Allen Ginsberg says, “Whoever controls the media, the images, controls the culture.”
It is an absolute truth that media has control over society; they make people think through their programs. They have the power to form, change or destroy the culture of a nation. But every nation has some moral and ethical values which are reflected through their media. It is the duty of media to follow these ethics so that the nation may be lead according to their ethics. The major entertainment TV provides is from the drama serial they show which are basically presented to highlight the issues general people face in daily life. They are recorded plays in which actors mesmerize themselves in the character and acts according to the story provided.
Most of the dramas shown in Pakistan are adapted stories of prominent novels by Umaira Ahmed, Razia Butt etc. The novel based stories happen to be most successful in collecting fame from all around the country. There are some popular TV channels which provide a great deal of entertainment day and night. Serials shown on these channels receive great appreciation. Among them are Geo TV, ARY Digital and Hum TV.
HUM TELEVISION:
Hum TV is a 24-hour Pakistani entertainment TV channel based in Karachi and this first brand of Eye Television Network Limited, Pakistan, began its transmission on January 17, 2005. Hum TV is available in many countries mostly, via satellite, some times via cable; the channel is available in parts of Middle East, Africa and all of Asia but not in Europe. The channel is currently broadcasting on PAS-10 (Panam Sat) on Frequency: 3774 H S/R: 3300 FEC: 3/4. In March 2010, Hum TV officially launched in North America is available exclusively on Dish Network.
Currently Hum TV is presenting a drama serial named ‘Vasl’ which means ‘Union ’. The topic of the drama orbits around a woman ‘Hina ’(Aysha Kahn) who is a mother of two children got divorced because she comes from a typical Pakistani family and is traditional whereas her husband ‘Hashim’(Adnan Siddqui) wanted a modern wife. However, she got married again with a person who is extremely nice to her but unfortunately is not capable of bearing any child. Her second husband ‘Salman’ (Faisal Rehman) revealed this after marriage which in turn created misunderstanding to her that he is homosexual. The issue somehow is resolved in the current episodes of the serial but the question arises do these kind of subjects be shown in our dramas?? The real topic of the serial has no link with it therefore it was unnecessary to show such kind of focus. The term used for homosexuals was ‘gay’ in the serial which is not a respected word. The other thing which showed the autonomy our Pakistani dramas posses was the character ‘Hina’ wanted to meet her children from her previous marriage but she got pregnant and her husband won’t let her meet because he does not want any stress for her wife. Their clear discussions about the situation were very much strange for the person who is watching it. The other character ‘Marina’ (Juggan Kazim) is having problems in her married life because she wants to do a job and is not ready to become a mother whereas her husband is pressurizing her for this. The character marina is having arguments with her husband all the time and clearly saying that I can’t give birth to a child at this stage of my career. The straight forward and blunt speaking of her to give birth is pretty embarrassing for a person who is watching it with mother and young children. When ALLAH AL mighty has ordered to cover these issues then why is our media showing it so openly at screen? To make these issues the elegance of our television in such a manner is clear violation of Muslim ethics and values.
The same channel is screening another drama serial named ‘Noor Bano’ which is written by Seema Ghazal. The drama rotates around an orphan woman ‘Noor Bano’ (Mahnoor Baloch) who is forcefully married to her cousin younger than her. The boy ‘Murash’ (Imran Abbas) is also not interested and thinks about Noor Bano as an elder sister but is alleged to marry her because his father promised his dyeing brother that he will take care of his only daughter for the whole life. However, the boy left Pakistan after the nikkah ceremony and never established any intimacy with his wife. There in New York, he fell in love with his classmate ‘Alvina’ (Tooba Siddiqui) and married her. When his mother got information of his second marriage she received a heart attack which became the reason of Murash and his wife’s arrival to Pakistan. His wife started loosing trust in him when she saw friendly relationships between Noor bano and him. The constant suspicions lead to quarrels between them and one day Alvina took her newly born daughter and left Pakistan ignoring countless pleas of her husband to stay. This lead his resentment towards Alvina and soft corner towards Noor Bano but his attraction towards his first wife was only physical. He wanted to establish a normal marriage with her which she rejected because she knew that he is not in love with her moreover his intentions towards her were only corporal. She demanded divorce which he refused to give her. But due to the pressure of his mother (Samina Ahmed) on him to begin intimacy with her and his bodily magnetism towards her made him cross all the limits of morality. The dialogues said by the mother for establishing intimacy throughout the serial were very much clear and the scene when Murash actually crossed his limits was too much obvious.
To show subjects beyond the ethics of our Islamic culture is not only destroying our young generation but actually changing their mindset. To think broadly is something else but to think ignoring the basic Muslim customs will leave us to go astray. The dialogues and body language of the character shows it all. In other dramas of the same channel actors are shown drinking alcohol which is again violation of our ethics. But still these dramas are appreciated and the channel is credited for producing such dramas that brought our viewers back from the Indian soaps.
GEO TELEVISION:
Another prestigious channel Geo TV (trademarked GEO TV) or Geo Television is a Pakistani television network founded by Mir Shakil ur Rehman in May 2002. Geo TV belongs to Independent Media Corporation, owner of the Jang Group of Newspapers. The channel started its test transmission on 14 August 2002, whereas regular transmission began from 1 October 2002.
The channel is showing a drama ‘Meri Zaat Zara -e- Benishan’ which is based on Umaira Ahmed’s novel with the same name. The story is about a woman who got divorced because she was accused of adultery by her mother in law (samina peerzada). The cause of popularity of the novel and drama is the concept of swearing by putting hand on Quran Sharif shown. The mother in law took false pledge on Quran Sharif and accused her daughter in law which is a dreadful sin. The drama further showed consequences she faced after getting her daughter in law divorced. To highlight such issues in dramas is a good step towards the nation but the character shouted ‘Zani’ on top of her lungs in the drama several times which is again something ahead of our principles.
The same channel is showing a drama ‘Bol Meri Machli’ which is another violation of our ethics. This drama serial revolves around the humble and honest Professor Waheed and the fate of his four daughters. From a humble, middle class background, Professor Waheed has always wanted the best for his daughters’ futures, and so encourages them to pursue careers in fields that interest them. Rabab, Sahab, Noreen and Maheen all try to follow their dreams; things however go drastically wrong for all of them when they step outside the security of their home into the big bad world that awaits them. A play that throws light on the harsh realities of today’s society, and talks about how difficult it is for a woman to step into the outside world without her reputation being tainted for life. But the dressing of the girl who is shown model (Tooba Siddiqui) in the drama defies our morals. She was a poor girl who in pursuit of his aim to become a model crossed her limits. She also goes to casino and bars which are shown in the drama. Our religion does not permit us to wear body revealing dresses or to go casinos and have alcohol. On the other hand her sister (Aysha Khan) is married to a man who is not counted in the respected persons of society and drinks alcohol. These kinds of stories must not be shown on television because it is a source of family entertainment and we have young people in our families who ask questions after seeing such things.
These dramas made me think are there no authorities to control or at least take action against those who present such dramas? And it occurred to me that we have something called PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) who regulates broadcast media of Pakistan for the audiences and viewers. It is clearly written in their directive that nothing against any religion or anything which is against the state or can create hatred among people will be screened neither obscene things are permitted to show on TV. It was also mentioned that media must show things that may educate, inform and entertain masses but what we are acquiring of dramas like Tanveer Fatima B.A or Noor Bano?? It is further declared that strict actions will be taken under section 20 of the PEMRA ordinance if these rules are violated. But we don’t see any actions taken by PEMRA there is a dire need for the concerned authorities to take steps against directors who make dramas based on unethical subjects and are responsible for the alterations in our culture.
A 57 year old Rubina Javed says “These kinds of drams must be shown to uncover the malicious face of our society.” But it is a matter of great concern that showing a man drinking alcohol or some poor woman crossed her limits to make money or to become a model is exceptional for our youth who watch TV. No it is not and same was the opinion of Mrs. Javed. Either these dramas must be age restricted or must not be made the grace of our TV screen.
The same channel is showing a bunch of drama serials who not only breach the Islamic cipher of life but also exaggerate the issues being discussed with their fetid language. Some names are Yeh Zindgi Hai, Yeh Kesi Muhabbat Hai and Tanveer Fatima B.A etc.
It is awfully bizarre that there are thousands of issues our people face daily and out of which only the subject of adultery, divorce, love triangles etc are painted on television screens. The problem of poverty, unemployment, issues of students, government injustice, health and environment issues, art and science etc always go neglected.
This trend has to be changed where people want entertainment based on their real issues of life and our programs are based on a woman accusing his husband of being homosexual. If any channel tries to show poverty they end up showing dramas like Yeh Zindgi Hai. The most important thing is that the channel presents them almost every day and in the peak times when children are watching T.V
Media has the charisma to make or distort people’s opinion so it has a great responsibility on its shoulders. But we don’t see media doing its job magnificently. A 55 year old Ahmed Sheikh says “Nowadays not a single TV channel is following what our Prophet (S.A.A.W) left us centuries back. The dramas shown in our time like Dhoop Kinare, Khuda Ki Basti, Waaris, Aangan Terah, An Kahi etc was entertainment. Any Drama shown in this era is not entertainment but nuisance.”
Another comment which made my attention diverted towards comedy serials was of a 30 year old Shehraz Khan who says “Our dramas are not even capable of illustrating good comedy. Dramas like Nadaniyan, Perfume chowk provides gibberish jokes.” Similarly, Shabana Nadeem in his late 40s says “Pakistani dramas has lost their charm, the subjects shown has deprived us to sit in the TV lounge with our family.” Mrs. Nadeem’s claim is very true that the children after seeing such things ask questions which are too mature for their age. They are loosing their innocence which is negative for our society.
60 to 70% of population is illiterate in Pakistan but has access to television and media is a dominant source through which we can tutor them about the right and wrong of the society or at least can enlighten stories about the crisis they are facing in such a way that interest them. But it seems as if media is not interested in doing so and is more fascinated by things like love affair stories or subjects of poor girls (who never looks poor) in dramas crossing their ethical edges to become rich. There are a lot of issues to discuss which meager in society dealing with. Islam teaches us the whole criteria of living a good life. But so bleak is the picture that our media never bother to show our religion through dramas. The deficient production of such dramas may be due to the lack of imagination or realization. But someone has to change the on going system and bring back the allure our dramas had in some 30 years back.
SCHEDULE OF DRAMAS:
HUM TV:
1) VASL every Saturday at 8pm
2) NOOR BANO every Friday at 8pm
3) PERFUME CHOWK Monday- Thursday at 10pm
GEO TV:
1) MERI ZAAT ZARA-E-BENISHAN every Saturday at 8pm
2) BOL MERI MACHLI every Friday at 8pm
3) NADANIYAAN every Sunday at 7pm
4) TANVEER FATIMA (B.A) Monday -Thursday at 10 pm
5) YEH ZINDAGI HAI every Sunday at 8pm
6) YEH KESI MUHABBAT HAI Monday – Wednesday at 9pm
