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Women rejoice as Indian soaps prick govt ban bubble
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KARACHI: Dramas aired on Indian TV channel, Star Plus, are keeping many women occupied again in Pakistan. Cable operators are telecasting recorded episodes of these dramas because of a ban that has been in place for a few years. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Perma) had banned a few Indian channels, including Star Plus, because they are on the list of items that are banned by the government. However, industry insiders have contended that the government was worried that advertisers were shifting their focus towards these channels, automatically hurting their (the government's) revenue interests. The recorded episodes of the programmes are popular with both working and stay-at-home women of the city. The tapes are being shown in different areas from 8pm to 11pm. Ironically the dramas have made the men of the house more conscious of their timings and what to expect of the women of their houses. Dr Kashif explains: "The ban was a good thing. At least my mother would serve me food when I reached home from work and I wouldn't have to wait for two hours before she got free from these soap operas. "But now they are back and I am cursing my cable service. Neither my mother nor my sister now will give me any more importance till the dramas are over." 'Kahani Ghar Ghar ki,' 'Sas Bhi Kabhi Baho Thi', 'Kasauti zindagi ki,' 'Kahin tou hoga,' 'Kum kum' and 'K-Street Pali Hill' are some of the more popular serials. It is for these dramas that the household women usually complete their housework beforehand, he added. Rehan, another 'victim', says that watching such programmes was "good" for women because often they do not have any other way to pass their time and entertainment for families is very limited in Karachi. "Extra interest towards the dramas creates problems because the women are not supposed to be disturbed while watching their soaps and they do not allow us to watch any other channel or programme. If I want to watch the news channel they do not allow me," he said. A housewife said that she enjoys watching these dramas, especially in her free time. "We watch TV after completing our housework. "When the government banned these programmes, my mother-in-law and I used to spend the time by talking and discussing different things. But now we spend most of our evenings watching and then discussing these programmes," she said. The stories of these dramas are usually focused on family-related issues, domestic disputes and the sudden twists in the stories make them more interesting for the women of the house, she added. - Internews |
