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Filmmaker Mehreen Jabbar thinks our dramas have turned into Indian soap operas

Filmmaker Mehreen Jabbar thinks our dramas have turned into Indian soap operas

Bad lighting, nonstop carpet music and traumatised characters are the ingredients to this transformation.
03 Jun, 2022

Pakistani dramas have changed and filmmaker Mehreen Jabbar thinks it's they're now starting to look like Indian soap operas.

On Friday, the Dobara Phir Se director posed the question in a tweet, "Why have most of our dramas become like Indian soap operas?"

She then listed out all the elements that go into the making of said Indian soap, "Bad lighting, nonstop carpet music, perfect blow drys for women [and] the same stubble/beards for men."

Defining a particular character trait, she said, "Everyone in constant trauma and shouting or crying, and 1,000 episodes of a stretched out story-line."

She concluded with a question in Urdu, "Kahan kho gaiye vo lamhey? [Where did those moments go?]"

Jabbar previously told Images that the way the industry operates does not suit her personal work ethics and how this clash has weighed her down. “After working 25 years in the business, I have become exhausted,” she said.

The director explained that today's industry cares more about capitalising on mediocre or show-y content that'll fetch high ratings rather than producing something they're proud of, the priority being doing justice to the story.

“I don’t want to direct a drama which will get ruined because a channel wants to extend it by several hours. I just want to tell stories in the best way possible without unnecessary elongation or gimmickry," she continued. "If a story is best told within five to six episodes, then so be it. If 30 episodes are required, I’ll work with that as well.”

Jabbar has been focusing more on web-series and telefilms. Her new telefilm Farar, a revival of her old film from the 90s with the same name is releasing this year. It is a tale of three friends cruising through Karachi, trying to carve a way out for themselves.

"Twenty-five years later, three friends trying to get by and shine in the glorious and mad city that is Karachi. From old Farar to a new Farar. Coming this year," she captioned the collage of the 90s telefilm and the upcoming web series.

Comments

Faraz Jun 03, 2022 02:31pm
That’s rich coming from someone no one has heard of and who has nothing to showcase her so called talent
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M. Saeed Jun 03, 2022 02:38pm
Compelling urge of the producers to stretch dramas to 50+ episodes while the real story is not worth even 3, the dilution would make them the soup of the soup, of 13th titration.
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Tamilselvan Jun 03, 2022 02:53pm
Agree with her that Indian Soap operas are not up to mark especially on the content.
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Shak Jun 03, 2022 03:22pm
Only dramas on PTV were good back in the days. Ever since we let 50+ channels, all amateurish content had been airing on TV. I stopped wasting my time watching Pakistani dramas long time ago. Except for one odd drama, all are rubbish.
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Zak Jun 03, 2022 03:46pm
Pakistani dramas have changed and filmmaker Mehreen Jabbar thinks it's they're now starting to look like Indian soap operas. Thats because no directors with orginial thinking ir talent have entered into the industry. The ones who come, just copy others.
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Zak Jun 03, 2022 03:47pm
Pakistani dramas have changed and filmmaker Mehreen Jabbar thinks it's they're now starting to look like Indian soap operas. Good observation. Please help rectify it.
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Asad Jun 03, 2022 03:55pm
They are copying Indian content too. 1 Yeh Mera Deewana Pan copy of Indian Movie “Deewana” 2. Izataraab copy of Indian Movie “We are Family”  3. Koi Nahi Apna: copy of Indian movie “Akele Hum Akele Tum" 4. Naazo: copy of two movies “Barfi” and “Tahzeeb”. The director has tried to give Soniya Hussain a touch of Jhilmil in indian movie Barfi. 5. Mohabbat Tujhe Alvida : copy of indian movie  Judaai 6. Chana Jor Garam: copy of indian serial Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai 7. Arth: The Destination copy of indian movie Arth 8. Cheekh copy of indian movie Damini 9. Dil Banjara : copy of Bollywood’s Blockbuster Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayeinge etc. We need to build our own pakistani drama industry not copy others.
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NYS Jun 03, 2022 03:56pm
Absolutely except a few of thwm
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Constantine Jun 03, 2022 04:51pm
Your shows had no character to begin with, they were always like Indian soap operas.
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Constantine Jun 03, 2022 04:51pm
If your people do a good job at copying Indian soap operas, your economy would’ve done better.
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Pinky_Pirani Jun 03, 2022 05:01pm
Pakistan doesnt have any music, films of its own. All Indian music played everywhere and they are belligerent about this? What gives?
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Dhinchack Jun 03, 2022 05:40pm
And she is wearing jeans like Indians, talking like Indians, and then lecturing us not to be Indians. Amazing parody. This is called half-baked knowledge.
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Khan Jun 03, 2022 06:12pm
Both Indian and Pakistani storylines are trash.
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zarmeena azeem Jun 03, 2022 06:37pm
People say that when they lose touch with their craft and their society. As viewers we count on MJ to change the direction of the current trend. That was her "value proposition" that set her work apart.
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Kiwi Jun 03, 2022 06:48pm
Yes unfortunately she is correct.
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Gareeb Azam Jun 03, 2022 07:29pm
Why bringing india into every irrelevant discussion. If you had to bring India, then bring in economy and trade, and then compare with it. Be optimistic and focus on things which pakistan needs to survive.
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Siddhartha Jun 03, 2022 08:44pm
True! Do something different. Good luck.
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babar Jun 03, 2022 08:48pm
strongly agree, and i had been requesting the writers and producers to be more creative for a long time.
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Aiza R Jun 03, 2022 09:23pm
She is completely correct. Pakistanis dramas are very overrated. Except Parizaad I haven’t seen a good one in years!
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Zak Jun 03, 2022 09:35pm
Copying Indian movies is the pits, they are rubbish.
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IRFAN Jun 03, 2022 09:49pm
Pakistani dramas are rated highly and appreciated all over the world. What is she talking about?
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Kk Jun 03, 2022 10:43pm
She’s right
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Masood Haider Jun 03, 2022 11:07pm
Right on the money. More than ninety five percent of the TV dramas are pure unadulterated trash ; crying maltreated women, super idiotic plots many with absolutely monstrously evil characters for example a recent HUM drama Beqadar ( mispronounced in the theme song as Bekadar) portrays a woman who after murdering his daughter-in-law is incessantly plotting to kill her own grand daughter. Disgusting beyond belief but the producers unashamedly are unfazed.
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Curious Still Jun 04, 2022 12:00am
You are so right. I have stopped watching them barring a lone play after few months. My husband loves to watch them. I thought he had taken to watching Indian soap operas, when I heard some female screaming. I find them regressive.
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Syed Hasni Jun 04, 2022 12:23am
I think she should try in front of the screen
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Masood Haider Jun 04, 2022 12:57am
Current Pakistan TV dramas are absolutely trash with horrible implausible, idiotic and women bashing disgusting plots.
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Ali Jun 04, 2022 04:08am
Very true
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Skeptic2 Jun 04, 2022 06:21am
Looks like she is loser now.
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R S Chakravarti Jun 04, 2022 07:17am
Why so? Probably because Pakistanis miss the Indian soap operas!
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Jamal Jun 04, 2022 07:20am
Rightly said. The drama genre that we once were masters of, has gone. The writers writing or being asked to write the never ending tales of domestic abuse and the real issues that came to light through Pakistani lense have disappeared totally. I wish producers and tv channel owners would realize this. I have started watching more English content, which I don’t wish to but can’t watch the Bollywood masala. I never liked it.
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SecondPilot Jun 04, 2022 08:09am
Spot on description of Indian soaps. As for Pakistani soaps, they have one basic storyline - a sad female protagonist, weeping is usually her forte. Her family members are trying to marry her off. The rest of the story is inconsequential. That's why Pakistani actresses, while big stars of the drama scene, have no ability to act beyond facial closeups.
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Ahmed Jun 04, 2022 09:05am
Why is that a bad thing? You say this as if everything Indian is wrong by definition. As a Pakistani. I am against statements like these. Go read a book.
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John Jun 04, 2022 09:11am
No one cares
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Ehsan Jun 04, 2022 09:23am
Absolutely right
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Factsmatter Jun 04, 2022 09:54am
By Indian she means Hindi. For Pakistanis everything Indian is only about one language.
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Naveed Ahmed Sethi Jun 04, 2022 10:05am
AGREED. 100%
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Rehana Bounse Jun 05, 2022 01:53am
@Faraz no one has heard of & obviously that must be you . She is one talented lady!
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Rehana Bounse Jun 05, 2022 01:58am
@Constantine no that’s not true. Indian soaps were outrageous & superficial & very fake & just bad acting & story . Even a bad Pakistani drama is much much better than those serials
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Rehana Bounse Jun 05, 2022 02:00am
@Dhinchack are jeans an Indian dress . Jeans are universal & not an Indian trademark
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Tadka Jun 06, 2022 11:50am
@Asad yeah but you see we don't copy we r originals
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