On a cool mid-December night, Karachiites had flocked at a popular recreational spot along the waterfront to watch the screening of the last episode of the Turkish soap Ishq-e-Memnu.
Initially, mainstream entertainment channels and TV production houses did not pay heed to the rising popularity of the soap, touting it as a temporary fad. But when they began to observe the ascending rating of Ishq-e-Memnu, even overtaking last year’s biggest hit TV serial Humsafar, they finally sat up and took notice.
If local TV industry does not encourage new talent in every aspect of dramas; from actors, actresses, experts in cinematography, writers who introduce new ideas and concepts, people are bound to watch those shows which are fresh and different. The local TV industry have tried to monopolise on the fact that other channels have banned in Pakistan. But this is a compromising situation. The TV channels have to return the favour to the government by not doing which it is against its policies. This protectionism only diminishes the overall quality of the dramas. The same people appears in every drama and every other show meant for entertainment. No one is prepared to do something completely different.
