The drama Kabli Pulao is showcasing the change in generational approach and acceptance as in the case of Barbeena & Haji Mushtaq. Read on as we delve deeper into Gen Z’s POV.
Green Entertainment’s Kabli Pulao is a sure shot hit. The series narrates a unique story between a pair who is separated by age and culture yet learns to respect and love one another. The drama stars Sabeena Farooq and Mohammed Ehteshamuddin as leads Barbeena and Haji Mushtaq respectively; alongside Nadia Afgan as Shamim and Abdullah Farhatullah as Baran Afghani.
Presented under the banner of Q & K Production in association with Multiverse Entertainment, Qaiser Ali and Imran Raza have produced the project which is scripted by the talented Zafar Mairaj and directed under Kashif Nisar.
As the mystifying story about Barbeena’s origins and how Haji Mushtaq married her unravels we are also taken alongside the journey of the unacceptance and gradual acceptance of Barbeena and Haji Mushtaq as a couple. Conversations around the thought provoking drama led us to wonder how and what has impacted the acceptance. We discovered the view points across the board were diverse, Gen Z and Millennials had some strikingly differing views. But today we focus on how we might be more accepting of Haji Mushtaq and Barbeena’s relationship in Kabli Pulao because for us, it’s not completely beyond acceptance. Here is why… and we give you:
3 Reasons Why Gen Z Happily Embraces Barbeena & Haji Mushtaq’s Relationship!
1. Our Boundaries Dictate For No Judgement Calls
A prominent factor that affects the acceptance is our need and disposition as Generation Z to have in place boundaries for ourselves and respecting others in turn. As a generation we have set many boundaries, in our workplace, with our friends, our extended family etc. on what is appreciated, what is not, how matters be addressed, what they can talk to us about and what is off limits. Hence we feel in the case of the older guy, younger girl marriage situation too – we don’t feel the need to make the judgement call, even if it were a couple we knew in real life.
The decision is theirs so is their life so we don’t feel our judgement A) has a place and B) should impact their choice – so why not respect each other’s privacy and boundaries and just do you?
Our past generations were more willing and prone to take judgement calls owing to the ever rampant fear of “Log kya kahengay” because decisions such as these would lead ostracization in society. Haji Mushtaq’s high guard in Kabli Pulao and unwillingness to celebrate his marriage depicts just that, stifled and fearing the possibility of facing society and his family’s shock response (who also belong to the old guard and judge him at first). But his niece Ayesha, repping the Gen Z comes around to help Haji Mushtaq understand how him and Barbeen as a couple is not so much of a sin. She shows immense support, mirroring the Gen Z mindset – that can easily feel bad for Haji Mushtaq. After all, it’s quite a fair life choice he has made and who are we to ostracize him for it?
2. Breaking The Molds
We are wary of the stereotypes, we are not scared to break away from them. We don’t want the stereotypical traditionally acceptable life choices, relationships, careers, we are willing to take a gap year, make unconventional choices and explore breaking the molds set in place by society. Ayesha, Haji Muhstaq’s niece normalises the topic of marrying at a much older age, helping Haji Mushtaq realise its perfectly normal celebrating his marriage through events.
As the world around us evolves, our idea of relationships is also evolving as we see many successful and not so successful global examples, while being reminded there is no sure shot way to the success of a marriage. No matter young or old, given the intricacies, the potential mental and physical abuse Gen Z is aware of now, they don’t really have a make or break idea of the institution.
So essentially, a young couple marriage might not guarantee success either, thus Gen Z is quite willing to throw the mundane, conventionally more accepted formula out of their books. For them, what takes precedence is the meeting of the minds, whether the other person be on the same wave length mentally.
They are also increasingly cognizant of the fact how, as humans and individual beings we are allowed to make our own choices in a world where everyone’s journey is different – in short, whatever floats your boat.
3. World At The Tip Of Our Fingers
Gen Z has been exposed to many deeper and wider conversations and ideas at play, being constantly re-conditioned to accept the new and the “not so normal” because – is anything even normal in our world or is that a construct we have created to maintain power and a status quo?
Being born into a digital generation, we have been exposed and conditioned to the global approach since the get go, definitely helping us think on a wider scale. We have access to the entire world at the tip of our fingers with influencers, public figures widening our horizons. Giving us more than one accepted point of view to latch onto and resonate, enabling us to think about the many possible choices, ones that have always been right there in the open but we have been too scared to consider.
On the other hand, the elders of our society and their mindsets were influenced by more limited circles of family, friends, teachers at school limiting their options and growth. Ayesha again represented the above in the drama, how the young are helping to bring about change and are seamlessly nudging their elders towards acceptance, so effortlessly through digitalisation; a prime example is when Ayesha uses Google translate to bridge the gap in communication when conversing with Barbeena.
So there you have it. 3 Reasons & more, why Gen Z will always be more accepting towards Barbeena and Haji Mushtaq’s relationship. We presented our take, what is your take on Haji Mushtaq and Barbeena’s age difference in Kabli Pulao? Absolutely not a big deal or questionable?
