Entertainment industry

I've been thinking about the Pakistani entertainment industry lately, and while we’ve produced some incredible dramas over the years, I can’t help but feel that it’s become very narrow in terms of the kinds of stories being told.

Almost every season, we get the same themes recycled: toxic in-laws, love triangles, cousin marriages, rich boy-poor girl stories, family politics, and social issues presented in very similar ways. Of course, some dramas do these themes really well, but it feels like we’re barely scratching the surface of what Pakistani storytelling could be.

Why don’t we see more genres? I’d love to watch:

• Fantasy inspired by South Asian folklore.
• Historical dramas with bigger budgets.
• Mystery and detective series.
• Political thrillers.
• Adventure dramas.
• Psychological horror.
• High school or university coming-of-age stories that actually feel authentic.
• Sci-fi or dystopian concepts.
• Period pieces set during different eras of the subcontinent.
• Crime dramas on the level of international productions.

Pakistan has such rich history and culture, yet our mainstream entertainment industry seems hesitant to experiment.

This also made me wonder: how does someone actually enter the industry as a writer?

Let’s say you have multiple original scripts or concepts. What’s the process? Do writers pitch directly to production houses? Do channels accept unsolicited scripts? Is networking basically a requirement? Are there agencies or competitions that help new writers get noticed?

I’ve always been curious whether the industry is genuinely open to fresh ideas or if it’s mostly closed off unless you already know people in the business.

And finally, what are your favourite Pakistani dramas of all time? Not necessarily the most popular ones, but the ones you think were genuinely well-written or unique.

Some that I’ve loved or that people often praise include:

• Zindagi Gulzar Hai
• Dastaan
• Yaqeen Ka Safar
• Udaari
• Alif
• Parizaad
• Suno Chanda
• Diyar-e-Dil
• Humsafar
• Shehr-e-Zaat
• Ehd-e-Wafa

Would love to hear everyone’s thoughts on:

1. Is Pakistani entertainment becoming too repetitive?
2. How can aspiring writers break into the industry?
3. What genres do you wish Pakistan explored more?
4. What are your all-time favourite Pakistani dramas?

Looking forward to reading your opinions!