Yes, we relentlessly demand heroines who are not damsels in distress, and Zamdaa gave us more than that. Here’s why she might be the character who will change the heroine landscape in Pakistani dramas.
Khaie essays the ancient tradition of eliminating the male members of an enemy’s family in order to discontinue their lineage. The story is one of revenge, a reign of terror and possibly, how the “good vs evil” saga plays out against a backdrop of conspiracies and violence. The multi-character plot aimed to engage audiences in not only the core storytelling but also the personal lives, family dynamics and villagers’ lives of living under a ruthless rule of torture and savagery.
Saqlain Abbas is the credited writer for the drama, Khaie and it is directed by Syed Wajahat Hussain. Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi take on the role of producers under the banner of 7th Sky Entertainment. The ensemble cast features prominent actors such as Faysal Quraishi portraying Channar Khan, Durefishan Saleem as Zamda, Khalid Butt as Duraab Khan, Noor ul Hassan as Darwesh, Uzma Hassan as Gul Wareen, Laila Wasti as Bareera, Osama Tahir as Badal, Shuja Asad as Barlas, Mah-e-Nur Haider as Apana, Shamyl Khan as Gulab Khan, Hina Bayat as Bakhtawar, Saba Faisal as Husn Bano, Javed Jamal as Badshah Khan, Nabeel Zuberi as Pamir, and Hassan Noman as Shanawar.
By the way, did you catch the last episode today?
Zamdaa Might Have Stolen The Show
The riveting drama has enthralled audiences, bringing to them, the niche genre of revenge/thrill. Each of the characters shrouded in complex layers, possessing different sides, intricacies, and nuances left us in awe of how well they are performed. But what stole the show for us was the female lead, the protagonist, Zamdaa. The drama has possibly revolutionized the portrayal of female heroines in Pakistani dramas, shattering stereotypes while redefining the traditional and modern interpretations of them.
Perceived as the disadvantaged, the supposedly weaker gender lacking sharp wit, a calculative mentality, intelligence, courage, an ironclad will, Zamdaa was spared, assuming she would do no harm and anyway wouldn’t be able to avenge her family. But did Channar Khan foresee that the very woman he spared would ultimately change the game and eliminate his entire family? However, what truly stole the show for us in the drama was the female lead, the heroine – Zamdaa.
Yes, we relentlessly demand heroines who are not damsels in distress, and Zamdaa gave us more than that. She has been the one who set ablaze the lives of her family’s murderers. As a heroine, Zamdaa has been intelligent, sharply calculative, and instilled fear in her opponents. Despite being surrounded by powerful men and women in a predominantly tribal setup, she literally knocked them all down like chess pieces.
Here’s how she was different from all heroines until now:
1.Clever & Strategic
The way she planned the eventual murders of all, calculating each step and move meticulously, could truly have been the work of only a true mastermind. She knew straight away how to handle each member of Duraab’s clan, who to exploit (Apana & Barlas), who to befriend (Bareera), and whom to eliminate first….do you remember who she killed first? Moreover, like a true strategist, she always had a backup plan in mind.
2. Not a damsel in distress
When she lost her father and her two young brothers, her mother, Husn Bano, seemed to have been shaken to the core by this tragedy, rendering her mentally unstable. However, Zamdaa’s silent strength proved remarkable. Despite crying, pleading, and begging to go home, she soon regained her composure. Dealing with the situation with resilience, logic, and sense, she surprised us all. Despite being in a disadvantageous position, she dared to set a condition before agreeing to marry Channar Khan. We have always seen men seeking out revenge, because we prefer to believe women are too pure/delicate/soft for such actions. Instead of giving in or becoming a damsel in distress, she became a complex character, perhaps a villain or one seeking justice, whom we couldn’t decide whether to sympathize with or resent.
3. Doesn’t need a man to get her goals
Never once did the thought of not having a man to help her cross her mind nor did she fear the lethal men around her and neither did Zamdaa accept Channar Khan as her fated savior. Her resolve was so strong that she inherently knew she was enough on her own.
She didn’t wait for Badal or seek him out to begin her revenge saga. Even when Badal did come to aid her in Khaie, and eventually when he was found and compromised her endeavors, she carried on confidently, unhesitatingly.
4. Self pity is not what she’s all about
Sure, she did break down, lost her bearings… for a brief moment as Channar forcefully married her, but she quickly regained her composure, identified her allies and enemies, devised a mental plan, and set it in motion. She didn’t dwell in self-pity for too long. After each setback, she got back up and wasted no time. Badal was killed…but she didn’t wallow in pity or victimize herself.
5. Stays focused and emotions don’t count
We usually depict women in our dramas as weak, yes, but also almost always love to portray them as often dwindling or weakened in their resolve, owing to what society likes to call their ”emotional nature’. Zamdaa showed us, and many others, that a) emotions or being able to feel them is not a weakness, and b) women can very well keep their empathetic nature in the background, reaching a point of savageness where nothing holds them back, being merciless and supremely focused, even if it means killing the enemy’s child for justice.
6. Revenge games just reached a new level
Petty and disgraceful mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, as well as ex-fiancé revenge schemes, are a thing of the past. “Khaie” presented revenge games in true Hunger Games fashion—okay, just kidding. However, the revenge saga in “Khaie” was one that respected the audience’s intellect, offering a storyline that was smartly written, impressively executed, and kept us on our toes with all the surprises and unexpected reveals. Who would have thought, in “Khaie,” Zamdaa would exploit Barlas and Apana’s story or be ten steps ahead of even the most cunning and lethal man, Duraab Khan, removing all the bullets from the gun he had placed in his drawer?
7. No outward show of hysteria or meltdowns. It’s all in the mind
While it is natural and entirely human to have a meltdown once in a while for us ordinary humans, Pakistani dramas have had a penchant for showing hysteria and massive meltdowns as the only coping mechanisms of female leads. For once, aren’t we so glad to have not witnessed a female lead having a meltdown in each episode? Zamdaa’s strength was silent, as is many women’s, and also her hate and grief overpowered any other emotion or thought, keeping her motivated to achieve Khaie, at last.
Why and why not, was Zamdaa your favorite character? Did she stand out to you as a Pakistani drama’s female heroine? (Absolutely, a trick question)
