Bee Gul

Bee Gul is a Pakistani screenwriter and director. She wrote films and TV plays like Talkhiyaan, Pehchaan, Kaun Qamar Ara, Firdous ki Dozakh, most notably Dar Si Jaati Hai Sila and Raqeeb Se for Hum TV.

Her work is often described as artsy. Additionally, Bee Gul serves as a visiting faculty member at the National College of Arts (NCA) Lahore, where she teaches advanced scriptwriting, film analysis, and production design.

Career

Gul's writing debut was marked by the television film, Kaun Qamar Aara, which premiered at Hum TV's 2nd Telefilms Festival. Set against the backdrop of British India, this one-hour telefilm weaves the poignant tale of a husband and wife, played by Shakeel and Faiza Hassan. The film received nominations in every category at the 2nd Hum Telefilm Awards, with Gul taking home the Best Telefilm Writer Award.

Gul then brought Arundhati Roy's bestselling novel, The God of Small Things, to life as the TV series Talkhiyaan. The show's opening theme was inspired by Sahir Ludhianvi's poem, while the title itself was a nod to Ludhianvi's book of the same name. An Express Tribune based reviewer stated it as "an excellent adaptation barring a few false notes" and further wrote, "Gul managed to rework the book The God of Small Things in a really poetic way". Gul also received a Best Television Writer nomination at the 4th Pakistan Media Awards.

Gul's second series, Pehchaan, which aired on A-Plus TV in 2014, remains her personal favorite work. The series is about the disturbing truth about sexual predators who hide in plain sight, in normal households. During its broadcast, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issued a notice to the series for its portrayal of assault, deeming it "an uncomfortable watch" to which Gul responded, "such projects never become a comfortable watch".

Gul then wrote the romance Raqeeb Se, a tale of romance whose consequences are stretched around one's entire life. Despite the widespread critical acclaim of the script, the DAWN Images listed the series among the "Toxic love stories" and criticised its portrayal of love and glamorizing unhealthy relationships. Nevertheless, Gul was nominated at the 21st Lux Style Awards as a Best Television Writer. The film explores themes of isolation, separation, and mortality through the lens of a fractured family, earning positive reviews from critics.

Gul's next project was Working Women, broadcast on Green Entertainment in 2023, a story of six women who trying to make it big in a male-dominated society. Gul described the story of the series as "open like Lahore’s roads and Lahoris’ hearts.".

In 2024, Gul's short film Jamun Ka Darakht (The Java Plum Tree) won numerous global accolades, including Best Social Justice Short Film at the World Film Festival in Cannes, Best Human Rights Short Film Prize at the Vancouver International Film Festival, and Outstanding Achievement for Indie Short at the LA Shorts Fest, further solidifying her international acclaim.

The Pink Shirt, an eight-episode drama series written by Bee Gul and directed by Kashif Nisar, premiered at the SXSW Sydney Film Festival in 2023. The series stars Sajal Aly and Wahaj Ali and explores complex modern relationships and emotional transformation. It was the only South Asian streaming series selected for the festival’s first edition outside Austin, Texas.

Aik Aur Pakeezah, 2026, a joint Geo TV and Kashf Foundation venture was written by Bee Gul.

Filmography As screenwriter +Key Denotes films that have not been released yet

+ Year Title Director(s) Notes 2016 Laloolal.comKhalid Ahmed streamed on ZEE5 2022 Intezaar Sakina Samo 2024 Jamun Ka Darakht Rafay Rashdi Short film

Television Year Title Notes 2010 Kaun Qamar Ara Telefilm 2012-2013 TalkhiyaanAdaptation on Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things 2012 Firdous ki DozakhTelefilm 2013-2014 Kitni Girhain Baaki Hain 2014 Pehchaan 2014-2015 Zid 2017 Janaat 2017-2018 Dar Si Jaati Hai Sila 2024 Teen Tera streamed on ZEE5 2026Aik Aur Pakeezah The Pink Shirt on Begin, ZEE5

Plays TitleDescriptionPremiereVenue Badshahat Ka Khatima based on Saadat Hassan Manto's eponymous short story, Directed by Khalid Ahmed 2013 National Academy of Performing Arts Bedroom Conversations Directed by Khalid Ahmed 2019 National Academy of Performing Arts Kal Agar Main Marjaoun Directed by Khalid Ahmed 2021 Vasl Productions Badal Gayi Ho Directed by Khalid Ahmed 2024 National Academy of Performing Arts The Prologue Directed by Khalid Ahmed 2024 National Academy of Performing Arts Pandra Minute Aur Directed by Fawad Khan 2024 National Academy of Performing Arts

Accolades CeremonyCategory Project Result 4th Pakistan Media AwardsBest Television WriterTalkhiyaan