Not all Pakistani dramas are created equal. While some revolve around relationships, others tackle societal issues and taboos. One thing, however, remains constant: they each leave a lasting impact on their audiences. These dramas have shaped our perspectives and elevated our expectations in more ways than we realise.
Pakistani Dramas that Will Raise Your Standards (About Time)
This time we are talking about the ones that allowed us to see the beauty of romantic relationships in the best way possible, and also became our comfort in need.
Forget Romeo and Juliet; we have Romeo and Juliet at home (in Burns Road)!
Kabhi Mein Kabhi Tum
Kabhi Mein Kabhi Tum was the drama that made history due to its unfiltered and absolutely real love story. No grand staircases, no extra-glammed main leads, just a simple middle-class young couple.
It is an opposites attract trope-based storyline that follows the unlikely bond between Mustafa (Fahad Mustafa) and Sharjeena (Hania Aamir) after they are forced to marry one another when Mustafa’s brother, Adeel, decides to call off the marriage between him and Sharjeena.
The narrative explores the bearing of financial and familial burdens on unprepared married couples, as well as the consequences of denouncing tradition to rescue dignity.
Again, this drama was really refreshing to watch because it shows the highs and lows of married life, but also how both Mustafa and Sharjeena came out stronger together in the end despite the countless obstacles coming their way.
Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum taught us that love isn’t about grand gestures and perfections; sometimes it’s about the peaceful silence and building each other up despite the differences.
Love needs to be faithful, not flawless, and you find it in its truest form through Sharjeena and Mustafa.
Ishq Murshid
Our drama industry is filled with blockbusters. Serving good romance left and right, and Ishq Murshid is probably the biggest example of it.
Ishq Murshid is the story of an upper-class boy, Shahmeer (Bilal Abbas Khan), son of a famous politician, who falls in love with a working-class girl, Shibra (Durefishan Saleem). He woos her through his alternative personality, Fazal Baksh, whilst trying to keep up his political persona.
I love this drama so much, as I feel like it has proven to be something so refreshing amidst the ‘typical’ Pakistani dramas usually seen on TV (usually full of melancholy and sadness).
The drama also very beautifully outlines that societal differences don’t matter in love, and if the love is true, it shall not perish even when the most powerful people on earth try to do so.
Zindagi Gulzar Hai
Who hasn’t heard about this masterpiece of Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed? Our national heartthrob of a couple set the standard too high with their perfect imitation of how love should look.
The drama Zindagi Gulzar Hai depicts a love story between a lower-middle-class woman named Kashaf Murtaza (Sanam Saeed) and a wealthy Pakistani man named Zaroon Junaid (Fawad Khan).
A single mother raised Kashaf and her two younger sisters. Their father abandoned them and remarried after their mother could not give birth to a male heir. This life experience torments Kashaf for a lifetime, and she starts seeing her father’s reflection in everyone. However, Zaroon walks into her life and slowly and gradually changes this perspective of Kashaf.
He also allows her to accept her life and circumstances and walks side by side with her despite the differences in their financial backgrounds.
The drama is something we never knew we needed so bad, even today. If he is the right one, he will accept you as you are and will never let any class difference come between you.
Burns Road Kay Romeo Juliet
This one might not be as big as the others, but it holds a special place in our hearts.
Burns Road Kay Romeo Juliet unravels the love story of Freeya (Iqra Aziz) and Farhad (Hamza Sohail), and the hardships they encounter for their love. It taught us that cultural differences can divide families, but love is always strong enough to bridge any gap.
If your love is real, no culture or tradition will be able to separate it. So the next time your potential love interest shows these excuses, know that someone out there won’t!
Parwarish
Currently airing, Parwarish follows the story of Wali (Samar Jafri) and his family as they move from their home in America back to Pakistan to live with his father’s extended family. He studies medicine and then meets Maya (Aina Asif), and they begin to fall in love with one another.
As well as their love story, the drama touches on so many issues regarding generational conflict within Pakistani families and the issues that many younger generations face within this (I won’t go into this as it would be a major spoiler, but it has been absolutely amazing so far!)
Parwarish was never only about parenting, but also about how the relationships we see around us shape us. The drama quietly showed how love, if it’s rooted in respect and emotional growth, can benefit both the people involved and others, too.
Pakistani dramas have given us everything. Love them or hate them, they are the real picture of our society, and no other dramas in the world can do that. Why? Because they are relatable and they are made for us.
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