2007 (the revival of Pakistani drama) was one of the most happening and promising years for Pakistani dramas; However, 5 years later 2012 ended with a sad note (as most of Pakistani channels are now airing Turkish and Indian dramas). 2012 is being divided into three phases.
Phase 1:
This year started with the launch of a new channel from a well-known media group – E Express. With the launch of this channel, we were all expecting so much from them, but unfortunately our expectations were not fulfilled. Their plays Like Maah e Tamam , Hum Pe Jo Guzarti hai, Daaman , Kaliyan Mere Angan ki , Tishnagi , Middle Class were not upto the mark, only Mere Huzoor (A&B Productions) and Pal Main Ishq Pal Main Nahi created some vibes and received a positive response from the audience, whereas all others were disasters.
Ary Digital started with a well promoted and much hyped play Shadi Mubarak with a huge cast, but the final product could not satisfy the audience because of the poor screenplay, senseless dialogues, and poor direction. Sabz qadam, Kala Jaado, Qissa Chaar darvesh, and Kuch Pyar Ka Pagalpan Bhi tha were also huge disasters. Among these plays, the audience had high expectations from Six Sigma’s heavy budgeted mega cast play Kuch Pyaar Ka Pagalpan Bhi Tha, but those expectations went down the drain as the play did not do well, and the channel then shifted it to Sundays at 9pm. Plays like Kaafir and Main Chaand Si were the only ones that went well in the first quarter of the year and received public attention as they were well scripted, acted, presented, and directed.
Geo TV started with plays like Jo Chale Tou Jaan Se Guzar Gaye, Jannat Se Nikaali Huwi Aurat, Dil Tou Bhatkay Ga, Behkawa, Amma Aur Gulnaz, Jahez, and of course Yeh Zindagi hai J. Plays like Dil tou Bhatkega, Behkawa, and Amma Aur Gulnaz were totally refused by the audience (Yeh Zindagi hai tou waise hee koi nahi dekhta hai). Jo Chale Tou Jaan Se Guzar Gaye was lightly appreciated by the audience, but due to too many changes in the original story of the popular novel and tough competition from ARY Digital’s Kaafir, it was not a super hit. Jannat Se Nikali Huwi Aurat was a well scripted play which appealed to the mature audience and took some public attention and ratings. Jahez was also liked by the audience because of the sensitive issues and the remarkable performances by Hina dilpazir, Abid Ali, and Faysal Qureshi.
Hum TV started with plays like Sanjha, Mere Qatil Mere Dildar, and the much hyped Mata E Jaan Hai Tu. Among these plays Sanjha received a decent response as both the other competitive on-air plays for that timeslot (QISSA CHAR DARVESH and BEHKAWA) failed to grab the audience’s attention. Mere Qatil Mere Dildaar was a hit but had tough competition with A&B’s Mein Chaand Si. Mata e Jaan Hai Tu was a play that received a mixed response from the audience, as well as in terms of the TRPs. The word of mouth for MJHT was good, but according to the TRPs it was an above average play as it faced tough competition from the first few episodes of ARY Digital’s Quddusi Sahab Ki Beva (according to TRPs).
Phase 2:
This phase came with some major and many more hyped plays. From Ary digital we saw Khushi Ik Rog, Aetraaf, Thakan, Quddusi Sahab Ki Bewa, Topi Drama, Meri Laadli, and Mera Saeein 2. Second, Hum TV came up with plays like Durr e Shehwar, Roshan Sitara, Masiha, Yahan Pyar Nahi Hai, Zard Mausam, Shehr e Zaat, Mere Dard Ko Jo Zubaan Milay, and Bilquess Kaur. Next was Geo TV that had plays like Pak Villa, Annie Ki Ayegi Baraat, Hazaro Saal, and ongoing plays like Jannat Se Nikali Huwi Aurat, Jahez, and Amma Aur Gulnaz. Lastly, E Express came up with Siraat e Mustaqeem, Baat Hai Ruswai Ki, We Are Family, Chand Ke Paas, Mein Baba Ki Laadli, Shikwa Na Shikayat and Eeman.
Durr e Shehwar, Aetraf, Thakan, Meri Laadli, Yahan Pyar Nahi Hai, Shehr E Zaat, Annie Ki Ayegi Baraat, and Jahez were declared Super hits of that Phase, whereas Mere Dard Ko Jo Zuban Milay, Khushi ik Rog, Bilquees Kaur, Zard Mausam, and Siraat e Mustaqeem received a mixed (can be considered average) response. Quddosi Sahab Ki Bewa initially received a warm welcome by the audience because of Hina Dilpazir’s appearance in several different roles, but the overstretched story and double meaning dialogues were the reasons for its failure.
Topi Drama, Mera Saeein 2, Roshan Sitara, Masiha, Pak Villa and Hazaaro Saal were completely refused by the audience, and among these plays Mera Saeein 2 became the biggest disappointment as the audience were not expecting such a stupid play presented as the sequel of a masterpiece Mera Saeein.
Phase 3:
In the last phase of 2012, ARY came with plays like Mera Yaqeen, Daagh, Aks, Piya Ka Ghar Pyara Lage, Mein Gunehgar Nahi, Meri Behen Meri Devrani; their Ramzaan play Band Bajega, and the much promoted and awaited Tanhaiyan Naye Silsilay and Mera Pehla Pyar. In this phase, Hum TV launched Mohabbat Jaaye Bhaar Mein, Na Kaho Tum Mere Nahi, Kahi Unkahi, Ik Tamanna Lahasil Si, Sitamgar, Bari Aapa, Ramzan play Maahi Aayega, and the much awaited Zindagi Gulzar Hai. Geo TV on the other hand came with plays like Sabz Pari Lal Kabootar, Ashk, Mi Raqsam, Aik Nayee Cindrella, Manjali, Libaas (season 3), Meri Behen Maya, Ramzan play Kis Din Mera Viyah Howay Ga 2, and Saat Pardon Mein.
Aks,Tanhaiyan Naye Silsilay, Na Kaho Tum Mere Nahi, Kahi Unkahi, Ik Tamanna Lahasil Si, Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Manjali, Aik Nayee Cindrella, Mi Raqsam, and Mera Yaqeen became the major hits of this last phase, whereas plays like Mera Pehla Pyar, Daagh, Mein Gunehgar Nahi, Band Bajega, Bari Apa, Meri Behen Maya, and Saat Pardon Main received a mixed (above average) response from the audience and in terms of their TRPs. Maya, Libaas, Mohabbat Jaaye Bhaar Main, Sitamgar, Kis Din 2, Sabz Pari Laal Kabootar, and Ashk were dead flops. Among the serials mentioned above, the audiences had high expectations from Sarmad’s directorial project Ashk starring the heartthrob Fawad Khan, and also From Kis Din 2, but both the serials failed to deliver. E Express came up with plays like Saza, Jhoomar, Do Naina, Talkhiyan, Ramzan play Larka Karachi ka Kuri Lahore Di, and all other kachra (Foreign Dramas). Due to their telecast of foreign dramas, they stopped the ongoing Pakistani plays that they were broadcasting; which was a shameful act that never happened before. Only Express’s Talkhiyan has been appreciated by the mature audience.
I am not including any of the stuff by Urdu1, as after launching their channel as a Pakistani Channel, they are now claiming it to be a foreign channel, so there’s nothing that I can say about them. But I do want to mention plays like Meri Saheli Meri Humjoli, Shehryar Shehzadi, Teri Raah Main Rul Gai Way, and Hisaar e Ishq, which were some good Pakistani dramas coming from “FOREIGN” channel.
Overall:
Hits of The Year: Mein Chaand Si, Kaafir, Mere Qatil Mere Dildaar, Jahez, Mata E Jaan, Aetraf, Thakan, Meri Laadli, Yahan Pyar Nahi Hai, Durr e Shehwar, Shehr E Zaat, Annie Ki Ayegi Baraat, Aks, Tanhaiyan Naye Silsilay, Na Kaho Tum Mere Nahi, Kahi Unkahi, Ik Tamanna Lahasil Si, Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Manjali, Aik Nayee Cindrella, Mi Raqsam, and Mera Yaqeen.
Major Flops: Ashk, PakVilla, Sabz Pari Laal Kabootar, Topi Drama, Masiha, Mohabbat Jaaye Bhaar Main, Kis Din 2, Mera Saein2, Libaas, Maya, Roshan Sitara, and Hazaro Saal.
Written by Qazi
