Divorce: What Pakistani Drama Industry Likes To Cling To, With Condiments

Pakistani drama industry can soon face a collapse likewise the fall of the film Industry if it keeps convergence on one specific topic, divorce.

Back in the golden era of the Pakistani drama industry, when streets used to go desolated during prime hours, family members watching dramas together, skipping social gatherings during the hours; play writers used to revolve their stories around family and ethics.

From Fatima Surya Bajiya to Haseena Moin, and Anwar Maqsood to Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, the list goes on with the names of many brilliant writers who were the backbone of Pakistani dramas.

The preceding writers acted socially responsible and brilliantly wrote family-oriented and influential plays to entrust the society with some good values. Since the Pakistani film industry lost its sparkle, the drama industry has been the core of entertainment for the masses.

However, good golden days have long gone when we used to sit with the family to have some quality leisure time. Trends have changed, drama producers are focusing more on extra-marital affairs, abortions, illegitimate children, child abuse, and rapes, unfair and unethical family values.

Likewise, divorce has been an elemental topic in recent dramas. Every other Pakistani serial is imitating divorce between couples over petty issues.Massive projection of domestic violence, extra-marital affairs, and misunderstandings leading to breakups can create an impact of a mentally disturbed society.

Word divorce being tossed in dramas can have negative connotations on its audience, making it normal practice for society. It is thus important to address this sensitive issue as overuse of it in dramas has landed it in the ‘trend’ zone. Unfortunately, divorce is no longer carrying the stigma it used to.

Recently, we came across many dramas on different private channels showing divorces over small and ridiculous issues like ‘nand bhabi arguments’, saas bahu fights, or puerile husbands.

Jalan drama shamelessly portrays a sister who was the reason for her elder sister’s divorce as she gets involved with her brother-in-law and later on marries him. A bizarre story leading to a feeble ending.

Another drama serial ‘Nand’ stereotyped women in its plot, showing sister-in-law as a scoundrel and the wife being so innocently trapped by her in-laws leading to a separation between the couple.

Not ending here, the story holds more twists when the divorced Bhabi marries her sister-in-law’s husband and the vamp keeps on her violent behavior towards the victim.

A whole new agenda is prevalent on our screens focusing more on separation and divorces rather than many other issues pleading consideration.

There is dire need to address many crucial issues like child labor, female empowerment, education in rural areas, burn victims to be named a few. Sadly, there is nothing we can witness on screens except divorce, domestic violence, and women stereotypes.

It is high time we should come out with some substantial content like previously we had such as Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Alif, Khuda or Mohabbat, and many others.

Pakistani drama industry needs some serious advancement and a dynamic change which is the need of the hour.