Written by: Hurmat Majid
Posted on: January 02, 2025 | 
| 中文
Noor Jahan
As 2024 comes to a close, the Pakistani drama industry has proven itself a dynamic mix of triumphs and missteps. With a variety of narratives, from groundbreaking to lackluster, the industry continues to evolve, shaping its future with both successes and setbacks. Here's a comprehensive look at the best, worst and most underwhelming dramas of the year, along with key trends that have emerged in the realm of Pakistani television. The Best Dramas of 2024
Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum redefines the romantic drama genre, thanks to its poignant storytelling, stellar performances and the undeniable chemistry between Fahad Mustafa and Hania Aamir. Written by Farhat Ishtiaq and directed by Badar Mehmood, the drama touches on love, loss and second chances, capturing audiences with its emotional depth. Both leads bring vulnerability and authenticity to their roles, making the drama’s emotional moments resonate deeply. With its flawless execution and minimal melodrama, this show is undeniably the standout of 2024.
Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum
Written by Zanjabeel Asim Shah and directed by Musaddiq Malek, Noor Jahan revitalizes the family drama genre with exceptional writing and a powerful performance from Saba Hameed as the domineering matriarch. While it has faced criticism for reinforcing traditional gender and class stereotypes, the drama remains impactful with its complex family dynamics and emotional depth. The performances of Kubra Khan, Ali Rehman Khan and Noor Hassan Rizvi further enhance the show’s appeal, making it one of the year’s most notable productions.
This 2024 miniseries, written by Zafar Mairaj and directed by Kashif Nisar, is a masterclass in storytelling. The drama explores love, sacrifice and societal expectations, featuring a stellar cast that includes Bilal Abbas Khan, Sabeena Farooq and Gohar Rasheed. Their nuanced performances make their relationships believable, and the drama’s seamless pacing and minimal melodrama ensure it stands out as one of the most emotionally captivating shows of the year.
Despite its potential for an engaging romance, Sun Mere Dil delivered a series of tired clichés and weak performances that ultimately failed to capture the audience’s attention. The overblown melodrama and lack of character depth made the drama forgettable, leaving little emotional payoff. Akhara - Missed Potential
Akhara, set in the world of wrestling, initially intrigued with its premise but ultimately faltered due to disjointed storytelling and uninspired performances. The drama failed to deliver on the excitement its setting promised, with the portrayal of the sport lacking authenticity and depth. Hasrat - A Repetitive Love Triangle
Hasrat epitomizes the pitfalls of formulaic storytelling, relying on a predictable love triangle that went nowhere. The characters failed to evolve and the plot dragged on without meaningful progression. It’s lack of originality and fresh perspective made it one of the year’s most disappointing dramas.
Jafaa started with promise but ultimately squandered its potential due to inconsistent pacing and an abrupt conclusion. What began as a gripping narrative fizzled out halfway through, leaving viewers unsatisfied.
Jafaa
With its ambitious premise exploring justice and revenge, Bismil had the makings of a great drama. Unfortunately, weak character arcs and a lack of narrative depth undermined its potential, leaving audiences disappointed.
Tackling themes of masculinity and mental health, Gentlemen had the opportunity to break new ground. However, its shallow treatment of these complex topics turned it into a missed opportunity rather than the groundbreaking drama it could have been.
Gentlemen
This year saw an encouraging rise in socially relevant narratives. Dramas like Noor Jahan and Mann Jogi tackled cultural and historical issues, while Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum explored family dynamics through a modern lens. These dramas not only entertained but also educated audiences, fostering meaningful discourse.
2024 highlighted empowering female characters, from Noor Jahan’s formidable matriarch to the resilient women of Zard Patton Ka Bunn. This trend signals a shift toward more inclusive and diverse storytelling.
Channels like Green Entertainment made a significant impact with dramas targeting younger audiences. Themes of identity, ambition and mental health resonated with the younger generation, bringing fresh perspectives to the screen.
The visual and technical quality of dramas reached new heights, with period pieces like Noor Jahan setting a benchmark in terms of cinematography, set design and direction. This improvement enriched the overall viewing experience.
Mann Jogi
Many dramas continued to rely on overused clichés such as toxic love triangles and revenge-driven narratives. Sun Mere Dil and Hasrat are prime examples of this trend, offering little innovation in terms of plot or character development.
Some dramas continued to romanticize toxic masculinity and dysfunctional relationships, risking the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes about male dominance and female subjugation.
Some networks, like Geo TV, focused on churning out multiple dramas, often at the expense of quality. This saturation of mediocre content diluted the overall appeal of the industry.
While there was a focus on youth-centered narratives, regional stories were still underrepresented. This lack of diversity missed an opportunity to highlight Pakistan’s rich cultural tapestry.
Sunn Mere Dil
The Pakistani drama industry of 2024 has had its share of successes and disappointments. While standout dramas like Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, Noor Jahan, and Mann Jogi set new benchmarks for storytelling, others like Sun Mere Dil and Hasrat failed to live up to expectations. The year also saw promising but unfulfilled narratives in Jafaa and Bismil.
On the positive side, socially aware storytelling, strong female protagonists, and improved production values indicate a bright future for Pakistani dramas. However, challenges such as overused tropes, the glamorization of toxic relationships and underrepresentation of regional voices remain areas for growth.
As the industry moves forward, the hope is that 2025 will bring even more creative diversity and innovation to the forefront, leading to an exciting new era for Pakistani dramas.
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