Qaanitah Hunter- Cii News – July 23, 2012

After much anticipation by Cii’s listeners, the Ramadan 1433 drama is to make its debut at 6;30 pm today.

Legends of the Black Flag is written by Durban based writer, Farzana Rawat, and produced and directed by Imraan Ismail.

In contrast to Cii’s previous productions, this year the focus will not be on social issues but rather on history and the lessons that can be derived.

According to Rawat, the drama is about the history of Islam in India because, she says, it is so rich in lesson.

“It is basically about how Islam left the Arab peninsula and went to India and the rest of the world.”

A salient feature of the series is the entire story being told through the narrative of the black flag which is the one that will lead the army of Imam Mahdi in time to come.

“It starts off with Muhammed bin Qaasim as he goes to India. And in the army is the son of a flag maker who hands him this flag and says I hope either you or one of my descendants will be from the final army as that army will be on Haqq,” Rawat explained.

According Ismail, the flag gives a continuous thread because the eras are changing.

Without giving much of the plot away, Rawat said: “The flag moves from Muhammed bin Qaasim to the monguls to the Mogul Empire and the invasion of the British in India and the Ulama that fought and thereafter the formation of Deoband an closes with a scene in South Africa where someone from India travels and settles here.”

When asked why her team moved away from fiction and humor, she said that we have such a rich history and “history is not a funny business.”

Rawat went on to emphasize that the Legends of the Black Flag is apt for all ages by saying “it’s from anyone between age of 6 and 600.”

She said she hopes this series will revive the lessons learnt from our pious predecessors, which if we apply to our lives, will help us take combat to our modern challenges.

“What was outstanding was how positive motivation turned ordinary people in to legends who made a difference, it is about redefining our definition of success.”