Baylagaam, by 7th Sky Entertainment is ushering in change through kickstarting conversations on how social media is impacting young girls.
The drama “Baylagaam” is written by Huma Hina Nafees. It is directed by Zahid Mehmood and is brought to life by the dynamic production team of Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi from 7th Sky Entertainment. The ensemble cast includes talented actors like Ali Abbas as Afnan, Laiba Khan as Ramsha, Haroon Shahid as Shani, Tuba Anwar as Alizeh, Shabbir Jan as Sajid, Shaheen Khan as Mehnaz, Kashif Mehmood as Anwer, Humaira Bano as Salma, Noor ul Hassan as Qasim, Alizeh Zaid as Ainy, Saima Qureshi as Afshan, Saleem Mairaj as Danish Kamal, Aiman Zaman as Hania, Taqi Ahmed as Fahad, and Sohail Masood in key roles, promising a thrilling and captivating viewing experience.
This new wave of Pakistani dramas features a coming of age concept, messages and ideas that serve society as a whole on a much bigger scale. With this production, 7th Sky Entertainment is keeping pace with the times. Baylagaam addresses a considerable peril of our times, which is linked to social media. With its great advantages and connecting the world across the globe, social media also presents a great challenge in today’s world especially for the youth and young girls. The drama catches the essence of this social dilemma, hence creating awareness of the consequences.
Laiba Khan & Ali Abbas’s Screen Presence
Laiba Khan is a Pakistani actress,TikTok star and social media influencer. Audiences are applauding her acting as Ramsha’s character who is a young, spirited TikToker – fearless, adventurous, on a journey of passion and ambition. Laiba Khan’s performance in Baylagaam might just be the turning point in her career. Another notable plus point is Ali Abbas and Laiba Khan’s chemistry, their pairing along with their confident, smooth performances amplifying the narrative further, create impact & garner traction for the story.
Here are 5 points from the drama about how it is projecting the issues above related to the perils of social media and how young girls are affected by it.
1. Do Ramsha’s Wrong Decisions Partly Fall On Her Parents’ Shoulders?
Ramsha wants to fulfil her dreams, take her chances at the opportunities in sight, hence she took the risky step of running away from home in the frivolous hopes of becoming a star. But what audiences appreciate in Baylagaam was that Ramsha is given another chance by her family. They take her back in their lives, back in their home without labelling her as a sinner. On the other end of the spectrum, the narrative is also balanced well with how Ramsha too, realizes the gravity of her mistake. She understands there will be consequences arising from her choice but is glad to be back in the protection of her house.
And it goes without saying how Ramsha’s character in the drama makes a very significant point: when girls make a mistake as Ramsha does, it should stay a mistake and not be labelled as a life long sentence for what is not a crime.
2. What She Needed Was Being Steered In The Right Direction?
Throughout her TikTok journey she had to conceal her passion from her family. Only if her parents could have recognized her talents and passion, maybe they wouldn’t have had their daughter take such a dangerous step. The drama highlights how the responsibility for a child’s erroneous decisions also falls on the parents. They must start by understanding their child’s passion and support it, in fact, channelize it in the right direction, hence saving them from acting in desperation and secrecy.
3. Pointing Out All The Red Flags Leading To Harassment
The director’s harassment towards Ramsha very clearly points out red flags for girls in a multitude of professions, not just acting. Ramsha was naïve, she didn’t really pick up on the signs that spelt trouble, or had somebody educated her on these issues, she might have been more aware. No director or manager/working professional can ask you to stay at their house for an audition, they can’t delay providing professional material, invade your personal space and touch you without your consent.
Baylagaam creates awareness of the unforeseen challenges that girls encounter in the workforce; challenges that arise from the actions of men. So just like Afnan, it’s good to have somebody in your corner – it may be a mother, brother, father or even a friend who knows what’s going on in your life.
4. Ensuring Accountability For Men
The drama wonderfully continues to carry on the theme of creating awareness and educating people about harassment. A general disposition to harassment in our society is often blaming it on the girls for somehow provoking men. But the drama in full force, counters society’s faults and negative inherent conditioning. Ramsha was harassed by her cousin and for once, when the guy claims that the girl, his cousin provoked her – his mother corrects him and reprimands him.
She tells him that it is his fault and that a man is responsible for his own actions. Furthermore, the drama reminds the audience that just because he is a son, it doesn’t mean parents should refrain from raising objections or blindly overlooking his wrongs.
5. The Importance Of Education For All
The drama also portrays TikTokers in a new light, through a tumultuous yet meaningful journey of Ramsha through which she now realizes the importance of her education. Her parents have now taken away her phone and discontinued her education. But she is now pleading to them to let her at least complete her education, she doesn’t want her phone back but at least be able to continue her education.
Baylagaam highlights that at the end of the day, education is paramount and how you must not compromise on your education because one never knows how, at some point in our life, it could be our only saviour.
What are you liking best about ‘Baylagaam’ so far?
