What does Pakistani people think of Ms. Marvel’s?
The original TV series, featuring Kamala Khan, a Pakistani American teenager, aEUR”, the first Muslim superhero to headline her comic aEUR”, debuted in Pakistani cinemas on June 16, and was aired on Disney+ June 9.
The story follows Kamala, 16, as she discovers that her grandmother has passed on a bangle which gives her superpowers. Kamala, played by Iman Vellani is a 16-year-old girl from Jersey City, N.J. who struggles to find her place in this world. Until she becomes the comic hero she has always admired, with powers that enable her to shape-shift, heal and stretch her body as she pleases.
The show’s casting, cultural references and portrayal of Pakistani women is discussed by pop culture experts from Pakistan and young people living in Pakistan.
Many people say Ms. Marvel is a good choice because it challenges stereotypes about Pakistani women on screen.
“We see usually only one type [in Pakistan] of woman on TV,” states Zoya Rehman, a pop culture writer based in Islamabad.
Many of Pakistan’s most popular TV and movie shows depict women as victims. Pyar Ke Sadqay was the protagonist in the 2020 drama and is shown reconciling with her husband. Humsafar aEUR”, a 2012 drama that was popular from Lahore and Toronto, aEUR” featured a protagonist who was forced out of her home by an evil mother in-law.
Ms. Marvel, however, is a series of women characters that show incredible courage in the face hardship.
After a series of events, Kamala’s friend Nakia decides that she will run for the local mosque board. The mosque’s women’s section is in chaos aEUR” the water taps in the bathroom are broken and the speakers won’t work. The mosque’s shoe thief, who stole 21 pairs of shoes that month, grabbed Nakia’s Versace sneakers while she was praying.
Nakia will have to take on Uncle Rasheed, a long-standing board member and Kamala’s best friend.
Hafsa Ali (a 24-year-old graduate student from Islamabad) says that “we never see [Pakistani] girl attempting to break [men like Uncle Rasheed] control in our communities.” “It was inspiring to see a character attempt to wrest it back.”
Kamala, not to mention Kamala herself who triumphs over bad guys while still being an average Pakistani girl says Saniya Ahmed, 19, a Karachi student.
“It’s amazing that teenage girls can see Ms. Marvel and say, ‘We want her to be us. She also looks like us and is a Marvel fan like we. ”
Ozan Khan, a lifestyle editor at The Correspondent PK in Pakistan, wrote on Twitter that “the portrayal of a Pakistani family is just right.” “Some references are very relatable.”
Kamala’s father is a fanatic about Pakistani cricket and watches highlights from old matches on TV at home. Kamala and Nakia refer to aunties as “illumin-aunties” (aEUR) because they spy on their neighbors and gossip about their family members. Kamala is shopping for jewelry and clothes for her brother’s engagement at Jersey City’s South Asian market when a cover of “Ko Korina”, a 1966 Pakistani pop song, plays in the background.
The show’s religious elements are loved by many Muslims from Pakistan. Zunaira Inam Khan, an influencer on social media in Pakistan, wrote that the show is “the most positive representation of Pakistanis, Muslims out there right now.”
Kamala, before she starts her car, says Bismillah. This is an Islamic term that means “in the name Allah” in Arabic. It is used before you start doing any activity aEUR” eating, travelling, or even leaving your house. She fights off a group djinn spirits in Islamic mythology and Arab mythology, while wearing a heavily embroided kurta, a traditional Pakistani tunic.
The second episode of the series refers to a sensitive topic for many South Asians: the Partition in August 1947 of British-ruled India into two independent countries, India aEUR” and Pakistan aEUR”, which was created as a homeland in South Asia for Muslims. The event is considered one of the most significant migrations in human history and was credited with displacing nearly 15 million people, as well as killing nearly a million.
Ahmer Naqvi (a Pakistani pop culture writer) says it’s important that the event is mentioned on the program. He says that the Partition and the violence and upheavals associated with it are not often mentioned in Pakistani mainstream culture. This is due to the “extremely difficult” nature of this event.
The episode reveals that Kamala’s maternal relatives were among the millions who crossed to Pakistan during Partition. The family was separated when they were separated on the train that took them to Karachi. Kamala’s grandmother Sana aEUR”, a tiny toddler, miraculously got back on the train and into her father’s arms.
This part of the show is very personal for 22-year old Manahil Cheema from Islamabad. Her family was also on the last train to Pakistan during Partition. She grew up hearing stories about Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu neighbors who lived peacefully until the border was drawn.
Kamala’s powers are derived from the bangle her great-grandmother Ayesha owned, who disappeared during Partition. Kamala is able to see the bangle light up when Kamala’s brother and father talk about Partition.
“I like that Marvel delved into our history to [create an] Origin [story for Kamala’s] powers, instead of anchoring it in some random freak accident like spider bites,” she said. This refers to how other Marvel characters like Spider Man get their superpowers. It shows that Marvel took the time to understand our history and where it came from.
However, our sample of interviewees had some criticisms. Many wish more actors were from Pakistan. Many of the actors are Pakistani-Canadian, including Iman Vellani who plays Kamala. Samina Ahmed and Mehwish Hayat, who are regulars on Pakistani TV and film, are Pakistani Canadians. However, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, who play Kamala’s parents are Indian.
Shroff, Kapur and Rehman “don’t look like Pakistani parents,” says Rehman. Rehman says that the fact that they’re Indian actors is a sign of this.
“When Shroff spoke I could hear the inflections from a Mumbai accent. She didn’t sound Pakistani to me.”
According to @ShabanaMir1 tweet, South Asian representation is dominated by Bollywood actors. Why was it that the parents had to be played by Indian actors. She tweeted, “[Disney+], there are a lot of great Pakistani actors.”
Rehman does not think it’s that big of a deal. Rehman says that the show isn’t about the parents. “Ultimately, the show is about Kamala and Vellani plays this role brilliantly. She is a natural actor, and she takes on the role as Ms. Marvel with great ease.
Zuha Siddiqui, a journalist from Pakistan, is the author.
