Daily Times

Omair Rana sits down with Ally Adnan to talk about his upcoming serial, Hum Television’s ‘Zun Mureed’, exclusively for Daily Times.

Your serial Zun Mureed will be on air soon. How do you feel?

I feel excited and I feel anxious; excited, because Zun Mureed is a well-written and well-directed serial, in which the entire cast has delivered very good performances, and, anxious, because that is the how I always get before a serial goes on air.

You are a capable and competent actor. Why do you get anxious?

I am not sure if I am a capable and competent actor but I do know that I have a reputation for being both. Living up to the reputation, justified or not, is what makes me anxious.

You have been working on television for more about three years now and, although you have done some great work, you have been seen almost only in supporting roles. Zun Mureed is the first serial where you play the male lead. Are you now getting offered bigger and better roles?

I agree with half of your assertion. I am getting bigger but not necessarily better roles. In my short career on television, I have always selected my projects with great care and tried to play well-written characters in well-directed dramas.My goal has always been to act well and never to go after screen time.My roles in Tum Mere Kya Ho, Maan, Sang-e-Mar Mar, Piya Bedardi, Do Saal Ki Aurat, Kitni Girhain Baqi Hain, and O Rangreza, albeit supporting, were all good ones; so it is not correct to say that I am getting better roles, nowadays, but I will agree that I am getting bigger roles, with greater screen time. I am grateful for that but I will always choose supporting roles that are interesting over primary ones that are boring.

What is Zun Mureed about?

Zun Mureed deals with the problem of domestic violence in Pakistan and the laws that are available to address the issue. It tells the story of a middle-class family that is forced to live in a horrific world plagued by domestic violence and deal with the highly corrosive effects of abuse, exploitation and maltreatment.

The story seems familiar. Indeed, domestic violence has been the subject of many Pakistani television serials. Does Zun Mureed offer anything new?

Yes, it does.

First and foremost, it deals with laws that have been enacted to prevent and redress the problem of domestic violence. The Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016 is at the centre of Zun Mureed. The serial examines the act, its strengths and its failings, with great insight and intelligence. It exposes elements that make domestic violence an endemic and continuing problem in spite of several well-intentioned and well-drafted laws.

The second element that makes Zun Mureed different is its depiction of patriarchal norms. Unlike a lot of televisions plays, Zun Mureed does not glorify patriarchy and certainly does not encourage women to be obsequious and submissive. The serial is enlightened in its belief that being a good wife and daughter-in-law does not require a woman to be submissive to her husband and in-laws.

The third novel aspect ofZun Mureedis the strength of its writing. Amna Mufti has written a powerful story with characters that are real, compelling and interesting. The story, although very strong, does not upstage its characters and uses them to drive the narrative. This has not been the case with a lot of Pakistani drama serials.

Finally, I think that the performances in Zun Mureed are very good. Director Ahmed Kamran is truly an actor’s director and has brought out the best in Nadia Khan, Hina Bayat, Shamim Hilaly, Khalid Anum and, if you will, me. I think the serial will be remembered as much for the performances of its cast as for its story.

What attracted you to Zun Mureed?

It was, without a doubt, the theme. Zun Mureed has a lot of strengths – the writer, the director, the cast, my role, and the production house – but I really signed on to do the serial because of its theme and story.

Domestic violence and abuse is a serious social, cultural and public health problem in Pakistan. It is endemic, widespread and deep-rooted. It has survived, and even thrived, despite the efforts of lawmakers and law-enforcement agencies. The media, along with everyone else, needs to do any and everything in its power to eliminate the scourge from the face of Pakistan.

The cause seems to be very near and dear to your heart.

It is. It is, perhaps, the cause that is nearest and dearest to my heart.

I, along with my friends and family, have always supported the cause. I am a huge supporter of the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016, the Domestic Violence Prevention & Protection Bill 2013, the National Commission on the Status of Women Bill 2012, the Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Act 2011, the Acid Control and Acid Prevention Act 2011,the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act 2010, the Domestic Violence Prevention & Protection Bill 2009, section 509 of the penal code, andarticles 3 and 11 of the constitution. I support campaigns and organisations like the Depilex Smileagain Foundation, the Acid Survivors Foundation, War Against Rape, Bedari, and White Ribbon. I have the utmost respect and admiration for people who run and support these programs.

You character in the play, Sajjad, is the titular Zun Mureed. Did you enjoy playing the role of an uxorious man?

I enjoyed playing the role of Sajjad but I would not say that it is the role of an uxorious man. There is more to his character than just ‘zun mureedi’. He is a spoilt young man, raised, in the absence of a father, by a doting mother and an adoring sister. He is married and has two kids. His wife and him, both, have to work in order to support the family. His petit bourgeois sensibilities are at odds with the life he leads. He is an unhappy man. Sajjad’s is a nuanced, complex and layered character. He abuses his wife but is neither a hero nor a villain;rather a person who straddles all the shades of grey between black and white. I thoroughly enjoyed playing him.

You played the role of an abusive husband, Sahir, in Piya Bedardi.The characters of Sahir and Sajjad seem to be similar.

On the surface, yes.

Sahir, however, was a complete villain and a total rogue. Sajjad, on the other hand, is a more complex character.It cannot be classified as a purely negative.

Zun Mureed is the second play that the female lead, Nadia Khan, has done in over a decade. She is known, among other things, for her ability to attract controversy and for being difficult. Was working with Nadia Khan difficult?

No, not at all.

Nadia Khan is a capable actor and a lot of fun. The two us hit it off right from the first day of shooting. I had always admired her work as an actor and loved her in Bandhan, Bharam, Pal Do Pal and Laag. I had heard the things you mentioned but did not experience any of those myself. We worked together very well.

The perennially lovely Shamim Hilaly plays an important role in Zun Mureed. She looked as beautiful in ‘Beyond the Last Mountain’ in 1976 as she did in ‘Dobara Phir Se’ in 2016. Do you ever wonder how she has managed to look so very lovely for so very long?

I used to wonder that but not anymore. The answer became obvious when I worked with her. Shamim Hilaly is a wonderful person with a beautiful soul. Her inherent inner beauty makes her look as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside. I am a huge fan of Shamim Hilaly, the person, and Shamim Hilaly, the actor. She is one of my favorite people in the industry.

Is it true that she is as good a cook as she is an actor?

Yes, it is true.

The food that she prepares, like herself, is pure, genuine and energising. She brings food to the set very often. It is a true treat for everyone and helps keep everyone’s morale high. Her actions promote camaraderie, kindness and helpfulness on the set. I must add that Shamim Hilaly is a very considerate person, as well. I once mentioned to her that I preferred whole wheat bread over yeast but had trouble finding it in Karachi. She baked a whole loaf for me. It was so good that I had to save some to take back to Lahore for my family.

Which audience demographic is likely to find Zun Mureed most appealing?

I think it would be married women in their thirties. Of course, those women will find ways to get their ‘zun mureed’ husbands to watch the serial, as well. That being said, I feel that Zun Mureed has a measure of universal appeal and will find viewership with both men and women, rich and poor, and young and old. That is my hope. We will soon know if it is fulfilled.

The writer lives in Dallas and writes about culture, history and the arts. He tweets @allyadnan and can be reached at allyadnan@outlook.com

Published in Daily Times, March 2^nd 2018.