The 21st Century has revolutionized the Drama industry in Pakistan with the growth of many TV entertainment channels, and so, Dramas that not only made waves in Pakistan but also abroad. Some are absolute classics.
Here are 5 of them.
Humsafar
Humsafar is quite easily the best of the 21st century, and it is not hard to say that his particular piece of art made Mahira and Fawad Khan the Mahira and Fawad Khan they are today.
The drama has a star cast in Fawad and Mahira themselves, Atika Odho, Naveen Waqar, Noor Hasan and the legendary Behroze Sabzwari.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0USYmmpdVGA
It revolves around romance, jealousy, despair and ultimately the triumph of forgiveness and has the audiences hooked from episode 1 to the last like no play had in past.
Meri Zaat Zara-e-Benishan
Samiya Mumtaz is one of Pakistan’s finest yet criminally underrated actresses, and she proved her acting prowess in this particular Drama series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7DpMtrDbgQ
The series hit the concept of how modesty and virtue can be used against women and how some things can never return to their original place. Apart from Samiya, Faysal Qureshi, Adnan Siddiqui, Sarwat Gilani, Imran Abbas and Samina Peerzada graced the screen for this one.
Need we say more?
Pyaaray Afzal
Hamza Ali Abbasi will forever remain Pyaaray Afzal. Him alongside Aiza Khan as the main leads, and with legends like Saba Pervaiz and Firdous Jamal played an instrumental role in making the Drama a huge success.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQkfFuGv--Y
Flawed, broken, but forever the naive optimist, it should have been obvious that Afzal would break our hearts. Though Afzal died in the end much to the shock of the entire Pakistan, and still leaves a wound that won’t heal, it was a classic nonetheless.
Udaari
When it comes to going unconventional with the script and story-telling, there are not many Dramas as Udaari. The Drama highlight sexual abuse and society’s unfavourable response to the victims and encourages the victims to speak up against the abusers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLDpzC2fix0
With powerful performances from Samiya Mumtaz, Bushra Ansari, Urwa Hocane, Hina Altaf Khan and also Ahsan Khan in a new-look antagonist role, Udaari remains one of the best plays in Pakistan’s history.
Khuda Aur Muhabbat
The first one was so good that a sequel was made too. Though the second attempt did not go as planned, the first one still remains one of the very best.
This story is based on the clashing ideologies of love and spirituality in the Pakistani society. Hammad (Imran Abbas), who comes from an elite family falls in love with Imaan (Sadia Khan), who is an Imam's daughter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbn2ulMJ25c
Their class difference leads Hammad to leave his house so he can gain respect from Imaan’s father. Love demands sacrifices, and that’s what this play is about.