Watching Pakistani dramas has been my passion since I was a child. I remember just 6 years old when a novel-based drama called “Zebunisa” inspired me. The drama revolves around a 21st-century girl who stands against cruelty. The show was based on a famous novel. Novel writers are always better when it comes to writing scripts. Several production houses tried their hands at producing novel-based dramas, but very few dramas succeeded in exact dramatization according to the novel. Unfortunately, some class-piece art, including Amarbail by Umera Ahmed, was the worst adaptation of a novel I saw on television. Director Sakina Sammo failed to deliver, and it was a disastrous project. Another popular novel, Manosalwa, was also dramatized. Manosalwa’s dramatization was great, but they were also not up to the mark. People expect some great actors will choose to play the Parizad character, but at that time there were few talented faces to play the Parizad, however, makers can create 70 percent drama according to the actual novel. It wasn’t that bad. It was like a breeze of fresh air.
Our topic of discussion is popular novels-based dramas that need a remake with a better cast, director, and scriptwriter. The Pakistan drama industry doesn’t have sources to produce high-level novel-based dramas, but times have changed, and now makers can afford budgets to make perfect drama adaptations of novels.
Manosalwa
Manosalwa was the story of a passionate loving girl who can face challenges just to get her love but when her lover broke engagement she destroyed her life just to take revenge on her fiance. The writer portrayed Zainab as Sketch the world’s most beautiful girl. If I imagine Zainab’s character Katrina Kaif comes to my mind who can play this role but they chose Lollywood actress Resham, There is no question about Resham’s acting skills but people who have already read the novel were not expecting Resham as Zainab of Manosalwa. Directors have not added some interesting parts of the novel in drama. The director completely cut the struggling side of Karam Ali’s life.
Amarbail
Amarbail by Umera Ahmed was a masterpiece in the world of book readers. I remember the craze of Amarbail young girl because of Umar’s character which was just larger than life. Writer Umera Ahmed was new at that time and director Sakina Sammo gave Umera TV an opportunity by accepting Amarbail’s script for dramatization but Sakina failed to do justice to the characters of Umar and Alizeh. People rejected this drama and it was really bad. Now makers should think about creating a remake of Amarbail and give a chance to better actors like Bilal Abbas Khan, Sheheryar Munawar, and other handsome heroes.
Mere Khuwab Reza Reza
Mere Khuwab Reza Reza was one of the best-selling novels of writer Maha Malik. Writer Maha Malik doesn’t need any introduction field of digest readers. Mere Khuwab Reza Reza was her dream project. A&B production bought rites of this novel and produced drama based on MKRR but the choice of actors and actresses was not so impressive. The OST was just average it failed to create any impact. Today, I believe with slight changes in the original script makers should give another chance to writers to excel.
Dil Diya Dehleez
DDD was another amazing script and the drama based on DDD onair back in 2006. At that time most of the viewers were busy watching Star Plus soaps and not many people were aware of the classic hit show of that time but now Hum TV should consider opening their arms to this mega-budget serial. I am sure if now they remake DDD it will be a bigger hit show than Tere Bin.
Matae Jaan
Matae Jaan was Humsafar fame writer Farhat Ishtiaque’s baby project. Writer Mehreen Jabbar got the project and she did a fine job. Drama is shooted in the USA because most Pakistani actors cannot go to America so Mehreen has few options to cast. Unfortunately, most talented actors don’t have American visas so the drama became prey to bad miscasting and it was not a hit.