Bee Gul
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Bee Gul | |
|---|---|
 Gul at an event for Bunvat in 2018 | |
| Born | Bee Gul Lahore, Punjab,
Pakistan |
| Alma mater | Kinnaird College for Women University |
| Occupation(s) | screenwriter and director |
| Years active | 2010-present |
| Notable work | Talkhiyaan, Pehchaan, Kaun Qamar Ara, Dar Si Jaati Hai Sila and Raqeeb Se |
Bee Gul (Urdu: بی گل) is a Pakistani screenwriter and director. She wrote films and TV plays like Talkhiyaan,[1][2] Pehchaan,[3] Kaun Qamar Ara, Firdous ki Dozakh,[4] most notably Dar Si Jaati Hai Sila and Raqeeb Se for HUM TV.[5]
With a pen sharper than wit itself, Bee Gul weaves tales that pierce the veil of reality, exposing the complexities of human experience. Her characters, like tangled threads in a weaver's loom, embody the contradictions that color our lives - love laced with bitterness, tradition wrestling with progress.[6] Her work is often described as artsy.[7] Gul's artistic lens focuses on the plight of the Pakistani woman, a warrior navigating a society steeped in unspoken rules. Through her heroines, she celebrates the indomitable spirit that burns bright even in the face of oppression. [8] Additionally, Bee Gul is a visiting lecturer at the National College of Arts (NCA) Lahore and serves as a member of the NCA's Board of Studies.
Career
[edit]Gul's writing debut was marked by the television film, Kaun Qamar Aara, which premiered at Hum TV's 2nd Telefilms Festival. Set against the backdrop of British India, this one-hour telefilm weaves the poignant tale of a husband and wife, played by Shakeel and Faiza Hassan. The film received nominations in every category at the 2nd Hum Telefilm Awards,[9] with Gul taking home the Best Telefilm Writer Award.[10]
Gul then brought Arundhati Roy's bestselling novel, The God of Small Things, to life as the TV series Talkhiyaan. The show's opening theme was inspired by Sahir Ludhianvi's poem,[11] while the title itself was a nod to Ludhianvi's book of the same name. An Express Tribune based reviewer stated it as "an excellent adaptation barring a few false notes" and further wrote, "Gul managed to rework the book The God of Small Things in a really poetic way".[12] Gul also received a Best Television Writer nomination at the 4th Pakistan Media Awards.[13]
Gul's second series, Pehchaan, which aired on A-Plus TV in 2014, remains her personal favorite work.[14] The series tells the unconventional story of a man who marries his mistress, after helping her escape an abusive marriage, in addition to his existing wife.[15] Through Pehchaan, Gul feels that she empowered a simple housewife.[14]
Her next project was Zid which was about a woman who resists forced marriage and societal pressure. Gul cited producer pressure as undermining the series creative potential, leading to critical failure.[16]
For her writing of Dar Si Jaati Hai Sila, Gul won the Best Television Writer award at the 18th Lux Style Awards.[17] The series is about the disturbing truth about sexual predators who hide in plain sight, in normal households. During its broadcast, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issued a notice to the series for its portrayal of assault, deeming it "an uncomfortable watch" to which Gul responded, "such projects never become a comfortable watch".[18]
Gul then opted for a more meaningful subject, rather than to tackling a social issue, and crafted the poetic romance Raqeeb Se, a tale of romance whose consequences are stretched around one's entire life.[19] Despite the widespread critical acclaim of the script, the DAWN Images listed the series among the "Toxic love stories" and criticised its portrayal of love and glamorizing unhealthy relationships.[20] Nevertheless, Gul was nominated at the 21st Lux Style Awards as a Best Television Writer.[21]
In 2022, Gul transitioned to the big screen with the release of Intezaar, reuniting with director Sakina Samo after Kaun Qamar Ara.[22] The film explores themes of isolation, separation, and mortality through the lens of a fractured family, earning positive reviews from critics.[23]
Gul's next project was Working Women, broadcast on Green Entertainment in 2023, a story of six women who trying to make it big in a male-dominated society. Gul described the story of the series as "open like Lahore’s roads and Lahoris’ hearts.".[24]
In 2024, Gul's short film Jamun Ka Darakht (The Java Plum Tree) won numerous global accolades, including Best Social Justice Short Film at the Cannes Film Festival, Best Human Rights Short Film Prize at the Vancouver International Film Festival, and Outstanding Achievement for Indie Short at the LA Shorts Fest, further solidifying her international acclaim.[25]
Filmography
[edit]As screenwriter
[edit]| † | Denotes films that have not been released yet |
| Year | Title | Director(s) | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Laloolal.com | Khalid Ahmed | streamed on ZEE5 | [26] |
| 2022 | Intezaar | Sakina Samo | ||
| 2024 | Jamun Ka Darakht | Rafay Rashdi | Short film | [27] |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Kaun Qamar Ara | Telefilm |
| 2012-2013 | Talkhiyaan | Adaptation on Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things [14] |
| 2012 | Firdous ki Dozakh | Telefilm[14] |
| 2013-2014 | Ain | |
| 2013 | Chup ka Shor | Telefilm[28] |
| 2013-2014 | Kitni Girhain Baaki Hain | |
| 2014 | Pehchaan | [15] |
| 2014-2015 | Zid | [16] |
| 2017 | Janaat | |
| 2017-2018 | Dar Si Jaati Hai Sila | [15] |
| 2018 | Dilara | Adaptation of Munshi Premchand's Nirmala[16] |
| 2021 | Raqeeb Se | |
| 2023 | Working Women | |
| 2024 | Standup Girl | Script supervisor |
| Hum Dono | [29] |
Plays
[edit]| Title | Description | Premiere | Venue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badshahat Ka Khatima | based on Saadat Hassan Manto's eponymous short story, Directed by Khalid Ahmed | 2013 | National Academy of Performing Arts | [30] |
| Bedroom Conversations | Directed by Khalid Ahmed | 2019 | National Academy of Performing Arts | [31] |
| Kal Agar Main Marjaoun | Directed by Khalid Ahmed | 2021 | Vasl Productions | [32] |
Accolades
[edit]| Ceremony | Category | Project | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th Pakistan Media Awards | Best Television Writer | Talkhiyaan | Nominated | [13] |
| 18th Lux Style Awards | Dar Si Jaati Hai Sila | Won | [17] | |
| 21st Lux Style Awards | Raqeeb Se | Nominated | [21] |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Talkhiyan - Reviews by desirantsnraves". Archived from the original on 29 December 2013.
- ^ "A story of bitterness-Talkkhiyaan". Express Tribune. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ "Pehchan - Reviews by desirantsnraves". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
- ^ "Telefilms That are worth to watch". Desi Rants. Archived from the original on 9 March 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ Staff Report (19 January 2021). "'Raqeeb Se' takes you on a rollercoaster ride of thrill and emotions". Daily Times. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
- ^ "Bee Gul Stories Themes and Influences". Desi Rants. Archived from the original on 8 January 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ "Zid an upcoming Bee Gul Drama". Dramas Review. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ "Bee Gul". Dramas Pakistani. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ^ "And the Finalist are". Express Tribune. 21 May 2010. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ "Spotlight Hum Awards". Dawn News. 23 January 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ "Talkhiyaan OST". Dramas Online. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ Sadaf Haider (30 December 2013). "The award for best Pakistani drama of 2013 goes to..." The Express Tribune.
- ^ a b "4th Pakistan Media Awards Nominations". www.hamaralink.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d Muhammad Ali (February 18, 2018), "'Our housewives are blackmailed in the name of financial dependency and honour'", The Daily Times.
- ^ a b c Tehreem M Alam (10 March 2020). "Female writers who disregard women's plight are biggest supporters of patriarchy: Bee Gul". The Express Tribune.
- ^ a b c Muhammad Ali (12 July 2018). "'Baat Cheet' with Bee Gul". The Nation.
- ^ a b Haddiqua Siddiqui (8 July 2019). "#LSA2019: And the winners are..." The Express Tribune. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
- ^ Maliha Rehman (14 July 2019). "LIVEWIRE: COMING OF AGE?". Dawn News. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
- ^ "Iqra Aziz, Naumaan Ijaz's upcoming drama 'Raqeeb Se' to be an unconventional love story". The Current. 10 October 2020. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ Afreen Seher (26 August 2021). "It's 2021 and our mainstream dramas are still full of toxic love stories". DAWN Images.
- ^ a b "LSA 2022: And the nominees are". The Express Tribune. 23 November 2022.
- ^ Muhammad Ali (5 August 2019). "I have complete faith in Sakina Samo as the director of my film: Bee Gul". dailytimes.com.pk. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ Mohammad Kamran Jawaid (28 August 2022). "THE ICON REVIEW: LIFE, DEATH AND LIFE AGAIN". Dawn.com.
- ^ Muhammad Ali (14 January 2022). "On Place-Based Storytelling: A Conversation with Bee Gul". The Karachi Collective. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "'Jamun Ka Darakht' secures third win with Best Human Rights Film Short Film award". The Express Tribune. 9 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ "Did you know? Faysal Quraishi's comeback film will be Laloolal.com". Dawn Images. 4 October 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "'Jamun Ka Darakht' secures third win with Best Human Rights Film Short Film award". Express Tribune. 9 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ "Express telefilms: Chup ka shor". dramasonline. 10 November 2013. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
- ^ "Hum Dono New PROMO: Wafa comes to know from her father about MISSING Asad". PinkVilla. 13 August 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ^ Rafay Mahmood (13 April 2013). "Khalid Ahmed presents double bill at NAPA". The Express Tribune.
- ^ "Bedroom Conversations is a window into the intense inner lives of nine couples". dawn.com. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ Afreen Seher (22 September 2021). "Bee Gul-Khalid Ahmed theatre production Kal Agar Main Marjaun to be streamed online on September 24". DAWN images. Retrieved 22 October 2024.