3 television dramas that are exploring new themes

With a more diverse lineup of shows now literally available at the push of a button, it is high time that local television starts exploring themes that are either interesting, educational, or at least engrossing. Let’s admit that we have no shortage of talent but nuanced story-telling with that extra something just adds more punch to the drama-watching experience.

With the exception of Sang e Mah, inane girls (and often their immaturity) are still a hot topic in our dramas. But at least the surroundings and circumstances are progressing from love triangles to more relatable and thought-provoking subjects.

Have a look at 3 dramas currently airing that are exploring fresh narratives…

Sang e Mah on HUM TV

Who would have thought that there will be an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet on Pakistani television and Atif Aslam will play the titular role? Although it is not an odd thought, such creative expression is usually concentrated in theater circuits and seldom make it to TV nowadays.

Saife Hasan’s directorial Sang e Mah is a masterpiece where characters and performances contribute to shape a larger picture. It is a drama that slits and explores the deep pit of an evil custom like Ghaq, where a man fires a few rounds in front of the house of the women he likes and claims her as his own possession. As grim as it sounds, the tragic hero — the Prince of Laspiran — Hilmand uses the same practice to find his father’s murderer.

Hilmand has poetic (and often quite mind-bending) dialogues, but his arc is quite contrary to any leading man in a drama. Unlike most of our dramas, the characters here are human beings who are naïve and flawed, have their strengths, complexities, insecurities and weaknesses, are resolute yet equally vulnerable. Thankfully, it the same case for men and women alike. From Zarsangha, Zarghuna, Gulmina to Hikmat, Haji Marjaan and Mastaan, the arcs are quite surprising where no one is black or white. A refreshing change from the one-toned perspective on TV.

Fraud on ARY Digital

Saba Qamar and Ahsan Khan’s Fraud appears to be a local version of the popular series Tinder Swindler. However, it may have been inspired by real life stories because let’s face it, there are tons of marriages in our society that are based on matchmaking.

We teach our girls that their dreams of a handsome husband, a perfect home and a happy family can all turn into reality when they get married. We don’t make them aware that this old-school romantic notion can turn into a nightmare if they come across a two-faced guy like Tabraiz (Ahsan). He marries women for financial gains and then leaves them and moves on to his next target. Naïve and obedient girls like Maya (Saba) who say yes to their parents’ wishes are not a rare breed. Deception in the name of marriage is so common in our culture, and though it may not seem as complex as online dating culture, it is often very systematic.

Written by Zanjabeel Asim and directed Saqib Khan, the drama digs out the skeletons of the same social evil where marriages are used as monetary transactions. It narrates a story filled with manipulation, love and fraud.

Chauraha on Geo

It’s one of the many times our dramas have shown the perils of social media. Zoya (Madiha Imam) belongs to a middle-class family and lives with her widow mother and an aunt. Her mother works in a factory to run the house but Zoya seems carefree and oblivious of their hand-to-mouth existence. Embarrassed of her lifestyle, she falls under peer pressure and makes a fake online persona. She is immature and unsupervised, and her mind gets polluted by the glamour of social media. Unbeknownst to her are the dark realities of the virtual world where not every friendly gesture is in your favour.

Through social media, Zoya comes across Junaid (Mikaal Zulfiqar) who belongs to a respectable family but is involved in crime circles. He lures naïve girls on social media, traps them in his web of lies and eventually abducts them to demand ransom. Zoya has been kidnapped and her life ahead is going to be filled with trials and tribulations.

Written by Edison Idrees Masih and directed by Aehsun Talish, Chauraha addresses another modern-day social evil related to social media platforms. We cannot neglect or deny the subject and its importance. However, television needs a balanced approach; the ratio of access to technology in our region is that only 50 per cent of women own a mobile phone compared with 81 per cent of men. It is equally relevant to show and emphasize that the virtual world is as unsafe for man as it is for a woman.

Which of these dramas are you following?