Author: Sabeeh Ahmad
Abstract
Media has long been used as a mechanism of propagation for society’s norms and codes which include its treatment of women. Songs, especially film songs, can be considered as one of the most influential forms of media in recent history. In a country such as Pakistan, with its rich artistic history as part of the Indian subcontinent, songs and films hold the power to instill or reinforce certain ideologies in the minds of the viewers. This reinforcement multiplies exponentially if the artist performing in these works holds a significant position in the cultural hierarchy of the region. For this reason, this paper considers the portrayal of women in six songs sung by Noor Jahan. The songs are divided into two categories with the first featuring Noor Jahan as both the singer and the performer and the second featuring her as only the singer. The analyses focus on the lyrics, including the usage of terms of endearment, as well as the filmic elements used in these songs. This paper focuses on society’s characteristic sexualization and subordination of women and how these come into play in the songs of under consideration. The plight of women, apparent by the differential in the power dynamic that exists between the masculine and the feminine, is investigated through the words and videos of Noor Jahan’s songs in Pakistani Silver Jubilee Films.
