I am a drama fan to the core, I live and breathe dramas. I cannot even count how many dramas I am usually watching at a given time because I try to stay in touch with, if not watch regularly, most of the dramas that go on air. There were a few thoughts brewing in my mind which I would like to share with everyone. I would really like to hear what other people have to say about these things. They are just random thoughts coming from an average viewer, nothing that is coming from an expert or a critic. Since most of the people who visit drama sites are just as much into dramas as me so this could lead to an interesting discussion.
Are Friday Nights Fixed For Umera Ahmed’s Plays Only On Hum TV? If yes then what if Kankar doesn’t do as well as its predecessors? Shehr-e-Zaat despite of some weaknesses was a big hit. The script in particular was a winner; people looked forward to it every week and loved discussing it. I remember the number of comments that used to be there under the Shehr-e-Zaat thread. Same was the case with Zindagi Gulzar Hai as well, it had an enormous fan following and was a must watch play. When these two plays were on air most of the drama viewers were following these two plays on Friday nights and not any other. Kankar hasn’t exactly started off that strong and it did not receive the kind of applause and attention that Shehr-e-Zaat and Zindagi Gulzar Hai did. If the trend continues will Hum TV move Kankar to a weekday? It has done this before with other dramas that were not doing well. In fact channels do it all the time because the competition on the weekend is most tough and there is maximum viewer ship. People, who may not watch dramas all week, certainly watch it on the weekend. Not to mention the fact that people usually have very high hopes from a drama that airs on Hum TV on a weekend. What do you people think? Will Kankar manage to grip the audience the way its predecessors did? And if it doesn’t then will Hum TV move it to another day? If they do so, it may offend the writer. Momina Duraid and Sultana Siddiqui both are very fond of Umera Ahmed, so they won’t do anything that will upset her. Time will tell! A very important question also is that do people have better things to watch on other channels on a Friday night? I feel that had AunnZara been shifted to the Friday slot instead of Thursday, it could have proven to be a strong contender.
Why Can’t We Have More Plays Like Dastaan? I watched Dastaan recently and I must say that it made me think about things which most dramas do not delve into. It reminded me of the sacrifices that millions of Muslims made in order to get this country and also the idealism on the basis of which Pakistan was formed. We need more dramas like Dastaan that will make us think on those lines and promote patriotism. That has to be more important than highlighting marital problems over and over again.
Why Doesn’t Hum TV Air A & B Productions Serials? Yes, someone please enlighten me, what is the issue between these two? It is very obvious that Hum TV does not air dramas that are produced by this production house, although it is one of the biggest production houses in the country, producing maximum dramas. There are so many people who prefer to watch dramas on Hum TV. Also, Hum TV live is available online, so those people who are living abroad can watch it easily too. Hum TV has worked hard to make a name for itself, that is also another reason because of which people prefer Hum TV dramas. It will definitely benefit A & B productions if their dramas were to go on air on Hum TV. Would you like to see A & B Production’s serials on Hum TV? Please share your opinion.
Can We Please Have Family Dramas Back? I miss the good old PTV days of the 80s when dramas were a family affair. There were very few dramas that would go on air in a week back then because there was only one channel but watching dramas was a ritual for the entire family. The housewives finished their work before 8pm, the entire household had dinner by that time and even the kids’ bedtime was after they had watched the drama. Even a five year old could comfortably sit with his or her parents and siblings and watch the drama. That is not the case anymore. There is no play on air nowadays that one can watch with an older sibling even. It is impossible to watch these plays with children or even your parents sometimes.
Enough Of Married Couples And Their Problems! No matter what the central theme of the play is, the story will in some way revolve around a married couple. That is true for most of the dramas that are on air nowadays. Marriage is a very important social obligation and most of the women who watch dramas are housewives but I think we are getting an overdose of shadi shuda couples and their big and small issues in our dramas. First the problem is getting the girls married and after that the issue is the problems they face after marriage. We have had some wonderful dramas in the dramas like Tanhaiyaan, Aangan Tera and many other classics which managed to be hits without focusing on the issue of marriage.
Pakistani dramas have a great deal going for them but there is always room for improvement. Also, it would be even better if channels did not give preference to certain production houses and writers.
Fatima Awan
