2020 was a surprising year for everyone. Whether there were full lockdowns or smaller smart lockdowns, the stay-at-home orders for entire cities opened the doors for people to glued to their television screens. News channels were giving continuous updates regarding COVID-19 which were not acceptable. Hence people looked for entertainment to calm their nerves.
Some people watched movies but only those who had easy access to internet, others relied on Television dramas. The most famous thing that emerged in quarantine time was the Ertugrul effect; when the Turkish Government gifted an Urdu dubbed version of Turkish Radio Television’s phenomenally popular, based on Islam, action thriller serial Dirilis: Ertugrul to Pakistan, it gave a much-needed boost to long neglected state channel PTV. Some of the fantastic dramas run on private channels were Yeh Dil Mera, Alif and Ehd-e-Wafa which were acknowledged in 2019. In the later half of the 2020, most loved dramas were Ghissi Phitti Mohabbat, Pyar Kay Sadkay, Mushk, Sabaat, Prem Gali and Ek Jhoothi Love Story. These were loved by the masses and appreciated by the educated masses due to their innovative genres and story lines. For example, Ghissi Phitti Mohabbat starring Ramsha Khan is a story of a young girl who had to face failed marriages but never compromised on her norms. That girl is a message for young girls to not to bow in front of anyone and never compromise on your rules. It also had an overtly self-aware tone, the story suggested this was the first time anyone had dared to challenge conservative cultural norms, ignoring the history of Pakistani dramas and the many talented creatives who had tested such limits with subtlety and intellect. Another drama Sabaat was also about the young independent girl who got married but never gave up on her career no matter what the circumstances.
Having said that, there were many dramas with same old stories about a love triangle or domestic issues between mother-in-law or daughter-in-law. Dramas on such boring stories are made because producers are obsessed with ratings instead of creating quality content for the audience.
There were some dramas made on social issues, mental health and family dysfunction. Quality dramas like Ghissi Pitti Mohabbat,Mushk and Pyar Kay Sadqay also gained ratings contrary to the producers excuses that the public likes soapy dramas alone.
Audience for Pakistani dramas is much more educated than it was a decade ago. Pakistani drams now need to move away from same old worn out storylines of misogyny where a woman is always being oppressed either by the dominating husband or evil in-laws. People are sick of watching a damsel in distress lead character, problematic joint family system, honor mentality with women being responsible for all ills, stereotypical characters like always sacrificing, obedient, dependent with a ridiculous fear of divorce, abusive patriarchal men whose morals are limited to their rights of getting a second wife. Its high time we start showing empowered women on television who are career oriented. It’s enough of crying abusing both physical and mental, unsupportive parents and husband. More new stories with sensible new moral messages are the need of the time.
by: Abeer Arshad
Tags: hum tv, pakistani drama tv hum, pakistani tv dramas
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.