Pakistani Media representation of Veena Malik
by Nadia Siddiqui
Veena Malik is a popular name in our show biz world. Her recent success is a famous Indian reality show, Big Boss. Veena’s has quite explicitly discussed her love affair on the show and chose to be very western in her selection of dresses. As the show is still on air and currently Veena seems to be flirting with her Indian co-star. Her body language and behaviors appear quite bold to the conservative people in Pakistan, although, they may like to watch Katrina or other Indian actresses dancing on their TV screen. In Venna’s case, the problem for Pakistani media and public is not what has been shown, but the problem is who is doing it and where it has been done.
Veena’s appearance and conduct on the Indian show have been vociferously debated by Pakistani media. The overall impression of the debate seems to be filtered through popular discourses which has shaped and constructed Veena in Multilple identities. Veena is actually not an individual in this case, but a representative image of national, religious and gender identities. The ‘authorities’ have stridently condemned her behavior and looks on Indian TV programme. You must ask who these authorities are. The authorities are not individuals in this case, but those given ideological notions of religious morality, nationality and gender which reside in every brain of Pakistan. It is not only Pakistani media but all of us who see things with given standards for evaluation or character assassination. It is so normal for us to decide who is a good Pakistani and who is a bad Pakistani. Hold on …this Pakistani label is just not alone. It means also means Muslim, and in case if he appears to be a man than a Muslim man and if a woman than a Muslim woman. People like Nawazish Begum have no space according to our standards of morality, nationality and gender, and minority can be cast out as blasphemous any time.
The question arises why Veena’s confidence and bold appearance has struck everyone. Why many Pakistani women have bluntly denied that she is not representing them. The answer lies in the fact that our notions of normality are given by linear ideologies of religion and nationalism. We do not like the idea of diversity because it challenges the induced linear principles of life. We don’t like representation which negates our life long efforts of becoming Muslim Pakistani women. We struggle to become a being as demanded by the politics of ideologies, and quite unfortunately consider the others deviant.
In Veena’s case, I do not consider that she has the onus to explain her character, behavior or in any instance a need to tell how good Muslim she is. This is a problem for those who feel that they have been wrongly represented. To the ones wrongly represented, there is a little suggestion that some day they can try to experience their individuality as a being without any burden of representation. They can imagine in isolation why sexuality is a sin for us. Why cannot a woman just enjoy being a woman? Why cannot she tell others ‘her way’ that I love myself and being a woman is a nature’s wonder to experience the world? Why we pass every second of our short life by burdening our souls and bodies in fears of looks and remarks? Isn’t it enough that we are woman and nature has given us a chance to experience and tell what we feel about ourselves? Can we not just tell our ‘own way’ that we love our bodies? Why a woman like Veena is ostracized on telling that she is a sexual being? Can we ever accept that sexuality is naturally given to us than a religion or national identity?
The author is an academic with research interests in gender and media
Secular Pakistan 
sara
December 28, 2010
We still working our ways through to accept that we are modern…..Women who try express their sexuality are considered baziree or given remarks that they are low class community… so much so that even at times people call them prostitutes which is actually pretty disgusting. on the name of religion many links/wraps are made on things that dn’t belong there…. Now people like veena are looked down upon which is a sad fact..To change the mind set we dont have to change men first but ourselves. we women have to believe in our sexuality, we have to stand of our own selves. Nobody from outside can come and do it for us since it doesnot hold interest for them. only then we can naturally accept it.
Naveed
December 28, 2010
Well, I do not watch TV (largely due to the availability of the huge number of free computer games to play) but I like the questions the author arises here. it looks Veena Malik is a victim of a biased cultural setup. According to my knowlege, she is from the entertainment industry. Professionaly, She has the rights to promote herself within that industry at the international scope. Well, it is hard to establish a connection between her case and the religious norms as she has been doing the samiliar professional works in her own country.
myra
December 28, 2010
Being a woman is no doubt a blessing in itself because there is so much that only a woman can feel,enjoy and treasure regardless of what religion or race she comes from. If it’s about all the criticism that Veena is facing currently, all i’d say is that nobody’s got the right to be that judgmental about her.However the public of our country does expect the so called celebs of Pakistan not to defame the country by any gesture of theirs. But at the same time i totally agree that if we look beyond the label of “Pakistani and Muslim” that Veena wears,she is a distinct identity,a woman.Again comes the same point that there’s still a grace that is expected of her because even if we wish to see our state as “secular”; there’s still the “Islamic ideology” that lies behind its very emergence.
Mukhlis
January 1, 2011
just think that u have to justify and answer for ur every action and word which is being recorded on the day of judgemetn.
The Modern Rumi
January 7, 2011
Typical Desi smut.
As a Muslim I appalled that Jinnah 1) destroyed India for this heap of human refuse, and 2) that a woman openly discussing a torrid love affair, boldly flirting with colleagues on TV, or anything of the like makes her more of a woman or less deserving of our collective scorn. The same goes for a man who behaves in such a crude way. Land of the Pure? More like land of the damned.
Jai Hind.
Nadia
January 16, 2011
I really like this article. Ms. Tahmena Bokhari discusses this issue a lot. Bokhari is a feminist, Muslim, Pakistani, Canadian, professor and beauty queen. She was the first Pakistani woman to win an international pageant title. She discusses how all her identities can seem like they conflict but really that is just how society sees it. We like to pigeon-hole people, but more so we pigean-hole ourselves. I love Ms Bokhari’s message that we should be well rounded and be free to express all the sides of ourselves.
This whole issue about Veena Malik is a very good example of some of Ms Bokhari’s theories. Personally I do not know Veena Malik nor do I know her much as a public figure because I do not follow all the news about her. Having googled her, based on her pictures I think she is beautiful, I like her modeling and her clothes, I think she carries herself with grace and charm…but I have not seen her acting. In any case, I think such a woman should be encouraged and we should be proud that we have such a model or actress in Pakistan, there are so few as it is and it is so hard for anyone to be Veena Malik. She must be strong for being who she is in a society which makes it so hard for any woman to express herself.
Meera
January 16, 2011
I do not know Veena Malik personally and have never seen her acting so I do not know how “flirty” or “wild” she is. I just think it is sad that she is being treated like less than human. She is a woman, a Pakistani woman, who is representative of Pakistan whether we like it or not, and so we as Pakistanis should give her her due credit and respect. We are in no position to judge how good of a woman, Pakistani, Muslim or human being any one is. Unfortunately, we do not even respect the disabled in Pakistan, we do not even respect our sisters and wives, so how the hell are we Pakistanis going to respect any woman who freely expresses herself. We killed such a respectable world figure and outspoken female leader (Benazir Bhutto) so what hope is there for any one like Veena Malik.
Zahid
January 22, 2011
Passing on judgements is the only expertise we have mastered at. Just not that, we have got the divine rights to establish the punishments, not lesser than killing. The only mercy left is how easily and quickly they kill the victims.
World is watching this madness and we are indifferent to everything, except life after death. Who knows about the illusions?
Thanks for this article. These voices will be made part of the analysis, to ascertain the evidence of a nation ” Which doomed itself in these times, when human mind is struggling for longevity and life elsewhere in the universe”.
Those who love life are making it beautiful and those who know nothing except life after death are sending others and going themselves to …. where?????????
Muhammad Umair
March 23, 2011
Fish is best in water
and women in her home.
you are snatching her right islam has given her as governer of home (THE HOME GEVERNMENT) and pushing her to get out in the hardship of “money multiplying work”. this is her ISTEHSAL and should be stopped.
results of spoiling even her own field.
Muhammad Umair
March 23, 2011
Fish is best in water
and women in her home.
you are snatching her right islam has given her as governer of home (THE HOME GEVERNMENT) and pushing her to get out in the hardship of “money multiplying work”. this is her ISTEHSAL and should be stopped.
results of spoiling even her own field.
SO stop THIS CRUALity
pakistanisgreat
June 27, 2011
Mahmood Saleem
Advocate High Court
Lahore
the end of your article is really nice and sweet
i appreciate on your thinking please keep it up be a muslim lady
and i pray to ALLAH that every woman of pakistan be think like positive