Umm-e-Ayesha is the 7th Sky Entertainment Ramzan watch aired on Geo every evening at 6pm, starting 1st Ramzan. The creators present a narrative that aims to guide as well as represent young girls who strive to follow their Faith and also fulfill their dreams in the real world.
The story features the journey of a young girl Ayesha, played by Nimra Khan. The project is brought to us by 7th Sky Entertainment, helmed by Abdullah Kadwani & Asad Qureshi as producers. Umm-e-Ayesha has been directed by Saleem Ghanchi and penned by Hina Huma Nafees. The cast also features Omer Shahzad, Mehmood Akhtar, Nida Mumtaz, Tara Mahmood, Rehma Zaman, Eman, Asim Mehmood, Diya Rahman, Mohsin Gillani, Beena Chaudhry, Ayesha Rajpoot and others
Come Ramzan and 7th Sky has been at the forefront of providing context to our post iftar TV watch by giving us one drama serial that focuses on the teachings of the prophet – sunnah, keeping today’s generation – their dreams, lifestyle and challenges in perspective. No doubt Umm-e-Ayesha is a notable effort in that direction.
Here’s why the serial deserves a watch in Ramzan 2024:
1. Normalizing Hijab Wearing Girls Driving A Scooty
Ayesha drives a scooty. She also wears a hijab. The sheer visual image of a young girl who does both might seem very dramatic onscreen but that’s precisely what the visuals aim to normalize. While we have seen young girls driving a scooty onscreen often enough in dramas (esp Ramzan dramas), it is refreshing to see a hijab wearing girl do the same.
2. Umm-e-Ayesha Debunks Dated Beliefs and Practices
When Ayesha’s father gifts her a new scooty on her birthday, her mother protests disapprovingly, responding that perhaps, it would have been better if he had gifted his daughter a gold set instead. This mindset is quite common amidst our communities and families where investment in a girl’s future is either by purchasing property or gold as investment or towards her jahez, rather than providing her with the means to further her education or (as in this case) to live her life independently.
3. Father Supporting Daughters
It is endearing to see the drama take on the father-daughter relationship unapologetically and without the cliched forbidding stance that is often manifested in our society and onscreen. Ayesha’s father is perhaps her biggest support, the relationship, though fictional, mirrors that of many real life female role models amongst us who have achieved so much in life, broken the glass ceiling and fulfilled their dreams, with the help of a male family member who stood by them as rock solid support. Umm-e-Ayesha is therefore representing real life stories in this father-daughter relationship as well as subtly shifting the father-daughter narrative we see on TV.
4. Working Girls & The Hijab
Ayesha faces discrimination from the younger generation when it comes to her dress code and beliefs. She is nearly not offered a job because of her Hijab and later on too, encounters judgement for the same. It is pertinent to point out that Ayesha represents many young girls in our society who struggle hard to maintain their hijab against unspoken professional bias or the pressures of appearing modern in a culture that gives increasing preference to appearances.
At the same time, Ayesha sets an example for all young girls who face the same challenges by not only sticking to her decision to wear a Hijab but also presenting a well-groomed, smartly turned out appearance at the workplace, hence debunking any criticism that her hijab hinders her from fitting in or not achieving her tasks.
5. Family vs Personal Beliefs
Umm-e-Ayesha is perhaps a first in showing us a girl who not only has to prove herself outside of her family but also faces censure from her relatives. Her mother laments that Ayesha is not married and needs to dress up properly when a potential proposal is entertained at home. Similarly, there is pressure on her to send pictures of herself without her hijab to prospective bachelor’s families so that she stands a better chance at landing an eligible husband.
Add to that the fact that her sister doesn’t practice hijab, making it all the more relatable. Many families can relate to this sibling dynamic where the sisters share a (thankfully) non toxic relationship and neither is pressurizing the other to change her beliefs or lifestyle.
To sum it up, Umm-e-Ayesha is a worthy watch in Ramzan, especially if you’re one who’s not up for a regular Ramzan entertainment drama. Or, add it to your list of Ramzan dramas anyway. The messages are timely and relatable for both the young and old generation.
