|
|
|
Step by step
A strong script, exceptional cast and strategic marketing are the essential ingredients required for a hit television serial these days. Lab-e-Darya, a serial penned by Taj Haider and produced by Ali Rizvi, blends all these elements and more. Following a two-track story line, the drama depicts the harsh realities of life with poignancy. It unveils the murky, surreptitious world of the devious political labyrinth and brings to the fore the tribulations of those affected by terrorism. Narrating the story of the play, producer Ali Rizvi spoke with fervour.
“We have presented the experiences of two families, both different in nature, yet coming together at a certain point. The first family is that of Shafi Muhammad Shah, who lives with his daughter in a vicinity notorious for being the hub of violent activities. Though he is the brother of the chief minister, he never entertains the thought of moving out of the neighbourhood or using his brother’s influence, despite the constant nagging of his daughter, played by Naheed Shabbir. As a result, he is highly respected, even by the terrorists. His life takes a new and catastrophic turn when his daughter becomes a victim of terrorism and is brutally killed outside her college due to firing.
The second family is that of Sadia Imam’s, the wife of a government official. Her husband uses her to please influential politicians. Utterly fed up and disgusted of her life, she falls for a singer and elopes with him leaving her husband.
The stories depicted in the serial are quite a bold step taken by PTV, which generally steers clear from such controversial subjects. In this regard, Ali Rizvi said that “with the media race at its peak and the influx of so many private channels, both local and international, it is high time that PTV follows suit and hops onto the bandwagon.”
Adding his thoughts to the proceedings, General Manager PTV Karachi, Athar Viqar Azeem said that “this new venture has the potential of raising PTV from the backseat and reviving the glory days of yore.” Reminiscing about the good old days, he said that he vividly remembered the times when only scanty traffic could be seen on the roads during the drama hour. People preferred to remain glued to the TV screen for the whole period. He expects Lab-e-Darya to be a serial that viewers will sit back and watch, leaving the chores at hand. Though PTV has the potential, it is highly unlikely that it will be able to achieve the glory of yore due to the availability of numerous other options. Perhaps the national network was late in rising from its nap.
The performances of all the characters are strong. Even a greenhorn such as Naheed Shabbir has been able to do justice to her role. A couple of episodes have gone on air and it seems that the serial has everything in place for a successful run. According to Ali Rizvi, the response is getting better with each episode, but it is too soon to say anything at this point.
|
|
|
|
