Razia — Pakistani Drama

Spoiler Free Review

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Name: Razia

Language: Urdu with English subtitles

Channel: YouTube

No. Of episodes: 6

2023 for me would be the year when Hollywood and Bollywood (with Barbie and RRKPK) created movies with great women characters, and wonderful and entertaining stories and made them in a way that could change the direction of how women are portrayed in films going forward. I can now add the Pakistani drama world to the list of film worlds that contributed to that movement.

Razia is the life story of Razia. Starting with her birth in an extremely patriarchal family. The series is narrated through a street play of sorts by the amazing Mahira Khan. It chronicles the life, the dreams, and the pathways the girl is subjected to thanks to the antiquated thoughts of her father and the centuries of conditioning in the women around her. Yes, it is a dark story. Watching it in the 21st century with our feminist views, I found myself both embracing the normalcy of what was happening and appalled by it. I have seen and read many a story of a woman being subjected to and accepting their secondary status to their male siblings. So there was no surprise. But it was really hard to digest that we still had to showcase stories like these to cure the world of these evils. Dark as the story may be, it was not a traumatic or even difficult watch. This was I think because of its excellent narrative format and also through its main character and the people who helped her. This could easily be the true story of many a Razia and with social reform as its mission, the show delivered a powerful story, fantastic acting, a wonderful heartfelt screenplay, and a completely believable story of reform.

With just 6 episodes, each of around 30 minutes, the whole series is only as long as a typical Bollywood film. With an immense eye for detail and care given to every storyline, this show is a must-watch for anyone. The last episode alone is worth the show. It showcases the worst of the trauma Razia has to endure and the best of her happy times. At one point I got so involved in her actions, that I put 2 fingers to my lips and whistled like I would have in an Indian theater :)

Watch this one! If you watch one Paki drama this year, let it be this one.