PrimeTime: Where is TV drama headed in 2017?
While we are often warned that past performance is not always a good indicator of future results, for the drama industry that is a gold standard. If a drama about two sisters tearing each other apart succeeds, we will see at least two or three similar stories in the next few seasons. It is as simple as that.
To borrow a term from economics 101, it is the ‘invisible hand’ of market forces at work. The push and pull of demand and supply that ultimately decides the fate of content. Unfortunately this is also why the market stagnates at times, relying on easier proven options rather than innovation.
Pakistani dramas have always been a marriage of two disparate souls: one completely commercial while the other is rooted in the great literary and artistic sensibilities of our culture. Just as in any marriage, the real dilemma is balancing the relationship between practical needs and the concerns of romantic ideals.
Will we ever be rid of the second-wife storyline? And what impact will the advent of Netflix have?
As in every creative field, there is always room for innovation, and 2016 saw plenty of it. Apart from a few serials such as Dayar-e-Dil, 2015 saw a serious downturn in quality as the entertainment industry pivoted towards the brave new world of bigger screens and the allure of movie stardom. However, this year saw a distinct rise in quality and investment in television productions. The year 2016 also saw a return to the small screen of actors such as Humayun Saeed, Mahira Khan, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Sanam Saeed and others despite their forays into movies. There were big budget serials such as Dillagi and Mann Mayal to match. This cross-pollination is likely to continue in 2017 as the nascent Pakistani film industry struggles to find its place.
Television is not only a safe commercial bet but still a good place to find that all-important jet fuel to star status and becoming a household name. Actors such as Feroz Khan, Sajal Ali, Mawra Hocane, Kubra Khan and Ainy Jaffri who have been, or will be, part of Pakistani feature films either already are or will be seen in TV productions in 2017.