Daily Times

Sir: Pakistan’s media may have grown over the years but our ‘progress’ is abysmal. Instead of focusing on important themes and issues, our news stations are busy chasing ratings and putting up any disgusting news, they can find on our channels.

But for a second, let’s forget about the news. What about our dramas? There was a time when Pakistan had such graceful and strong dramas on TV. We had storylines that in some cases can still hold an audience without much effort.

Right now, anytime I switch literally any TV station on, all I see is garbage about people getting married, and then divorced, and then married again to some idiot — at times the same one they divorced in the first place.

What has happened to our society? Is the only thing anyone ever has going on related to being married, finding a man, and then getting rid of said man?

I was watching Korean dramas after a friend repeatedly suggested that I check them out. I have always found their storylines childish and sappy so I have avoided them. However, this time, I was left stunned.

The drama called This is my first life starts with a ridiculous premise, but throughout the storyline the characters help discuss the country’s social norms, economic crisis, and more.

On the surface, it’s a simple love story that starts off with an unbelievable twist. But from sexism at the workplace to how hard the economy has made it for people to own their own homes — the show addressed so much.

Why can’t we go back to talking about other issues in our dramas? It is not like Pakistanis cannot think of anyone or anything else. I know we are still hanging on to Humsafar — which by the way is a repressive and horrible tale — but can’t we hope for more?

I suppose the short answer is no. And this is because our audience would rather sit and applaud a drama where the idiot husband can’t call his idiot wife to ask her why she disappeared into the night. And the idiot wife, who only an episode ago had the stronger relationship in the world, doesn’t know how to use a phone.

Evil women. All we want to do is watch evil women. So who’s to blame? The people who like watching these trashy shows and continue to help them amass the ratings that they have. Or are we to blame the drama creators, who have only continued to get worse with each story they produce.

At the end of the day, it is a vicious cycle, but I swear if they start producing shows that are more intelligent, then people will follow. However, I sometimes think that maybe that’s too much to ask for. For now, I think I will stick to the Korean shows.

SHAMIM NAYER

Lahore

Published in Daily Times, June 25^th 2018.