Absence of religion

Unlike the recent dramas, religion is not that powerful a source in shaping characters’ identities or being a means of determining the pious and virtuous. Religion in Dhoop Kinaray becomes a means of evoking humour and God is rarely invoked even in serious situations like death or curing of disease.

There are only a few instances where we see religion actually being invoked and they always lead to the viewer laughing in the particular scene. There are times when Fazeelat is muttering words in her mouth, swiftly moving forward the beads of her Tasbeeh. While her reason for doing this for Zoya and the family’s protection is very sincere, the drama uses her acts to create humour. Zoya’s father mocks her and does not take her seriously, an effect which also grows on the viewer. Whenever we see the this dupatta clad character in the first few stages of the drama, we immediately expect some comic treatment of this character and never acknowledge the religious female in her. On another instance we see Anji raising her hands and hastily praying as she enters her father’s office to talk to him. When her father asks her why she is blowing air around, she says, “Machar Machar” thus replacing an otherwise virtuous act of praying with a cleansing act of removing something disgusting and impure. Anji’s father immediately grabs the mosquito repellent; while he seems to be trying to get rid of mosquitoes the viewer can see his act as an attempt to wear off any effects of his daughter’s prayer.

But in situations where the characters could be seen praying or in deep remembrance of God, there we find complete absence to any such acts. The drama starts with a sick father; while Dr. Ahmer could be shown praying or in conversation with God for blessing his father with good health there he talks to his father saying, “Abhi aap ne theek hona hai”. The idea of a beloved figure is dying immediately triggers prayers but Dr. Ahmer retains a positive attitude and refers to death as “sair” or journey. Even after his death, we see no funeral or Dr. Ahmer praying for his father’s soul. This is in stark contrast to the drama Humsafar where the first thing that we hear as soon as Maimuna dies is her brother’s words: Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un meaning, “Surely we belong to Allah and to Him shall we return”. Similarly, when Zoya finds out that a child is in critical condition because of her carelessness, she doesn’t ask God for help but addresses the sleeping child saying, “Please theek ho jao”. Thus, we see a complete lack of any prayer or remembrance of God in any of the sinister issues during the drama. The few times that any references are made are largely for humorous reasons and religion does not emerge as a strong thematic concern of the drama.