Sang-e-Mah (2022): Hamlet , Gendered Violence, and Female Identity on Pakistani Television

Abstract

Abstract: This article analyzes the Urdu drama serial Sang-e-Mah 2022, broadcast on Pakistani television, arguing that it relocates William Shakespeare’s Hamlet within cultural, regional, and national identities in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province. The serial draws on Shakespeare’s play to offer a social commentary on female identity and gender-based violence in relation to the cultural practice of ghag in KPK. Examining the representation of female oppression, power, and agency on Pakistani television in the context of KPK, the article argues that the serial both disrupts the power dynamics of Hamlet and challenges gender roles in KPK in its attempt to redefine attitudes towards women in Pakistan.Ultimately, this article illustrates that Sang-e-Mah “localizes” Shakespeare’s play to allow it to participate in global conversations about the violation of women’s rights, the violation of law and order, and the valorization of gun cultures.