There has been much talk and controversy surrounding the Zee5 web series, Churails, written by Asim Abbasi. The web series was made inaccessible for the Pakistani audience after a clip from the show went viral on Twitter this week. In the clip that went viral, veteran actor Hina Khawaja Bayat’s character Sherry speaking explicitly about the sexual favours she had to give in exchange for job promotions.
After its ban, the internet has been left divided in opinion, with some arguing that Pakistan’s audience was not ready for such content, and others arguing that banning the series was limiting artistic freedom and expression. Asim Abbasi took to Twitter to share the news and all hell broke loose on the micro blogging site.
“How strange for Churails to be lauded internationally and now be shut down in its country of origin,” Asim Abbasi wrote in a tweet.
How strange for #Churails to be lauded internationally, and now be shut down in its country of origin. In the very country where hundreds of artists came together to create something that could initiate dialogue and open doors for new narratives. (1)
— Asim Abbasi (@IllicitusProduc) October 7, 2020
He went on to add, “Artistic freedom squashed because it is wrongly perceived by some as a moral threat. Predictable, and yet, still disappointing. For this is not just my loss. This is a loss for women and marginalised communities that this show meant to re-represent.”
Artistic freedom squashed because it is wrongly perceived by some as a moral threat. Predictable, and yet, still disappointing. For this is not just my loss. This is a loss for women and marginalised communities that this show meant to re-represent. (2)
— Asim Abbasi (@IllicitusProduc) October 7, 2020
Following the ban, a PTA spokesperson had said that the show was not blocked by PTA but in fact blocked by Zee5 due to objections on content from the public. “It has not been blocked by PTA. Zee5 has removed it due to objections on the content from the public,” the spokesperson said while speaking to a leading Pakistani daily. Talk of the ban and the show has been trending on social media ever since.
And now, in a statement given to The Brown Identity by a Zee5 spokesperson, they have clarified, “Our aim has always been to create content that resonates strongly with viewers across the globe. Churails has been a phenomenal success story for us and has been lauded and loved the world over. The show was taken off the platform in Pakistan purely in compliance with a directive we received. We have now addressed the matter and reinstated the show on our platform.”
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The spokesperson went on to add, “ We have yesterday also launched the trailer of our next Zindagi Original Ek Jhooti Love Story, which we hope will go on to be hugely loved by our audiences.”
Following the ban, a number of celebrities including the likes of Mansha Pasha, Anoushey Ashraf and Osman Khalid Butt took to social media to denounce the move.
What are your thoughts on the banning of the web series? Tell us in the comments below.