Dhoop ki Deewar controversy: Since the release of its trailer on June 15, Pakistani web series Dhoop Ki Deewar has been embroiled in dispute over its themes of cross-border love pivoting around Kashmir. Written by Umera Ahmed, the series stars Sajal Aly and Ahad Raza Mir as children of rival soldiers on either side of the border.
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Though Dhoop Ki Deewar's underlining message preaches Indo-Pak peace, it has been slammed by many on Pakistani social media as "unpatriotic" and a challenger to the two-nation theory. Its selection of the sensitive Kashmir location has also added fuel to fire.
The series is a Zindagi original and will premiere June 25 on OTT platform ZEE5.
No matter who wins the war, both nations face the loss. When everything falls apart, what will they choose: Hate or Heart?
Soon after the trailer release, Twitter users in Pakistan called for a ban and boycott of Dhoop Ki Deewar.
Social Media Row Over Dhoop Ki Deewar Controversy
The Two-Nation theory is the foundation of Pakistan. Our martyrs are our pride. We will never allow people like Umera Ahmad to hurt the feelings of Pakistani and Kashmiri people. Curse on #DhoopKiDewaar.#BanDhoopKiDeewarpic.twitter.com/ySk6pB6YGZ
Umaira Ahmed can only write stupid love stories for immoral dramas of Geo & Hum TV. It's beyond her scope to create opinion on #Kashmir issue. No need to take her too serious, specially in military & foreign affairs.#BanDhoopKiDeewar#dhoopkidewaar
— Abdul Rehman Tiwana (@GCAbdulRehman) June 18, 2021
India and Pakistan came into being on the ideology of two nation theory. Hindus and Muslims cannot live at the same place without conflicts. We need to understand this fact and should condemn this serial.#BanDhoopKiDeewar#جون19_شب_خونpic.twitter.com/RunMFrDaqW
Several others, meanwhile, supporting the show are of the opinion that it addresses an important subject, especially since India-Pakistan relations have seen strain in recent years, following the Uri attack in 2016. The All Indian Cine Workers Association banned Pakistani artists from working in Bollywood after the 2019 Pulwama terror attack.
Ahmed, who also wrote the 2013 television success Zindagi Gulzar Hai, said in a Facebook post June 17, "When I started working on Dhoop Ki Deewar in 2019, I sent the story to the Inter-Services Public Relations. I asked the team for its evaluation so that I would edit out anything objectionable in the story."
"It is the basic right of a writer to initiate debate on any important matter in their work": Ahmed, on Dhoop Ki Deewar controversy
Haseeb Hasan, director of Dhoop Ki Deewar, talking about the show in interviews said, "No matter which country, religion or belief you belong to at the end of the day the grief lived is the same everywhere and it is much bigger than you and me. It is a story of love, grief and loss."
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