Notice to Zindagi channel on ‘pro-Pak’ serial

[INDIAPOSITIVE]

NEW DELHI: A Hindi serial titled 'Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam' on Zee's Zindagi channel has attracted the attention of the I&B ministry and broadcast redressal authority Broadcast Content Complaints Council (BCCC) following complaints from some viewers who claimed that the content was inflammatory in nature and promoted Pakistan's narrative of the Partition.

BCCC, headed by Justice Mukul Mudgal, has issued a notice to Zindagi and summoned its executives for a hearing on May 22. A Zee official said they had not received the notice so far.

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According to sources, the I&B ministry has not taken any action so far but has forwarded the complaints it received to the BCCC. Keeping in view the "sensitivity" of the matter, BCCC has asked the channel to respond to the complaints. The channel could be asked to modify the content or desist from re-telecast.

The soap is a love story in the backdrop of Partition based on author Razia Butt's book 'Bano'. The serial stars Pakistani actors Fawwad Khan (already famous in India after co-starring with Sonam Kapoor in a Bollywood film) and Sanam Baloch as Bano. The main criticism from viewers has been that it shows the Partition only from Pakistan's point of view and paints Indians as villains.

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While some viewers have complained that Sikhs and Hindus are portrayed as the perpetrators of atrocities on Muslims, some others with whom TOI spoke didn't seem offended by the serial.

There are, however, several complaints. One claimed that a few episodes highlighted Indian Muslim League and M A Jinnah as heroes fighting the Congress against discrimination of Muslims in the country. The soap narrates the story of a Muslim girl who is abducted by a Sikh. The Sikh man repeatedly rapes the girl, forces her to convert and bear a child out of wedlock.

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The soap has finished its 23-episode run in April. Describing it as a ``beautiful, timeless" love story, a Zindagi channel executive said that the response to the serial was very encouraging. ``The soap could be set against the backdrop of any country that underwent the harsh reality of Partition. The show was telecast as 'Dastan' in Pakistan and we have made necessary changes to telecast it for the Indian audience. We have followed all broadcast guidelines," he said. Sources said that the serial had been edited heavily keeping Indian sentiments in mind but the theme itself was provocative.

Notice to Zindagi channel on ‘pro-Pak’ serial - The Times of India

 

[jaatram]

Never try to undermine Nehru, liberals in India won't like it.

 

[SherayPunjab]

The only serial I watched through entirely. It was excellent.

 

[Sinnerman108]

Hehehe .. Hindu-stanis.

Insecure little

 

[Viva India]

The First major mistake of Modi Govt to allow alien content in India ... Even a new channel,just for showing Friendly gesture,in this regard Congress was better than NDA.

But its good this fake bonhomie coming to its logical end sooner than i thought.

 

[Rajput_Pakistani]

There were many many girls kidnapped during partition, many never found. It reminded me of a similar story mentioned by Sir Kaiser Tufail in his blog.

"While we were at it, I brought up a long-forgotten bit of lore in my mother's family about a pretty girl who had been snatched by the Sikhs as the families migrated. The girl was 17 then and her family was known to my mother's. Not having the slightest clue about anything more than this, I was surprised when Gurdial Singh pulled out his cell phone and called up someone to reach there immediately. After about 30 minutes, a youngish-looking chap arrived and claimed that he knew of this incident. His auntie (‘tai’) was the daughter of the kidnapped girl whose name was Rehmat bibi at the time of partition. Before we could understand what was going on, this fellow also pulled out his cell phone and asked someone to reach there immediately as there were visitors from Pakistan. Half an hour later a middle-aged woman and her 30-ish son arrived. We were told that this lady was Surinder Kaur, daughter of Rehmat bibi!! Rehmat had been married off to the kidnapper's son and, over the years had five daughters, the eldest being Surinder. Now this was filmi stuff, too surreal to digest. Surinder then broke into tears and hugged Samar for several minutes. We told her that her uncle Ibrahim (Rehmat bibi's brother) was alive and we would put her in contact with him when we got back. We took many pictures and hope to pass these to her relatives in Pakistan. Surinder told us that while her father's family kept her mother with a lot of affection and care, she lived a sad life and often cried. We learnt that Rehmat bibi had been contacted by her brother sometime in the fifties and, he asked his sister to return to Pakistan. Rehmat bibi refused as she thought that there would be no future for an ex-wife of a Sikh and, that her daughters too would have no prospects. It was such a moving tale that women were weeping, to be soon followed by the ‘numberdar’ Gurdial Singh and even our taxi driver. Phone numbers and addresses were exchanged and leave was taken on a sad note. It was, indeed, an incredible visit to Baupur."

Reference: Footloose: Searching for Our Roots

 

[SherayPunjab]

The First major mistake of Modi Govt to allow alien content in India ... Even a new channel,just for showing Friendly gesture,in this regard Congress was better than NDA.

But its good this fake bonhomie coming to its logical end sooner than i thought.

You Indians love Pakistani content/music/serials.

 

[Areesh]

Hehehe saffroni chaddis getting wet over a Pakistani TV drama that shows Pakistani version of partition.

 

[magudi]

You Indians love Pakistani content/music/serials.

Is that a problem ?

 

[SherayPunjab]

There were many many girls kidnapped during partition, many never found. It reminded me of a similar story mentioned by Sir Kaiser Tufail in his blog.

"While we were at it, I brought up a long-forgotten bit of lore in my mother's family about a pretty girl who had been snatched by the Sikhs as the families migrated. The girl was 17 then and her family was known to my mother's. Not having the slightest clue about anything more than this, I was surprised when Gurdial Singh pulled out his cell phone and called up someone to reach there immediately. After about 30 minutes, a youngish-looking chap arrived and claimed that he knew of this incident. His auntie (‘tai’) was the daughter of the kidnapped girl whose name was Rehmat bibi at the time of partition. Before we could understand what was going on, this fellow also pulled out his cell phone and asked someone to reach there immediately as there were visitors from Pakistan. Half an hour later a middle-aged woman and her 30-ish son arrived. We were told that this lady was Surinder Kaur, daughter of Rehmat bibi!! Rehmat had been married off to the kidnapper's son and, over the years had five daughters, the eldest being Surinder. Now this was filmi stuff, too surreal to digest. Surinder then broke into tears and hugged Samar for several minutes. We told her that her uncle Ibrahim (Rehmat bibi's brother) was alive and we would put her in contact with him when we got back. We took many pictures and hope to pass these to her relatives in Pakistan. Surinder told us that while her father's family kept her mother with a lot of affection and care, she lived a sad life and often cried. We learnt that Rehmat bibi had been contacted by her brother sometime in the fifties and, he asked his sister to return to Pakistan. Rehmat bibi refused as she thought that there would be no future for an ex-wife of a Sikh and, that her daughters too would have no prospects. It was such a moving tale that women were weeping, to be soon followed by the ‘numberdar’ Gurdial Singh and even our taxi driver. Phone numbers and addresses were exchanged and leave was taken on a sad note. It was, indeed, an incredible visit to Baupur."

That is a sad story indeed.

 

[karakoram]

Typical indian papay kutni edition :-D :-D

 

[SherayPunjab]

Is that a problem ?

You tell me. On one hand you Indians can't stay away from it and on the other want it banned. Make up your mind.

 

[Viva India]

You Indians love Pakistani content/music/serials.

Some maybe,but i am not as i do not want to marry my cousin.

 

[Roybot]

Hehehe .. Hindu-stanis.

Insecure little twats.

Lol seriously? Coming from Pakistanis? Who have banned bollywood movies? insecure and twats both the right words, not for Indians though.

 

[Bobby]

Hehehe .. Hindu-stanis.

Insecure little twats.

just we dont allow any crap...

Hehehe saffroni chaddis getting wet over a Pakistani TV drama that shows Pakistani version of partition.

ok we will show Pakistani version the day you show Indian version in Pakistan....