HomeEntertainmentChurails review: This Pakistani show is all the punch that patriarchy needs

Churails review: This Pakistani show is all the punch that patriarchy needs

Women, while claiming their rights aggressively, are often labelled as witches. The first Pakistani production for an Indian production house (Zee), Churails, on Zee5’s new show slaps patriarchy in the face with the Churails at the helm of things. At least the first four episodes show no qualms in displaying near-hatred for almost all men around. To avoid stereotyping, the lead gang also has a man supporting them.from behind their burkhas.

Churails, the first made-in-Pakistan project to feature a lesbian relationship, is written and directed by British-Pakistani film-maker filmmaker Asim Abbasi (Cake). Asim has aptly used the premise to subvert patriarchy. Four women, who have all faced the brunt of patriarchy, run a detective agency behind the façade of a burkha boutique. They, and the other women featured in the show, are not just demanding their basic human rights right of being able to live with dignity, but insist on being independent, assertive and even snatch her own rights from the hands of the men.
A burkha-clad boxer, a trophy wife, a single rich woman and a murder convict having served her term) come together to avenge all run the atrocities men often inflict upon women. Inspired by their own separate plights, the women run a detective agency that aims at bringing cheating husbands to justice.
Asim has woven intriguing back story for each of his lead character – two hailing from well-to-do and rich families while one hails from a rather humble financial background and one is a murder convict, having served her 20-year-long term inside the prison. Told in non-linear flashbacks, each episode (of the four we had access to) is basically about one lead character and all of them together build up to the current day scenario where the gang is all tied up – being blamed for one death and one of them has gone missing. The upcoming episodes will add to the mystery before eventually reaching a conclusion.
 

The writer-director uses interesting imagery to underline the ideas of rebellion, Asim’s a patriarchal set-up. The four leading ladies literally wear their burkhas like a superhero’s capes as they head for their missions. The burkha is not imposed upon them by men, it is their armour. The women in Churials Churails are not shown smoking or drinking just because it is cool to do so. He shows the addiction as a vice, not a virtue or a sign of feminism. Interestingly, for the Indian audience, Churails is full of very typical Indian pop culture references. In fact, poplar songs Kaala Re (Gangs of Wasseypur) and Dar Dada Dasse (Udta Punjab) are used as background scores in two important sequences of the series.

A self-confessed fan of Hindi movies, Asim Abbasi has added a dash of comic relief to a rather intense scene where a daughter (running from her own forced nikah), waits as one of her aids, while holding a knife to his neck, insists the father tells the daughter ‘Jaa jee le apni zindagi’. Do we need to explain this iconic Amrish Puri scene from Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol-starrer blockbuster Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge?

Churails does seem slightly dramatic in a few portions at certain places but the stunning performances of the lead actors still keep keeps you glued. Meher Bano, Yasra Rizvi and Sarwat Gilani slip perfectly into their characters. However, it is Nimra Bucha, essaying the role of hardened criminal – a murder convict – who is ready to kill (again) for any injustice meted out to women, who deserves a special mention. Her mere presence will run chills down your spine. The first half of the series certainly promises and an engaging watch. These churails are not going anywhere.

An edited version of this review was published on Hindustan Times website.

Sweta Kaushal
Sweta Kaushalhttp://www.dainiksamvaad.com
Consulting editor of Dainik Samvaad, Sweta has 15 years’ experience in writing. She has been working in the media industry for 12 years. She is also a contributor at Forbes.com and a consultant for Hindustan Times website.
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