The show takes a similar approach to talking about the Partition in 1947 when British India was divided along religious lines into India and Pakistan, triggering one of the largest mass migrations in history. While it’s impossible to capture the experience of nearly 2 billion Muslims, Ali said the writers leaned into telling the story of this one family in an authentic way. “We felt a hunger for being seen in a way that was celebrated and beautiful, and comes from a place of love and compassion,” she said.
“The whole point of Nakia’s character is to break down the stereotypes around hijabi women,” she said.įor the show’s seven writers – four of whom are Pakistani – representing Muslims and South Asians realistically was crucial, said the show’s head writer Bisha K.
“But if more people can realize that by watching this show, that’s great.”įletcher said she has been touched by such powerful responses. “My non-Muslim friends already know about my decision and respect it,” she said. Jumana, the teen from Anaheim who plans to wear a hijab in a year or two, said she appreciated the show’s portrayal of what the hijab means to some young girls like her. One of the most important conversations between Khan and Bahadir happens in the girls’ restroom, where Bahadir talks about how she feels like herself, with a purpose, when she dons her hijab. Khan’s friend, the hijab-wearing Nakia Bahadir, is played by Yasmeen Fletcher. The show touches on issues from surveilling mosques to what wearing head scarves means for some. “A superhero story is not a genre where you expect a Muslim to be, and I love that this story is changing that,” Mikati said. Pillars Fund’s initiatives include a Muslim artist database, created in collaboration with and support from The Walt Disney Company, to bring more Muslims into the filmmaking process. That’s really beautiful because those day-to-day, small moments of our faith have really been taken from us in the media.” “And all of these things are being reclaimed in this show…. “When you hear the call to prayer, that’s usually a sign that you’re somewhere unsafe on television,” Mikati said. Marvel’s inception in comic books in 2014. Zamir, 50, has been a Marvel fan since he was 7 and has followed the evolution of Kamala Khan since Ms. Marvel” with his teenage children - has been powerful. Munir Zamir, who is British Pakistani and grew up in East London, said seeing a “brown, Pakistani Muslim girl from New Jersey” in the comic books and, now, watching “Ms.
The final episode of the series is expected to drop Wednesday. But she is also a regular South Asian Muslim teen who goes to mosque, performs wudu or ritual ablution before praying, sometimes wears traditional attire called shalwar kameez, dances to Bollywood numbers at her brother’s wedding, and breaks curfew to hang out with her buddy Bruno Carrelli at AvengerCon. The show tells the story of Khan, played by Pakistani Canadian actor Iman Vellani, getting her powers from a magical bangle that allows her to walk on air and conjure glowing light shields. Advocates for inclusion and representation hope the show will open the door to more nuanced on-screen portrayals of Muslims and their rich diversity. Marvel,” which launched on Disney+ June 8, has struck a chord with South Asian Muslims in the West because of its relatability and how it portrays Muslim families. Khan is the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first Muslim superhero to headline her own television show. “Kamala Khan is me,” said the exuberant 13-year-old from Anaheim, California. Hint: Her new favorite superhero is a lot like her – female, teen, Muslim, American and “totally awesome.” LOS ANGELES (AP) - Jumana Zakir knows who she is going to be for Halloween this year.