Pakistani dramas used to be works of art. Many parents of the current generation refer to the 1970s and 1980s as “the golden age” of Pakistani dramas. Hits like Khuda Ki Basti and Dhoop Kinare are still being fondly remembered today. Back then, dramas had carefully crafted storylines that the public could empathize with. Characters were more than just overused stereotypes, and had an actual role in building the plot.
Over the years, the popularity of Pakistani dramas has only increased. There are over a dozen TV channels producing shows in Pakistan today. There was even a channel started in India dedicated to airing Pakistani dramas to an Indian audience. But as the exposure towards these shows increases, it seems as if their quality has gone down considerably.
Let’s revisit a few shows that are so mind-blowingly bad, its a wonder they made it to TV in the first place.
1) Jalan
Currently airing on ARY Digital, this show made headlines recently for all the wrong reasons. The story revolves around two sisters, Misha and Nisha, who are polar opposites of one another. Their similar names are almost as annoying as this show.
While Misha is the typical Pakistani drama heroine who is kind to everyone under the sun, Nisha is evil, conniving, and jealous. When the older, nice sister Misha gets married to a very wealthy man, the evil sister can’t stand it. Unlike a normal human being who would at this point fade into the background and try to live her own life, Nisha hatches a plan to steal her sister’s husband.
Kyunke decency ki kisko fikar hai yar, humein tho paisa se matlab hai.
Last I checked, the evil sister had succeeded in brainwashing Misha’s idiot of a husband by threatening to commit suicide if he doesn’t marry her. Naturally, this opened his eyes to how amazing Nisha is and divorced the nice sister for her. Because suicide threats of pretty girl > wife of several months. Right.
2) Mera Dil Mera Dushman
I don’t even know where to start on this one. Judging from the millions of views this show racks up on Youtube, one would think the storyline would be at least half decent. It’s possible that many of those watching are like my family, who love to bash the unoriginal characters yet never miss a single episode. One can only hope.
This Pakistani drama has it all- a demure, helpless heroine, an evil bhabi, greedy in-laws, insecure husband, forced marriage, two wives. It’s actually quite impressive. Our main heroine, Mairah, is beautiful and poor and mute. Okay, technically, she isn’t mute, but judging from how little she speaks and how often she cries, she honestly might as well be.
Shahmir is a rich guy who falls for Mairah after a few instances where he helps care for her ill mother. But of course, because Mairah is the main character, she can’t possibly have a happy life. Her evil bhabi thinks the same, and exaggerates the situation between her and Shahmir, resulting in Mairah being sold off to a man twice her age with a daughter of his own. Oh, and he also happens to be Shahmir’s uncle. And later father-in-law. Very normal.
3) Jhooti
This Pakistani drama was met with criticism and backlash as soon as the trailer was released. The show revolves around a young, selfish girl named Nirma. Nirma is from a middle class family, and lies to anyone about anything to achieve what she wants in her life. Naturally, her parents think the solution to her badtameezi is to marry her off to a sweet man who has no idea what she is actually like. Pretty unethical if you ask me.
She spends the first half of the drama terrorizing this loving husband for money, only to lose it all to her second husband who is actually a con-man. In the end, she is abandoned by everyone and left on the streets where she eventually goes insane.
I don’t think this drama is as bad as some of the others, given the fact that most of the other characters do have some common sense. Nirma, on the other hand, is insufferable.
4) Nand
The title says it all. This Pakistani drama’s entire plot is based on a power-hungry nand, named Gohar, who can’t stand her brother’s wife having any say in their household. Like many Pakistani drama villains, Gohar is evil from the beginning to the end. Her character never improves or learns from her mistakes. Instead, she only becomes more and more destructive, destroying the happiness of all those around her.
Nand is one of those dramas which is entertaining to watch just because of a crazy character. You can’t help but watch in anticipation of what this evil nand will think of doing next. It’s part of a new trend of Pakistani dramas created with the intent of being shocking and over the top, in order to get views.
Jitna zyada zulm, itni zyada ratings.
Overall Thoughts
These are just a few of the many Pakistani dramas with problematic storylines. We have traded inspiring plots and beautiful cinematography for cheap dialogues and gharelu jhagre.
Despite being so heavily criticized, however, these shows always seem to be trending at number one whenever a new episode is released. After all, we love to hate them. And how can you hate something without watching it? At the end of the day, bad entertainment is still entertainment.
What Pakistani dramas do you love to hate? Let us know in the comments and we’ll cover those next!
*The views and opinions expressed in this article are of the author alone and are not meant to defame or degrade any person involved in the making of these shows.
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