Pakistani TV series
Baby Baji is the first season of a Pakistani family soap television series produced by Abdullah Seja under his production banner iDream Entertainment. The ensemble cast of the series includes Samina Ahmad, Munawar Saeed, Javeria Saud, Saud, Junaid Niazi, Sunita Marshall, Hassan Ahmed, Fazal Hussain, Syeda Tuba Anwar, and Aina Asif. The series revolves around the family of Baby Baji and her struggle to keep it united during her husband's illness.[1]
Plot
Baby Baji lives with her four sons(Jamal, Naseer, Wasif and Walid) and husband. Jamal is the oldest and has two grown kids with his wife, Azra. Azra is an evil and immmoral woman, who fights with everyone in the household, and disrespects her parents-in-law. She is known for having a great temper and verbally degrades everyone who upsets her.
Naseer has one son and lives with his wife, Asma. Asma is loved for her kindness. She takes care of everyone, is reliable, patient and friendly. However, her husband Naseer doesn't love her, as he was forced to marry her, since his parents didn't approve of his lover. Naseer always verbally and physically abuses both Asma and their son.
The third son, Wasif marries Farhat, across the course of the drama. Farhat is modern, independent and outspoken. After moving into the house, she and Azra squabble, as she always fights back with her, unlike Asma.
Waleed is Baby Baji's youngest son, the only one who isn't married. He is interested in his neighbor, Saman.
The story revolves around the problems of this joint family system. After the illness of her husband, Baby Baji took the responsibility of holding her family together. Baby Baji whose elder three sons are married, struggles to maintain a balance among her children in the joint family system. Every day a new quarrel took place in the house because her oldest daughter in law, Azra, is cunning, rude and manipulative. After the death of Baby Baji's husband, all the sons took their part from the property and separated. All this happened because of two of Baby Baji's daughters-in-law, Azra and Farhat, who fought daily. The only good daughter-in-law was Nasir's wife, Asma as she respected her in-laws despite her husband mistreating her.
After separating, the sons created a system where Baby Baji and Walid would live at a different son's house every month. She kept constantly moving between the three houses as no son wanted her to stay for too long. Baby Baji tried her best to reunite her sons but she is expelled from the house by Azra. She became homeless and went to an old-age home. Walid, after returning home from Lahore, finds her in the old-age home and yells at his brothers for neglecting to care for her. After facing the consequences of their own deeds, all three sons realized the importance of their mother. Jamal expels Azra from the house and she is diagnosed with cancer. Naseer is conned by his lover on the wedding day and returns to apologize to his mother, as she was right. She forgives him. However, it has become too late then and in the end, Baby Baji dies after arranging Waleed and Saman's engagement. Wasif, who had gone abroad without meeting his mom, doesn't make it back to Pakistan in time for her burial.
Cast
Production
Hassan Ahmed was earlier offered the role of Jamal, which he rejected and he was again approached to portray the character of Naseer. Hassan's spouse Sunita Marshall portrayed the Asma, Naseer's wife, for which she was not the first choice.[2]
Soundtrack
The ost was performed by Bisma Abdullah with Eva B as a rap artist. The lyrics and composition were by The Loop Men.
Reception
Galaxy Lollywood praised the series for tackling the various common and relatable problems of a joint family.[3] A critic from the Daily Times reviewed that the story of the series is a bit hard to be comprehend.[4] Javeria Saud's performance as a cunning and outspoken daughter-in-law was well-received by critics and audiences.[5][6][7] A reviewer from The News International lauded the performances of some actors, clever characterisation, fast-paced narrative and depiction of traditions.[8]
The soap opera gained high viewership both on television and digitally on YouTube.[9] It gained the highest rating, 15.7 TRPs, which became the highest rated last episode of the year.[10]
Sequel
In December 2023, the sequel for the Baby Baji announced with the title of 'Baby Baji Ki Bahuwain'. The second season premiered from 23 September 2024, broadcasting episodes daily at 7:00 PST on ARY Digital.[11]
Boycott and banned Baby Baji Ki Bahuwain
Fans rejected "Baby Baji Ki Bahuwain" is a Pakistani drama serial that aired on ARY Digital. Although there have been controversies and criticisms last episode surrounding the show.
- Reasons for Criticism and Calls for Boycott:*
1. Portrayal of Toxic Relationships: Some viewers criticized the show's depiction of abusive and toxic relationships, arguing it promoted harmful norms.
2. Misrepresentation of Women: Critics argued that the show reinforced negative stereotypes about women, portraying them as manipulative and dependent on men.
3. Glorification of Materialism: The show's focus on wealth and material possessions drew criticism for promoting consumerism and superficial values.
4. Lack of Realistic Storylines: Some viewers found the plot unrealistic and overly dramatic.
1. In 2024, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issued a notice to ARY Digital for airing "objectionable content" in "Baby Baji Ki Bahuwain".
2. In 2024, a petition circulated online calling for a boycott of the show due to its alleged promotion of toxic relationships and misogyny.
Despite criticism, "Baby Baji Ki Bahuwain" remained popular and continued airing. ARY Digital did not completely ban or remove the show.
The controversy surrounding postponed show "Baby Baji Ki Bahuwain" highlights the importance of responsible storytelling and representation in media. While drama serials can entertain, they also shape societal attitudes.
References