Mere Pass Tum Ho and all the hype around it.

Mere Pass Tum Ho was one of the most popular drama serials in 2019. It was much hyped and publicized due to a complex storyline. However, I don't feel there is any real "wow factor" in the storyline. I feel the story was pretty ordinary but with the great acting and some hard-hitting dialogues, this drama serial reached another height of popularity among the Pakistani audience. To be completely honest, I haven't been watching the show regularly. I haven't even watched one whole episode of this show but many people among my family and friends were keen followers of the show and thanks to them, I kept getting the updates about the story progress. They were enthusiastic about the show just like most of the Pakistani viewers. I saw a few viral clips from the show and liked the performances of the main actors, the dialogues were very impactful and hit many cords among the audience. From 'do takay ki aurat' to "aurat fitratan bewafa nahi hoti..', the writer managed to engage the viewers, both in a good and bad way. Many people did not agree with the writer's views and how he implied his ideology in the show. There were debates on social media and the writer kept the hype alive with this tactic. Knowingly or unknowingly, he was able to gain all the attention from the audiences to a point where the show's finale was showcased in the cinemas. 

I was following the feminist vs misogynist debate on social media. Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar may have been a great writer and gave the audience shows like 'pyarey Afzal' but his views were rather disturbing. In a society where women are subjected to a lot of humiliation and torture, people like him can cause infliction to our attitude. However, if we discuss the show itself, the woman (main character) is disloyal. The proportion of men's disloyalty is much higher in our society, therefore, the concept was rather taboo and much appreciated by the audience. Anyhow, I watched the final episode and I was cringed. As opposed to my previous views about the show, the acting was blunderous, the dialogues were cringy. I wasn't connected with any of the characters. The ending was confusing. What was the point? I am trying to make sense of the story. What do we get from the story? To be honest, it was only a business-oriented project. They gained the audiences' attention and earned millions (probably) from it. The number of ads in the finale episode was tremendous and like fools, we gave them the business they wanted out of it. The ending was not worthy of being showcased in the cinemas but it was. I feel its good that our drama industry is growing to an extent where such demands even arise and people pay to watch the episodes in the cinemas but the right content should be promoted. A similar show was produced by ARY Digital in 2018 called 'khasara'. The concept was almost the same and the writing was very impressive too. I followed that show and loved it. If you loved MPTH then you must watch khasara too. It is an amazing show with an apt ending.

Pakistan is making some quality shows that need recognization and appreciation like Ishq Zahenaseeb and Alif. Ishq Zahenaseeb was aired on Hum Tv and is available on Youtube too. It was a show based on a mental condition and an extraordinary story. This show is not a traditional story based on villainous mother-in-law and an innocent daughter-in-law, but a good, informative and thrilling story that keeps you on the hook. You crave to know more about the characters. The character development is noticed by the audience and the story keeps you engaged. Alif, on the other hand, is still on air on Geo Tv. It is a superb, spiritual story based on a soul searching journey. The characters are complex yet simple. You instantly connect with the story and the dialogues are strong and soul-jolting. I have cried with the characters and it came on naturally. They talk about Allah, the soul, and the realities of life. These are special stories. They deserve all the attention. They need to be showcased in the cinemas. Chauvinist stories are enough and readily encountered in our societies, the media needs to show the stories that will bring positivity. I agree that these shows are for entertainment purpose but shows should bring awareness, they should bring a progressive change in society.