The year 2023 was a mixed bag. Plays like Jindo, Teray Husn kay Naam, Nauroz and, of course, the hugely popular Kabuli Pulao became firm favourites with viewers who were on the lookout for something different.

Early in the year, there was Kuch Ankahi, a drama series that harked back to the earlier PTV plays. With its unique storyline and relatable characters, it went down very well with the viewers.

Another gem was Yunhi, starring Maya Ali and Bilal Ashraf. It started off on a promising note but the climax was a little too unbelievable, showing that the writer had decided to play to the masses and opted for an ending that they would lap up eagerly.

Geo produced a money spinner in Teray Bin. The drama series, starring Wahaj Ali and Yumna Zaidi, went on for fifty-eight episodes. As producers, Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi saw the TRPs skyrocket. The unprecedented success of the play was evident from the fact that it was enjoyed across the border as well.

Wahaj and Yumna became superstars overnight. The onscreen chemistry between the two set the ‘box office’ on fire. Judging by the mega popularity of this serial, many more were planned and were in the pipeline. This unfortunately meant that the script was relegated to the background and the emphasis was on grandiose sets and costume design.

There were a few silver linings like Sar-i-Rah, a mini-series with the immensely talented Saba Qamar essaying the role of a woman who decides to drive a taxi to make two ends meet after her father falls ill. While more traditional plays like Teray Bin were taking off and raking in the moolah for their producers, a segment of the audience was rooting for Sar-i-Rah and Razia.

The crime thriller genre was explored in Jurm and Gunah. The former had Mehreen Jabbar at the helm of affairs. Gunah, with pivotal roles essayed by Sarmad Khoosat, Juggan Kazim and Rabia Butt, was also a good watch.

A niche was happy in July when a new channel made its way to the scene and employed a more experimental approach towards content production. This hit home. Some of the dramas aired here really upped the ante. Their novel plotlines and nuanced characterisation did not escape notice and were widely appreciated. This may have been the game-changer the viewers were waiting for.

These off-beat and unconventional plays soon became the rage and the viewers were in for a treat in the form of productions that refused to follow the tried and tested path. With the plethora of plays being produced, there was something to munch on for everyone. The TV industry was constantly being flooded by new entrants looking to make their fortune in the visual media. With big-budget productions in the offing; the television pie was growing in size with a rising number of stakeholders wanting a share of it.

Now that the curtain is about to fall on 2023, yours truly spoke briefly to a few people from different walks of life about what they would like to watch in 2024. Most of them acknowledged that the arrival of the new kid on the block had definitely raised the bar for its competitors. While some were content watching productions like Sukoon and Ishq Murshid, others said they’d enjoy more family dramas like Baby Baji and Mayi Ri. Still others said that they’d fancy thought-provoking mini-series dabbling in diverse genres – like Razia and Sar-i-Rah. People were definitely interested in watching shorter plays on a wider variety of social issues. Quite a few praised productions like Working Women, Nauroz and Kabuli Pulao.

With the proliferation of TV channels and an ever-expanding consumer base with varying tastes, more unconventional and off-beat productions will be seen. Hopefully various new genres will be explored to cater to an increasingly fickle and diverse audience. With so much to choose from, the audience will be spoilt for choice.

As we bid adieu to 2023, let’s hope that 2024 ushers in new storylines. Here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous 2024, which promises to herald in a new and lucrative year for television.

The writer is an educationist. She can be reached at gaiteeara@hotmail.com.