The fourth and fifth episodes of the Indian web series Barzakh, directed by a Pakistani and featuring a Pakistani cast, have been released amidst ongoing controversy. The series has faced significant backlash due to its depiction of gay male characters.
Following the introduction of gay characters, many fans stopped watching Barzakh on YouTube. The series’ first episode, released on July 19, garnered nearly 3.4 million views on YouTube. However, the viewership significantly dropped after the release of the third episode, which featured the controversial characters.
The second episode, released on July 23, has accumulated 1.2 million views, while the third episode, released on July 26, has fewer than 9 million views. This sharp decline in viewership indicates that many fans reduced their engagement with the series following the third episode.
The fourth episode was released on July 30, and the fifth episode followed on August 2, instead of the initially planned August 1 release date. Despite the initial popularity, with the first episode being viewed 50 million times, the subsequent episodes have collectively failed to reach 2 million views.
The series faced heavy criticism after featuring gay male characters, leading to a significant drop in its YouTube viewership. Before the controversial third episode, the series had been well-received by fans.
In the third episode of Barzakh, the depiction of an attraction between two male characters drew severe backlash from the audience. Fans accused the web series of promoting a foreign agenda and criticized the portrayal of what they deemed controversial and immoral sexual orientations.
Director Asim Abbasi defended the series Barzakh’s portrayal of homosexuality, which further fueled the controversy. His defense did not sit well with many viewers, leading to additional criticism.
The backlash highlights the cultural sensitivities and societal challenges surrounding the representation of non-traditional relationships in South Asian media. Despite the controversy, the series continues to be a topic of discussion, reflecting the ongoing debates about representation and acceptance in the entertainment industry.
As the series progresses, it remains to be seen how it will address the criticisms and whether it can regain its initial viewership. The controversy surrounding Barzakh, which stars popular actor Fawad Khan, underscores the complex dynamics between media representation and audience reception in a culturally diverse landscape.
