We have countless channels airing various content on a daily basis 24 hours a day. The entertainment industry is definitely one of the fastest growing segments and it’s no surprise at all. While browsing through some of the shows, it got me thinking- where’s the diversity?
The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment. It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.
Personally, entertainment should be wholesome so it taps in to different segments of people- be it the youth, seniors, minorities, etc. Pakistan has 4 provinces and territories that include Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Federally Administered Tribal Areas. There’s so much variety that remains untapped. How many dramas do we see that aren’t either about Karachi, Lahore and recently Hyderabad? For the most part, we barely ever get to see any stories other than those revolving around the main 3 or 4 cities.
Here are some stories I’d like to see:
1. Life in other parts of Pakistan- not necessarily village life but a more personalized feel of day-to-day lives in cities like Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, etc.
2. Stories about high school / college life that focuses solely on the problems faced by growing teens- There are so many changes we go through on an psychological level and it would be good to get the youth engaged to some high quality Pakistani shows that focus on them.
3. With the political instability, a story about the ruling dynasties and their corruption. I think political dramas especially those that deal with the back-story of what actually goes around would be a huge draw.
4. Crime drama- Crime has sadly become so commonplace yet we don’t get to see a story about the work of first responders- the police!
5. Leading from crime, a drama that deals with the lives of the emergency responders- the doctors and nurses. Having to deal with trauma on a daily basis, it would be nice to have a show about them that addresses their mindset amidst the madness.
These are some of the stories I’d like to see either in the form of a serial or a long-running series/ soap. I think they would catch the attention of viewers who are not necessarily fond of seeing the same love/ saas-bahu/ mazloom aurat category.
What are your thoughts? Are there any stories that you think you’d like to watch?
Looking forward to your comments!
Have an awesome day :)
Kanwal Murtaza