KARACHI: ‘Ms Marvel,’ an American television mini-series, released in cinemas across Pakistan on Friday, particularly delighting women audiences for the much-awaited representation in its strong references to the Pakistani culture.
Originally debuted on Disney+ on June 8, ‘Ms. Marvel’ is the story of a Pakistani-American teenager, Kamala Khan, who finds her powers amid her day-to-day struggles.
Essayed by Pakistani-Canadian actor Iman Vellani, Khan, a 16-year-old Pakistani-American growing up in Jersey City, is rebellious, fun and super cool, and has a penchant for artworks and the world of superheroes.
Pakistanis, who watched the first two episodes on the big screen on June 17, said they were proud of a Pakistani Muslim superheroine taking the lead in the project that was being watched by the whole world.
“Watching the Pakistani culture, and also being represented so well by Hollywood, and not just Hollywood but being featured in Marvel franchise was surreal,” journalist Uroosa Jadoon said.
“Truly loved it. I don’t know what happens in the comic series but seeing Ms Marvel in other Avengers movies would be a dream coming true.”
The 24-year-old said everything about Khan was “relatable”: “Her relationship with her parents, her relationship with her body, and the representation of Muslim culture, that of an American teenager was relatable.”
Nida Hasan, a 32-year-old Pakistani-Canadian entrepreneur in Toronto, said she was super excited about the show in its entirety and in awe of the representation it’s offering to the Pakistani community abroad.
“I think it’s a great initiative given the lack of OTT (Over The Top) access in the country. Pakistanis deserve to see such representation on the big screen,” Hasan said.
“But it’s at the same time unfortunate that a large chunk of the population still will not be able to see it. Perhaps getting TV rights with a dubbed Urdu version would be great like in the case of Turkish dramas.”
Aamna Haider Isani, 48, editor of Something Haute entertainment website, shared Khan had managed to integrate a young Muslim girl into the popular global culture.
“She is a regular teenage girl, with the usual dreams and fantasies, and an identity that is both Muslim and Pakistani. It is an important story to tell,” Isani said.
“I love Kamala; she’s adorable and her energy is infectious. But I’m actually more inspired by her friend, Nakia, who represents a modern Muslim woman so perfectly. She’s confident, smart and very cool.”
All of the women Arab News spoke to were eager to watch the entire show. The second episode of the show gave a glimpse of Pakistani powerhouses Samina Ahmed and Nimra Bucha, which came as a visual treat to the woman spectators.
“It has inspired me because it celebrates fan culture and fandom! And also I feel saddened because it was my dream to become the first Pakistani woman to be in an MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) project,” Sania Sidiki, an English-language teacher, told Arab News. “I am glad they got Iman. Her disposition is infectious.”
She said it was a great strategy to release Ms Marvel in cinemas across Pakistan as it would benefit the makers in terms of revenues.
“Since it has a young Pakistani Muslim woman as a superhero, there will be talks about stereotypical representation of a young Pakistani Muslim woman and how it reaffirms or breaks the stereotypes,” she said.
“I also believe that some wouldn’t connect with Kamala Khan on some level because she is an immigrant in America and most people don’t really know what it is like being an immigrant as they have been in Pakistan most of their lives.”
Ayesha Manzoor, a student of Mass Communications and a freelance illustrator, said Khan not only portrays Pakistani teens, but makes them seem normal.
“She’s not a perfect character and has her flaws but that’s what makes her real and interesting. I feel seen in the characters of the series not just Kamala but every other character,” Manzoor said.
“I see my mother in her mother’s scolding and my dad in her dad’s awkward jokes, even a girl walking in the background wearing something I’d wear makes me excited. It’s nice to be seen.”
Famed Pakistani filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy took up directorial duties for the show alongside Adil EI Arbi, Bilal Fallah and Meera Menon, while the official poster of the fiction series features artwork by illustrator Shehzil Malik. The diverse cast includes Nimra Bucha, Fawad Khan, Samina Ahmed, Alyy Khan, Mehwish Hayat and others from Pakistan.
To top it off, Pakistani rapper Eva B’s song ‘Rozi’ features in the first episode, while Coke Studio 14 hit ‘Peechay Hutt’ by Hasan Raheem, Justin Bibis and Talal Qureshi also makes it to the show’s official soundtrack.
The 3rd and 4th episodes of the show are slated for release on June 30, while the 5th and 6th — also the last two — will come out on July 14.
