The recent screening of the finale of a drama serial in cinemas across the country should be a testament to how popular Pakistani soap operas have become. Perhaps, once again. A few decades ago, our television drama was known for quality content. Back then while technological competition was not as intense as is now, there was a greater emphasis on script and direction. Our television dramas fared well not just within the country but also abroad, especially in the region. Translated and subtitled in Arabic, these would even grace television screens in the Gulf. And then there is always that figurative depiction [exaggeration?] of streets being left deserted during primetime, when Pakistan Television (PTV) would air the latest episode of a drama serial. The golden days of PTV, they are called.

Then things changed. We saw a sharp decline in Pakistani television drama. While experts attribute this decline to various factors, inspiration by Indian soap operas played a major role in altering the form of Pakistani TV drama that fell victim to running after whatever was thought to ‘make money’.

But we are now witnessing a new era of television drama production, where while the quantity may largely be impressive, the quality leaves much to be desired. This brings us to the rut most expanding industries find themselves in at one point in time or the other: meeting the demand without compromising on quality. This week, we explore how the industry has shaped drama in the modern age and the challenges drama production in our country faces. But perhaps the most interesting aspect is the narratives that are being shaped in the process and the social conversations these ignite. We take a look at all this and more in our special report.