received amid backlash for their bold content, the main focus was to deliver that journalists are addicted to alcohol and drugs, how workplace harassment has become a practice and how inappropriate ways have been used to get promotions.

Vulgarity and obscenity weaken the plot, it is impossible to achieve the highest rank or get the maximum number of views, if a story has a gripping narrative and screenplay for sure, it will automatically hold the public attention.

CHURAILS (ZEE5 EXCLUSIVE ZINDAGI ORIGINAL)
CHURAILS (ZEE5 EXCLUSIVE ZINDAGI ORIGINAL)

A story that revolves around four women:

  • An elite class lawyer turned housewife
  • An alcoholic event planner
  • A teenager boxer
  • A freshly released murderer from prison

Their lifestyle is completely different from each other and each one of them belongs to a different background but what brought them under the same roof is patriarchal injustice. The group of four decided to open a fashion store named “Halal Designs” to work secretly as a detective agency called ‘Churails’. The purpose of the agency is to find and expose unfaithful husbands and help those women who are being cheated.

Asim Abbasi’s Churail’s created a fuss when the media regulatory authority asked Indian platform ZEE5 to pull it down for the viewers of Pakistan after the clip received severe criticism that went viral on social media.

IS IT A DEPICTION OF REAL FEMINISM?

The Cake’s director touched on the controversial subjects that are prevalent in our society such as child marriage, abuse, forced marriages, harassment, racism, and gender discrimination. The series is mainly based on feminism as they have shown how a woman should take a stand for their rights and it’s high time to fight for themselves. If it is a real message they want to deliver so why have they taken an extremist approach? In our society, the majority belongs to the middle class, where most women give preference to live according to their religious and cultural values, as they have also covered every class but what gets the limelight, women’s that belong to the elite class. Showing alcoholics and drug-addicted with the excessive use of foul language really defines our common women? As it has said earlier, the makers have not tried to glorify and normalize anything but have shown all the things that have happened. YES! it really happens but unfortunately, the elaboration makes ‘Churail’s’ narrative controversial.

PROBLEMATIC PORTRAYAL OF WOMAN ON INTERNATIONAL MEDIUM

A STORY OF SIX UNAPOLOGETIC WOMEN

After Asim Abbasi’s ‘Churails’, ‘Qaatil Haseenaon Ke Naam’ neo-noir drama of Meenu Gaur has made an effort to redefine the sense of ‘ Femme fatale’ and breaks the epitome of females for being patient, sacrificial, and endurant. A series that shows how women reset the imbalances and react against the injustice served to them. Each story carries a deadliest side of a lady and showcases their determination to revenge the one who deceit.

Indeed, rejection and degradation is not a small thing to be ignored and one must take a stand against the violation of rights but what is objectionable about the plot is the way they have molded element of feminism around violence and showed how just for themselves women do go beyond the cultural and social bonds that they grew up with.