CAST: SABA QAMAR, NAUMAN IJAZ

DIRECTOR: KASHIF NISAR

BLUF:

Umaima falls in love with a man who becomes physically abusive and leaves her high and dry after she conceives with him. Her family disowns her for bringing shame to them. Shameem, who everyone finds effeminate becomes her friend in her hour of need for support.

THE MEAT AND THE POTATOES

Two friends, Shameem (Nauman Ijaz), is made fun of by people for being effeminate, and Umaima (Saba Qamar),who is abandoned by her extremely macho boy friend after she conceives are forced to get married. Eventually they fall in love. They then test HIV positive and become champions of the cause

Zee Zindagi delivers an exceptional and remarkable love story, in the most unanticipated narrative, while also touching upon several social issues. The series champions the cause of HIV and creates awareness about the disease, while also addressing issues like toxic masculinity, gender inequality, discrimination against the gay community, child sexual abuse and mental health. 

The series is about an effeminate man, Shameem or Shammo, played by Nauman Ijaz and a bold and strong-headed Umaina, enacted by Saba Qamar. The best of friends share their deepest secrets, love and disappointments. Ummi too makes fun of Shameem for his effeminate personality and does not even consider him ‘a man’. She falls in love with a macho  bodybuilder, Bilal. When she realizes that she is pregnant, Bilal refuses to accept her and blames her for infidelity.

Shameem stands up for her and  marries her so she can live with respect in a very orthodox society that may not accept unwed, pregnant women. Ummi delivers a baby boy but refuses to even look at him or take care of him in her postpartum depression. With Shameem’s support, she gets over it and realizes her love for her son. But soon, Shameem learns that he is HIV positive and leaves the house with Ummi after giving away all the responsibilities to his family members. The two also convince Shameem’s sister to adopt their son Ali as they are ostracized by society for Shameem’s disease.