Fatima Jinnah series: Netizen compares Sajal Aly’s first look with Gangubai Kathiawadi

A netizen has compared Sajal Aly’s first look with Gangubai Kathiawadi after watching the 14-min prologue of Danial K Afzal’s upcoming web series, based on the life of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s sibling, Fatima Jinnah, Fatima Jinnah – Sister | Revolutionist | Stateswoman is out.

The series titled Fatima Jinnah: Sister | Revolutionist | Stateswoman, divides her life into three eras, with respect to major turning points in her life, and stars Sundus Farhan, Sajal Aly, and Samiya Mumtaz in each era respectively, according to Express Tribune.

The prologue presents the altercations and dilemmas faced by Jinnah at these times, ahead of the period drama’s release.

It takes off at the clinic of Jinnah. We see Sundus embodying Fatima Jinnah in her 30s, draped in a saree and seemingly taking on and simultaneously letting go of some responsibilities. The politician, who had obtained a dental degree from the University of Calcutta in 1923, was the first female dentist of undivided India. At her clinic in the Bombay presidency under the British Raj, she picks up The Bombay Chronicle and disappointingly looks at the cover page, which announces the sudden and tragic demise of Rattanbai Jinnah, also known as Ruttie Jinnah, the first wife of her brother and politician Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The prologue time-travels us to 1947 at the Northwest Railway Junction in Lahore, where a train set to take passengers to Pakistan has been attacked. Uncertainty looms as the promise of an independent state is fulfilled and Fatima Jinnah, now in her 50s (played by Sajal Aly), steps onto the scene of crime. An informant is heard alarming someone on the phone, “Call for Lord Mountbatten, a train to Lahore was compromised. I repeat, a refugee train to Lahore was attacked.” Jinnah stands shook inside the train cabin, surrounded by bodies. Dananeer, who plays an Indian girl Aneeta, also a subordinate to Jinnah, stands alongside her, devastated by the vision.

The scenes move to Katrak Parsi Colony Karachi, which was Pakistan’s then Federal Capital. Azaan is heard as Jinnah, (now played by Samiya Mumtaz), stands silently observing. An announcement is heard, “Fatima Jinnah has decided to make her return to politics.” Jinnah is seen moving out of her house, set to address the public after being convinced by her associates, of whom is Joseph, who doesn’t leave her side even as she grows old and is pushed to the corner.

Post-independence, Jinnah had co-founded the Pakistan Women’s Association, which played an integral role in the settlement of the women migrants in Pakistan. She remained the closest confidant of her brother until his death. And was banned from addressing the nation until 1951. Her 1951 radio address to the nation was heavily censored by the Liaquat administration and she wrote a book My Brother, in 1955 which did not publish until 32 years later due to censorship by the establishment, which accused her of “anti-nationalism”. Even when published, several pages from the book’s manuscript were left out.

Jinnah came out of her self-imposed political retirement in 1965 to participate in the presidential election against military dictator Ayub Khan. She was backed by a consortium of political parties, and despite political rigging by the military, won two of Pakistan’s largest cities, Karachi and Dhaka. Time, while reporting on the 1965 election campaign, wrote that Jinnah faced attacks on her modesty and patriotism by Ayub Khan and his allies.

A netizen wrote on Twitter, “This reminds me more of Gangubai than Fatima Jinnah.”

This reminds me more of Gangubai than Fatima Jinnah😭😭 https://t.co/6JPt7nVr3r

— Mask pehno BC (@bhaiyawrr) August 14, 2022

However, not all netizens are inclined toward the observation and several others praised the idea of the web series.

A user wrote on YouTube comment box, “This content needs to be on Netflix and Prime. It should me promoted worldwide. This generation is unaware of that massacre and the sacrifices.”

Another user said, “What an idea to pay tribute to Mother Of The Nation. Such kind of epic content need to be promoted and you’ve done a very brilliant job. Costume , cast, Cinematography everything is on fine track. Thank you so much for this qualify content.”

A user said, “Goosebumps, pure masterpiece. Pakistani cinema is going places. Thank God, finally found something chilling to see, sent the chills down my spine. Just, gorgeous. Acting, cinematography everything is baked to perfection. Absolutely loved it. Kudos to the whole team.”