Talking Points: What is the best drama to have aired on PTV?
Herald Exclusive
Published
November 23, 2014
The streets would fall silent at primetime, they say.
From the succession struggles in Waris to the unlikely, yet somehow inevitable, romance at the heart of Dhoop Kinaray, the dramas produced by Pakistan Television (PTV) became instantaneous cultural classics, their characters household names.
Now, as the state broadcaster turns 50, its current cultural output a shadow of its glory days, the Herald asks:
What is the best drama to have aired on PTV?
Their answers will be published in Herald’s December 2014 issue.
Dawn.com invites its readers to share their thoughts on the posed question and selected comments will be included in the upcoming issue of the Herald.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (53) Closed
Siplan
Nov 23, 2014 05:05pm
Ainak Wala Jinn .. :P
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Fariha
Nov 23, 2014 05:10pm
Tanhaiyan
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Aisha
Nov 23, 2014 05:11pm
Dhoop Kinaray
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Kalimullah
Nov 23, 2014 05:18pm
Taleem-e-balighan (a master piece)
Uncle Urfi
Aangan Tehra
Dhoop Kinaray
Alif Noon
Fifty Fifty
Akhree Chataan
Dhuwan
Jhanglose
Khuda Ki Basti
Nangey Paon
Un Kahi
Tanhaiyan
All best of the best and no one can say this is the best (forgive me if i miss someone)
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Shamsher Singh Bajwa
Nov 23, 2014 05:19pm
Waris, was the best Ptv Drama! I didn't watch it in the 80s, but in the 90s when my mama brought it from England, my whole family watched it. Its such a brilliant drama!
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None
Nov 23, 2014 05:34pm
Khuda ki basti, Waris, An Kahi, Tanhaeyan, Uncle Urfi, Jangaloos, 50-50, Studio 2 1/2, 2 3/4, and many more
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salman khan(pakistani)
Nov 23, 2014 05:55pm
Alpha Bravo Charlie(abc),sunehry din,aghosh,dhuwan,laagh,aansoo and many more ............
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KMI
Nov 23, 2014 06:00pm
@Kalimullah Agreed
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gras
Nov 23, 2014 06:03pm
In the category of drama serials, two plays stand out. The first is Unkahi which captures the struggle of young people aspiring to succeed in a big city and the different obstacles they (especially women) face. The second is Waaris which depicts succession and asset struggles in rural hierarchy. Both these plays had complexities of plot and character to sustain the interest of the viewer throughout the serial.
In the category of individual plays, the different dramas penned by Ashfaq Ahmad under Aik Muhabbat Sau Afsanay, Hairat Kada, Tota Kahani, and Aur Dramay have no equal.
One quality is common to all these plays i.e. most Pakistanis can identify themselves with different situations and characters shown in them.
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SHIRAZ
Nov 23, 2014 06:09pm
Tanhaiyan, Dhoop Kinaray, Ehsaas.
The fact is, the decades of 70s, 80s, 90s and even first half of the millennium had several classics.
As soon as they started to follow the Indian dramas' approach, it all decayed.
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Skeptic
Nov 23, 2014 06:14pm
Some of the episodes of Angaan Tera were incredibly funny. Saleem Nasir was simply brilliant. In terms of audience impact Waaris was brilliant for it's time.
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Imran
Nov 23, 2014 06:45pm
Afshan
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Faroha
Nov 23, 2014 07:04pm
Dhoop Kinaray
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Fzr
Nov 23, 2014 07:37pm
Fifty fifty, the comedy is now broadcast by even private channel Through talk shows every evening.
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Khalid
Nov 23, 2014 07:41pm
I wonder which one should I not name here, the one that I remember and no one is mentioning about, Nasheman.
PTV has always brought us quality and educating entertainment.
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Jawwad
Nov 23, 2014 08:26pm
Fifty fifty all the way followed by Alif Noon.
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Amer
Nov 23, 2014 08:52pm
By far "Ankahi". I am surprised no one has mentioned it yet.
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SHIRAZ
Nov 23, 2014 09:19pm
Though we are all mentioning many, lest we forget, the Imran-Qadri show was by far the best we have ever seen on PTV.
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Man from UNCLE
Nov 23, 2014 10:16pm
Un Kahi..............hands down! In my humble opinion.
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Shaan
Nov 23, 2014 10:20pm
Guest house
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Danish
Nov 23, 2014 10:26pm
DHUAN!!!! I was just a small boy but I remember crying when the Dr. died. 50-50.. still extremely funny.
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jj
Nov 23, 2014 10:43pm
Waris
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Aftab Ahmad
Nov 23, 2014 11:03pm
Aaghosh Drama !!!
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Haider Ali
Nov 24, 2014 12:25am
Dhoop Kinaray for sure
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hira shah
Nov 24, 2014 12:33am
Waaris and sumandar ...........both written by Amjad Islam Amjad. Wonder why doesn't he write now?
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Hashmi
Nov 24, 2014 12:48am
Being a Pakistani Gen-X, my childhood memories are incomplete without epic PTV dramas. In those days, life used to be very simple and pure & the same was reflected in PTV dramas. Thank you PTV
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Seth
Nov 24, 2014 01:02am
Khuda-Ki-Basti
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Karachi Wala
Nov 24, 2014 01:11am
It is a very interesting question with there can be no definite answer. There have been many one act dramas and many serials that can be talked about. The best dramas considered mainly were aired either from Karachi or Lahore stations. I can not recall the names but from time to time Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta stations also presented very good dramas. Now going back to Lahore and Karachi Dramas. Most of the serials were either written by Fatima Syria and Hasina Moin from Karachi and from Lahore it was Ashfaq Ahmed, his wife Bano Qudsia, Amjad Islam Amjad, ect. who were responsible for prime time empty streets. When it comes to personal pick, it will have to be what is audience own background. All the writers presented their own social /cultural back grounds and did a complete justice. Hence, most of the audience would pick what they would feel was closer to their heart and culture.
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NASR
Nov 24, 2014 01:45am
Why only form the olden days and none from the Recent Past, Much of the Pak TV I have seen in olden days and these. Aik Mohabat Soa Afsanay, Uncle Urfi, Unkahi, Dhoop Kinaray, Khuda Ki Basti, UnKahi, Waris, Jangloos, many others and of Course 50 50.
From the recent Past I only was mesmerized, and got Glued by Hamsafar. though there are many others except the talk shows which are cheap and the worst.
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Concerned citizen
Nov 24, 2014 02:06am
@shaan "tip tip karta main Kamray main aata hoon!!!"
And " pattushan killer"
Hilarious
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Aamir
Nov 24, 2014 02:16am
The best PTV dramas were from the 80s and early 90s. Even though I was very young at the time. Later on in the late 80s saw all the classics on VHS here in UK.
For me Alif Noon was the best. I am still on the look out for all the televised episodes.
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khurram khalid
Nov 24, 2014 03:25am
teesra kinara, parchian, qurbatein aur faasale, ankahi, dhoop kinara, and so many more.
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Nazia
Nov 24, 2014 03:51am
Choti si duniya,
Andhera Ujala
50/50
Dhuwan
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Alexa
Nov 24, 2014 04:22am
ansoo
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ejaz
Nov 24, 2014 04:50am
Khuda Ki Basti, first run, not remake
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Asad
Nov 24, 2014 05:01am
When Tanhaiyan's last episode was broadcast in 1986, the entire country was at a stand still. There was not even a single soul to be seen on the roads.
But then there were many many classics in those days including Chooti si dunya, Unkhai, uncle Urfi, 50-50 etc. and then there was Alpha Bravo Charlie as probably the last classic to come out of PTV.
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Nov 24, 2014 06:45am
@Karachi Wala agreed
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Zak
Nov 24, 2014 06:54am
Excellent Pakistani dramas of PTV- were ' Dhund, Bandish, Dewarien' - their clips are on YouTube.
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H Jay
Nov 24, 2014 07:31am
(1) Ankahi,
(2) Tanhaiyan,
(3) Aangan Terha and
(4) Zindagi Gulzar Hai
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ashraf
Nov 24, 2014 07:31am
it will be unfair to name one drama as the best. PTV has aired numerous fabulous dramas each with different storyline.
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Farhan Khan
Nov 24, 2014 07:39am
So many classics to choose from...but I'd say Alpha Bravo Charlie, Guest House or Andhera Ujala.
By the way you can catch up on most classics at http://vidpk.com.
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Cricket Junkie
Nov 24, 2014 07:52am
Taleem-e-Balighan. Subtle satire, outrageously funny, and, oh, so simple! Those were the days. (Sigh!)
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z
Nov 24, 2014 08:06am
Manchalay ka sauda, Shama
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Investor
Nov 24, 2014 08:13am
Dhoop Kinarey, Waris, Fifty Fifty, Sitara and Mehrunisa and Ek Muhabat Sao Afsaney. There was a drama in which Shafi Muhammad Shah and Faryal Gauhar were in the lead role and the villian was Gulab Chandio. I can't recall the name but was such a gem.
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Naveed
Nov 24, 2014 08:20am
Angan Tehra is the best ever..
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Nabeel
Nov 24, 2014 09:01am
Sona Chandi, the character of Peri Palwaan :)
unmatchable original characters from the time and even today
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Nabeel
Nov 24, 2014 09:18am
Sona Chandi and the character of Peeri Palwaan, unmatchable original characters
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Rizwan Ahmed
Nov 25, 2014 10:25am
Waris tops all the charts in history of PTV. Though 'Dhuwan, Alpha Bravo Charlie, Marvi, & like others did leave the mark on generations from mid 80s & early nineties
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Rizwan Ahmed
Nov 25, 2014 10:29am
Waris tops all the charts in history of drama making by PTV. Though it would be injustice to not to mention the names of 'Dhuwan, Marvi, Alpha Bravo Charlie, Ainak wala Jin, and the like which still are afresh the memories of generations from mid eighties & early nineties.
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Khurram Zia Khan
Nov 27, 2014 08:41pm
For me the it is really difficult to single out one drama as PTV in its 50 years always come up with outstanding plays & serials for its viewers. My Best 5 dramas are AAngan Terha, Ankahai, Alpha Bravo Charlie,Waris & Tanhyaan
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atif
Nov 27, 2014 10:44pm
if i have to name one serial it would be 'alpha bravo and charlie"
if all content of tv r talked about, fifty fifty stands out
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akber
Nov 28, 2014 09:05am
best drama - dhoop kinarey
best series - aik mohabbat so afsaney
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Owais.H
Nov 28, 2014 04:16pm
Picking one is a monumental task, however some favorites can be shortlisted, like, Un-Kahi, Tanhaiyaan, Dhoop Kinarey, Alpha Bravo charlie, DHUAAN etc etc....
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