KARACHI: Giving a thumbs up to refreshingly realistic and sensitively crafted storytelling in three recent television serials such as Mann Jogi, Nadaan and Tan Mann Neelo Neel, Uks Research Centre and Hopscotch organised a thought-provoking discussion with Sultana Siddiqui and Saife Hassan at the T2F on Saturday.

The title of the discussion was ‘Shifting narratives on TV: from tradition to transformation’.

Introducing the topic of discussion, the Uks director said that it is very common to find people criticising things but one should also appreciate where appreciation is deserved.

So the appreciation started with the playing of Sachi Gul’s nazm for Nadaan.

Next Tan Mann Neelo Neel writer Mustafa Afridi’s message were read out by Saife Hassan.

Sultana Siddiqui says she has not done Mann Jogi, Nadaan and Tan Mann Neelo Neel for ratings

Mehreen Jabbar also sent a message about the theme of the play Nadaan, which, she pointed out, was not focused on entertaining but on sending across the right message.

The serials mentioned have all been produced by Sultana Siddiqui.

“I often saw how conniving people could become when trying to convince others about their personal opinions and biases. I wanted to do something about it though I was often warned by friends that it would be too sensitive an issue to bring up,” she said. “Then I found like-minded people who could also see my take on things.”

“For instance when we looked into the issue of halala, we found so many halala centres here. It was happening right here, under our nose. The good thing in the play was our making the moulvi say that he did a wrong thing,” she said.

“Similarly, we also took up the issue of drugs,” she said.

“And these serials were not done for ratings. I wanted our media to point out the ills in society and send across the right messages,” she added.

The Uks director said that getting so used to watching dramas that were simply fluff that said nothing, she reached a phase where she stopped watching plays altogether. “Then someone told me about Tan Mann Neelo Neel and suddenly I was binge watching till my eyes hurt,” she said, before asking Saife Hassan what was going through his mind while directing the play.

Admitting that it was a dark play, Saife Hassan said that they had decided from the beginning that they would introduce the story to viewers in a light way. “When you are looking to change mindsets, you need to first grab interest,” he pointed out.

He also shared that they had originally not written the ending viewers finally got to see. We had thought of giving an open-ended thing. But then we shot another surprise ending,” he said.

At that point, Arsal who played the role of ‘Ladoo’ in the serial was also appreciated for his role when he walked into T2F. Everyone said he was unrecognisable in real life and so different than who he portrayed in reel life.

Saife Hassan was also appreciated for his sensitivity in taking up the issue of dance. He said he had always had a soft spot for dancers trying to keep their art alive. Earlier, we had thought of making the female character the dancer and the boy the TikToker. “But then we reversed that,” he said.

Sultana Siddiqui said that it was not just dance being shown as an okay thing, there were also many other things as well that the serial tackled. “We see and feel positive things in real life, too. But showing it on television is different. The writer and director need to be sensitive enough to show such things,” she said, adding that they also raised the issue of male rape on screen. “We showed it with the knowledge that it has become common here,” she said.

“I’m grateful to my writers and director for showing it sensitively and also not making the channel get into trouble with Pemra,” she smiled.

The subtle way of sending the message across was also appreciated. “See, the actors also have to be appreciated for their portrayal of strong characters,” said Saife Hassan.

“Actors observe real people to portray characters. That’s what Nadia Afgan did. She had observed her aunt who was similar in character to who she way playing so she said she will copy her demeanour,” said Sultana Siddiqui.

The Uks director asked if these serials should reach the media study department of universities.

“You know they can understand this kind of sensitivity by just reading Urdu literature,” Saife Hassan observed.

“The minds of our youth should be taught to be more forgiving and tolerant basically,” said Sultana Siddiqui.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2025