Watch, share, and reflect: Sultana Siddiqui on message behind ending of Tan Man Neelo Neel

Last Saturday, Hum TV’s Tan Man Neelo Neel (TMNN) came to a heartbreaking end, so close to reality that social media is currently filled to the brim about the much needed discourse on mob violence and the consequences of lies and allegations in the name of faith.

Seasoned producer, Sultana Siddiqui, who returned to the world of dramas last year thanked the support she has received, and has urged people to watch and discuss Tan Man Neelo Neel so that the impact leaves the drawing room discussions and knocks the doors of legislature.

The 11-episode drama directed by Saifi Hassan and penned by Mustafa Afridi is the third part of what the viewers have also identified as a trilogy of sorts, with first being Man Jogi (2024) later followed by Nadaan (2024). 

The story of Tan Man Neelo Neel follows the life of four main characters, namely Rabi (Sehar Khan), Sonu (Shuja Asad), Moon (Ali Ammar) and Kami (Muhammad Usman Javed). The drama touches upon the mob violence especially lynching which is based on sheer falsehood, and just takes advantage of mob mentality out for vengeance. 

Speaking to Hum English, the TV maestro who has given the Pakistani viewership with great dramas like Marvi, Aur Zindagi Badalti Hai, Zindagi Gulzaar Hai said that the major reason for returning to her artistic flare was the sense of purpose. 

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“I am well aware that in the entertainment industry, the viewership banks on the fun aspect, and I could have easily pulled off a drama which did exactly that, and even Tan Man Neelo Neel has many aspects of light hearted fun. You can lead through a sweet story, and then later on add the bitterness of reality. 

For the past many years, I was filled with these waves of grief on the injustice, the killing of innocent people and how these people are instigated for personal gains of others; and the killers who have been led astray then suddenly have an epiphany that they have taken an innocent life,” she said. 

Referring to the incident of Mashal Khan in 2017 when he was lynched by a mob over false blasphemy accusations, Sultana Siddiqui recalls how utterly numb and shocked she was.

“For days, I couldn’t stop thinking about it — when his mother said that even my child’s fingertips were broken, I wondered, are we really so ignorant and naïve that we blindly follow what others say? Just by raising a slogan in the name of religion, people are deceived, even when Islam is one of the most beautiful religions!” she said. 

She also pointed out the incident more than a decade ago of two brothers in Sialkot who were brutally murdered for false accusation of robbery, even though they were innocent, the Sri Lankan man who was also killed under the pretext of religion as well as so many others who fall prey to mob violence: “It’s the work of ignorant people who neither understand nor truly follow religion. And not just religion — when these same people enter the world of politics, they manipulate others by raising emotional slogans, trapping people in their spiel.”

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Reflecting on her dramas she has produced besides TMNN, Sultana explained that her first drama Man Jogi depicted how politicians misuse religious beliefs for their own survival. It showed how someone even used religion to justify their divorce and halala, completely twisting the real teachings of Islam: “And when things don’t go their way, they create chaos and use money to cover things up!”

Her second drama Nadaan which has been directed by Mehreen Jabbar highlighted the ignorance in our society when it comes to finding cure for ailments. 

“People trust fake spiritual leaders more than doctors when their children are sick. They have such blind faith in these so-called ‘saints’ that they don’t think even logically. Many of these pir, faqirs are actually drug dealers who make sure educated people don’t come into their areas. They operate in places where people are easily deceived. The story also shed light on how drugs are supplied, sometimes disguised as food, and how innocent children become victims. It was an eye-opener for parents, urging them to be more aware of what their children are exposed to, both in real life and on social media,” Sultana Siddiqui stressed.

The layers of TMNN

Coming to her third project, she maintained that it should focus on how people get provoked and manipulated, turning into blind mobs: “Once enraged, they don’t spare anyone — not even their own friends or family. Those who incite others also end up suffering the consequences.” 

The drama was a mix of entertainment and serious social issues, particularly regarding TikTokers and social media trends, and does not shy away from basking in the realism it shows. 

“Even the name ‘Tan Man Neelo Neel’ has many layers. The story revolves around a lower-class household that, despite its struggles, is very progressive. Everyone speaks the truth, and no one is hiding in the corners lurking away. The female protagonist, Rabi, is an honest girl who, despite facing challenges, always informs her mother or a male family member about where she is. Even when she meets someone whom she does not trust fully, she quickly makes a fake call to her uncle, pretending he’s in the police force.

TMNN also tackled an issue that isn’t often discussed — male rape. It has become a common method to humiliate and silence men, as they are often too ashamed to speak about it. Society acknowledges sexual violence against women, but when it happens to men, no one talks about it. However, in this story, a woman encourages the male survivor to speak up, pushing him to fight back,” she describes. 

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There was also a shocking moment when the girl’s father, who had been silent throughout the story, finally confessed his past. He revealed that the woman he loved was married off to someone else, and he could never move on. When he admitted, “I am the murderer of my own soul,” his wife, who had always supported him, was shattered. She moved her belongings into their daughter’s room. In my drama, the wife tells the other woman, “I have found closure, but I will have to live with a murderer my whole life. Who will console me?”

TMNN creatively portrayed characters who were all grounded in their own way. Even the girl’s uncle, who initially supported her marriage with his son, ultimately stands by her when she refuses. Each character was written with depth and meaning. Sultana Siddiqui said that she deeply respects the writers and directors who took her ideas and developed them even better than she could have imagined: “The overwhelming appreciation from people worldwide means everything to me.”

Getting teary-eyed as she spoke, Sultana said she gets emotional when talking about these issues because she is able to truly feel them: “So many people have appreciated the drama, and I want more discussions around it so that laws can be made to address these issues.”

With so much injustice and violence around us, Sultana Siddiqui could not help but recall the brutal murder of Noor Mukaddam as well whose family awaits justice despite so much evidence. 

“How much more proof is needed? If we delay justice, more innocent lives will be lost. Our religion emphasises justice and accountability, and swift justice is always better,” she reflects. 

Final thoughts on TMNN

Her final message to the viewers is that if they have watched the drama, they must talk about it, and if they haven’t then they should watch it and and share their thoughts on Facebook, X formerly Twitter, Instagram, or wherever they can. 

“More discussions around this subject will lead to more awareness and people will start raising questions before blindly adhering to what the popular narrative is. We must stop being naive and falling into the traps of those who exploit religion and emotions to manipulate people into harming the innocent. Some may ask if I was afraid while making TMNN so no, I wasn’t. Because from the start, I told the writerMustafa Afridi and director that we need to show the truth as it is. We don’t need to censor or dilute it,” she says firmly. 

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Winding up the conversation, she said that religious manipulation works when facts are distorted. Referring to the scene where Sonu is dancing outside an abandoned house of a Sikh family, and Kami claims that Sonu has disrespected a sacred place, the former is sure that his evil plan will work because by the time people would realise that the site was not a sacred site, the damage would already be done. 

She reiterated the beauty of Islam and how it is misused for personal gain: “A wise and God-fearing person would never use religion this way. If you’ve watched this drama, I urge you to talk about it. Share your thoughts online for all Man Jogi, Nadaan and Tan Man Neelo Neel so more people can watch, understand, and learn. Let’s ensure that innocent lives are not lost due to ignorance and just blind following.”