Come Ramzan and we can’t wait to sit down with a cup of post iftar chai, a jalebi or gulaab jamun within arm’s distance and a ready to awaken smile on our lips as we settle in for a Ramzan drama roller coaster ride. Over the years, it’s been quite the experience with Suno Chanda topping the list, followed up by a healthy serving of Ishq Jalebi, Chupke Chupke, Hum Tum, Chaudhry & Sons, Chand Tara, Fairytale and more.
Setting the Ramzan Drama Mood
Pakistani drama fans, therefore, have every right to look forward to a watch experience that checks all the boxes – funny, family, romance, onscreen star couple pairings, new faces to launch a drama career, laugh out loud comedy of errors and, if nothing else, Drama soundtracks that are in a mood in themselves and stay well after the episode is over.
Trouble In Drama Land
But come 2024 and oops – the formula just went horribly wrong. From Very Filmy, the star offering for Ramzan dramas to Ishqaway that failed to climb up on the charts for many viewers, one wonders if it is, after all, the evergreen Bulbulay that might save Ramzan viewers from a complete no vote. Of course there’s the choice rerun of all the hit Ramzan dramas we mentioned above.
So, What Really Went Wrong With The Formula?
Was it the audience expectation? Ameer Gilani and Dananeer were supposed to be the IT couple this drama season, but they barely made it till episode 8 of Very Filmy? Audiences are already complaining of support cast overload.
Or is it the scattered storyline in Dil Pe Dastak or maybe, the slow-paced comedy in Tere Mere Sapnay? Comedy is strangely (un)comic and the subplots are so diverse and generous, that one wonders when it will all come together. Are drama makers hooking us into watching our favourite celebrities onscreen (performances are not bad at all), so that we merely need to keep watching to know how the story ends till the it picks up the story in the final 3 episodes?
The Question To Ask Is: What’s going wrong with Ramzan dramas?
As the list of Ramzan dramas bursts at the seams (literally), how many is it now, 6, or 7, the phrase, the more the (un)merrier springs to mind. Are we compromising on quality vis a vis quantity? Smart idea – what about just fielding one Ramzan drama or two max. so that writers and directors can create original stories – fun, happening, creative and gelling with audiences?
It’s Not As Easy As It Looks!
It seems that with the recent success of previous Ramzan dramas, creators have felt that this is an easy, no brainer act to follow. It’s Ramzan and people will watch, because, well, they have to. They’re in the mood and any family dynamics thrown in to a large family house, a sprinkling of impending romance between a couple who would rather die than be together (in the beginning), a few chance mishaps, and quirky characters, e.g. the kanjoos mammoo in Very Filmy, Sikander chachoo in Tere Mere Sapnay, or Jaani in Dil Pe Daastak, success is on the cards – right? Wrong!
What Makes A Hit?
There is more to dramas than a quirky character, the script demands a gripping story. One that viewers are invested in. Where humour is matched with tear jerking moments, where, although family is the centre of the narrative, there is a relatable conflict, like parenting in Chand Tara, a determined heroine and a (non) traditional hero in Fairytale or an estranged family plus heart warming romance as in Chaudhry & Sons and Ishq Jalebi. Even Hum Tum had endearing feels in Maha and Sarmad juxtaposed with an opposite yet gradually warming couple feels in Neha and Adam.
The lead pair embody fleshed out characters that speak to audience’s sensitivities. Umeed Pasha was impulsive, determined, yet empathized with her dadi and general humankind in an extraordinary way. Farjaad had a journey, from workaholic to loving, understanding gen Z husband and daamaad and so did all the rest of them – From Basim and Bela to Jiya and Arsalan.
How can audiences then, accept a few episodes of SRK love (yes, Ameer Gilani had the moves and we acknowledge the changeover was fab), but that should not be the driving force for 7 straight episodes, right? Similarly, the cast offering, from Noor ul Hassan, to Bushra Ansari and everyone in between reads like the who’s who of the Pakistani drama industry and hence, viewers are, after all, pulled into anticipating a rocking Ramzan drama month which has, unfortunately fallen through so far. Just goes to show, a star cast might give your project ‘some” traction but definitely not what superhit Ramzan dramas are made of!
The Saving Grace?
Perhaps the two dramas we haven’t mentioned yet, Rafta Rafta and Chand Nagar are, but a saving grace of the Ramzan Drama musical chairs. Rafta Rafta has screened only a few episodes but seems promising ergo, not fully the kind of compelling content that will pull in the crowds, but to be fair, it can stand on its own so far.
Chand Nagar was definitely a surprise in a box. The storyline, both amusing, entertaining and subtly message-driven, injected with not one or two but multiple quirky characters, is carrying the flame so far. It is no small feat that this drama has managed to portray Ramzan and woven it within its storyline – well done makers, for a monumental effort at lifting the spirit of the season.
It is also commendable to point out that these two dramas are fielded by fairly new players, just goes to show, one doesn’t always need a name in the game – content will drive audiences if it is relatable and, well, hits the right notes of fun, meaningful and clever!
To wrap it up, Ramzan will probably go by with, ahem, more ibaadat, a dose of Abdullahpur Ka Devdas, some Jaan e Jahan love, Burns Road Kay Romeo Juliet and hopefully, more sehri sirens in Chand Nagar.
For the rest, we’d say, stick to family time, prepping iftar and …better luck next time folks. 2025 isn’t that far away and we might just be able to catch the stories if we get a head start now.
Till then, we’re off to catch a Bulbulay rerun or is that Ishq Jalebi playing in the air? Thank Goodness for YouTube, Ramzan drama lovers might still salvage their drama hour, albeit, with a dose of comfort food for the soul. Basim, Bela, Jiya, Arsal, and the rest to the rescue!
Tell us what you think of the Ramzan dramas screening at present on TV, which one are you watching, and why?
Disclaimer: *The views expressed above, in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views or opinions of FUCHSIA Magazine.*
