From joint family living to the recently concluded Mannat Murad, and the rise and rise of celebrity stardom in Jannat Se Aagay, with lots more in between, 7th Sky Entertainment delivered a bumper year in Pakistani dramas to viewers who tune in from all around the world to watch stories of love, conspiracy, family bonds, relationships and now, much more, unfold on their TV screens. Let’s have 2023 unpacked in Pakistani dramas.
But before we delve into the 2023 drama scene, let’s take a look at the people behind the success of this dream team.
7th Sky Entertainment has at its helm, the genius of Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi. 7th Sky has a core management team that believes in leading from the front. Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi, who are acknowledged and acclaimed wizards in their own right, lead the company. Under their aegis, 7th Sky Entertainment has been able to carve a niche from the onset, for each one of the two, at the core of their workings have an enviable list of accolades.
As we look forward to 2024 and all the stories that are marked to create a ripple, or a splash, in the Pakistani entertainment world, let’s take a quick lookback at the 7th Sky dramas that drove conversations in 2023.
Tere Bin
It wouldn’t be unfair to begin with the blockbuster of the year. Tere Bin marked its territory with utmost defiance in the Pakistani drama scene. From casting the super hit onscreen pair, Wahaj Ali and Yumna Zaidi, to the look and feel of the sets (recall gol gappas, chooriyan and more), larger than life characters e.g. Maa Begum and Haya and a story that kept viewers invested right till the final episode, the Tere Bin world had a feel of its own. Viewers felt invested in the journey of Meerub and Murtasim, and even if they did call out their actions, behaviours or life choices, it was only because they felt deeply and emotionally connected to the life journies of the characters.
It would not be wrong to say that Murtasim handed out goals to the young, eligible, influential bachelors in town to take a long hard look at the way they contemplate marriage and relationships, just as Merub defined many young women who, despite being forced into marriage in affluent households, try their best to stay connected with the young girl who had dreams and goals before she tied the knot!
Tere Bin was penned by Nooran Makhdoom and carried the signature direction flair of Siraj ul Haque
It is no surprise that Tere Bin 2 is on the cards as audiences anticipate a thrilling watch in 2024!
Jannat Se Aagay
Onwards to the stories that pushed the envelope for 2023 and shifted away from the same old. Jannat Se Aagay was one such 7th Sky offering that stayed true to reinventing the Pakistani drama wheel, or shall we say, story line?
Obsessive fandom is a thing of the present, one that afflicts thousands of viewers who hang upon every word and life event of their favourite celebrity or influencer reveals to the ever watchful public eye.
When Umera Ahmed crafted this story, with director Haseeb Hasan behind the lens, one would have thought she is only weaving a story about the perils of social media overdose in our society. But then, the drama gradually and unnervingly, propels Tabassum, aka Ramsha Khan into the very household she’d dreamed of inhabiting, that too, with the celebrity she was obsessed with for a large part of her waking hours – any fan’s dream come true? So onwards to Tabassum’s journey as she started living dangerously in Jannat’s world.
Casting here was top notch as Kubra Khan, Mirza Gohar Rasheed, Talha Chahour, Ramsha Khan and Saboor Aly came together to create a hypnotic saga of intrigue, a coming to terms with one’s life choices and a sense of self awareness about how circumstances change us, sometimes, in ways we’d rather not see.
Jannat Se Aagay was a great depiction of the battle between spiritual and worldly experiences and how the two come in conflict, fighting hard to have the final word over the other. The story drove conversations online as audiences debated how it would eventually turn out for Tabassum and Jannat Ali Khan. The story line brought in therapy as a possible treatment for young people who might be afflicted with mental trauma they and their families cannot deal with alone, without professional help – a win, win narrative for sure!
Finally, Farooq’s character essayed by Talha Chahour was such a triumph for serving out male roles where Farooq stood behind Tabassum, steadfast, persistent, and never losing hope. He was a rock and even as the audience called him out for being too weak, he proved to viewers that strength sometimes, lies in just being there for your partner, in not letting ego or judgements come in between an undying love and in helping her pick up the pieces when she might feel all is lost! Farooq as a male role model to vouch for, won many hearts as the drama took its final victory lap!
Mujhay Qabool Nahi
7th Sky continued to churn out lasting stories that resonated with viewers who often glimpsed their own turbulent life experiences, seeking answers to the hard questions in life. Mujhay Qabool Nahin was a story that hit close to viewers’ hearts here.
As Maira, Salman and Atir’s story unfolds, the drama shed light on forced and under-age marriage, domestic violence and how a woman can seek reprieve from a toxic relationship. Maira’s character, essayed by Madiha Imam, was shown as respectful of familial bonds yet outspoken, empowered yet caged by dated traditions and expectations and resonated with many in her struggle to unchain herself from a constant cycle of mental and physical abuse. Here Atir’s role played by Ahsan Khan, helped facilitate her journey, also in a suitably responsible manner.
Mujhay Qabool Nahin sent out crucial messages for many young people who might be facing abuse, torment or mistreatment in a relationship and how, no matter how hard it seems, they can and must seek assistance and help to break free from it. Penned by Adeel Razzaq and directed by Aabis Raza, this project was loved by audiences who felt invested in Maira’s journey.
Jhoom
In the world of Pakistani drama serials came a surprise in the form of a limited episodes series Jhoom. This 7th Sky offering was just the right blend of romance and social messaging. The frames were superlative by way of production efforts, giving the drama a cinematic feel. The locations, from sea side views to indoor settings, carried an aesthetic feel of their own.
Jhoom was a drama that sent out a refreshing message i.e. age gap in marriage, mental health awareness, flawed heroes who own their setbacks and heroines who are responsible in love. And all this, while showing us glimpses of the ills that are rampant in society; from drugs, to illicit use of weapons and young people influenced by the same.
Packaged with the refreshingly creative onscreen pairing of Haroon Kadwani and Zara Noor Abbas, Jhoom not only delivered passionate onscreen chemistry, but also sent out refreshing messages of a self-aware hero who seeks therapy, owns his behavioural flaws. The drama addressed the refreshing concept of age gap between couples, a responsible heroine living a financially independent life and following the medical profession, supporting her brother, in an engaging story that wrapped up from start to finish in a smooth, fast-paced narrative.
Jhoom is one of those dramas that can be called the icing on the cake for 7th Sky Entertainment in 2023 and yes, with a cherry on top. Give a listen to the soundtrack and you’ll want to watch the full story, which, by the way, you can binge-watch over the weekend!
Jhoom has been penned by the illustrious Hashim Nadeem and directed by Ali Faizaan.
Mannat Murad
And finally, the story that carried us into 2024 was none other than the two love birds, Mannat Murad. Impulsive, young, passionate and under pressure from their families, these two young people risked falling in love, only to find themselves caught in a web of joint family and in-law toxic behaviour syndrome, being pulled apart even before they had time to strengthen their relationship and married life together.
Iqra Aziz and Talha Chahour did justice to their roles and the ensemble cast with Noorul Hassan and Irsa Ghazal et al added miles to the narrative. Even as viewers called out the toxicity of the in-law conspiracies, debates sparked online about the true to life depictions of the same.
Where Mannat’s struggle with toxic in-laws found audiences rooting for her, Murad cornered between the expectations of his family and his newly-wed wife spoke volumes for the married life dilemma of only sons in our society.
A “happily ever after” in a joint family system means juggling expectations from multiple in-laws, people pleasing and often, a degree in diplomatic manoeuvring and social skills that a young couple does not often anticipate.
Mannat Murad was that story which will live long in the minds and hearts of viewers who seek a happy ending to their desi joint family woes!
The drama is penned by Nadia Akhtar and directed by Syed Wajahat Hussain.
And that brings us to end of our whirlwind romance with 2023 7th Sky Pakistani Dramas. Tell us which one you loved best and why!
