An Observation About Pakistani Dramas

After watching ZGH on Zindagi, I just randomly started doing google search for Pakistani dramas and ended up reading most of the stories on Wiki and also hv read reviews and comments on various blogs and forums.

What I found is dat when discussing teh dramas, most of the ppl first talk abt who has written the drama or from which novel it has been adapted. And usually tht is most of teh time the main criteria for watching the drama. It's like of Umera Ahmed is the writer, then it must be a good one. So it's d writer who is the HERO in Pakistani dramas nd so it should be. Coz when we watch fiction or read fiction it's d story tht makes one interested in d show. Unfortunately in Indian soaps, story is of least important and yes initially ppl may start watching a show coz it has a good storyline, but den d actors of the show take over, especially the leads, to such an extent tht der is a lot of shipping for particular couples by fanatic fans nd d story loses it's plot, that is, if it had a plot in the first place.

Also apart from the writes Pakistani Drama discussion also focuses on who the director is. Again just as the writer conceptualizes the story, it is the director who will put tht story in it's visual form nd again s/he plays an important role. And of course finally d actors who through their performance put forward the vision of the writer and director. Dey r no less important, but so is the writer and director and all this put together gives Pakistani Dramas the edge.

True...Indian shows now are all about gloss and glamour. The channel I guess matters followed by producers and then leads automatically become popular due to being in the right place at the right time. Pakistani shows still focus on the basics.

You have made a very valid point. I think it is very good that Pakistani dramas are small and shot in advance before it is telecast on tv.

Here after the basic plot and since it is a daily soap like u say actors take over and the fanatics make a beeline on the social networking sites asking to show couple scenes and never let the story take its natural course. If the storyline has the leads getting separated than social media will go overdrive with fans abusing channel, producers and people related to the show what not. Sometimes it is good for the storyline to progress naturally but fans here do not care for storylines but will want only scenes of their fav couples. Our tv industry is so very huge here and immensely popular but when it comes to content very weak as compared to shows from across the border gauging from what we have seen so far of their shows here.

Many times plots are changed or effected due to fan demands.

Originally posted by: Sindhu_us

You have made a very valid point. I think it is very good that Pakistani dramas are small and shot in advance before it is telecast on tv.

Here after the basic plot and since it is a daily soap like u say actors take over and the fanatics make a beeline on the social networking sites asking to show couple scenes and never let the story take its natural course. If the storyline has the leads getting separated than social media will go overdrive with fans abusing channel, producers and people related to the show what not. Sometimes it is good for the storyline to progress naturally but fans here do not care for storylines but will want only scenes of their fav couples. Our tv industry is so very huge here and immensely popular but when it comes to content very weak as compared to shows from across the border gauging from what we have seen so far of their shows here.

Many times plots are changed or effected due to fan demands.

Yes dat's another good thong abt Pak dramas, dat dey hv a finite end. In fact I was reading reviews/ comments abt a particular show nd it seemed coz it was having good veiwership d makers had added 3/4 extra epis and der was so much of hue and cry abt how dey ruined the show just by stretching d show for a mere 3/4 epis. And imagine Indian soap get extended for mnths just coz of TRPs and very rarely does a sopa end gracefully and at it's right expiry date.

And ufff the least said abt all dis fa demands and shipping for couples d better.😡 I always called all dis romance a very manufactured one wid the whole atmosphere being artificially created nd fans get so taken in by dat. Whereas romance shown in Pak dramas r very subtle and aesthetic. But dat in no ways means d chemistry between d couples is not der.

I agree with you on some extent about Indian shows. Indian shows are still suffering from old n depreciated concept of Saas Bahu n Saazish even in love stories it has same scenario and Nowadays they are throwing vulgar things in the name of creative freedom. But I don't agree with that most of Pak dramas are delivering quality work like ZGH. I have catched up with three-four shows of Pak shows on Zindagi Channel n all were so depressing like Indian's typical shows. Best part of Pak shows are they made limited episodes n that's why their creative freedom doesn't hamper by fanatics.

ZGH is really a masterpiece among many Indian n pak shows.

If You talk about Actors fanatic fans n shippers then it doesn't happen only in India. Only Indian Television has not have fanatic fans I have seen fanatic fans in Bollywood n Hollywood industry too it can be more or less but every industry has fanatics n they are really game changer in every actors life.

India has very creative writers n they can also produce such kind of shows but I think in the process of making more money they don't pay much attention towards that.

Agreed. No offense but there is hardly anything good coming up in Indian shows these days. I used to enjoy shows which were light and not too much on emotional quotient. Now a days, its filled with melodrama and crappy stories. And absolutely nothing relatable. And as pointed out, they lose the story midway when the popularity of the leads or any actor/actress starts growing.

Originally posted by: Invisible_Wings

I agree with you on some extent about Indian shows. Indian shows are still suffering from old n depreciated concept of Saas Bahu n Saazish even in love stories it has same scenario and Nowadays they are throwing vulgar things in the name of creative freedom. But I don't agree with that most of Pak dramas are delivering quality work like ZGH. I have catched up with three-four shows of Pak shows on Zindagi Channel n all were so depressing like Indian's typical shows. Best part of Pak shows are they made limited episodes n that's why their creative freedom doesn't hamper by fanatics.

ZGH is really a masterpiece among many Indian n pak shows.

If You talk about Actors fanatic fans n shippers then it doesn't happen only in India. Only Indian Television has not have fanatic fans I have seen fanatic fans in Bollywood n Hollywood industry too it can be more or less but every industry has fanatics n they are really game changer in every actors life.

India has very creative writers n they can also produce such kind of shows but I think in the process of making more money they don't pay much attention towards that.

My main contention was dat dey hv a proper story and the writers get credit for dem. Indian soaps r so popular, but can anyone of us name any writer who has written d show?

Also I agree dat not all Pak dramas r at the same level as ZGH nd even I haven't watched any other show on Zindagi other than ZGH, though watching a few other recommended shows online.

I hv hardly ever watched Indain soaps nd believe me it's not dat I don't want to watch, but dat I just can't watch it. Also der was a soap on Colors named Mukti Bandhan nd it was such a classy soap. The protagonist of the show was some 50+ year old man nd his story. It was based on a Gujarati novel and the show was really well made. But it lacked viewership. Slowly d makers gave in to d demand for TRPs and added the usual popular twists nd turns. the original story lost its essence nd those of us few loyal viewers felt totally led down. Anyways TRPs were never good nd dey ended d show, but not b4 massacring it. And dat's d fate of good shows.

Those are very right observations on your part.

In English and American shows as well, the writer and director are the ones ensuring a good part of the audience. But since we, as Indians aren't much into that concept, we conveniently ignore the ones who write and direct. Our first and foremost concern is the lead couple and how many times they fall on each other. 😳 The saddest part of our situation is that most shows at least have a good plot for the first two weeks and that the actors are, if not all, then most of em, really good. So, we have abilities and all, but they aren't being tapped because of this ridiculous commercialization, if you will.

I totally totally agree! By the tym Zindagi has been introduced to us.. The thing I have cum to love abt Pak Dramas are Their Down To Earth Concept which are solely missing in our soaps! All thanx to Zindagi I have learnt to showcase lyf as it is.. Not All glossy and shiny! The things which matter the most in our Sitcoms is Heavy Makeup, Sarees Jwellery And Lavish Sets And Ofc The Styling of the cast! And Not to forget.. The lead pair! The headache causing cheesy romantic scenes of the leads!! How many times they hug each other hold each other and all that shit!!! The so superficial romantic situations which makes fan go gaga!! Here in Pakistani concept, The romance shown is very subtle and sweet and OFC Real!! The falling in love of a married couple was shown beautifully and slowly which is sadly lacking in our shows!! And not to forget the Loud BG music which plays evrytym the leads take a decision.. Our Sitcoms need to work real hard to match up with the Pakistani Standards.. Getting out of the lala lands!

Its not that India lacks in creativity,writers,directors or actor(well actors are present in dearth with every other person wanting to be one) but due to increased no. of channel,the competition has increased manifolds.So everyone is in a rat race to overtake others and in result the creativity and good writing is compromised.
Though I had not been much into shows in DD days(because i was very young at that time,use to watch kids shows and cartoons) but from what I have heard and seen they use to air stories with a substance.So I think its time we move back to that era where story was the HERO and not illogical drama and romance.