Burka Avenger
Burka Avenger | |
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Urdu | برقعہ ایوینجر |
Genre | Action Comedy Superhero fiction Edutainment |
Created by | Haroon |
Written by | Adi Abdurab Asad Zafar Arslan Naseer Haroon Khaya Ahmed Shehzad Ghias Nida Hasan Fancy Syed Zain Raza Ahmer Naqvi |
Directed by | Haroon[1] |
Theme music composer | Haroon |
Opening theme | Burka Avenger |
Ending theme | Lady in Black |
Country of origin | Pakistan |
Original language | Urdu |
No. of seasons | 4 |
No. of episodes | 52 |
Production | |
Producer | Haroon |
Running time | Approx. 22 minutes |
Production company | Unicorn Black[2] |
Original release | |
Network |
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Release | 28 July 2013 13 January 2016 | –
Burka Avenger (Urdu: برقعہ ایوینجر) is a Pakistani animated television series created, directed and produced by Haroon.[3]
Unicorn Black founder and international pop star Haroon (AKA Aaron Haroon Rashid) created the series as a way to emphasise the importance of girls’ education in Pakistan and abroad, as well as issues such as equality and discrimination.[4] Burka Avenger originally premiered on Geo Tez, but moved to Nick Pakistan from season 2. Four seasons, containing a total of 52 episodes were directed and produced by Haroon at Unicorn Black, have been launched to great success in Pakistan.[5] It then made its international airing in Afghanistan, India and Indonesia[6] and dubbed in many languages including Turkish, Arabic, Tamil, Pashto, and Persian.[6]
Named by Time magazine as one of the most Influential Fictional Characters of 2013,[7] the Urdu series first aired on 28 July 2013.[8] The series has received worldwide acclaim for its focus on social issues and delivering it in an informative and entertaining manner.
Plot
Burka Avenger is set in the fictional town of Halwapur in northern Pakistan. It features a superheroine who wears a burka as a disguise to conceal her identity while fighting villains. Her alter ego is Jiya, an "inspirational teacher"[9] at an all-girls’ school. Jiya fights corrupt politicians and vengeful mercenaries[10] who attempt to shut down girls’ schools, using "Takht Kabadi", a martial art that involves throwing books and pens. Together with children 'Ashu', 'Immu' and 'Mooli', the Burka Avenger fights the evil magician 'Baba Bandook', his henchmen and corrupt politician 'Vadero Pajero'.[11]
The main characters include three children, twins Ashu and Immu, their friend Mooli (who takes his sobriquet from his enthusiasm for the vegetable of the same name), his pet goat Golu, Jiya (the Burka Avenger), the villainous magician Baba Bandook, corrupt politician Vadero Pajero, and Jiya's adoptive father Kabbadi Jan.[9][11]
Music
Episodes of Burka Avenger feature music from artists such as Ali Zafar, Ali Azmat, and JoSH, as well as Haroon. Rapper Adil Omar and Haroon released a music video featuring the Burka Avenger called "Don't Mess With the Lady in Black".[11] Popular music videos released to date featuring music and animation from the series include the following: by: Aeron Tamayo
S. No. | Song | Artist | Year |
---|---|---|---|
1 | "Lady in Black" | Haroon & Adil Omar | 2013 |
2 | "Baba Bandook" | Ali Azmat & Haroon | 2013 |
3 | "Vadero Pajero" | Qayaas feat. Haroon | 2013 |
4 | "Channo" | Ali Zafar | 2013 |
5 | "Jeet Mein Haar Mein" | JoSH | 2013 |
6 | "Hum Hain" | Haroon | 2015 |
7 | "Rocket Rickshaw" | Haroon | 2015 |
Awards and achievements
Burka Avenger has won several major international awards and accolades including the following:
S. No. | Awards / Accolades | Category | Result | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Peabody Award[12] | N/A | Won | 2013 |
2 | International Emmy Awards[13] | Kids: Animation | Nominated | 2015 |
3 | Prix Jeunesse International[14] | International Gender Equity Prize | Won | 2013 |
4 | Asian Media Awards[15] | Best TV Show | Won | 2014 |
5 | Canada International Film Festival[16] | Animation | Rising Star Award | 2014 |
6 | Accolades Global Film Festival[17] | Viewer Impact: Content / Message Delivery | Award of Merit (Special Mention) | 2014 |
7 | LUMS International Film Festival[18] | Animation | Won | 2014 |
8 | National Innovation Award[19] | Art & Design | Won | 2017 |
Broadcast
Burka Avenger has been launched successfully in Pakistan in Urdu language. It then dubbed in many languages including Arabic, Pashto, Persian, and Indonesian for international broadcasts, like in Afghanistan, India and Indonesia.
Network | Season | Date | Language |
---|---|---|---|
Pakistan | |||
Geo Tez | 1 | July 2013 | Urdu |
Geo Kahani | 1 | July 2014 | |
Nickelodeon | 1 | November 2014 | |
2 | February 2015 | ||
3 | June 2015 | ||
4 | December 2015 | ||
ATV | 22 July 2017 | ||
AVT Khyber | 1 | July 2016 | Pashto |
India | |||
ZeeQ | 1 and 2 | 13 June 2015 | Hindi |
English | |||
Tamil | |||
Telugu | |||
Afghanistan | |||
Tolo TV | 1 | 11 January 2015 | Persian |
2 | 15 November 2015 | ||
Lemar TV | 1 | 25 January 2015 | Pashto |
2 | 29 November 2015 | ||
Indonesia | |||
ANTV | 1 | 8 April 2017 | Indonesian |
Criticism and response
Much of the initial commentary on the series focused on Jiya's choice of attire when in disguise (the burqa) and peaked prior to the broadcast of the show, which aired for the first time on 28 July 2013.[20] Politician and former Pakistani Ambassador to the US, Sherry Rehman, commented on 27 July 2013 that "Burka Avenger is good, but I don't like the feudal stereotyping or the burqa. A dupatta (head scarf) could have done the job of relating to context." In an interview on Australian TV Channel ABC News, Haroon responded to criticism, stating, "Most superheroes wear disguises and a show about a woman not wearing a disguise would be a different show." When asked about the choice to clothe the superheroine in a burqa, Haroon emphasized that the character 'Jiya' does not wear a burqa, headscarf or veil by day.[21] "We chose the burqa because we wanted a local relatable flavor.”[22] "We wanted to hide her identity the way superheroes do. She doesn't wear the burqa during the day – she doesn't even wear a headscarf, or a hijab or anything like that; she goes about her business as a normal teacher would. And so she chooses to wear the burqa only as a disguise, she's not oppressed ... and on the other end of the spectrum, a lot of female superheroes in the West are objectified, and sort of sexualized in their costumes, like Catwoman and Wonder Woman (referring to the 1970's TV series), and that certainly would not work here."[21][23]
See also
- List of Pakistani animated television series
- Team Muhafiz, a superhero comic-book series also based in Pakistan
- 3 Bahadur, an animated film series in Pakistan
References
- ^ "Haroon revels in series of firsts – The Express Tribune". 24 December 2015.
- ^ "Burka Avenger returns with Season 4".
- ^ "Interview with Haroon, Creator of Burka Avenger". Peabodyawards.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ^ "Burka Avenger takes on Indonesia".
- ^ "'I want the Burka Avenger film to be as good as a Pixar movie' – The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ^ a b "Pakistan's cartoon 'Burka Avenger' swoops into India to empower girls". Reuters. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ^ Alter, Charlotte; Dockterman, Eliana. "The 11 Most Influential Fictional Characters of 2013". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
- ^ "Geo Tez launches Burka Avenger: Pakistan's new animated hero". Geo.tv. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ^ a b "Burka Avenger".
- ^ Davis, Lindsey (2013-29-07). "6 Lessons Disney Could Learn From Pakistan's 'Burka Avenger". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013-13-08
- ^ a b c "Meet Pakistan's Burka Avenger". Dawn (Pakistan). AP. 25 July 2013
- ^ "Burka Avenger". peabodyawards.com. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
- ^ "Awards – Nominees – International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". iemmys.tv. Archived from the original on 25 December 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
- ^ "Burka Avenger bags Gender Equity Prize". The News International. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
- ^ Desk, Entertainment (29 October 2014). "Burka Avenger brings home Asian Media Award for 'Best TV Show'". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
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has generic name (help) - ^ "Canada International Film Festival | Screenplay Contest – 2014". www.canadafilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
- ^ "Awards of Merit – March 2015 |". accoladecompetition.org. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
- ^ "Multi-award winning TV show Burka Avenger returns with Season 4". arynews.tv. 19 December 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
- ^ "Burka Avenger bags another national award". Aaj News. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ Khan, Faiza S. (7 August 2013). "The Ridiculous 'Burka Avenger' Backlash". The Daily Beast.
- ^ a b "Lady in Black: 'Burka Avenger' Fights For Pakistan's Girls". NPR. 31 July 2013.
- ^ Swasti Chatterjee (17 August 2013). "Burka Avenger to be made into a Bollywood film". The Times of India.
- ^ James Oaten; Del Irani (11 August 2013). "Burka Avenger: Pakistan's first female superhero". ABC.
External links
- Islam in fiction
- 2013 Pakistani television series debuts
- Geo TV original programming
- Pakistani animated television series
- Pakistani speculative fiction television series
- Urdu-language television shows
- Pakistani children's television series
- Pakistani educational television series
- Peabody Award-winning television programs
- Animated superhero television series
- Urdu comedy shows
- Television series about Islam
- Islamic animated films
- Muslim superheroes