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Pakistani celebs can't stop discussing Ertugrul, Turkish content and the local industry

With the Turkish drama airing on PTV in Urdu, there has been a huge debate as to whether this was the right move or not

Updated 21 May, 2020

Looks like Dirilis Ertugrul really is one of the biggest conversations in Pakistan right now... the second being a global pandemic.

With the Turkish drama airing on PTV in Urdu, there has been a huge debate as to whether this was the right move or not.

Shaan was one of the first to point out that while he has no issues with Turkish dramas being aired here, PTV, a state-owned channel endorsing them to this extent is problematic. However, it was Yasir Hussain's posts that really got the ball rolling.

While Hussain's words echoed Shaan's sentiments on PTV, he went on to say that "Turkish dramas can destroy the local industry."

It was after this that many members of the fraternity decided to share their thoughts, either trying to clarify Yasir's point, relay their own ideas or deny it completely.

Mansha Pasha tried to explain the bigger picture

Armeena Khan wants you to stop blaming actors for bad content

Ahmed Ali Butt asks we respect all opinions.

Gohar Rasheed isn't bothered by it

Ali Kazmi says he sees no threat but inspiration

OKB thinks it could be good if treated right

While Mehwish Hayat has priorities in check

**And apparently, Humayun Saeed and more have had troubles with Turkish dramas since Ishq-e-Mamnun!**

An article by Review It from 2012 has started making the rounds on social media that features Humayun Saeed, writer Syed Mohammed Ahmed, Bushra Ansari and Faisal Qureshi expressing their discontent over Turkish dramas gaining popularity and the thought of dubbing them. Yeap, eight years ago, Humayun claimed it to be "outrageous!"

Meanwhile, the cast for Ertugrul sure is elated by the love and success of the show in Pakistan.

Comments

Fastrack May 20, 2020 12:13pm

Ertugrul is hands down the hottest thing Netflix has ever seen. Bye bye Money Heist.

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ukasha rajpoot May 20, 2020 12:20pm

Compete, its a global village, take up the challenge. you are the best. Top is always available.

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Nazir Gilani May 20, 2020 12:21pm

BECAUSE - Turkish dramas are successes.

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Irfan ul Huq May 20, 2020 01:25pm

Not only that it is being shown on PTV which is TV station run by the tax money of people of Pakistan. Not only that PM advertised this drama but like a king also ordered it to be shown on PTVP. am all for foreign TV dramas but on private channels because it will also increase the competition competition will increase only when there is a level playing feed . government should provide financing by declaring it an industry and lowering the bank interest rates for borrowing money for the purpose of entertainment. Govt. should also provide financing for developing cinema halls throughout Pakistan. Govt. should also ease up on census so freedom of expression and art could flourish in Pakisran, There should be least amount of religious interference in that.hundred and thousands of jobs are related to this industry and it needs special care and nurture.

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Chrís Dăn May 20, 2020 01:28pm

There were great old times when Pakistani serials were very popular and people waited for the days to watch what is next. These plays in 1970ś-80ś were li lóved in India and other countries in sub-continent. If Fatima Surya Bajia and many others could write which stories which were close to our hearts, then we had Roohi Bano,Saira Kazmi&Rahat Kazmu,Pirzadas, Abid Ali ,Shakeel,Khalida Riasat and many other great artists too. Those heroinś performed better than heroin of Turkish play and our heooeś were great character players. No one could beat them. This Turkish play is powerfully liked by pakistanis as Pakistani new writers can NOT write good plays-Pakistani actors can not act with depth and sincerity and pakistani directors are not sincere with art. Pakistan has no option but to watch foreign plays.

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Changez Khan May 20, 2020 01:37pm

Pakistani should not be afraid of their future, nobody can replace Pakistani TV serials But they should also respect the talent outside of their network.

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Munir Gul May 20, 2020 01:55pm

Our drama industry has gained sufficient maturity by now. We need not feel any threats from the Turkish plays.We have capable writers, directors and producers with us. Only thing needs to be done is shifting some focus to historical plays,for which there is no dearth of talent.

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You see May 20, 2020 02:04pm

Local content reflects the culture and history . Foreign content over a period of time can influence an entire generation. For good or bad is debatable.

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M. Saeed May 20, 2020 02:37pm

Have we forgotten our own Alpha Bravo Charlie?

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Imran Hakro May 20, 2020 02:48pm

Problem is that Pakistani Artists can't face the competition.

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akkers May 20, 2020 03:26pm

In the UK they have been importing americans programs for decades yet their domestic film and TV industry is still thriving. Competition is good for all.

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Mujtaba May 20, 2020 04:23pm

Get beyond typical love story themes, start working on real meat, story, vision, and you will do better than Ertrugul. Compete don’t complain. PTV used to have popular dramas in 80’s on Naseem Hijazi books like Shaheen, but lost its mojo!

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Et tu gul May 20, 2020 06:02pm

Makes sense, why to subject audience to sub par content. If good content is coming from brotherly countries what's wrong in it.

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Et tu gul May 20, 2020 06:07pm

They didn't raise their voice against Hollywood and Bollywood. Hypocrisy. We want more Turkish dramas.

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Faran May 20, 2020 06:13pm

Based on the research there is no evidence that Ertugul did all this. Except on a coin where first usman is called as son of ertugul. Pakistanis need to understand that this is a drama and they should read the disclaimer at the start of the series. What Ertugal series teaches us that our media industry lacks skills to produce powerful content. Lets not be emotinal. Turkish culture is very open and gives a lot of freedom to women. We follow arebic dictates.

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Nadeem May 20, 2020 06:47pm

No doubt there's great content at home but it's is rarely produced, otherwise it's mainly "saas bahu" politics shown in every other serial. There's hardly any content that shows our social and family values.

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Shakeel Khan May 20, 2020 07:32pm

This show has definitely touched highest of the performance. Nothing looks good anymore. Mixing of culture, religion and history in such a profound way while keeping it so interesting and captivating. Taking you away from our usual topics of family dramas, cheatings and silly comedies. Pakistan a many such stories and now industry has to reach a new high bar set by Ertugrul Gazi.

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Observer May 20, 2020 07:33pm

Why Pakistani's are fond of Turkish movie and serials but not Egyptian?

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Omveer Singh May 20, 2020 09:08pm

Now start identifying yourself with Turks.

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Mujtaba May 20, 2020 11:29pm

@Chrís Dăn your Generalization is unwarranted.. it’s stereotyping

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Younas Bajwa May 21, 2020 01:16am

This message is for Esra Belgic. I wish for her a long life and stay young forever.

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Sherry May 21, 2020 03:38am

I absolutely loved this seies that came on Netflix 2020!!! Ertugrul. I am watching it for the second time & wish it carried on with the group getting older & the children grown up & taking over. Was there a beginning where we would see Ertugrul's parents young having their own children ??? Would sure like to see more of this actor & his friends in this series.

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AbdulHaque Shaikh May 21, 2020 04:04am

Learn to compete. Turkish dramas are making inroads into Western nations as well

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Nawaz khan merwat May 21, 2020 04:19am

Erthugral the leading role actors shall be invited to pakistan as state guest .

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Nawaz khan merwat May 21, 2020 04:20am

The leading role actors of erthugral shall be invited to visit pakistan as a state guests

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Tehmina May 21, 2020 06:38am

I don’t know why we are forgetting, we grew up watching American and British shows on PTV . How come no one had a problem with that ?

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Jai Moolchandani May 21, 2020 08:08am

@Changez Khan, Man here the thing is not about talent of outer world and if outer world talent matters than many other countries have their best serials just take South korea and let them air at our state channel ?

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Jai Moolchandani May 21, 2020 08:09am

Elite analysis defines here that Elite politics is behind this telecast .

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kums May 21, 2020 08:09am

Dearth of local heros is the problem as the next generation gets assimilated to a foreign culture. Only if pakistan looks beyond the 70 year history they can find local heros.

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Camoka May 21, 2020 09:03am

@Faran Ertuğrul lived like this! It might not be 100 percent of their lives but I assure you that the real life of Ertuğrul and his son osman and their struggle was wayyy more harder than this! There is no money or technology to make TV series or movies of any Ottoman Sultans! So the idea here is to show the glimpse of their struggle and life to the youth!

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Antoinette Hindson May 21, 2020 10:01am

I hope the cast are getting royalties. It is still showing in Australia i loved it having a Maltese background was a bit dubious considering the history between the 2 countries

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kp May 21, 2020 10:48am

Identity crisis, i would say. Earlier people were Arabic not Turkish, next Malaysian maybe. They should be proud of this soil. we all are from this Indian subcontinent.

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Ahmad May 21, 2020 11:45am

This drama series will go a long way in inspiring the people and especially the youth in our country to be better people. These actors have no right to deprive people of this, but then again, it's human nature to be scared of what you dont know...

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Valencia N Ford May 22, 2020 08:59pm

I'm Native American Creek-Muskogee, I absolutely loved this story! There are some similarities in the loyalty to the Laws, Traditions, and Spiritual Life. I'm actually watching all of the Episodes for the 2nd time and seeing much more. Great work and love the Cast!

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Aamir Alvi May 23, 2020 02:59am

@Omveer Singh We already do!!!

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