5 Unforgettable Pakistani Dramas.

Remembering some classics - My thoughts in this review

Ever since I wrote my post on My fave KDramas, the voice in my head won’t stop asking me what happened to Paki dramas. Why was I not blogging about those?

Long before I started watching dramas in an unfamiliar language, my favorite non-English, non-Indian dramas were Pakistani dramas.

I have not watched one in a few years. But when I watched them, I binged on them, devoured them, and became their protagonists.

If there is one thing anyone who knows me knows about me, it is my notoriously bad memory for books and TV. I can watch/read a murder mystery over and over again because I rarely ever remember who the murderer was. Sometimes I remember an odd scene here and there but nothing that would stop me from enjoying a re-watch. Yet here I am. It’s been 2+ years since I saw my last Paki drama, and I still remember some like I saw them this morning. That in itself is so amazing. Just for that reason they deserve a mention on my blog.

See the list, then watch the drama and tell me if I got this right…. there is also a common theme in all of these dramas, actually in most of the good Pakistani dramas I watched. Can you guess what it is?

1. Dhoop Kinare — The first time I watched this drama I was a teen/early 20s in India and we watched it on our VCR. I was hooked. Head filled with Mills & Boons, Dr. Ahmer Ansar was the quintessential TDH in flesh and blood. And the beautiful Dr. Zoya, a daddy’s girl, a Dr., bubbly and spirited — a perfect foil to Mr. Broody. Great back story and of course a great ending, the drama stayed with me and was as captivating in my second watch as it was in the first. This is a must-watch

2. Dastaan — From Forever Romance to the epic partition-based series. This is a really really hard watch for anyone, but particularly for Indians. I had to pause many times, I almost gave up several times. I had to tell myself repeatedly that through the eyes of a Pakistani drama, the Indians were the villains. The same story could have and indeed did happen to Indians at the hands of Pakistanis. It depicts one family that was ravaged by the partition, the atrocities they suffered, and one girl’s harrowing journey back to Pakistan. This story was told through and completely dominated by the young girl — Bano, played superbly by Sanam Baloch in her debut series. If there was an Oscar for TV dramas, she would have won it for this one. If you can brace yourself for terrible violence, gore, and angst in a re-telling of a partition story through a Pakistani’s eyes, this is an absolute ‘Do not Miss’

3. Meri Zaat Zara e-Benishaan —A drama that tackles the social downfall caused by one rumor. How a vivacious woman was slandered and destroyed because her ability to enjoy life was seen as immodest and even un-virtuous. Samiya Mumtaz as the protagonist whose voice brought sunshine in the first few episodes, shone though her silence in this drama. In the scene where she comes to visit her dying aunt — she walks in, head covered, her posture one of dignity personified, and uses her eyes and hands to convey her message — not just to her dying aunt but to all those people, her family, who had once joined to destroy her. I can close my eyes and still see her face. Completely devoid of emotion yet so overfull with it. This is a drama whose power was in the storytelling, the masterful editing, and the superb Samiya. She wasn't acting in this drama, she became Saba Kareem, the wronged woman. Portraying the woman who was left a wreck by a rumor, she displayed a strength that carried and made this drama true to life.

4. Humsafar — This should have been a mediocre drama. It deals with the age-old MIL v/s DIL, the husband’s family issues, a love triangle that never was, and so on. Yet once again the excellent cast, particularly the main couple of Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan delivered such a flawless performance that they lifted it from mediocrity to memorable. For those in the US, this one is conveniently available on Netflix as well.

5. Qaid e Tanhaii — In the pre-2000’s it was very normal for breadwinners in middle-class families to live and work abroad (usually in the gulf). Their families would be raised by a single parent (usually the mother) and the father would visit for 2 months or so in a year. I had many friends who were in such families and have had close contact with the impact on these families. This is the story of one such family. Nothing profound in the story. I could even say there was a lot of exaggeration in some of the characters. Despite the not-so-strong story or screenplay, the story, its protagonists and so many of the scenes stayed with me. I remember the story vividly. I remember Aisha in every aspect of her journey — from her oh-so-in-love wife who wanted to embrace the world, to a struggling single mother, to the woman paying a hefty price in home and heart, to the woman who just wanted the status quo to finally the one that maybe was willing to live and love again. I loved how they depicted the journey of the 2 people. They had an unbroken tie that even when stretched and broken, seemed like an invisible bond. It was always there and another player in this drama. Arguably the most powerful one. It is not a fun or enjoyable or even the best drama of the lot. But it stays with you.

So did you find what was common in all the 5 dramas?

It was the powerful women-centric stories and the absolutely wonderful actresses. I saw many Paki dramas while in that phase and in every one of them, the women showed up and became the stars of the shows. The dramas I saw were written with powerful women in mind. Women who carried themselves with grace and strength in equal measure. This country has developed, nurtured, and illuminated the power of actresses and I love their dramas for it.

If you are looking for a place to start, these 5 dramas are a good place to do so