In a world of ‘Alif’, we choose ‘Mere Pass Tum Ho’

Drama ‘Meray Paas Tum Ho’ is currently one of the best leading serials in Pakistan that has not only continuously dominated the Saturday slot every week with the highest ratings, but also kept the audience engaged with an intriguing yet unusual storyline.

For those who have not followed the drama, Mere Paas Tum Ho is Pakistan’s latest obsession with a unique story about the life of an honest government officer Danish who loves his wife Mehwish and son Rumi. He can do anything for his family. Mehwish on the other hand, despite being loved unconditionally by her husband, chooses Shahwar, a successful businessman who brags about how rich he is.

This show has the flavor of every element; from a cheating wife to a loyal husband, a live-in relationship (prohibited in our culture), an extra-ordinary smart 6-year-old boy, a self-centered businessman who depends on his wife’s wealth. This drama has it all, and these little twists have made the drama a super hit.

On the other hand, a drama like “Alif”, that airs at the same time and the same day “Mere Pass Tum Ho’ broadcasts, has failed to gain the same kind of popularity. “Alif”, despite its depth, is often ignored by the audience.  The serial “Alif” focuses on a man’s spiritual journey and his relationship with God. However, sadly, Alif could not captivate the audience with its soulful message as much as Mehwish’s infidelity did.

The drastic difference in the popularity between the two serials exposes what the public really desires. Scandal is easy to sell in our society while spirituality is shoved aside. Mere Pass Tum Ho, a show that promotes immorality, labels ‘smoking is hazardous’ and ‘consumption of alcohol is harmful’ but never identifies a ‘live-in relationship’ as prohibited in Islam. Slowly and subtly immorality is normalized; the impact of what you watch deepens with time.

A drama promoting Islam, on the other hand, fails to make a mark with the same audience. Alif’s story revolves around a successful yet isolated filmmaker. His calligrapher grandfather fears his Islamic art of writing will die after his death. It even shows how a struggling actress fights to get a role just to feed her family and an ill brother without compromising her moral values. It is a serial with evocative dialogues, a thought-provoking storyline, and a hit cast. Yet, “Alif” failed to grab the audience’s attention.

As viewers, are we subconsciously being shaped in the right direction? Audiences have always demanded thought-provoking, meaningful dramas with a moral message but when these types of dramas are produced, they get dodged by glamorous cliche serials that have a predictable ending or focus on only fights.  Dramas with a moral message hidden behind every episode are broadcasted but the audience tends to avoid such shows and we must ask why?

With the passage of time, in today’s ‘modern and liberal’ world, viewers have come to love entirely unethical, mind-numbing dramas. People choose to watch popular series that are no doubt entertaining, but these serials fail to raise awareness about social issues and prejudices which are rarely discussed in society. Dramas can be both enjoyable and have a positive impact on our lives. Promoting vices is the name of art must stop.