When Channel 4 show We Are Lady Parts first burst onto screens five years ago, it was unlike anything seen before. Energetic, buzzing off the walls and packed with a humorous punch, Nida Manzoor's off-the-walls TV show about an all-Muslim women punk rock band was bonkers and boundary-pushing in all the best ways.
Muslim representation on British TV has often left something to be desired. Comedies like Citizen Khan spun the dial backwards with lazy stereotypes and grating humour, or characters were portrayed as terrorists, as seen in Bodyguard. At best, Muslims might graduate to victim status, waiting to be rescued. For much of my life, I had to make do with snatches from characters like Nas in Ackley Bridge and Guz Khan's series Man Like Mobeen. Essentially, it was slim pickings.
A Groundbreaking Premise
So, when We Are Lady Parts landed in 2021, I could not believe my eyes (or ears). A TV series with nuanced and fleshed-out Muslim women at its heart, defined by their love for music and rocking out, was nothing short of a miracle. The show centres on biochemical engineering PhD student Amina Hussein (Anjana Vasan), who joins a female Muslim punk band trying to make it in the music business. As she finds herself torn between two worlds, she navigates love, heartache, cultural faux pas, and dazzling new friendships. It is feel-good, heartwarming, and an utterly compelling premise.
As Metro's glowing review put it at the time, the show is about self-expression, sisterhood and steering clear of stereotypes. I found myself drawn to all the leading punk rockers: by-the-book Amina, deadpan Ayesha, strong-willed Saira, kind-hearted Bisma, and powerhouse manager Momtaz. The struggles they face are relatable for their portrayal of the diaspora experience, the straddling of cultures, the bravery it takes to go against the grain, and the reflection of Muslim women as layered, varied and full of life.
Critical Acclaim and Cultural Impact
In a TV landscape of rinse-and-repeat thrillers, We Are Lady Parts was a breath of fresh air. The iconic soundtrack pumped out edgy socio-political verve, including favourites like Voldemort Under My Headscarf, Bashir with The Good Beard and Villain Era. Malala made a cameo in season two in the inimitable Malala Made Me Do It. The first series has a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes critics' score. Vanity Fair's reviewer said the six-episode hit was 'so rewarding that I watched it twice,' and Entertainment Weekly declared: 'Like any good punk song, We Are Lady Parts is short, intense, and unapologetic.'
The show was just as much of a riot when it returned for a second season in 2024. Five years since it first premiered, this bite-sized show has stood the test of time and deserves every bit of praise it has received. We Are Lady Parts is streaming on Channel 4 now.
