Phaans is a Pakistani Drama that portrays the story of the struggle of a sexual assault survivor.
Shakeela works as a maid in an upper-class family of Nadia. Nadia's daughter Hafsa's marriage decides to take place with Samad. In order to made arrangements of the marriage and to serve as helping hands Shakeela stays at Nadia's house along with her daughters; Zeba and younger Farah. Zeba, a college-going and educated girl comes across with their Sahil, Nadia's son suffering from [Down's syndrome]. At night, everyone is busy in the functions of marriage that Zeba receives call from Hashim who is Zeba's fiancé. He demands to see her and calls her in an under-constructed building. Zeba first denies but later agrees to meet him due to his insistence. Zeba goes there and someone rapes her. She comes back where everyone is already looking for him. She enters with Samad from the main gate and everyone their mistakes Samad as a culprit. Zeba is taken to hospital where doctor changes the reports as Siraj had already called him and ordered him to declare her as a patient of Hysteria. Doctor does so and disappointed Zeba goes to her home with her mother. The story further revolves around Zeba and the struggles she faces while trying to seek justice in this case from a considerably influential family.
The story is empowering at many levels, making people aware of such incidents, the idea of victim blaming and issues in the judicial system regarding cases of rape and Harassment. This story is also a complete beauty when it comes to its genre making it a beautiful drama line story. This story can be considered to be a step forward in the Pakistani drama industry as it has taken a step forward to address such issues of Rapes and the struggles of rape survivors. The story writer has been bold when it comes to the story line as he has taken a different topic and story line from the topics and types of dramas that are famous nowadays.
Dramas like these actually make me hopeful for our industry
Glad that Pakistani drama industry has started to move away from the content that revolves around the stereotypical representation of women. I will definitely watch this drama.
This is one of the very very few dramas that actually show women empowerment and no the same domestic abuse and quiet wife rubbish. I wish our media progresses to more such story lines that bring out important issues such as the struggles faced by the actor here.
It’s actually empowering that in a society like Pakistan where rape does not even have a formal terminology in urdu and is just labelled as “ziyadti”, such dramas are being made. The story seems interesting and is a mix of suspense, mystery and a greater societal issue. One thing that I feel should be given importance in such dramas is that they should be made and played with empathy and sensitivity. People who have actually been subject to rape and such events should not feel victimised and attacked but should rather find hope and courage from these dramas.