In a cozy setting in Karachi, Pakistan, two women practice their lines for a drama series as the director watches keenly, preparing for the next scene featuring the male lead. This aesthetically captivating set belongs to “Adhi Bewafai” or “Half Infidelity,” a Pakistani drama that has captivated audiences not only within the country but also across the border in India. Surprisingly, television has managed to build a bridge where diplomacy often falters, successfully engaging viewers across the tense India-Pakistan divide with compelling stories of family and love.
The Pakistani drama industry is flourishing, with several thousand workers producing between 80 to 120 new shows every year. These shows offer a window into Pakistani culture, captivating audiences and providing a break from the harsh realities of political strain. For decades, India and Pakistan have had a strained relationship, primarily due to political disputes involving terrorism and territorial disagreements over Jammu and Kashmir. According to Maheen Shafeeq from Islamabad’s Institute of Strategic Studies, there’s been a long-standing impasse between the two governments, focused on issues neither side is willing to budge on.
Despite the challenges of visa restrictions making visits to Pakistan difficult, Indian viewers eagerly follow these dramas through various digital platforms, such as YouTube, ZEE5, and MX Player. This cross-border engagement wasn’t always effortless; in earlier decades, viewers like Kaveri Mishra from Patna, India, used to tinker with antennas just to get a glimpse of Pakistan’s state broadcaster PTV. Today, Mishra and her family are among many Indian fans who cherish these dramas for their relatable storytelling that mirrors their own lives and cultures.
For many like Mishra, these shows have upended long-held stereotypes about Pakistan, exposing them to a more nuanced understanding of the country. While mainstream media and political rhetoric often depicted Pakistan as an adversary, the fictional tales from the drama series paint a more relatable and realistic picture. Many Indians find themselves identifying with the Pakistani characters and scenarios, breaking through a barrier once thought unpassable.
Khaled Anam, a veteran actor in Pakistan, believes that these dramas play a crucial role in dismantling cultural barriers just as Bollywood does in India. Though Bollywood is a massive industry with grand productions, Pakistani dramas are appreciated for their simplicity, strong writing, and limited episode structure, which focus on emotional depth rather than extravagant plots.
The drama sets in Islamabad witness scenes that could echo in any South Asian family. Whether it’s about a woman unsuitable for marriage due to her disrespectful behavior or intricate familial bonds, these dialogues resonate with audiences beyond borders. Saife Hassan, a director based in Islamabad, notes the emotional core of Pakistani narratives, offering stories centered around human connections rather than exaggerated events.
Pakistani dramas maintain a family-friendly approach, emphasizing on narratives steeped in cultural similarities with little violence, vulgarity, or action. This not only makes them more digestible for Indian audiences but also highlights shared customs and values. According to Hassan, the shared experiences further nurture cross-border appreciation and regard amongst the viewers.
Both Hassan and Anam express a desire for wider international reach, potentially on global platforms like Netflix. However, they ponder whether global audiences could fully perceive the emotional and character-driven stories that have made these dramas deeply beloved in both Pakistan and India. Despite political tensions, the shared cultural narratives of Pakistani dramas have sparked new dialogues, considerable interest, and mutual respect between the two nations.