Lead actors Adnan Khan and Eisha Singh along with the cast at the launch of Zee TV's upcoming fiction show Ishq Subhan Allah |
Mumbai, March 08, 2018 (Team Online News India): ‘Talaaq, talaaq, talaaq’ ...If a woman’s consent is important to confirm a nikaah, how can a man, in isolation, just say these three words and be able to the end the marriage? Should she not have a say? The great Indian middle class that is most affected by the misinterpretations of religion is beginning to take charge of their destiny and is raising its voice against laws like ‘Triple Talaaq’. While the Triple Talaaq bill awaits judgement in the Parliament and is discussed widely in the current context, Zee TV introduces viewers to the world of Kabeer and Zara who are grappling with the issue first-hand in its new fiction offering, Ishq Subhan Allah.
Based in Lucknow, Kabeer and Zara are both devout followers of Islam, who happen to interpret the ‘Quraan’ very differently. While Kabeer is a Maulvi who abides by the widely followed, traditional moral ethical code of conduct prescribed by the Shariyat board, Zara is a well-educated young woman who applies the teachings of Allah to a logical, liberal way of life based on modern fundamentals of practicality, rationality, gender equality, justice and fairness. Zara is firstly of the view that the triple Talaaq practice is un-Islamic as it has no mention in the Quraan. In her belief, a talaaq is to be administered over a period of 60 days, giving adequate opportunity for both parties to reconcile their differences.
Viewers will be taken on a gripping journey of what happens when destiny brings Zara and Kabeer – a liberal and a staunch hard-liner together in matrimony and the clash of their ideologies sees them inching towards a talaaq. In showcasing Zara and Kabeer’s starkly opposite schools of thought, IshqSubhanAllah urges people to re-examine their own perspective on religious practices and codes of conduct and bring an element of rationality to the way they understand and apply religion to their lives. In sync with its brand philosophy AajLikhengeKal, Zee TV asks - Should religion not empower us and help us move forward rather than restrict and contain? Produced by Dheeraj Kumar’s Creative Eye Limited, the show will go on-air starting 14th March and air every Monday to Friday at 10 pm on Zee TV.
Deepak Rajadhyaksha, Deputy Business Head, Zee TV said, “We started 2018 with the launch of two beautifully curated shows, AapKe Aa Jaane Se and Kaleerein – each of which has touched upon a contemporary Indian reality and is sensitizing the masses about the same. Our next primetime fiction offering belongs to the Muslim social drama space that we had, ourselves, pioneered with Qubool Hai, a show that enjoyed an immensely successful run of two seasons. IshqSubhan Allah asks viewers to pause and reflect on the true interpretation of religion in our daily lives. It questions the true importance we accord to a woman’s choice in every decision that a couple makes, including entering the institution of marriage as also ending it with dignity. Even as the triple talaaq awaits sanction in the Parliament, it is our endeavour to get people to evaluate for themselves if it is fair for men to be able to single-handedly annul a marriage they had entered into with a woman’s full consent. Why should she now play the role of a passive, mute spectator and not be empowered instead, to have a say in its termination? Our protagonist Zara, much like the forward thinking middle class of today, is taking charge of her destiny and asking these pertinent questions, paving the way for a better future for millions of women like her. The show will air at 10 PM with our show Woh … Apna Sa shifting to the 7 PM slot and Jeet Gayi Toh Piyaa Morre moving to 11 PM.”
Producer Dheeraj Kumar from Creative Eye Limited said, “The holy Quran, the religious text of Islam, is perceived and interpreted differently by different people. IshqSubhan Allah presents the story of Kabeer and Zara whose marriage reaches the point of talaaq because of stark differences in the way they interpret the same religion. Though our nation is slowly taking its course towards progression, patriarchy still seems to be in dominance and a women’s point of view or consent continues to be treated as secondary – even when it comes to the most crucial decisions of life such as marriage. With IshqSubhan Allah, we want to break the stereotype and urge people to take a rational stance in matters of religion. We want to spread the message that adherence to religion cannot come at the cost of compromising practicality. Instead, one must apply the core fundamentals of one’s religion to move forward in life. We have had the privilege to associate with Zee TV in the past and we hope to strengthen our association with the channel through this new offering.”
Essaying the role of the confident and free-willed Zara is the beautiful actress Eisha Singh who will be joined by actor Adnan Khan playing the character of the intelligent, scholarly yet traditionally bound male protagonist Kabeer Ahmed.
Eisha Singh says, “It is great to be back on Zee TV after a year. IshqSubhan Allah is a unique concept with a strong message. Zara is a strong and confident woman who doesn’t fear any consequences and isn’t afraid to ask the right questions. She is deeply rooted in her religious teachings of the holy Quran but applies them intelligently to life with logical reasoning. Zara is progressive but she isn’t a rebel or an atheist. She has studied Islam in depth and stands up against the misinterpretation of its teachings. Even though we might have progressed as a nation, there are situations where we fall prey to certain customs and traditions set by the society for us to follow. I strongly relate to Zara’s character and hope viewers can resonate with her ideology too. Moreover, I am really excited to play such a strong character and I hope that the audience will enjoy watching this side of me.”
Actor Adnan Khan adds, “Kabeer’s character is of a young Maulvi with a thorough understanding of Islam. While he is very traditional and culture-driven, his personality and outlook is extremely different from Zara’s. Being a Muslim, I could easily adapt myself to certain aspects of Kabeer’s character which helped me a lot during my preparation. In fact, I could also strongly relate to his inner instincts and religious traits as I am extremely religious in real life, albeit with a modern touch. The concept of the show is extremely engaging and I am looking forward to this exciting new journey.”