E-Paper | July 18, 2025

Burka Avenger brings home Asian Media Award for 'Best TV Show'

Entertainment Desk Published October 29, 2014

Pakistan's first animated series, Burka Avenger bagged the award for the Best TV Show at the second Asian Media Awards on Tuesday night.

The star studded event took place at Hilton Deansgate, Manchester and was hosted by ITV Central's Sameena Ali Khan and BBC's Football League Show presenter, Manish Bhasin.

The Asian Media Awards highlight the achievements of Asians in the media and is dedicated to rewarding their talent, drive and potential.

Burka Avenger was nominated along with Brits Bollywood (Zing TV) and Broken Silence (Brit Asia TV), for the prestigious award.

Burka Avenger has already received a plethora of awards – including a Peabody Award and an International Emmy nomination – and has also garnered a great deal of international attention.

Read through: Burka Avenger wins Peabody award

Directed by Aaron Haroon Rashid and produced by Unicorn Black Studios, the 13 episode series aired on Geo Tez of Geo Network TV in 2013.

Burka Avenger’s story revolves around an animated superheroine, Jiya who wears a burqa as a disguise to conceal her identity while fighting villains for justice, peace and education for all.

The series stars the talented Ainy Jaffri and Hamza Ali Abbasi as the voice of Burka Avenger and Baba Bandook respectively, and features songs from some of the biggest musical acts from across South Asia, including Ali Zafar, Haroon, Ali Azmat and Josh among many others.

Some of the other awards given out at the Asian Media Award include Star Plus for 'Best TV Channel' and Channel 4's report Why Muslim Women Choose to Wear the Veil for 'Best TV Report of the Year'.

UK's Shekar Bhatia won 'Journalist of the Year' award and the upcoming youth of the media fraternity was also encouraged with Layla Haidrani coming out on top in the 'Outstanding Young Journalist' category.

Renowned British-Indian director Waris Hussein was also honoured at the ceremony and presented with the 'Oustanding Contribution to Media' award.

Other awards include:

Pakistan

Read more

On DawnNews
Dawn News English
Babar
Oct 29, 2014 03:20pm
why dawn news is trying to revive geo news group
Recommend 0
Goga Nalaik
Oct 29, 2014 04:22pm
Good news!
Recommend 0
Mahut
Oct 29, 2014 04:25pm
Well if Pakistani's had to make a super hero, I can't understand why would they clad her in a burqa. Are you trying to make the burqa more friendly for the public
Recommend 0
Saad
Oct 29, 2014 05:39pm
Yay! Congrats guys
Recommend 0
Jani
Oct 29, 2014 06:18pm
Good News!
Recommend 0
AH
Oct 29, 2014 06:28pm
@Mahut - You should read it carefully before making a stereotype comment: "Burka Avenger’s story revolves around an animated superheroine, Jiya who wears a burqa as a disguise to conceal her identity while fighting villains for justice, peace and education for all." If it didn't say the word "Burqa", I am almost positive you would have thought it was a lose Ninja dress.
Recommend 0
kash
Oct 29, 2014 08:48pm
I gather they have sold rights for this to made into a bollywood film
Recommend 0
Dr.Salim Haidrani
Oct 29, 2014 10:05pm
My daughter Layla Haidrani won the young journalist award of the Asian Media Awards 2014. SalmaHaidrani also won the award last year in 2013 - both twin sisters write about gender issues, discrimination, peace and war, and human rights issues in the UK newspapers and magazines. I attended the Asian Media Awards ceremony yesterday in Manchester and it was pleasantly organised event by the Asian writers, intellectuals, artists and musicians. Indian, Pakistanis and other South Asian communities were dominant in the show and it was a purposeful event to celebrate the successes of the New Young Asians whose parents left the Subcontinent and settled in Britain.
Recommend 0
BRR
Oct 30, 2014 06:35am
Such is the quality of arts? Such is the narrative of liberals in Pakistan, where caricatures are all they can muster? where society has no room for any liberal thoughts other than some superhero of dubious variety? This is the best that creative minds can do? Sad.
Recommend 0
Czar
Oct 30, 2014 08:04am
Indeed an amazing work. Kudos Mr.Haroon!
Recommend 0
Burka Avenger
Oct 30, 2014 10:20am
@Mahut Why Krrish had to wear a Burka type thing to be a super hero?
Recommend 0
Raqim Haque
Oct 30, 2014 12:49pm
Hilarious they all jump for international recognition, and which is given away for anyone who disgraces Islam, Pakistani society or it's postures. Such was the case in 'Saving Face' by Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and the blockbuster 'Malala', all condemning themselves, their country and cultural values. There is no disagreeing that evils exist in this society, but our saviors are those western societies that have made women sex icons and deceived them the most in the name of rights and so-called equality?? I don't think so!
Recommend 0
Mahut
Oct 30, 2014 02:30pm
@Burka Avenger My question is why a burka? You can be a super hero in your underwear too, but why the burka? Its a religious symbol for a community, why make fun out of it. All the more, you could have clad her with the burka but called it something else, Bukra is not for the purpose of avenging or what ever.
Recommend 0
Mahut
Oct 30, 2014 02:31pm
@Raqim Haque Couldn't agree more with you
Recommend 0
Mahut
Oct 30, 2014 02:38pm
@AH Her attire should have been unique though. Like every other women in Pakistan would be wearing a burka, how will she be a different in them?
Recommend 0

Latest Stories

dawn images site

Most Popular

01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09

Must Read

Opinion

Editorial

Digital gaps
Updated 17 Jul, 2025

Digital gaps

Digital technology affords Pakistan a unique opportunity to transform itself into a dynamic digital economy.
A grave matter
17 Jul, 2025

A grave matter

IT is a weighty issue, and one which many would not touch with a barge pole, primarily out of concern for...
Vaccine paradox
17 Jul, 2025

Vaccine paradox

PAKISTAN has recorded its highest-ever coverage of the DTP vaccine — protecting children against diphtheria,...
The next deluge
Updated 16 Jul, 2025

The next deluge

Pakistan, and others vulnerable to climatic extremes, must heed the warning before the next deluge arrives — because it surely will.
FC revamp
16 Jul, 2025

FC revamp

WHAT’S in a name? The civilian paramilitary force hitherto known as the Frontier Constabulary will continue to...
Simplified tax forms
16 Jul, 2025

Simplified tax forms

THE rollout of a new interactive tax return form should ease filing by simplifying the procedure, addressing a...