Pakistani drama: do we want new stories?

A new Pakistani drama is about to be released. There is excitement: a new cast and a promise of a new story. Once you start watching, however, the plot feels strangely familiar. Sometimes we can predict the ending within the first few episodes, yet we still watch until the end. When a different storyline comes along, we are quick to call it refreshing, almost as if originality itself has become an exception. But are we just as willing to watch something when it doesn't feel familiar? Perhaps the question isn't only why Pakistani dramas keep returning to the same storylines. We should also ask whether we are truly open to different ones. I am not denying that family feuds, marriage problems, betrayal and revenge exist. They do, and these are issues many in Pakistani society recognise. But Pakistani stories can be more than conflict. There are so many areas of life we could explore, including stories about figuring out your 20s, outgrowing friendships, or looking forward to milestones that have nothing to do with marriage. Why can't a story be lighthearted and relatable without forcing a lesson or tragedy at the end? Why do we continue to romanticise toxic relationships or glamourise suffering? We have seen glimpses of what this can look like. Recently, I have been watching Jackson Heights, which follows Pakistani immigrants navigating the life they dreamed of abroad while confronting the realities of living it. The drama explores the pull between wanting a better life and still longing for the place you once wanted to leave. We also have a history of making audiences laugh. Bulbulay and Quddusi Sahab Ki Bewah are filled with eccentric characters and domestic chaos, reminding us that Pakistani stories can be relatable without being heavy. Perhaps audiences are part of the cycle too. We often complain about repetitive storylines, but do we give the same attention to dramas that move away from them? A different story requires patience and curiosity. We have to be willing to watch without knowing exactly where it will lead. I am not saying Pakistani writers should stop highlighting family issues, feuds or marriage problems. I think we simply need to make room for stories that do not follow the same formulas, stories that are messy, ordinary, funny, relatable, and everything in between. If we want new Pakistani stories, perhaps we have to be willing to watch them too. Shermeen Ejaz Doha