With an increase in private television channels, and an exponential rise in the time slots devoted to drama serials, sifting through the diverse content on air is a gargantuan task.

There are cause-oriented serials which aim to send out positive messages. There are light-hearted love stories, which you can watch in order to relax. And of course, there are some which are infused with humour – their sole purpose is to compel you to subdue your grey matter, and have a good laugh.

With the good, the bad, and the ugly out there, which serials are the ones to raise some important issues? Lost beneath poor marketing and the mega serials on air in the same time slot, following are five drama serials which were well-thought-out, and aimed to make their audiences ‘dare to be different’:

Muhabbat Rooth Jaye Tou (Hum TV)

Brilliantly written by Faiza Iftikhar, this drama serial brings to light many different customs prevalent in a feudal setup, namely marriage to the Quran and child marriages, among others. Although the pace of the story was extremely slow, it was amazing to note the mature way in which the writer handled the issues, especially that of child marriage.  The character of Shahnawaz, played commendably by Humayun Saeed, takes his child-wife away from his family, puts her in a hostel, and gets her educated; in the end, he secures her future in the most unexpected way. The entire team of this serial deserves an applause for their portrayal of pertinent issues.

Roag (ARY Digital)

This was again a very decent effort. Based on a story by Faiza Iftikhar, this drama serial touches upon parental neglect and the disastrous consequences that follow. It also details child abuse, and the way it affects the victims and their families. The entire cast has given an impressive performance, with every scene conveying the right tone and intensity. You could not watch this one without getting goosebumps every now and then. In the end, all parents have plenty of lessons to take away from it.

Mora Piya (Geo TV)

The recently concluded Mora Piya, written by Mohsin Ali and directed by Anjum Shehzad, was an excellent effort that emphasised on unexpected events that can unfold in a married couples life. Ultimately, the way they choose to deal with them determines the quality of their relationship. Unlike other drama serials, which pinpoint marital issues to interfering in-laws or some other flimsy external factor, this story was all about the ‘internal’ struggles of one couple to come to terms with a tragic incident.

Dil Hai Chota Sa (Geo TV)

Bushra Ansari wrote this heart-touching tale of a young girl, who has always had decisions imposed upon her by the rest of her family. She learns the hard way to live and to love, and ultimately, grows into a self made and strong person. The love story in the backdrop is endearing, to say the least.

Durre-Shehwar (Hum TV)

Currently on air, Durre-Shehwar is probably the most apt serial for couples as part of pre-marital, as well as post-marital counselling. That it has broken the stereotype of elderly parents having nothing to do in life by showcasing a productive elderly couple only adds to its brilliance. The poignant, heart-touching dialogues of Umera Ahmed, have juxtaposed brilliantly with Haissam Hussain’s direction. Add to that a star cast at its best, and you have a serial with believable character textures, that make their way to your heart.

If you do indeed enjoy drama serials and have missed any of the above, be sure to catch them on YouTube – they’re well worth your time.

Hareem Ahmed is a passionate reviewer and critic of Pakistani drama serials. She can be reached at dramabuff.dp@gmail.com

The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.