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This file photo shows Pakistani social media Pakistani screenwriter Shahid Nizami (left) and director Angelina Malik attend- A Pakistani actress Sabeena Syed posing for a photograph Pakistani actress Hania Aamir during a promotional event for celebrity Qandeel Baloch arriving for a press ing a promotional event for social drama serial “Mujhe Jeene Do” (Let Me Live) during a promotional event for social drama serial “Mujhe social drama serial “Mujhe Jeene Do” (Let Me Live) in Karachi. conference in Lahore. — AFP photos in Karachi. Jeene Do” (Let Me Live) in Karachi. Plot twist as Pakistani soap operas seek to break taboos n life, she chased fame, hoping to make her mark in enough to effect grassroots change. proper manner.” Their efforts are not without backlash, Pakistani society. In death, murdered social media and Siddiqui describes pressure from media regulators Istarlet Qandeel Baloch may have achieved her goal. Blowback as well as a wave of vitriol on social media with people Today she is a household name, and her tragic story has “Mujhe Jeene Do” (Let Me Live), another soap on accusing her and her channel of spreading vulgarity and Pakistani actress Rubian Ashraf (left) and actor Ali Abbas film- been turned into a soap opera-one of several immensely Urdu 1, highlights the issue of child marriages. “If there destroying social values. But the shows’ popularity kept ing the drama serial “Mein Maa Nahi Banna Chahti” (I Donít popular TV shows seeking to challenge the country’s (is) not widespread awareness, who would know that it is them on the air despite the blowback, she says. Want To Become A Mother) in Karachi. conservative taboos. ‘Baaghi’, which means ‘Rebel’, charts a crime?” Angeline Malik, the show’s director, tells AFP. the rise of Baloch from young, exploited girl to internet Pakistan’s biggest entertainment channel, Hum TV, is a Flawed portrayals sensation infamous for her provocative selfies until her pioneer in using social issues as soap opera fodder. In Even as the shows push for awareness and change, the shocking murder, with her brother confessing to the 2016 the channel aired “Uddari”, or “Flight”, which told way soap opera heroines are portrayed can cause con- high-profile killing. The show airs on private TV channel sternation. Sadaf Haider, a blogger at the country’s major Urdu 1 every Thursday. Viewing figures are unavailable, Dawn.com news portal, wrote in October that the story- but its pilot episode has been viewed more than 1.6 mil- line for Baaghi followed a predictable Pakistani track lion times on YouTube. relieving the heroine of autonomy-essentially portraying Baloch as a victim. “The actual Qandeel didn’t consider How a taboo issue herself a beychari (helpless) at all, even a cursory reading of her interviews shows she worked hard and was proud of what she had achieved,” Haider wrote. “Qandeel took could be displayed full responsibility for her choices... So why has Baaghi portrayed something else entirely?” Pakistani journalist in proper manner Fifi Haroon has complained the portrayal of women in such shows still fits in to a patriarchal narrative. “Simpering, dewy-faced heroines ... suffer in obstinate silence or misguided stoicism,” she wrote in a BBC piece. Pakistani actress Fatima Shah Jeelani (center) and actors Ali “Tears are plentiful. Producers now claim that if you Abbas (left) and Imran Ashraf filming the drama serial ‘Mein the story of a young girl sexually abused by her stepfa- don’t show women crying, the drama won’t garner rat- Maa Nahi Banna Chahti’ (I Don’t Want To Become A Mother) in ther and ignited a debate about the sexual abuse of chil- ings.” Lawyer Jatoi, while praising soap operas as vehi- Karachi. dren inside the home. cles for change, took a cautious view. “They must ensure “Uddari took the sensitive subject ... to every house- they are responsible enough to handle such sensitive hold where discussion on sex is still a taboo,” says one topics and address underlying issues so as not to add to Sultana Siddiqui, a Pakistani television director and producer, avid fan, Aabida Rani. In “Sammi”, which revolves the already existing stigmas,” she told AFP. Haroon speaking during an interview with AFP at her office in Karachi. around its eponymous star character, the station high- agreed, writing that their makers must be aware of their lighted honor killings, forced marriages, and denial of audience. “It is not just women,” she wrote. “Men too are property inheritance to women all in one show. Sultana observing what it takes to be a man in Pakistani society “That girl was a lioness. She should not have died yet,” Siddiqui, a producer who later set up her own TV station, and of course, what they can expect from the women in says Shazia Khan, a writer on the series. Baloch’s fate said they wanted Sammi to be a mirror of society, and an their lives and homes.” — AFP polarized Pakistan. For some, it inflamed outrage over so- example of “how a taboo issue could be displayed in called “honor” killings in which hundreds of predomi- nantly women are killed each year, usually by male rela- tives, for bringing what they perceive as shame on their families. But the concept of “honor” is deeply embedded in parts of Pakistan’s patriarchial culture, and other voic- es argued that Baloch had made herself a target by her Pakistani actress Rubab Hashim filming the drama serial actions-tame by Western standards but deemed ‘Mein Maa Nahi Banna Chahti’ (I Don’t Want To Become A provocative in the conservative country. The decision to Mother) in Karachi. turn her death into one of Pakistan’s popular television soap operas has ensured the debate surrounding such murders of women endures. Notorious for its high-profile story, Baaghi is just one of a wave of soap operas and dramas airing plotlines that revolve around such social issues: from domestic vio- lence to child abuse, forced and child marriages, misogy- ny and women’s rights. They are devoured by Pakistan’s 207 million strong population. Research by Pakistan’s media regulator shows that in 2016, 65 percent of televi- sion viewers watched drama channels featuring such soap operas. Another survey by Gallup Pakistan shows 67 percent of adult female viewers and 56 percent of adult male viewers watch entertainment shows, mainly soaps. Their popularity makes them a potentially power- ful vehicle for progress, says lawyer Benazir Jatoi, who Pakistani actress Rubian Ashraf (left) and actor Ali Abbas film- works for women’s rights watchdog the Aurat Foundation Pakistani director Angeline Malik (second right) posing for a photograph with actors during a promotional event for social drama ing the drama serial ‘Mein Maa Nahi Banna Chahti’ (I Don’t and has long argued that laws protecting women are not serial “Mujhe Jeene Do” (Let Me Live) in Karachi. Want To Become A Mother) in Karachi. Marvel creates Chinese Chris Hemsworth ‘throwing superheroes to draw Asia fans ideas around’ for Thor 4

hinese superheroes will soon be join- America or the Hulk. But this is changing, he Asian superheroes are still comparatively hris Hemsworth and Taika Waititi have movie, Chris revealed he’d rediscovered his ing the pantheon of larger-than-life said. “We want to have stories that are rare in the Marvel universe despite the fran- been “throwing ideas around” for a passion for the character. He added: “Two CMarvel universe mainstays Spider- reflective of every culture.” There is huge fan chise’s growing popularity there. In the Cfourth instalment of ‘Thor’. The 34- or three films ago I was like ‘okay, a couple Man, Iron Man and the X-Men, a company expectation over Marvel’s latest flagship Philippines, a former US colony, Marvel is year-old actor - who plays the superhero more’. I was enjoying it but I was like ... I felt official said as the comic book giant makes a movie-Black Panther-which will be released already deeply ingrained in the nation’s pop- character in the Marvel series - spent his a little restricted. And after this last experi- major thrust into Asia. As part of a push to worldwide next month. The film stars ular culture, said Cebulski. Filipino illustra- New Year’s discussing the possibility of a ence with Taika, and actually these last two grow its Asia fanbase, the Disney-owned Chadwick Boseman playing Marvel’s break- tors in turn have also provided art for Marvel fourth movie about the Norse god but insists ‘Avengers, I feel like we’ve reinvented that franchise has released mobile games in through black superhero T’Challa, a king of a comics since the 1970s. People from the it is a long way off before any formal deci- character a number of times - even in these China, opened “Marvel Stores” in South fictional African nation who first featured in Southeast Asian nation are now the third sions are made. He told USA Today: “We next two, he evolves again, and you don’t Korea and is searching for artistic talent in the company’s comic books in the late 1960s. largest nationality of artists employed by gave cheers ... a few times ... We gave cheers get that opportunity often in a franchise. So the Philippines, Marvel editor-in-chief C.B. Luke Cage, another popular black Marvel Marvel, just behind Americans and Italians, to Thor 3. But it also was like what could we I definitely feel a renewed sense of excite- Cebulski said. “We have been making great superhero, has also had a recent revival Cebulski said. — AFP do with four? We could do this and this. We ment and enthusiasm, and more so than strides especially in Asia. We try to hire more through a popular TV series on Netflix. But were throwing ideas around. But also, just to ever, I think.” — Bang Showbiz Asian creators, writers and artists to bring a work together again. That was one of the piece of their culture to Marvel comics,” he most enjoyable creative partnerships I’ve said in Manila where he visited a major uni- ever had. “It just depends on how The versity for fresh talent. Avengers [movies] all wrap up.I finished The comic giant plans to introduce two shooting and now they are going to edit it new Chinese superheroes: “Sword Master” and see how the stories play out. There are and “Aero” who will be based in China, so many interwoven scenes and stories and Cebulski added. “They are going to be heav- characters. [Thor 4] is a conversation for fur- ily based on Chinese culture and Chinese ther down the road, if it happens.” mythology but set in the modern world and However, Chris has previously insisted he they will interact with the other heroes (in would love the chance to play Thor again. He the Marvel universe),” he said. These new said: “If I had the opportunity to do it again, I characters will be drawn in the ‘manga’ style think I’d love to. I also think there’s an of Japanese comics that is more popular in appetite for it now, or there’s a far greater Asia, he added. range of possibilities of where he can go Cebulski, who has lived the last two years now, what he can do, just because we’ve kind in Asia, serving as Marvel’s vice president for of broke the mould a bit. I’ve just, literally the region, conceded that Marvel had not two days ago, finished ‘Avengers 4’ and that’s my contract - my pre-existing contract is given Asian characters prominent positions in This file photo shows Marvel’s new editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski, speaking at a forum in Manila. — AFP the past compared to mainstays like Captain done now, so it’s kind of like ‘wow, that’s it.’” And prior to appearing in the third Chris Hemsworth as Thor