29 Jul, 2016
Television in 2015 was a year of high romance. Thank heavens for that – fitay muu aisay saal ka jis mein love stories naa ho. Romantic plays were once a staple of prime time television, but have now become a novelty with a broad industry shift towards darker productions that challenge viewers and experiment with storytelling.
The dramas nominated for Lux Style Awards 2016 manage to do both artfully.
Among the nominees the two top contenders that are vying for the honor are Farhat Ishtiaq’s emotional family saga Dayar-e-Dil (Hum) and sufi love story Sadqay Tumahey (Hum). In both hits we follow star-crossed lovers struggling with treacherous family feuds and discover how the misdeeds of the past and tradition can impact the future.
Sadqay Tumharey’s impeccable Mahira Khan (Shanoo) and television newbie Adnan Malik (Khalil) portray pure metaphysical love in Khalil-ur-Rehman’s semi-autobiographical period story. The purity of their frenetic feelings is juxtaposed with the abusive and deviant relationships of the first generation. The drama was most memorable for it’s spiritual take on love and poetic dialogue.
While Sadqay Tumharay’s lovers were caught between a vicious sisterly rivalry, the saga of Dayar-e-Dil begins when two brothers have a falling out. The battle of wills that ensues continues from one generation to the next. The love story between Osman Khalid Butt (Wali) and Maaya Khan (Faraah) is a part of a complex narrative that breaks down tribal culture.
It was surprising to see the that popular dramas like Alvida, Dil-e-Ishq, Khuda Dekh Reha Hai and Mera Naam Yousuf hai were absent from the top drama especially considering the other nominees in the category are less well known.
– The less watched but critically acclaimed Muhabbat Aag si (Hum), showed Iffat Umer as a heartbroken women living vicariously through her brothers as she puts up a cover of a pious woman.
– The only comedy in the category Rung Laaga (ARY) put a new spin on the familiar plot of bigamy: Faisal Qureshi married to four women managed to satirize the genre while telling his own story.
– Muqadas (Hum) is one of many dramas that showed stalkers kidnap the female lead. Twists and turns in every episode made Muqadas a nail-biting thriller.