There was a time when Ramazan was considered a purely religious month.Entertainment factor was not associated with it.However,with the advent of Private Television Channels in Pakistan special dramas used to be aired during the whole month of Ramazan – half hour format with one episode per day.Sometimes these Ramazan special dramas continue till the third day of Eid.
There are numerous such special Ramazan plays including Faiz Manzil ke Rozedar,Chand pe dastak,Chaudween Ka Chand,Dil to kacha hai jee,Roza Ke Rozay,Larka Karachi Ka Kuri Lahore Di,Yeh Shadi Naheen Ho Sakti,Band Bajay Ga and the most famous and popular one Kis Din Mera Viyah Hovay Ga.
There is nothing wrong in showing Ramazan special dramas.Infact,it’s a good trend but if you closely monitor the content of these dramas you would find two very startling things.Firstly,all of these dramas would be full of forced humour,mindless over the top romances between various couples (elderly couples included) and on top of it these would be full of songs and dances.Secondly,either Ramazan won’t be mentioned at all in the plays or if it’s mentioned a mockery would be made of it like people finding it very hard to fast,skipping fasts or showing as if it’s the most difficult thing in the world to fast.
Bulbulay Ramazan special episodes are also a case in point where fasting,preparing Sehri/Iftari is shown in a very negative light.These episodes are very crude depictions of our routines during Ramazan.
Does the spirit of this month go along with over the top forced humour,mindless romances between everyone regardless of age and songs and dances?I think not.We need to be given a break from such mindless entertainment which is against the spirit of this month.Why can’t we be shown serious Ramazan based dramas or subtle comedy? Who’s made this decision of making such plays again and again?
Do share your views about over the top forced comic and cheap romantic Ramazan special plays and plays making mockery of the month and the concept of fasting.
Haseeb Ahmed
