Does Modern Pakistani Drama & Literature Has Lost Its Soul

[Bret Hawk]

The immediate precursor of this question props up in my mind after viewing a statement of one former Pakistani artist in express newspapers e-edition that the current Pakistani Drama has lost its soul and does not represent the true culture of Pakistani society. I think many of us are aware of Pakistans rich tradition of producing monumental drama series and serials in the past with prolific writers and directors of the Pakistan television corporation in particular. Now whats wrong with most of our modern Pakistani dramas why cant they generate the same rave reviews from the critics and masses alike? Is that because of the lack of talented writers or production teams or are they trying to imitate the Indian soaps / dramas too much nowadays which has affected the quality of their content? Generally speaking can we also see the same trend in the pathetic quality of literature which Pakistani literati are producing in current era?

 

[Pakistani Lion]

Good thread, as I yearn to see any quality dramas like Nijat, Waris, Sooraj Kay Saath, Chaand Grahan etc coming out of Pakistan. I think the obvious answer would be that this part of media has been very heavily commercialised and everybody is after making a 'quick buck'. I believe that the talent is still there but the resources have to be channelised in the right direction. There is that Indian influence as well but that doesn't mean that we needed to lose our soul as the market of the people who appreciate a quality production is and will always remain.

 

[Bret Hawk]

You are right Pak Lion in mentioning the commercialisation aspect of the current media. I remember in the 1980s and early 90s when there use to be some handful set of commercials during the prime time telecast of those legendary dramas like Dhoop Kinaray, Tanhaiyan, Waris, Chand Grehan and other special long durational dramas. For instance I personally miss the gems of Mumtaz Mufti and Ashfaq Ahmad nowadays where the subject matter of Islamic spirituality is used to be the generic themes of their works which then used to be produced for the television audience. Pakistani drama to me was also a true inheritor of the true classical genre of this literature which was closer to the real life issues and therefore had the general social themes in their plots.



Although in its pristine form Greeks and Romans used to explore many beautiful themes in this genre of performing art where legends like Sophocles, Aristotle and later in middle ages William Shakespeare have immortalised drama through their monumental contributions in dramatic theory and art. By following the same methods of the past legends and masters Pakistani writers under the auspicious of Progressive Writers Association contributed handsomely in different genres of literature ranging from fiction, drama, poetry, novel and folk lore with critical verve and gigantic professionalism. Now I think in current age these dramas which we view mostly on television channels anything but those ingredients which is succinctly mentioned in above lines. I personally think that commercialism is also important to supply the life line for such personalities which are associated with Drama in any form but not at the expense of its classical symmetry which used to lure its admirers in the distant and recent past.

 

[Bret Hawk]

Classical Soliloquy (Feigned) of a Melancholic Person Trapped in the Fetters of Action & Inaction




[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JD6gOrARk4[/video]




Memorable Dialogue between the Spiritual Guider & the Seeker of the Spiritual Path




[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FltGojOA2LQ[/video]





Now the above displayed clips are from the classical works of Shakespeare and Ashfaq Ahmad whose themes are just mind boggling for a layman like me. In the first clip the writer has expressed his agony and conflict of mind in a soliloquy (Actually it was aimed at one ladys character to whom the protagonist have stealthy spotted her to eavesdrop him) which has gained a legendary status not only in contemporary English but in other literatures as well. To be or not to be perfectly epitomises the classic confrontation of the conscious and subconscious mind of an individual in this world, which seems to torn apart between the viability of taking practical measures against the injustices or to play the role of a dossil observer on the face of such atrocities.




The second clip perfectly portrays the seeking ambition of that destitute person who just requires gaining some eternal bliss of his mind and soul and is asking for the perfect path and a proper destination from the enlightened one. Here the age old concept of visionary illusions of the humans is also explained in a perfect scientific manner along with citing the analogies of a saint and scientist working in there own spheres but with a thin diaphragm which separates the nature of their respective works. The elucidation of words and series of numerics as perfectly expressed in this homily by a cobbler is just amazing and fascinating to note here when a physical scientists become abreast with the realities of nature and tends to delineate that experience through his equations. Therefore it establishes this primary fact that to seek for any tangible or intangible reality one has to dedicate his efforts and absorb his mental & physical faculties perfectly in a disciplined manner.




Can we have such sort of masterpieces now to be viewed on our television sets? I dont think of any noticeable work or production over the last decade or so which have given any strong spiritual or communal message for its audience except the ostensible display of wealth, power, treachery, plots and malignant behaviour of different characters in the plots of those dramas. In short from the depths of a philosophical and socially coherent themes of the past the current drama has transmuted into a hybrid sort of a product which contains the melodrama of films, exaggerated display of emotions and notoriety of the individuality of different characters which are doing more harm to the psyches of those who watch that garbage on daily basis. I think Pakistani drama need to revive its lost legacy of the past and try to unearth good social, philosophical and educational themes which can inculcate good message and valuable entertainment for its viewer or else it will continue to stay in a state of limbo the way it is now transfixed for the last many years after the end of a golden era of Pakistani drama productions

 

[KabirfFan]

The immediate precursor of this question props up in my mind after viewing a statement of one former Pakistani artist in express newspapers e-edition that the current Pakistani Drama has lost its soul and does not represent the true culture of Pakistani society. I think many of us are aware of Pakistans rich tradition of producing monumental drama series and serials in the past with prolific writers and directors of the Pakistan television corporation in particular. Now whats wrong with most of our modern Pakistani dramas why cant they generate the same rave reviews from the critics and masses alike? Is that because of the lack of talented writers or production teams or are they trying to imitate the Indian soaps / dramas too much nowadays which has affected the quality of their content? Generally speaking can we also see the same trend in the pathetic quality of literature which Pakistani literati are producing in current era?

Arts of any society reflect the condition of the society. As viewers of arts we must examine as to where the society is going and what kind of society we would like. Corrections in our education and values must be made to really enjoy those values. You eat whatever you cook in the pot. The soul is always there its only the view that is murky or clear. That is my two cents worth.

 

[gazoomartian]

The immediate precursor of this question props up in my mind after viewing a statement of one former Pakistani artist in express newspapers e-edition that the current Pakistani Drama has lost its soul and does not represent the true culture of Pakistani society. I think many of us are aware of Pakistans rich tradition of producing monumental drama series and serials in the past with prolific writers and directors of the Pakistan television corporation in particular. Now whats wrong with most of our modern Pakistani dramas why cant they generate the same rave reviews from the critics and masses alike? Is that because of the lack of talented writers or production teams or are they trying to imitate the Indian soaps / dramas too much nowadays which has affected the quality of their content? Generally speaking can we also see the same trend in the pathetic quality of literature which Pakistani literati are producing in current era?

Our media considers following of hollywood a SAWAB. You mayhave noticed that media is testing waters. Veryceleverly and slowly they are introducing women with less and less clothes, man and a woman on bed in bedroom, women wearing high bottom pants, doputta ghaib, bra strips showing on shoulders, etc. Thats how media guages public acceptability and rejectability. Our mahkama awaqaf aur what ever ministery is responsible, is asleep or they are busy watching them women themsleves.

you remember group pic of news anchor women in CIA invited parties, and now in Karachi also. The puppet govt has sold Pak to westerners