Drama Queens!
The Indian channels have recently started airing on my cable again, for some it started earlier and others remain deprived. Legally, or illegally, with permission or without it, they are however back. The point is, were they missed? Our local channels were quick to fill the void with the Indian stars from star plus, the thunderstorms, the shaking camera close up shots, the horrible family secrets, the conspiring sari clad females, and the mute dumb men with the single streak of white hair in their gelled hair. Who is watching these dramas and why have they taken over sensible normal television?
Showing lives of huge families going through trial, tragedy and triumph, the stories are spear headed by the women of these families, playing a major role in every aspect, be it sacrificing their happiness for family honor, scheming against their saas/nand/bahu, rescuing a kidnapped child, or successfully running the family business, all the time sporting the best of saris, the gaudiest of jewelry, the perfect blow dried hair and the most melodramatic of emotions. Trivial incidents are highlighted with multiple shaking shots, sound effects, and echoing sounds. Men stand around watching the women run the show. Are the desperate housewives of Pakistan living out their fantasy of being the Super Woman of the house through these soap operas?
Following the stories of these dramas is no daunting task, it takes around 2 minutes to catch up with what has happened so far, due to the simplicity of the story, the repetition in the script and general pattern recognition for any immature TV viewer. Do these dramas then give the same sense of comfort to their viewers as the 130 th viewing of “finding nemo” to a 3 year old???
Of the various aspects of an individual’s life these dramas focus on the home field, which is spiced up with melodrama, conspiracy, romance, tragedy, and dirty family laundry all rolled in one. All of these dramas, running back to back on week nights, are identically alike. There is a huge parevar/khandaan, a family business, the core family, the off shoots, the legitimate and illegitimate children, and the occasional murder. They propagate seriously harmful values to adults, and lets not even talk about what the non-volunteering child sitting with the elders watching this learns.
Women are not the only ones watching these dramas, they are also watched though denied on confrontation, by curious men and boys. This curiosity is however not new and has been around for long, filled with publications like the “khawateen” digest and columns like “teen aurtien teen kahaniyan” read by both men and women. The appetite for cheap thrills in mundane lives is fueling a huge entertainment industry.
If life was actually as portrayed in these dramas, all women would parade around in blow dried hair, in all their jehaiz jewelry and the brightest of saris. They would be equally adept at wedding dancing, songs, house running, business, politics, gun shooting, poisoning and all religious rituals. They would additionally be ageless: episode upon episode, generation after generation, they would remain the same. The only sign of age being an odd grey strand of hair, after they graduate to the grandmother generation.
While these dramas can be accepted for entertainment purposes alone, and the glamour considered a necessary evil in the age of countless channels and limited viewer attention span, they are fast eating up the existence for any other form of drama entertainment. Dramas that do not run as soap operas and are on serious, important, interesting issues in society get lost in this sea of sense less melodrama. Switching desperately from channel to channel in the search of a good Urdu drama, you are usually disappointed and only seldom pleasantly surprised. Most of the dramas are spin-offs of Indian soap operas with necessary Pakistani adaptation. If they are original they are bland with weak story lines or they are too depressing to watch after a long tiring day at work.
Jumping from one channel to another, your heart yearns for the assertive, interesting witty confident Drama Queens of yester year: Shahnaz Sheikh in Tanhayian and Ankahi, Marina Khan and Badar Khalil in Dhoop Kinaray, Saniya Saeed and Atiqa Odho in Sitara aur Meherunisa, Bushra Ansari in Angan Tera, Huma Nawab in Nijaat, Rubina Ashraf in Kasak, and Shahnaz from Alpha Bravo Charlie. I have only mentioned a few of these ladies here and the list is long and endless.
These women were beautiful, and vulnerable, strong and powerful on screen. They involved us in their character and story, making us view them as beyond pretty objects but as heroines, steering their life towards betterment. They were not necessarily clinically depressed or serious, but in their fun, life like way, taught us important lessons such as pursuing your dreams, determination of purpose and most importantly of respect.
The Drama Queens of today, however delve in triviality and shine in controversy. Is this same myopic outlook now creeping from outside dramas to real life, where we view an adventurous paratrooper jump of our Tourism Minister not as a fun, adventurous activity but as a source of cheap speculation? Is this even worth a controversy? What can I say, drama seems to sell, at the expense of all other virtues.
hi
hi everyone. hi shanaz. let it be a cliche but m a die hard fan of abc. watched it when i was 8. one show at 8:30 saturaday. repeat telecast in the night time transmission and on the sunday evening. used to watch all three of them and yet, i had it again on youtube even though m having my hourlies. prayers for the one who uploaded it, seriously. its been 12 years and i still remember the title song and music. as soon as i hear somethngs done by shoaib mansoor, i know it will be one of its kind.
ABC is addictive yaar.and the cast was perfect.i hope i meet each one of them. i used to love every single character in the play. its AWESOME
Hi shahnaz.how are u.ihope u will be fine and enjoying good health.i love your acting
alpha bravo and charli was a supreme hit drama serial from pakistan..we all hoped that kashif,faraz and gul sher be real friends.
Aslaam O Alaikum…..we wish to see kashif,faraz,gul sher and shehnaz on ptv..
A o A Faraz ,Kashif and Gul sher u all insha Allah should be very fine
First of all, great blog!! It’s nice to see that other people are also sick and practically depressed even hearing the “dhishan dhishan” sound effect of these odious Indian dramas all the time as our sweet mothers, aunties and sisters remain addicted to them.
I would like Ek_Aur to expand on his/her views about how gender roles have shifted in the 00s. Which direction have they shifted so that all the heroines in these Indian soaps are inarticulate (often it takes them an annoying while to find their voice to say the smallest sentence to authority). Their continous shaking (let alone the shaky camera action) seriously reminds me of my rabbits who would start shivering like crazy everytime you handled them. I don’t watch Pakistani dramas much but I looked at an episode of Mehindi and I started wondering how Amina Haq goes through a day in her life without bumping into something or doing something stupid with all that sporadic blushing, smiling and flickering of eye-lids.
You can’t portray what is going on in the society? Well, it’s been done with decency before. The message has been put across to quite an extend– who is asking for absolute precision? Something is better than nothing.
No one wants a moral lesson? Is it not because you are horribly apathetic and sleeping around and will continue sleeping until something really bad hits you hard? I, for one, have been inspired by older Pakistani dramas and the newer dramas will only encourage apathy and licentiousness in Pakistani society.
Moving to ABC, Shahnaz’s character was a character, a very eccentric but full of substance. Of cource, some less inciteful guys or girls might not have been too impressed by her character, but I for one was quite inspired.
My brother came home one day and told me how guys he knows have been disappointed that Shahnaz is not really the way she is in the drama (perhaps, owing to the comments her co-star made in the backstage interviews of ABC). Frankly, I would be glad if Shahnaz is not exactly like the character in the drama because she married men out of pity (sort of giving herself away). Owing to my brother’s comment, I wouldn’t be surprised if three or more guys were in love with such an out-of-this world character with all her confidence and complexity as that of Shahnaz. I do want to point out that “Dinosaur” was really the only one in love with her. She choose Gulsher and then Faraz. Faraz/ Abdullah thought she was out of his league — he might have liked her at some point. I am not sure.
Anywho, I think that Shahnaz, you are really beautiful. You had an aura of delicacy, both in your appearance and in your tone of voice. I too idealized your character in a lot ways. I wanted to get my hair permed like yours but never got around to it. Is your hair naturally curly?
I often wonder if I can go back to Pakistan and ride a bike in shalwar kameez.. that scene was just hilariously inspiring!!
My aunt tells me she used to ride a scooter in her days– which way are the gender roles really shifting??
A typo in my previous comment – insightful not inciteful. It’s 3:00 am in the morning so pardon my brain flickering.
And sorry for the long comment. That’s what happens when you are a student of literature.
Shahnaz, I recreated my orkut account for you. Are you more active on orkut or facebook? Can I add you on either?
Dear;
Shahnaz; can u please send me the E-mail addresses of Fraz, Kashif & gulsher.Your acting in ABC was amazing, but sorry to say I am a great fan of Kashif. If you have his contact # Please send me I will ever remain thankfull to you.
Regards;
Naveed
Salam…shehnaz i guess u must be shahnaz of ABC…i love u
u know i am watching ABC on youtube these days n missing those types of dramas….
khadija
i can’t believe it man tht this the real shahnaazzzzzzzzzzzzzz i am die heart fan of yours i have seen the abc a hundred times can i be in ur fan list and i want to have the email addresses of faraz,qasim and abdullah
i want to know abt u more
ahh hiii…
jst wants to meet shehnaz kawaja…
huh,
Well fistly am really amazed that i search Shehnaaz today,Well i really love ABC famtastic,Such a natural actors r u,I saw 80 times…
well shehnaz plz give us the id of Faraz,Abdullah plzzz
i have a great desire to meet with them in my life,
plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
will anxiously waiting for ur reply
wasimprince_pk@yahoo.com
Hi, Shahnaz, hope u r doing great… Hope u find a moment to have a look at my post…
I was a little child when ABC was first aired, that time I used to watch it regularly, but I was just sort of overwhelmed by those three young handsome uniformed characters…
last year, I got to have ABC in dvd, after I watched it again, the most I was impressed by someone’s acting in my life was you. I have watched theatrical wonders like Godfather, casablanca and forrest gump, but I found ABC as just another theatrical wonder from the eastern cinema…
as far as star plus and other indian tv production is concerned, they r just pathatic… I never watched any indian tv production…..never…
I pray for ur long life Shehnaz… Be happy and gorgeus as u r…….
we would love to see u again…………!!!
Assalam O Alekum Shehnaz!
I just finished watching the whole Alpha Bravo Charlie…. My God! You happen to be the pivot around which the whole play revolves… Your acting was simply wow… Your gestures really put life into your role… Wish you good luck in whatever you put your mind to…
Regards…
I AM THE BIGGEST FAN OF ABC SINCE I WAS 5YEARS OLD. GOD BLESS U SHEHNAZ AND THE WHOLE CAST.
I had heard a lot about abc but never watched it. In fact, we saw Faraz Inam in Dubai and my wife who had seen abc was quite excited. I, on the other hand had no clue who he was. Last week my wife finally convinced me to watch it and I got so hooked I saw all of the episodes within 3 days and I must say I was amazed beyond belief.
Accopmpanied with my amazement for the quality of the acting and direction, though was sadness over the fact that there are no more plays like abc. Instead we are reduced to the kind of plays that are mindless, to say the least. I loved your ‘Finding Nemo’ analogy, it pretty much sums up the extent to which we have been reduced.
But, Shehnaz, even more baffling than the silliness of these saas/bahu soaps is the fact that people watch them so religiously. My father-in-law prays Isha namaz at a different mosque on the night of his favorite serial because namaz at his regular mosque starts before the episode ends!!
Hi Shehnaz,
I am from Kashmir and came to know about ABC accidentally. It was great to see the drama. In fact, it was good to see such emotions and characters being written and acted on television. It reaffirms my faith in commercial art. Hope you will continue doing good work. Wishing you a lovely, lively and meaningful life…Amen!
Allah Hafiz
Dear all,
Sorry to break in an exclusive??? Pakistani party’ but couldn’t help it really…
I remember in late 80s in India when any of our relatives use to come back from Pakistan … they used to be loaded with cassettes upon cassettes of the old VHS version … of the Pakistani dramas … and what a pleasure it was to watch them.
In those days both the Indian and Pakistani TV was so realistic and simple and Pakistani dramas like Dhoop Kinare, Tanhayiyaan etc and the Indian ones like Hum Loog, Buniyaad etc were so popular without being so plastic as the modern ones.
True that Indian Channels aka Saas-Bahu-Sazish channels … are crap. And alas … the last time I watched a Pakistani channel … it was just as crap.
Perhaps the American style trash-TRP system has been the inspiration of all of this.
As of Alpha Bravo Charlie … I never knew about it till some Pakistani friend introduced it to me in London and I ended up watching all of it…
Was so delightful … reminded me of a series called Fauji on DD in 1088-89 starring Shah Rukh Khan (his first screen appearance ever … if I am not mistaken).
Salam Shahnaz
This is IBRAHIM here, u don???t know me but say another fan of ABC and ur acting at first appearance.
My son Awais, My wife and myself like ABC. I m also working with Army & Airfoce. Where are you from, what r u doing now-a-days. Waiting for ur reply.
Thanks
Allah Hafiz
hi shenaz,
hope your are doing great,
would like to tell that this is the first time that i am writing to someone whom i never met.
you are simply Irritable,
i dont know what Personality you are in real life,but you were Awesome in reel life.
i never thought you that i will write something to you ever,
today while surfing the net i looked one picture and was not able to move ahead,i started to recall that where i have seen this face,
i knew that i have seen this face and know this person but was not able to re-call exactly.
you know (forgive me if i hurt you) but you are something i cant forget,
May God bless you
hi shehnaz appi i hope u r good. i like ur drama really. ur acting in this drama is so good. this drama is attached with my childhood when i am read in class 1. plz u act in other drama. if u like my message so plz response me. take care and good bye,
Hey, i found your character the most important one in ABC. The person out of all three, with which you attach yourself, his character becomes dominating others. So your character I found is most important one. Well one thing I really wanna ask you, do you really prefer imperfect things in you real life too?
Couldn’t have said it clearer meself. i love the original pakistani take on dramas where the story line and not the set was what captivated the audience.
), “oh, you’re such a shehnaz. dont forget; you didnt go Oxbridge, so not quite there yet.”
as for the Shehnaz from Alpha Bravo Charlie, i find myself hugely complimented when people sometimes say (to me, of course
i miss the times tele and the people on it were someones we could aspire to be.
Asalamolaikum
Hope you will be fine and doing well. This is the first time that i am writing in any blog. I really liked the drama ABC back in 1998 and all its casts. The stories of all the plays were similar to reality not as these days where we live in trying to adopt to fake things around us with expensive mobiles and lavish life style being shown in dramas that has nothing to do with reality.
This just to appreciate and acknowledge the wonderful work done by Faraz, Abdullah, Qasim, and Shehnaz in that drama.
And one questions where is gulsher now and his rank? and what are you doing nowadays?
Thanks.
Hello Shehnaz baji
AOA.I Hope that u’re fine as well as ur daughter.iguess her name is Amber.I was really inspired by abc but the thing which made me google u was the interview on nadia khan show.Abc cast did a gr8 job.i wish that u could continue it again.my sis we ‘re twins actually n’ we’re 13 wants to go to army as an officer just bcz of ABC.Ur new look is gr8 but u look more gd in abc (hope that u won’t mind it).i was happy to know that Qasim is promoted to Lt Crl.i am also the daughter of an army officer.plz pray that he will be promoted also.well how is ur life in us ?where do u live in usa?|PLz come to pakistan.u guys r gr8.u rock
i am ur biggest fan.i lov to watch dramas based on army.i wanted to be an airforce doctor.bye t.c. Hope u ll reply…….
Well I went through the article and agree that Pakistani dramas have lost their essence, they actually forgot what they were used to be and what purpose they used to full fill in the society. Let me remind them that WE are losing out as a NATION and Once upon a time, these Dramas used to focus on full filling these gaps.
Apart from the comments, i was unable to watch ABC when it actually aired on PTV, so am watching it these days ..
thanks to technology ..!!
Salams,
Most impressed by the drama ABC, every thing was perfect, the acting, the story line.. wow! I still cant get this out of my head ,, when captain Gulsher calls out of the balcony Shanaaaaaz!!! lol I have seen the serial 3 times. I have highly recommend it to my Indian friends.. they love it too..
Thankyou very much for that…
A huge fan of ABC
Imad Shah
hello
all i need the contact details of miss shehnaz khawaja, i know she is in thomasvill usa, but i need her cell no. cos i want to start a project with shehnaz. plssssssssss any one know or she read herself to contact 0312-5551976 its my cell and i m from islamabad
I see,that except from the main intro from Shahnaaz posted as far back as April 2007,she hasn’t followed it up again leaving fan after fan to post their comments without knowing if anyone is following up or not.
But its a good idea to start a blog on TV serials(Pakistani that is).
I personally think ABC,would not have been liked as much were it not for Shoaib Mansoor to direct it.The serial had a typical Shoaib Mansoor trademark to it,hence it being a hit,like all of his previous works.